Old Tulla Track (Innamincka to Birdsville)
Outback Channel Country at its most unforgiving.
This is proper Outback Australia — Channel Country in southwest Queensland, where Cooper Creek braids itself across a flat, ancient floodplain and the horizon is so big it makes you feel small in the best possible way. The Old Tulla Track runs roughly 200 kilometres between Innamincka and Birdsville through Coongie Lakes National Park and some of the most hydrologically complex terrain in the country. When it’s dry, the track is powdery bulldust over firm ground with corrugations that punish everything. When it’s wet — and it floods fast out here — it closes without warning and stays closed for weeks. Burke and Wills came through this country in 1861 and only one of them made it out; the stone markers are still there.
This is an expert-level route for experienced remote desert travellers only. You need a well-set-up 4WD, dual spare tyres, a minimum 200-litre water supply, UHF and HF radio or a satellite communicator, and the mechanical knowledge to sort your own problems. Fuel stop planning is critical — Innamincka and Birdsville are your only options, and they are not always reliable. Best season is April through September; the summer heat is lethal. A Coongie Lakes National Park permit is required. This is the kind of trip that recalibrates your perspective on what remote actually means.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 124 mi / 200 km |
| Duration | 2-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 820 ft |
| Best season | April-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Expedition-spec high-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Innamincka, South Australia |
| Land manager | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service / South Australian DEW |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | QLD Parks — Coongie Lakes NP SA DEW — Innamincka Regional Reserve |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Land Cruiser 200 Series handle the Old Tulla Track, or does it need mods?
A stock 200 Series is not enough here. You need expedition-spec build: long-range fuel tanks, dual spare tyres, recovery gear (snatch strap, MaxTrax, hi-lift jack), reinforced underbody protection, and ideally a dual-battery system with a fridge. Soft sand, creek crossings, and zero infrastructure will punish anything less.
When is the Old Tulla Track open and what happens if it rains?
April through September is the only realistic window — summer heat regularly exceeds 50°C and makes the track life-threatening. Any significant rainfall can close the track for weeks as Cooper Creek and surrounding floodplains inundate the route with no warning; check conditions with Innamincka Trading Post before you roll out.
Do you need permits to drive the Old Tulla Track between Innamincka and Birdsville?
Yes. The route crosses both the Innamincka Regional Reserve (SA DEW) and land managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service near Coongie Lakes. Permits are required — sort them before you leave, as there's no ranger station you'll conveniently pass to fix it on the fly.
What's the hardest section of the Old Tulla Track and what should I actually expect?
The Cooper Creek crossings are where trips end. When water is up, the creek spreads kilometres wide across braided channels with no defined line — you're reading terrain in real time in deep, soft-bottomed water. Even in dry conditions, the loose sand sections between crossings are relentless and will bury an under-tyred or under-prepared rig fast.
How far is it between fuel stops and is there any cell service on the track?
There is zero cell service for the entire 200km route — carry a PLB or satellite communicator, full stop. Fuel is available at Innamincka and Birdsville, but with rough going and potential detours, plan for at least 400km fuel range minimum; running dry out here is a search-and-rescue situation, not an inconvenience.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.