SIMPSON DESERT VIA HAY RIVER TRACK INCORPORATING FARINA .
Date of Trip 20/5/18 to 20/06/18
Participant Name Member No. Vehicle Details
Graham Halliburton (TL) 1740
Annie Finnegan
Mitsubishi Triton
Toyota Troopie
Ian Street 446
Mazda BT 50
Celine Castricum Temporary Member
Prelude to trip report .
Club member Rob Hillman contacted me prior to the start of the trip and asked if we had room on the trip
for a backpacker who wanted an outback experience.
After meeting with Celine she was invited to join the group.
As we were all single occupant vehicles a spare driver was most welcome!
It was planned for the group to meet in Broken Hill and begin the adventure.
Friday 18 th May
Ian and Maryanne had arrived in Broken Hill.
I picked up Celine from the Barossa Valley and proceeded to join the group in Broken Hill.
Annie’s vehicle fit out had delayed her departure and she planned to join us on Sunday.
Saturday 19 th
Spent the day touring Broken Hill including RFD base, Miners Memorial and
the iconic Palace Hotel with its murals, Jack Absalom art gallery, where Jack presented Celine a book on his
works. And I took Celine to an Aussie Rules football match.
The group went to the “Desert Sculptures” for the sunset with nibbles and wine. 60Kms
Sunday 20 th
Early breakfast and pack up, Annie arrived 9am having camped by the roadside on the previous night. The
group topped up with fuel and stores, coffee at the info centre to farewell Maryanne who was flying to
Adelaide.
We headed north on the Silver City Highway stopping at Packsaddle Roadhouse for lunch, which has been
renovated and well worth a visit.
Continuing on towards Milparinka, where we visited the Court House Museum etc and decided to camp on
the banks of the adjacent Evelyn Creek the charge of $10.00 per vehicle per night goes toward the
restoration of the museum. 291KM
Monday 21 st
After a late pack up we proceeded to Tiboorburra, fuelled up and visited the family hotel and admired
Clifton Pugh murals.
Morning Tea was at the tea at the town park, where a replica of the Whale Boat, that Sturt the explorer
dragged across the desert looking for the inland sea.
Celine experienced her first sighting of a long Road Train while we were having lunch.
Continuing north there was some confusion at Orentos Junction where the road had been diverted and we
end up in horse yards! Arrived at the “Dig Tree” for overnight camp. 232km.