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Small Tents - Hiking and Camping

Deciding on a small one or two man tent depends on what you are going to use it for, and where you are going to use it. If you want to use it for hiking then weight is the most important factor. The lighter the better. However where you are going to take it is also important. A light summer tent has its problems when used in Iceland. I warm areas in summer in Australia, you may be able to use just a mosquito net. Most lightweight hiking tents have aluminium poles, with the cheaper ones having fibreglass. The aluminium is still not as durable as fibreglass, although lighter
  • Crossing the Simpson Desert
    Can be either West East (most travellers) Dalhousie Springs to Birdsville via the French Line, Rig Road, K1 Line and QAA Line or East West (from Birdsville) The Simpson Desert Crossing consists of a mixture of clay-topped and sand tracks and is definitely for 4WD vehicles only. Crossing some of the most desolate and remote country on the continent, it is not for the faint-hearted. Being stuck out there could easily cost you your life, so you will need to be extremely careful when planning and preparing for the trip. A number of old shot lines (from early exploration) and rig roads criss-cross the desert, but the safest and easiest route is the one described below. The crossing usually takes a minimum of three to four days. Spending more time is good if you have it as you can take some careful diversions. The main feature of the desert is the series of parallel sand dunes, stretching for some 200-300km and running south-east to north-west. You should exercise extreme care where soft sand has created ridges on dune tops, as the drop on the other side can be severe. You must take care when crossing the tops of Dunes that you do not collide with another vehicle. A fix a flag to you front bullbar. Another feature of the Simpson, particularly in the central and eastern sections, is a series of clay playa lakes or clay-based pans, many of which have a salt crust. Where the track crosses them, take care to check the firmness of the surface even in dry conditions because the thin crust covers mud that is permanently soft. When wet, these lakes become impenetrable and vehicles often bog. Crossing the desert can be difficult after rain.
  • Michell Falls
    Mitchell Falls, a spectacular series of 4 falls, is the main natural attraction of the Mitchell Plateau region. It is accessed via the Mitchell Plateau Road that heads in a westerly direction off Kalumburu Road in the northern Kimberley. It takes at least two days driving or 15 hours to drive to Mitchell Plateau from the nearest town of Kununurra. Impossible during the wet season November to May, the unsealed road was made in 1954 to access the Mitchell Plateau for mining exploration that took place throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The highlight of the Mitchell Plateau is the stupendous Mitchell Falls that cascade over layers of rock into a deep pool. The return trek from the car park to the Falls can take 5 to 6 hours, so a full day should be allowed for the experience. Remnant rainforest and Livistonia palms grow tall on the rocky sides of the natural pool; the clear fresh water is an absolute oasis in the Kimberley outback. The main walk to the head of the Mitchell Falls is 5km one way, taking about 1½ hrs from the campground. The walk is not difficult, but quite long given that once you've made it there you have to turn around and come back. The camping is good