The Legendary Simpson Desert
It was Reg Sprigg who first took his young family across the Simpson Desert in a G60 Nissan Patrol, making it officially the first crossing of the Simpson Desert with a motorised vehicle. That was back in 1962. Today, there are an estimated 10,000 people completing the crossing every year! And this year we finally got a chance to be amongst those to cross. We too took our family and even brought along another two car loads of families to join us. Three generations of adventurers ready to take on a life changing journey.
Planning for Self-Sufficiency
Despite the large numbers of people crossing every year, the trek remains a challenging journey. It is one that must be undertaken with great care and prior planning.The Simpson Desert is one of the world’s largest deserts of longitudinal dunes. Over 1100 in fact. Sand driving experience and knowledge is essential. It is very remote and even on one of the more popular routes, we went the whole day and only saw one other group of travellers. Our route was 600 kilometres and took us 4 days of driving all day to complete. There are no supplies along the way. No fuel, no food, no water and no phone signal.
We took our own everything and even a bit more for just in case. Just in case we had a breakdown and had to wait for help.Just in case we had to share with someone else in need. We took our trusty satellite phone so we could be in contact with the rest of the world if need be. We had our UHF radios and had to keep a constant monitor of any chatter as even though we hardly saw anyone else, you definitely don’t want to come across them at the top of a blind dune.
600 Kilometres of Pure Adventure
The Simpson Desert is a place of extremes – heat, isolation, and unmatched beauty. Our four-day crossing was equal parts grit and glory. It included long days of sand driving, cresting dunes, and sharing stories around the campfire at night. Every crest revealed a new horizon. Every kilometre demanded focus, patience, and teamwork.
Brutal Beauty and Desert Magic
All the meticulous planning and preparation paid off as our time in the desert was unequivocally one of the greatest trips we have done so far. Great as in not only a sense of accomplishment but great as in we were blown away at the beauty of the landscape, day and night. We were on the edge of our seats coming up on every sand dune to see what lay beyond it. We were in awe of the endlessness of the terrain before us. The absolute silence of the night, and the blanket of stars glimmering above us.
“Maybe we were just lucky to witness the desert after a big wet that had left pockets of water still around”
We were surprised at how much life was in the desert. The diversity of plants and animals, from tiny bugs to giant camels. Not to mention the wild flowers that carpeted the dunes and dips, displaying a palette full of colour. Maybe we were just lucky to witness the desert after a big wet that had left pockets of water still around. Whatever it was, we were taken away by the magic of the desert. We hope to be able to experience it once again in the near future!
Why It’s Worth the Journey
Few places test your limits and reward your senses like the Simpson Desert. For families or adventurers seeking an unforgettable 4WD experience, it’s a bucket-list trip that bonds generations and renews your respect for Australia’s rugged heartland.
Words and Photos: The Adventuring Pals
