Birdsville Track: Difference between revisions
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| Facilities = [[Mungerannie, South Australia|Mungerannie]] ({{coord|28|01|7.28|S|138|39|48.02|E|region:AU-SA_type:city}}) |
| Facilities = [[Mungerannie, South Australia|Mungerannie]] ({{coord|28|01|7.28|S|138|39|48.02|E|region:AU-SA_type:city}}) |
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[[Image:SouthAustralianRoads.png|thumb|right|250px|Birdsville Track ( |
[[Image:SouthAustralianRoads.png|thumb|right|250px|Birdsville Track (D83)]] |
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The '''Birdsville Track''' is a notable [[outback]] road in [[Australia]]. The [[1 E5 m|517]] km track runs from [[Marree, South Australia|Marree]], a small town in northern [[South Australia]], north across both the [[Strzelecki Desert]] and [[Sturt's Stony Desert]], ending in [[Birdsville, Queensland|Birdsville]] in south western [[Queensland]]. |
The '''Birdsville Track''' is a notable [[outback]] road in [[Australia]]. The [[1 E5 m|517]] km track runs from [[Marree, South Australia|Marree]], a small town in northern [[South Australia]], north across both the [[Strzelecki Desert]] and [[Sturt's Stony Desert]], ending in [[Birdsville, Queensland|Birdsville]] in south western [[Queensland]]. |
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Revision as of 02:12, 17 June 2009
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The Birdsville Track is a notable outback road 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 south western 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 full-scale 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 opened 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 track. 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
See also
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