Going Up Big Red At Birdsville To Watch The Sunset
We drove up to the top of Big Red at Birdsville to watch the sunset. Part of the 2019 MARS Enthusiasts National Muster groups adventure to the Dig Tree and Birdsville. What a drive! The view from the top of the sand dune aptly named Big Red is nothing short of incredible. And to experience it as part of a group just made it better. We even witnessed a wedding proposal between a couple of group members!
Getting Out To Big Red From Birdsville
You’ll find Big Red about 40km out of Birdsville right on the edge of the Simpson desert. The road is bitumen in a couple of short sections but mostly dirt. After about 35km you get to Little Red, a slightly smaller sand dune that you need to navigate to enter the Simpson desert. Before heading up over Little Red it’s a good idea to pull over and drop your tyre pressure to something more suitable to sandy desert driving. We went down to 18psi front and rear and it worked well. Once over Little Red you turn right. Then you drive a few more kilometres until you get to the base of Big Red.
Getting Ready To Climb Big Red At Birdsville
Going Up Big Red The Hard Way
Most of the group members decided to have a crack at getting up Big Red head on. They all made it eventually after more than one attempt in a few cases! The techniques varied. A steady run up and climb to a launching a few kilometres back. Hitting the base of Big Red at warp speed!
Head On Climb Big Red At Birdsville
The Chicken Track
There is an easier way to get up Big Red although it’s still not easy by any stretch of the imagination. Off to the right of the main tracks there is a track that sweeps around through a reverse curve that increases the distance you travel up the dune hence decreasing the steepness of the track. Any decent 4wd with good clearance and tyres (tyres with reduced pressure) will have no problem getting to the top in 4wd high range. Make sure you have some recovery gear, a shovel and a mate in another vehicle to lend you a hand just in case.
The View From The Top
The view from the top as the sun sets is amazing. Big Red is supposedly only 40m high but when you are up on top it feels like it’s a lot higher than that. The view back towards Birdsville in one direction and the Simpson Desert in the other is something you have to experience. All of us in the group agreed it was one of the most amazing things we’d ever done.
Amanda Sloane On Top Of Big Red Near Birdsville At Sunset
Nissan Navara NP300 Up On Top Of Big Red Birdsville
Conclusion
What an awesome place. If you ever get a chance to get up to Birdsville then go that little bit further and check out Big Red. It’s something you will never forget.
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