Madigan Line

The tour group will link up in Alice Springs by 4:00pm on Day 1. After topping up fuel tanks, you will receive a briefing on the tour before we get to know each other over dinner. We will depart Alice Springs on the morning of Day 2, so if you would like to take the opportunity see some the highlights in and around Alice Spring’s before the tour starts, we suggest arriving an appropriate amount of time earlier.

Heading south out of Alice Springs, we will see some relics of the old Ghan railway, visit galleries of ancient indigenous rock carvings, watch the changing colours as the sun sets on Chambers Pillar, make a small detour to find the geographical centre of Australia, stop at Old Andado Station and learn a bit about Molly Clark, and visit the Mac Clark Conservation Reserve. This reserve is one of only three places in Australia the Acacia peuce (or Waddywood) is found and protects about 1,000 mature trees. From here, we are onto the Madigan Line.

In the narrative of his crossing, Madigan wrote: “There were no high adventures, which are usually due to incompetence or invention, but the spirit of adventure was not lacking. There was enough risk to give colour to the enterprise, and enough variety to keep the glamour of the desert undimmed from day to day.” The same will be true on this tour. We will follow the path set by Madigan’s party as they made their way east to Birdsville. We will cross claypans and hundreds of dunes, we will see a huge variety of birds and lizards as well as signs of dingoes and camels - although seeing them can be more of a challenge. At the end of each day’s travel, we will relax with a cold drink around a campfire. We will enjoy spectacular sunsets and be in awe of the millions of stars we will see with clear night skies so far from any light pollution.

From Madigan’s Camp 15, we will follow the Hay River Track south before turning east again to stay on Madigan’s route through what is now National Park and private property (with approval). After intersecting with the QAA Line we will take on the iconic “Big Red” (Nappanerica). The symbolic eastern edge of the desert and the largest of the Simpson’s dunes at some 40m tall, Big Red is a bucket list challenge for any 4WD enthusiast. The tour will arrive in Birdsville by 6:00pm on Day 9 and conclude with a group dinner at the iconic Birdsville Hotel where we will relive our adventure and farewell new friends. A camp site at the Birdsville Tourist Park on this final night is included in your tour price.

Payment Options

To reserve a place on the tour of your choice, you can pay in full or pay a 30% deposit. If paying a deposit, we will email an invoice for the 70% balance payable six weeks before your tour starts. The option to pay a deposit is not available within six weeks of your tour start date.

Payment Methods

If paying online, at check out you can choose to pay by Apple Pay, PayPal, or by credit or debit card. If you would prefer to pay by bank transfer, you can request an invoice.

Please read our Terms of Service before booking.

Travel across the Madigan Line requires a permit from the Central Land Council (CLC) who manage this region of the Northern Territory. The traditional owners have a strong desire for their country to be looked after and respected, and are concerned about the impact of trailers on the Madigan Line. While they currently allow trailers, traditional owners have asked tour operators to do everything possible to limit environmental and track damage due to towing. 4x4 Explore respects this request. The nature of the track requires highly capable towing and towed vehicles, and some off-road camper trailers will not be appropriate. 4×4 Explore will assess trailer suitability for the tour on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to tow, please discuss with us before booking.

Before this tour, why not see one of the hidden gems near Alice Springs with our tour to the little known Finke Gorge National Park. Highlights of the tour include Palm Valley with its red gorges, desert palm trees, cycads and spring-fed pools; and the remote Finke Gorge 4WD track which follows the Finke River bed and its picturesque waterholes.

Having completed this tour, if you would like to see some of the southern Simpson Desert and visit three corner posts before or as part of your journey home, why not book a spot on our Corner Country tour, sometimes scheduled after this one.