Birdsville Track

Infobox Outback Track
Name = Birdsville Track


From = "' (coord|29|38|S|138|03|E|region:AU-SA_type:city)
To = "' (coord|25|53|S|139|21|E|type:city(326)_region:AU-QLD)
Length = 517 km
State = Queensland, South Australia
Region = Strzelecki Desert, Tirari Desert, Sturt Stony Desert
Permit = No
Fuel = Mungerannie (coord|28|01|S|138|36|E|region:AU-SA_type:city)
Facilities = Mungerannie (coord|28|01|S|138|36|E|region:AU-SA_type:city)The Birdsville Track is one of the more famous outback roads in Australia. The 517 km track runs from Marree, a small town in northern South Australia, north across both the Strzelecki Desert and Sturt's Stony Desert, ending in Birdsville in southwestern Queensland.

In former years the track was of a very poor quality and suitable only for high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicles, but it has been upgraded to a fullscale dirt road and is now a popular tourist route. It is also used by stock trucks carrying livestock. The area is extremely barren, dry and isolated, and anyone wishing to travel the track must carry fresh water, supplies, fuel, and spare parts for their vehicle with them in case of emergencies.

History

The track was open in the 1860s to bring cattle from northern Queensland and Northern Territory to the nearest railheads Port Augusta and later Marree.

Over the years the Birdsville track became one of the country's most isolated and best known stock routes as well as a mail route made famous by outback legend Tom Kruse. Tom Kruse and the Track were immortalised in the 1954 documentary film made by John Heyer, "The Back of Beyond".

Today

Up until the 1930s only stock and camel trains would take the Birdsville track. Nowadays it has become a very popular trek. As a result, the track is reasonably well maintained and generally fairly smooth. However like any outback track, its condition can change, especially after rain.

Fuel, supplies and facilities, including a hotel, can be found on the track at the Mungeranie station (population: 3), 204 km from Marree and 313 km from Birdsville.

External links

* [http://www.aerialvideo.com.au/simpson.html Aerial Video Footage of Birdsville] and the track through the Simpson Desert]

ee also

*Highways in Australia
*List of highways in Queensland
*List of highways in South Australia