Simpson Desert Recovery Assurance
Now taking bookings for 2026
Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert National Park is now officially OPEN.
We are pleased to advise that the desert is ready to welcome visitors travelling in either an easterly or westerly direction. Please note the usual QAA crossing at Eyre Creek is still closed with all traffic to head north and use the Stony Crossing bypass. Please follow the detour signs and heed the latest advice from National Parks.
We look forward to welcoming you on your desert adventure soon, and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact the Hotel team.
Birdsville is considered the gateway to the Simpson desert. Now known as Munga-Thirri National Park, it is Queensland's largest protected area and covers nearly a million hectares. A 4-wheel driving paradise, the Simpson Desert is a bucket list expedition for those wanting to explore some of the most remote and untouched areas of Australia.
Crossing the Simpson Desert doesn't come without its challenges however and while this is a big part of the attraction, it can also be a worry for those considering embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. Most Roadside Assistance Policies do not cover the Simpson Desert and emergency vehicle recovery callout services can take weeks and cost upwards of $10,000 so breaking down in the Simpson Desert could easily ruin even the most resilient 4WD enthusiasts' journey.
But not anymore, with the peace of mind of your Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance Package.
In 2024 the Birdsville Hotel designed and built a specialised, heavy-duty off-road recovery truck specifically designed for this region & terrain, and with our highly trained staff is now offering Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance Packages.
"The moral of the story is this. Get recovery insurance from the Birdsville Hotel BEFORE heading into the Simpson Desert.
"We decided to cross the Simpson Desert from Mt Dare to Birdsville in a vehicle that is three months old and designed for this purpose. We were told by the dealership that we would be looked after wherever the vehicle was, should an issue arise. Luckily, we read the fine print!
We decided to pay the insurance with the Birdsville Hotel so we could feel extra safe. For this money, if we need a tow out, they will retrieve us. Thank goodness we did. The alternator broke and we could not go on. We were 340km west of Birdsville. With no fuss and a lovely assurance from Evelyn at the Birdsville Hotel, the fabulous Noah was on his way in the recovery vehicle. It took him a day and a half to reach us and when he did, he was there with a smile, a helpful attitude and good humour.
We drove for two days with Noah to get the vehicle back to the Birdsville Hotel. His amazing service did not end there. He went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. All the staff at this hotel were warm and kind to us after a tough trip.
The moral of the story is this. Get recovery insurance from the Birdsville Hotel BEFORE heading into the Simpson Desert. Do not believe your car company or roadside assist people when they say they will get you from the desert if there is a problem. They have no idea. Read the fine print. Had we not taken out this cheap but essential insurance, we would have been up for about $20,000. If you’re unlucky enough to break down, hopefully you will be lucky enough to have Noah be the one to pick you up. Thanks so much Noah for making a terrible situation bearable for us. We really couldn’t have asked for anyone better."
PETER DYER, JUNE 2025
Book a Recovery Assistance Package
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Cost of package: $695 inc GST per vehicle
Important Information before Purchasing Cover
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To enable your recovery, a Satellite phone or mobile phone with satellite connectivity (Starlink or SatSleeve) is required to notify us. Although Satellite phones can be hired from the Wirrari Information Centre in Birdsville and the Mount Dare Hotel, their availability is limited.
It is advised you ring either of the above to book a Satellite phone prior to leaving home or alternatively bring one from your home base or ensure you have one for your desert crossing. A Satellite phone also provides tremendous peace of mind should your or one of your fellow travellers have a medical emergency.
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Simpson Desert Recovery packages must be purchased no later than 7 days prior to entering the Simpson Desert. If you are within 7 days of your arrival date you must purchase your package in person at the Birdsville Hotel. Birdsville Hotel reserves the right to refuse a recovery and refund if the traveller has not checked in at the hotel reception for booking requests within the 7 day arrival window.
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When purchasing in person within the 7 day arrival window, you will be sent confirmation by email within 48 hours.
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All recovery services are back to Birdsville and not to any other location. The reasoning behind this is once back in Birdsville, our home base, your broken down vehicle can be securely stored until such time it can be freighted to a repairer as organised with your normal insurance provider. We can then generally organise some accommodation for you (not guaranteed but we'll do our best) and ensure you and your family / friends are fed, watered and looked after.
