Big Red Run - Day 6 - Innamincka to Birdsville via Walkers Crossing

Being our first time in this part of the world, we wen't too sure what to expect when travelling in the remoter areas.  The usual route from Innamincka to Birdsville is north, via Cordillo Downs on the Strezlecki Track, but we had caught up with some seasoned travellers at Innamincka who urged us to follow them along the Walkers Crossing Track.

Walkers Crossing is named for Sydney James Walker, who was part of the Santos Field Service who constructed the crossing of the Cooper Creek.  He died on 7th November 1986, just as the crossing was completed, and a plaque on the site is erected to his memory.

Big Red Run - Day 5 - Innamincka and the Dig Tree Circuit

We started our rest day with a nice lazy sleep in, followed by a delicious breakfast of home made pikelets.  As the sun rose, we amused ourselves watching the meandering pelicans, and other bird life making the most of the glorious day.  It was simply a magic camp, and we all appreciated the fact we didn't have to get up and get going in the morning.

The Cooper Creek was delightful place to camp

Playing in the River Red Gums at camp

We had a quick look at the map, and I suggested a quick dash out to visit The Dig Tree was in order.  The Little Helper was a bit puffed after the last few days travelling, so he asked to stay at camp with Mum, whilst the older brother and I made the dash.

Big Red Run - Day 4 - Tiboburra to Innamincka

We watched the sun rise from the comfort of our bed at Dead Horse Gully near Tiboburra.  We were enthralled by the beauty of the red earth juxtaposed with the ever changing spectrum of colours of the sky as the sun rose above the horizon, before it decided on a deep pale blue.

After a quick consult of the map, we have decided not to camp at Fort Grey, but to head to Innamincka via Cameron Corner, and then have a rest day - before pushing onto Birdsville.

Spectacular Sunrise!

Before we left Tiboburra, we stopped in to examine a replica of Sturt's boat that he hauled west in 1841, convinced it would be useful when he found his inland sea.  We were to follow a lot of not just Sturt's, but also Burke and Will's footsteps over the next week or so, and it was great to appreciate the challenges they faced by immersing ourselves in the terrain they traversed... and remind us to be ever thankful for the luxury of an air conditioned 4WD!

A reasonable size boat!

The drive out to Cameron Corner was the start of dune country, and we stopped for the obligatory photos at the corner itself, although we all agreed the original hardwood marker (on display at Tiboburra) was a much more romantic marker of not just the state boundaries, but of a time gone by!

We followed the old Strezlecki Track north to Innamincka.  The track was was in pretty good condition although a little sandy in places.  Being just graded on the clay pan, it is easy to see how a spot or two or rain would make any progress near on impossible.  I didn't twig initially, but the Strezlecki Track was first traversed by John Costello, a friend of Patsy Durack of Kings In Grass Castles fame.  

Playing on a dune in the Stezlecki

Strezlecki Fun

The Old Strezlecki Track was in great condition

We made our way to Innamincka, and camped on the banks of the Cooper Creek, such an iconic part of the Australian folklore.  We found a great camp down on the Creek, and settled in.  

The Cooper Creek at Innamincka

Some of the locals on the Cooper

It was an easy day of driving on good dirt roads, and the ever changing landscape kept us all enthralled as we headed west.  Innamincka is the kind of place everyone should visit - in order to sit by the Cooper Creek and watch the world go by.  The camping in the town common is dirt cheap - $5 for a site by the creek itself, and the boys found plenty of sand and dirt to play in.

We had covered 1 734 kilometres in the last four days - the rest day was very much in order!

Big Red Run - Day 3 - White Cliffs to Tiboburra

We decided to get up early to watch the sun rise over White Cliffs, and it was definitely worth the effort.  There is something special about seeing the dawn of a new day, particularly in somewhere where the sky is huge.  We went for a short walk to get a special vantage point where no photo will ever do the scene justice - but it didn't stop us trying for the perfect shot.

One little fellow wasn't particularly impressed with the early morning!

We had planned on a leisurely breakfast, before poking about in town for a while, however our plans changed when we met Garath on our way back to camp. Gareth was out walking his dog, and we got chatting.  It turned out Garath was a NPWS ranger, and invited us on a tag along tour of the Perry Lakes.  

Big Red Run - Day 2 - Condobolin to White Cliffs

We decided we wanted to be on the road by 8.30am, with the aim of making White Cliffs in the evening.  The kids were briefed that it would be a long day in the car, and after a damp pack up we hit the road.
 

We had decided to head north west to Cobar, before tracking west to Wilcannia.  The boys were bored with the black top, and kept asking when we would hit the dirt…  Not long was the answer, until we hit it, and the initial squeals of delight soon were replaced with the boys asking when we would be back on the black top!  I think they appreciated the fact we could travel a bit quicker on the bitumen roads, and the bumps were far more frequent and violent on the dirt!

Red Dirt!