FULL BINNS

BINNS TRACK MAY HAVE MORPHED ONLY RECENTLY, BUT IT’S QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF THE OUTBACK’S MORE POPULAR AND CHALLENGING ADVENTURES.

- Glenn Marshall

HOW GOOD it is when an outback track starts at one of the most remote pubs in the country? Even getting to Mount Dare can be a challenge for many, so enjoy the hospitality offered, top up your fuel tanks and then begin a journey that’ll blow your mind.

Bulldust! Superfine, super deep and in stretches that can’t compare. It’s nasty stuff and there is no way of keeping it out of your vehicle, especially when you hit a patch so deep the dust sweeps up over your bonnet and straight into the cabin air intake.

From Mount Dare, Binns Track leads you across the border into the Northern Territory, towards Old Andando Station. For the first 45km, 80 percent of the drive is bulldust, but once past Mayfield Bore, it settles a little and the corrugations take over.

Tyre pressures play an important role in making this type of terrain easier to tolerate. (N.B. This section of Binns Track is now closed indefinitely and a detour via New Crown Station is in place.)

Old Andando was home to Molly and Mac Clarke from early in the 1950s, and the homestead has been left as it was when Molly reluctantly had to leave. She now watches over her beloved property from her nearby grave.

The rustic campground at Old Andando is a great spot to roll out the swag, with flushing toilets and donkey showers included in the $10 camping fee (per person). Wind-protected fire pits are spread around the campsite, but you’ll need to supply your own wood. If the caretaker Cobby Bob is around, make sure you invite him down to share your fire and you’ll be entertained with bush poetry and yarns that’ll make your night.

A little way up the track, a signposted detour leads to the Mac Clarke Reserve where you’ll find one of only three remaining Acacia peuce collectives. This is an important conservation reserve, so leave only footprints and take only photos; camping and fires are not allowed.