The Simpson Desert is located in central Australia, near the borders of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is real frontier country, still as wild and untamed as it was for the first European pioneers 150 years ago. With undulating sand dunes and challenging desert tracks, this is 4X4 outback country at its best. Most of the Simpson Desert's attractions are within a day-trip's range south to south-west of Alice Springs, but their vast, rugged beauty will keep you in the region as long as your itinerary allows.

Dune Geography

Over one thousand one hundred parallel, white, red, yellow and orange sand dunes rise across the Simpson Desert, some extending continuously in a North West - South East direction for over 200 kilometres. The dunes comprise 75 percent of the total desert area and are formed by winds scouring the surface of deposited sediment, resulting in the accumulation of sand in leeside mounds on the northern margins of the floodplains.

Wildlife

While the availability of water has a pronounced effect on diversity, over 180 species of birds, over 30 species of reptile and up to 44 species of native mammal are now found throughout the desert. Grassy floodplains provide the major food source and the success or otherwise of wildlife is dependent on changing patterns of rainfall, drought, competition for food sources and shelter, predators and changes in fire regimes.

Wedge-tailed eagles are often seen soaring majestically above the desert and then landing on the apex of a perfectly sculptured live crest of sand. Camels are free ranging and common inhabitants of the desert.