Birdsville Accomodation?

[LUCKY-1]

Giday There Lads, A good mate of mine has raised the possibility of heading to Birdsville for the races, and I ran the ruler over the software. Started to think though that to sleep under the wing, there is very little room in a typical GA Kite to stow enough swags. I wondered if those brave souls who have made the pilgramage can enlighten us about what works best to sleep on the stones under the wing at Birdsville?
Thanks Lucky

[trolleydriver]

If you can find your tent/swag/aircraft amongst 200 planes...... you haven't had enough to drink :ok:

Haven't been for a few years, but we always took a cheap dome tent, and a sleeping bag, always woke up sore but i don't think it was the bed.... you'll want to be up early anyway if you want a shower without spending 2 hours in the lineup.

Have fun its a great weekend.:)

[puff]

Except that sleep will not happen for the duration of your stay is best. I went in a twin, had a huge tent, a sleeping bag and a foam underlay, the rocks were huge and numerous. Can get quite cool on the nights and the night I was there it blew a gale all night, so if you can't sleep from the stones the noise of tents flapping keeps you up!

Although I must say being awake for the night was hilarious listening to all the drunks trying to find their a/c in the dark, and the noises coming from the porta loos were at times quite disturbing and amazingly loud!

Honestly being completely blotto and collapsing is your only real chance of a good nights sleep!

Did Birdsville once, can say I've done it but haven't got a lot of a desire to do it again.

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

"Did Birdsville once, can say I've done it but haven't got a lot of a desire to do it again"

That applies whether or not the races were on at the time of your visit.

Dr :cool:

[Tinstaafl]

Been there etc.

Used a tent fly as a cover. No real need for the tent unless it looks like a wet spell is coming. Bring some form of mattress! It'll insulate you from the ground & soften the bumps. I used a high density foam camping mattress which was comfortable enough. You'll need to dig the rocks out though.

Definitely a sleeping bag. It can get pretty bloody chilly overnight there. The fly helps with this - either nil wind & keep off the dew, or reducing the breeze.

Don't bring your best clothes...

[tinpis]

If youre insane dont miss the Birdsville races. :hmm:

[Paul Alfred]

We arrived one year without any planned acc. The refueller guy..god bless him...let us sleep in the flight planning/ storage shed next to the strip. Now we know the organisers and oh how sweet a nice cosy bed is....;)
Race 4 / No 1. Take plenty of cash!!!! You'll love it but whatever you do, dont go expecting to meet any women.....it has improved over the years I must admit...no offence ladies...I think the ratio would be close to 1:200 now :{ ah well, the steak sandwiches are fantastic, the beer is bearable XXXX, and the music at the pub in the beer garden is kinda modern only it has a country hillbilly beat to it that really fires up the locals.
Now this isnt everyones cup of tea but Fred Boothbys (Sp.?) boxing tent was unreal....young blokes have a good ol fashioned boxing match half cut...the crowd taking the underdog side....the memories are bloody priceless.
Cheers, PA :ok:

[777WakeTurbz]

Its a fun trip to make with your mates, if you have any other pilot mates get them to take aircraft up as well!
As for sleeping arrangements, a tent and sleeping bags with a li-lo would be the best space saving option, its what we did, though must admit they didnt really get used... :E
Cant say i remember there being a hell of a lot of rocks we couldnt kick out of the way either.

If you dont want to line up for a shower, have one at 3 or 4 in the morning "before" you go to bed! No one around at all to complain how long you take either! :}

Have fun! :ok:

Turbz :cool:

[Chadzat]

hahaha that pretty much sums it up nicely.

I was quite impressed with the sleeping arrangements of one guy who flew in. He had managed to fit a proper single bed mattress (albeit a cheapish, not too thick one) into the back of his 182. I didn't see how he managed to get it out, although I would imagine the door would have come off.

My advice is to score a charter where you take up workers for the bakery/pub who know people with a house. Nothing like sleeping in a proper bed at the Races! :}

[PA39]

What sleep? Gee we did charters out there for many years. i remember when you had to climb over the mound of empty beer cans to get to the old briefing office tent!!

[allthecoolnamesarego]

Ring anyone in Birdsville and ask them if you rent their verandah. I have heard people rent them out - much better than sleeping on the rocks.

[echelonq]

Birdsville hey? I went four times. Good times goodtimes, bring a tarp, foam mat, heaps of repellent, boombox (with heaps of batteries) and one of those flashing bike strobes to find where your plane is at 4 in the morning. Oh yeah and heaps of $$$$$$$$. You'll need in. expect to pay double Syd prices!! Lots of fun, hopefully see you there this year.

[morno]

and one of those flashing bike strobes to find where your plane is at 4 in the morning

I can just see it, everyone will take up that tip and all of Birdsville airport will be flashing red lights everywhere and you'll be back to square one, :}:}:};);)

morno

[Jamair]

'Sleep under the wing' be STUFFED - if yer on a Charter, turf the seats out and sleep in the bird! :ok: (can guarantee it works a treat in the Chieftain or Aztruck, fit in a rolled up foam matress or an inflatable [MATRESS you deviants!] and chuck the pax seats under the wing.) If yer on a private jolly - sleep is for the loosers who can't drink - like the CHTR bloke snoring in the Chieftain:E Haven't been for a few years, so dunno how it will work with the new security regs though....:confused:

Don't do what the chump did a few years back - went to sleep on the main drag and got run over. Quite an achievement in BDV.....:ugh: