Simpson Desert Travel Guide
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Simpson Desert Travel Restrictions – June 2026

Stephan Fischer

— 3 min read
Simpson Desert Travel Restrictions – June 2026

If you are planning a Simpson Desert crossing this season, read this before you commit to a departure date.

As of early June 2026, the two sides of Munga-Thirri National Park are operating under very different conditions. The Queensland end is closed. South Australia is open, but with restrictions that will affect the routes available to you.

Queensland: Eyre Creek Impassable Until 31 August 2026

The specific issue on the Queensland side is Eyre Creek. Birdsville Rangers issued an access advice alert on 5 March 2026 stating that water levels are still high and the creek is expected to remain impassable for the foreseeable future. The alert runs until 31 August 2026.

You can still access the Queensland section of Munga-Thirri National Park from the Birdsville side — Big Red is accessible from there. What you cannot do is cross Eyre Creek. That means a through-crossing from SA to Queensland (or Queensland to SA) is not possible right now. If you enter from the Queensland side, you cannot get through to SA.

The QLD Parks alert was last updated on 8 June 2026. Check it yourself before finalising anything:

👉 Queensland Park Alert – Eyre Creek, Munga-Thirri National Park

Also monitor road conditions through Queensland Traffic and river heights via the Diamantina Shire disaster dashboard.

South Australia: Open with Limited Access

The SA side of Munga-Thirri – Simpson Desert National Park is open, but several Public Access Routes (PARs) are currently closed due to flood damage.

SA Parks Bulletin No. 864 (updated 3 June 2026) states the following:

Open:

  • Colson Track — Open
  • Poeppels Corner — Open
  • PAR 13 Halligan Bay Point (Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre) — Open
  • Witjira National Park — Open (Dalhousie Campground and Three O'Clock Creek Campground are open)

Closed:

  • PAR 15 K1 Warburton Crossing — Closed due to flooding
  • PAR 16 Walkers Crossing — Closed due to flooding
  • PAR 8 Pedirka — Closed due to extensive water damage
  • PAR 2 Level Post Bay — Closed due to extensive water damage
  • PAR 12 Old Peake Telegraph — Closed due to flooding
  • PAR 18 Lake Cadibarrawirracanna — Closed due to flooding

Innamincka Regional Reserve and Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park are also closed due to flooding — not directly related to the Simpson Desert crossing, but relevant if you are planning a route that takes in the Strzelecki.

The bulletin is clear: there is no access from SA through to Queensland. Water is still lying in the eastern section of the desert. If you enter from the SA side, you need to exit via SA or the NT.

👉 SA Desert Parks Bulletin No. 864 — updated 3 June 2026

A SA Desert Parks Pass is mandatory to enter the park. If you need one, you can pick it up through agents at the Pink Roadhouse (Oodnadatta) or Mt Dare Hotel.

Water Damage Warning

One thing worth flagging from the SA bulletin: water across tracks has caused electrical faults in a number of vehicles. This is not a minor note. If you are driving through areas that have recently been wet, take it seriously. High-clearance 4WD is essential. Do not drive through ponded water, full stop.

Bottom Line

The desert is not currently crossable end-to-end. Eyre Creek is the blockage. You can drive from Birdsville to Big Red and into the Queensland section of the park, but you cannot get through to SA. Coming from the SA side, you cannot get through to Queensland either.

The SA side of the desert is accessible if you go in and come back out the same side, or exit through the NT via Dalhousie and Mt Dare. Conditions in the eastern section remain wet.

Check both official sources before you go:

If you are still planning your trip or want detail on what the crossing normally looks like under good conditions, the Simpson Desert 4WD Travel Guide covers everything from track notes and fuel stops to dune tips and camping.

Last updated: 9 June 2026. Conditions change quickly in the desert — always verify with the official sources above before you leave.