The Border Track is the track along the border between South Australia and Victoria. It starts around Renmark and goes down South as far as Bordertown. There is a one-way section about 50 km long in the Ngarkat Conservation Park that goes North to South, so it makes sense to start up North. The loop shown on the map is actually a detour that we did to visit the Murray Sunset National Park. A part of the Border Track is open only from April to September, so this is something that needs to be done during the winter months.
Border Track via Renmark to Bordertown
We started our journey at the Lindsay river with a day of fishing. To get there turn left in Paringa onto Lindsay Point Road and proceed on the Old Mail Track. There are heaps of little tracks on the left that lead to the Lindsay river.
We had to travel back around 15 km to get on the Border Track the day after. There is no road sign on that intersection so it pays off to know what it looks like (I checked google street view). The upper half of the Border Track is actually easy to travel on, just a few potholes and some sandy sections. We turned left onto Pheenys Track, turned right onto Underbool Track and did a small extra loop to Mount Crozier and Mount Jess. Mount Jess can be a challenge, there are a few very soft and steep sand dunes. We followed the Sunset Track back onto the Border Track.
The Border Track gets increasingly difficult to drive further to the South and is completely unmaintained in the Ngarkat Conservation Park. It is a one-way section for a reason, very narrow and the sand dunes gets steeper every time. I'm not too sure if I could make it the other way, the dunes seem to be steeper South to North. Our last stop was at the Red Bluff. We intended to do a similar loop through the Wyperfeld Big Desert National Park, however I was afraid to run out of fuel. The Wrangler easily guzzled 30 litres on those challenging sand dunes and I don't know about the conditions of the tracks in the park. But there will be another Easter break and we need a few tracks left for it anyway.
View the images and videos to get an idea about that trip. Enjoy!
We had to travel back around 15 km to get on the Border Track the day after. There is no road sign on that intersection so it pays off to know what it looks like (I checked google street view). The upper half of the Border Track is actually easy to travel on, just a few potholes and some sandy sections. We turned left onto Pheenys Track, turned right onto Underbool Track and did a small extra loop to Mount Crozier and Mount Jess. Mount Jess can be a challenge, there are a few very soft and steep sand dunes. We followed the Sunset Track back onto the Border Track.
The Border Track gets increasingly difficult to drive further to the South and is completely unmaintained in the Ngarkat Conservation Park. It is a one-way section for a reason, very narrow and the sand dunes gets steeper every time. I'm not too sure if I could make it the other way, the dunes seem to be steeper South to North. Our last stop was at the Red Bluff. We intended to do a similar loop through the Wyperfeld Big Desert National Park, however I was afraid to run out of fuel. The Wrangler easily guzzled 30 litres on those challenging sand dunes and I don't know about the conditions of the tracks in the park. But there will be another Easter break and we need a few tracks left for it anyway.
View the images and videos to get an idea about that trip. Enjoy!
Don't bring fruit to the Riverland! Of course we forgot about it and had to eat it all.
The way to Lindsay Island leads right through a massive almond farm.
The Old Mail Track
The trees at the river can be quite dangerous.
Bush-camping at the Lindsay River.
Max loves a good bonfire. We had one every day, sometimes even in the morning. It can get quite cold during the night.
Never forget to brush your teeth ;o)
Kangaroos spend their days in those little holes.
There we are - the beginning of the Border Track.
We soon mounted the safety flag as there are a few hillocks on the track
That emu ran next to our car for quite a while. They can be fast, but this one wasn't in a hurry. It made easily 40 kph.
