The world’s most remote music festival will reverberate for the 7th time, with 2019 featuring the sonic awesomeness of…

Midnight Oil! The Living End! Kasey Chambers!

Three fantastic headliners. We know seeing Midnight Oil at Big Red has long been on the wishlist for organisers and adventurers alike.

More than just the music, there’s scenic helicopter flights, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Bashville “Drags” or if hilarious blokes in skirts hurtling down hills isn’t your thing you can don your best duds and compete in the Fashions in the Desert competition! Proceeds from the fashion comp and drags go to keeping the RFDS flying and servicing our remote communities.

Take part in some indigenous craft-making, stir up the dust in desert boot scooting. Are we going for another record in 2019? Wallop a volleyball in the Big Red Beach Volleyball games. Plenty of excitement for everyone.

It’s time to start planning your desert crossing now whether by 4X4 or flying in, or even catching the Rock’n’Roll Charter Bus if you don’t want to drive yourself! Camping is on site at ‘Bashville’ or in Birdsville itself.

The 2019 Birdsville Big Red Bash will be held again on the 16th to the 18th of July 2019.
Volunteer applications open today, while tickets go on sale on the 7th of December. Set a reminder as they’ll be selling fast!

Will you be belting out Blue Sky Mine with the Oils? Tell us your favourite songs from the headliners!

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10 years in the making, the route leads from Mundaring to Albany, said to provide an alternative to driving the highway. The Track, as it is known, visits Dwellingup, Collie and Boyup Brook along the way. Visitors that don’t wish to camp can stay in accommodation, or pick up supplies and enjoy a pub lunch en-route. There’s also many activities along the way including the Hotham Valley Railway in Dwellingup.

Congratulations to the Four Wheel Drive Association of Western Australia for pulling this fantastic adventure together.

The track is predominately unsealed tracks and trails. Conditions do vary due to weather, but is generally passable by 4X4s, camper trailers and some all-wheel-drive vehicles. There are some short stints on bitumen to link between the more scenic tracks.

Although 900km in length, The Track can be accessed in stages making for easy day trips or longer tours. The objective is to extend  The Track to a total of 4500km in a circular loop taking in Kalgoorlie and the Mid West regions too. The 4WD Association hopes to have the extended trip open this time next year.

There is concern about the spread of a pathogen that kills native plants being spread by 4X4s, as it is often carried in mud on vehicles. All users are recommended to thoroughly wash the underside of their car (and trailer if towing) so as to not spread the dieback pathogen.

There is no map published of the route, to get the GPS coordinates for The Track, visit the Four Wheel Drive Association of WA website here

Check out Emma George’s video below!

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Yep, it all kicks off this Friday 28th September for two absolutely HUGE days of fun, sun, utes, music and good times. So far the weather is looking to be absolutely perfect with cool nights and nice warm days for the Muster, with clear night skies to camp and party under.

This year is the 20th Play on the Plains Festival (the actual, proper name for the Deni Ute Muster, who knew, right?), and it’s going to go off like a frog in a sock.

This year, as with past festivals, there is an expected crowd of over 20,000 people of all ages set to descend on the area. There are more than 1,000 volunteers ready to go, and as with previous events, it’s expected over $100,000 will be donated back to local community groups, and the festival itself brings in over $9 million into the region over the festival.

This year, you can expect to see Carrie Underwood, Kasey Chambers, Busby Marou, Troy Cassar Daley and Thirsty Merc among other artists in the main stage line up. You’ll also have Lawn Mower racing, the Wild Action zoo, Shimano Fishing tank with Dave ‘Mossy’ Moss, camel rides, wood chopping, bull-riding and driving competition. Trust us, there won’t be a dull moment at the 2018 Deni Ute Muster!

Wondering where and how the Muster originated? Head on over to here and have a read of where it all started.

So make sure you head on over here to grab tickets, pack the ‘yoot and head on down to the Muster!

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A particularly narrow section of the track called Monaghan’s Bluff suffered a rock fall in 2010, effectively closing the track to through traffic. A workaround route along the Root Hog Fire Trail has since been upgraded to allow passage along an easement through a private property, but ‘it was never quite the same’.  As reported in  MR4X4.com.au the use of Root Hog Fire Trail has had some contention and closures itself. Notably, the river crossing was made impassible with earthmoving equipment in an attempt to stop traffic.

Reopen or realign?

One issue as explained in This Unsealed 4X4 story for Bathurst Council is the long-term viability of any works. The track has experienced a number of rockfalls in the past, and is expensive to maintain compared to more heavily trafficked roads in the region. Whether the track maintains the original alignment or is realigned to avoid the less stable sections is still to be seen. Regardless, the track is a major tourist drawcard for the camping and 4WDing community and will greatly assist Hill End and neighbouring towns to survive.

There does not appear to be a schedule for the works to begin or be completed yet, we will certainly let you know as soon as we know anything!

Track through time

The Bridle Track is one of the few destinations in NSW that has survived the decades of recreational 4X4 touring without suffering from political closure or environmentalist abuse. There are plenty of fantastic camp sites in the area, with old mines and relics to explore, with gold prospecting and fishing popular in the region too. A round trip comprising Sunny Corner to Capertee, along the Turon River and down the Bridle Track makes for a great long weekend trip not far from Sydney.

Have you driven the original alignment or the Root Hog detour? Tell us your experiences in the comments below.

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