THE GUIDE THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

What do I cover?

Ultimate Simpson Desert Guide Table of Contents

What's Inside the Guide

What's Inside the Book

Chapter-by-chapter overview of The Ultimate Simpson Desert Travel Guide

Over 250 pages. 70+ chapters. Everything I know about crossing the Simpson Desert — built from years of doing it, gear I've actually used, and mistakes I've made so you don't have to.

This isn't a coffee table book. It's a working guide — the kind you read before you go, then refer back to on the track. It covers the planning, the gear, the driving, the survival, and the stuff most people only learn the hard way.

Here's everything that's covered, section by section.

253 pages  ·  70+ chapters
The Desert
  • Forewordp. 7
  • About Mep. 9
  • The Simpson Desertp. 11
  • European History of the Simpson Desertp. 14
  • Denis Bartell and The Search for Lindsay's Native Wellsp. 20
Planning Your Crossing
  • Best Time to Travel to the Simpson Desertp. 22
  • Choosing Your Route Across the Simpsonp. 25
  • How Long to Take for a Simpson Crossingp. 62
  • Simpson Desert Centre & GeoSurvey Hillp. 71
  • Permits and Requirementsp. 79
  • Key Service Points on the Simpson Desertp. 234
Places of Interest
  • Simpson Desert — Places of Interestp. 32
  • Oil Wells & Exploration Sitesp. 32
  • Grave Sitesp. 37
  • Natural Landmarksp. 40
  • Historical Ruins & Sitesp. 49
  • Fringe Towns & Facilitiesp. 55
  • Water Features & Boresp. 59
  • Geological Featuresp. 60
Fuel, Water & Food
  • How Much Fuel Do I Need?p. 81
  • How Much Water Do I Need?p. 84
  • How Much Food Do I Need?p. 86
Vehicle & Gear
  • Vehicle Requirementsp. 91
  • Roof Racksp. 96
  • Additional Gear for Off-Road Adventuresp. 98
  • UHF Radiosp. 105
  • Travelling Light — Weight Reduction for the Simpson Desertp. 112
  • Auxiliary Battery Systems and Portable Power Banksp. 120
  • How Many Spare Tyres Do You Need?p. 128
  • Do You Need an Awning?p. 175
  • Do You Need Extra Driving Lightsp. 176
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Safety & Emergency Preparedness
  • Emergency Communicationp. 131
  • PLB or Satellite Messenger?p. 133
  • First Aid and Emergency Preparednessp. 135
  • Essential Recovery Gear for Desert Travelp. 137
  • Do You Need a Winch for a Desert Crossing?p. 139
  • What To Do If Things Go Wrong?p. 141
  • Simpson Desert Recovery Insurance?p. 142
Camp Life & Comfort
  • Dealing with the Cold in the Simpson Desertp. 145
  • The Poor Man Pays Twicep. 149
  • Clothing for the Simpson Desertp. 150
  • Tents, Swags, and Rooftop Tentsp. 152
  • Where to Camp in the Simpson Desertp. 158
  • My Clothing Packing List for a Two-Week Tripp. 160
  • Camper Trailer in the Desert!p. 162
  • Check the Weather Forecasts!p. 166
  • Personal Hygienep. 168
  • Proper Toilet Etiquette in the Desertp. 171
  • Campfiresp. 173
Driving Techniques
  • Sand Driving Techniques and Tipsp. 177
  • Tyre Pressure: Your Most Important Decisionp. 177
  • Tubeless vs Tube Tyresp. 178
  • Momentum and Throttle Controlp. 179
  • Gear Selection and Transmission Usep. 181
  • Electronic Aids in Modern Vehiclesp. 184
  • Weight Distribution and 4WD Setupp. 185
  • Recovery Techniques (That You Probably Won't Need)p. 185
  • Driving Over Corrugation and Outback Roadsp. 186
  • Daily Vehicle Checksp. 187
  • Flat Tyre & Tyre Repairp. 190
  • Water Crossings in the Simpson Desertp. 193
Out There — People, Wildlife & the Unexpected
  • Navigation in the Simpson Desertp. 196
  • Flies: Your Unwelcome Desert Companionsp. 202
  • Wildlife Encounters and Safety in the Simpson Desertp. 205
  • Children and Family Travel in the Simpson Desertp. 210
  • Night-Time Safety in Remote Campsp. 216
  • Convoy Procedures in the Simpson Desertp. 217
  • Recovery Proceduresp. 219
  • What to Do When You Get Caught Out by Bad Weatherp. 221
  • Solo Travel in the Simpson Desertp. 225
  • Choose Your Travel Companions Wiselyp. 228
Reference
  • Final Words — The Desert Deserves Your Respectp. 247
  • Recommended Readingp. 249
  • Appendix: Gear Listp. 253