Simpson and Surrounds 2026
Date and time: 8:00am, Sunday 5th July to 4:00pm Friday 17th July
Trip Standard: Medium
Description: Outback trip – Melbourne, Oodnadatta Track, Simpson Desert, Birdsville, Betoota, Dig Tree, various Corners such as Cameron, Melbourne.
Equipment required:
Mandatory
- 4x4 vehicle
- 4 tyres of LT construction, full-sized spare and wheel, preferably 1 additional spare tyre which may be on a wheel or not.
- Plug tyre repair kit.
- Air compressor.
- Sand flag.
- Fuel sufficient to cross Simpson – this will require either a long range tank (beyond the usual standard of 80L) or jerrycans.
- Food & water sufficient to cross Simpson – plan for 5 days, we won’t take that long but to allow a buffer.
- Shovel for sand recovery.
- Snatch strap or KERR.
- Basic tools – spanners, multi-meter, screwdrivers, knife, tapes, file, pliers etc, any spares appropriate for your vehicle.
- 80-channel UHF radio 5-watt, in-car mount.
- At least 1 handheld UHF radio.
- Vehicle pre-trip inspected.
Recommended
- Satellite comms system e.g. satphone, sat communicator, PLB. We will have a Starlink in addition.
- Traction ramps e.g. Maxtrax, x4.
As this is an extended trip, we will have a separate briefing and meeting to do the detailed planning.
No camper trailers, pets or firearms
Maps and Reference Material: Hema outback maps covering the area
Fuel: Sufficient to cross the Simpson – we will discuss this closer to the time.
Distance: Most days will be driving of 3-6 hours.
Duration: Approx 14 days
Convoy limit: 4 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: TBA
Club Guest Registration policy: It is club policy in regard to insurance cover that if a member brings any non-members on the trip they must be registered and have paid the required fee as Temporary Members BEFORE the event.
i.e. non- members can no longer register on the day with the trip leader.
Temporary Membership information and ways to register can be found at:
Temporary (Guest) Membership
Also if a non-member wishes to bring their own vehicle, the member inviting the non-member must contact the trip leader for approval to bring the vehicle. Such approval will take into account skills of the driver, suitability of the vehicle and whether or not a place within the convoy limit is available for a non-member's vehicle.
Trip Leader: Robert Pepper / robert@peppernet.org / 0408 226354
