Pack-free Desert Bushwalking

Maximum group size: 10 trekkers

 

Simpson Desert Explorer Trek

Departure Dates: 

6 Day Trek - May 27 > June 1, 1 day 4WD/4 days trekking/1 day 4WD

7 Day Trek - July 17 > July 23, 1 day 4WD/5 days trekking/1 day 4WD

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Trek Grade: 

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The Simpson Desert Explorer is our shortest trek for the year and is just the right duration for first time Desert Bushwalkers or if you are short on time and wish to combine your NT holiday with other experiences in the Red Centre.

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You walk alongside our team of packcamels accompanied by 4 cameleers who are your crew for the duration of the trek.

Our cameleers are not 'tour guides', they are seasoned stockmen/women who are specialists in handling and working with camels, and have a wealth of experience in walking the desert and knowledge of its flora & fauna, and are respectful of our First Nations people who call the desert home.

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We will be walking in the dune fields of the western Simpson Desert on the eastern fringe of the vast Andado Station. The landscape consists of towering red-crimson dunes, wide inter-dune corridors, small (usually dry!) creeks, large Breakaway ridges and scattered timber of Coolabah, Bloodwood and Mulga. Spinifex is the dominant plant species, however much of this hardy plant was destroyed in the widespread and destructive 2011/12 bushfires, and many of the dunes and swales are now spinifex-free, which does make for easier walking.

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Walking in this landscape is on firm sand and occasional claypans and gibber flats. If the western Simpson receives good soaking rain in late March, there may be a profusion of yellow flowers such as poached-egg daisy & 'Yellowtop' covering the landscape, and supplying our camels with fresh feed.... however it's not until we actually get out there in April 2022 that we will know the extent of any rainfall.

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May, June and July is ideal walking weather in Central Australia and over the course of a 5 to 6 hour walking day you would walk approximately between 8 to 10 kilometres.  Our pace of travel is determined by the camels and their ability to negotiate the dunes or other landforms in the landscape. They carry all your personal gear, and all you have to carry is your day pack. 

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This is a very real, very Australian desert experience. Camels are the perfect cross-country vehicle and so we don't follow roads or tracks, and there is no vehicle back-up. Camps are chosen for the availability of camel feed, and we never camp in the same place twice. And in addition, as we are Australia's only trekking company that specialise in remote desert travel, you won't 'bump into' any other groups of trekkers. 

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All of our treks are active participation-based experiences and the cameleers will involve you with loading and unloading the camels as much as you wish to be involved. Similarly, your assistance is always greatly welcomed with the numerous camp chores to be done at the end of the day such as collecting firewood or helping to shepherd the camels as they feed.