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The tour will link up in Coober Pedy at 4:00pm on Day 1, where you will receive a brief on the tour before we start to get to know each other over dinner. We will depart Coober Pedy on the morning of Day 2, so if you would like to take the opportunity see some of Coober Pedy’s highlights before the tour starts, we suggest arriving a day or two earlier. As we head out of Coober Pedy we will pass through the dog fence before continuing to Oodnadatta. The Pink Roadhouse at Oodnadatta is the last fuel before Birdsville, so we will top up our tanks and grab a bite to eat. After lunch we will make our way along the edge of the tiny Pedirka Desert, visit some relics of the old Ghan railway and the ruins of the Dalhousie homestead, before arriving at a true desert oasis on the western edge of the Simpson Desert, Dalhousie Springs. This is our camp for the night, so we will soak in the 37 degrees water of this artesian spring and watch the first of several spectacular desert sunsets.
Over the next five days we will make our way east across the desert. West to east is typically regarded as the easier direction as the prevailing westerly winds make for a more gentle upslope on the western side of the dunes. Our route across the 1,140 or so sand dunes is the most suitable for towing, and will expose you to several desert tracks including the French Line, WAA Line, Rig Road and QAA Line. At the end of each day’s travel, we will relax with a cold drink and socialise around a campfire (providing our own firewood). You will see the sand colour change from deep red in the west to some areas of almost white in the east. There will be a huge variety of birds and lizards to spot, and plenty of sign of dingoes and camels - although seeing them can be more of a challenge. We will visit Poeppel Corner where South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory meet, and take on the iconic “Big Red” (Nappanerica). The largest dune at some 40m tall, Big Red is the symbolic eastern edge of the Simpson and a bucket list challenge for any 4WD enthusiast. A bonus of doing the crossing west to east is that we have consumed much of our water, food and fuel so our vehicles are lighter as we take on Big Red.
The tour will arrive in Birdsville by 3:00pm on Day 7 with time to get settled and cleaned up before a group dinner at the iconic Birdsville Hotel. A camp site at the Birdsville Tourist Park on this night is included in your tour price.
If you book a spot on our August/September tour, we extend for another two days to experience the excitement of the Birdsville Races. Your tour cost includes a total of three nights at the Birdsville Tourist Park and general admission tickets for two adults to the Birdsville Races on Days 8 and 9.
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Payment Options
Bookings made within six weeks of the scheduled tour start date require full payment at the time of booking.
For bookings made more than six weeks before the scheduled tour start date, you may either:
(a) pay the total booking price in full at the time of booking; or
(b) pay a minimum deposit of 30% of the total booking price at the time of booking, with the balance payable in one or more instalments by the due date(s) specified on an invoice we will issue you.
Payment Methods
Payment may be made by bank transfer (BSB and account number or PayID) or by credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or PayPal through our website.
Payment by bank transfer can be arranged by completing an invoice request form or by contacting us.
Cancellations
For a change-of-mind cancellation more than six weeks before departure, choose a 24-month tour credit or a refund less $75. Within six weeks, change-of-mind cancellations are normally non-refundable. Your statutory rights still apply.
Terms of Service
Please read our full Terms of Service before booking.
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If you need to return to the western side of the Simpson Desert at the end of the tour, why not book a spot on our Simpson Desert (East to West) tour scheduled immediately after this one.
“★★★★★ Five star rating. My wife and I did the west to east Simpson Desert crossing in August to September 2026. It was truly the most amazing experience and rates as high in our lives as anything we have done anywhere in the world. Fid is an incredibly knowledgeable tour leader and is generous with his time and advice, not to mention his patience! We highly recommend this tour with 4x4 Explore. Thanks Fid!”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. We had a great time with Fid who is experienced and resourceful. We will definitely be back!”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. All we can say is WOW. Just completed the west to east Simpson Desert tour with Fid, finishing up at Birdsville for the races. What an amazing experience. Anyone thinking about doing a 4x4 tag along tour should absolutely choose this company. Fid has so much life experience to bring to the table and he led the group with a passion and pleasure that is rare to find. From his leadership and planning skills, to his car and 4WD knowledge, everything was executed perfectly. Even when we were thrown off track on our first day with a car incident in the group that put us back half a day, Fid was patient and able to manage the situation to get us back on course and ensure that no one’s trip was impacted. Don’t hesitate to choose Fid. Book it now because he is gaining more fans on every trip and I am sure that soon it will be hard to get a spot on any of his tours. Thanks Fid. It was simply brilliant.”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. The 4x4 Simpson Desert (West to East) route was absolutely incredible! The landscapes were breathtaking, and the spots we visited along the way were super interesting. Fid and Haydee made the trip even better—knowledgeable, friendly, and able to fix any problem we had! They were the best tour guides we could have asked for. Highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking an unforgettable outback adventure!”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. Trip across the Simpson was awesome. Fid is a great leader and ensured all went to plan. He is also a great sport even when we slowed things down by taking on a few of the harder challenges!!! Highly recommend.”
“★★★★★ Five star rating. Fid and his son Cam were the best tour guides one could have. Being a 71 year old female with very little 4wd experience, they made crossing the Simpson Desert easy. Nothing was too much trouble for them, helping with any problems along the way. They were very professional and so passionate about what they are doing which was lovely to see.”
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