Regional Express also service Birdsville with flights to Brisbane or Mt. Isa twice per week. Alternatively, Birdsville aviation have aircraft that can be chartered to fly you back to your home base.
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Please check what type of breakdown is covered below.
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Please check the assistance package cover eligibility map below.
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Please view our Terms and Conditions below.
What type of break down is covered:
The cover offered covers the recovery of your 4wd vehicle if it suffers a major mechanical breakdown while crossing the Simpson Desert. We are not a bogged vehicle, RACQ or NRMA type of service and cannot be called out to assist with basic breakdowns like flat batteries, running out of fuel, having a flat tyre or other minor problems that can be fixed or repaired onsite. A major mechanical breakdown or failure can be described as being but not limited to:
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Front or rear suspension failure which is not repairable on the track and the vehicle is not driveable
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Engine, transmission or any part of the driveline that has failed and is beyond being able to "limp" back to Birdsville. (All recovery services as mentioned are back to Birdsville only).
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Broken vehicle chassis, blown up or failed axles, failed and collapsed wheel bearings, broken steering systems, failed fuel systems, broken and failed water pumps or radiators, seized or failed alternators preventing the engine and electrical system to run. Something as simple as a stick through your radiator can really put a downer on your adventure!
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If by chance you become severely bogged and are not part of a convoy of other vehicles, we will come out to pull out your vehicle as long as every effort has been made to free the vehicle yourselves.
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If by chance you accidentally roll over your vehicle or are involved in an accident, we can recover your damaged vehicle and of course rescue you and your family as well. If the matter is an emergency and urgent medical assistance is required please contact 000 as first priority. We can then work in with the relevant emergency services to recover your vehicle when appropriate.
Recovery Zone Map
Your Recovery Assistance Package will cover you for vehicle recovery while travelling on the designated tracks within the zone clearly stated on this map.
The zone marked on the map covers the most popular tracks and where travellers are most at risk of a vehicle breakdown. Your cover stretches from the township of Birdsville in the east to over Big Red and to the western intersection of the Rig Road and French Line. Further west from here, the track is far less arduous and considered "fairly easy". From here, any recovery would be a day and a half to two days back to Birdsville and the limit of how far we can go.
Venturing to the southeast of the Munga-Thirri National Park? The Recovery Assistance Package covers you on those desert southern routes tracking down onto the K1 line and into the Warburton track finishing at the intersection of the Warburton and Birdsville tracks (when this route is open, please check with SA National Parks to ensure that it is open at the time of travelling). The zone has been designed around a region that we have confidence in proving a recovery service to our package holders safely and within a reasonable time frame.
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Click to view the full map (JPG, 11MB)
If travelling on marked routes outside of the recovery zone and you experience a breakdown, we may be able to provide a recovery, but it will depend on your location and will be assessed on a case by case basis. Please understand that depending on your location, your recovery may be denied. Our primary focus is to provide recovery services to those who have purchased a recovery assistance package and are broken down within the recovery zone area.
While the recovery assistance package covers you for the marked routes within the zone please be aware that if tracks are officially closed due to wet weather or poor track conditions we will be unable to depart Birdsville to carry out a recovery until the track is officially re-opened for travel.
We proudly support and adhere to the "Tread Lightly Code" in this pristine remote area. Please refrain from venturing off the main tracks.
What to do in the Event of a Breakdown
Use your Satellite phone to ring our Recovery Assistance direct line on 0492 016 618 available from 7am – 8pm daily.
Have the details of your whereabouts ready ie. GPS location ideally but otherwise; your closest desert "Q call point", what track you're on, distance from last known point of interest, and distance from the nearest track if off-track.
Be prepared to give details about the reason for your recovery request to allow us to best prepare our team for an efficient recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on recovery request location, we can provide recovery services at a cost of $500/hr from the time we start up the recovery vehicle in Birdsville until the time we arrive back in Birdsville. It is important to note however, that we cannot assure you that our assistance will be available within a reasonable timeframe as our package customers are our first priority. It is common for a recovery to take anywhere from 8 hours to 2 days depending on your location so any recovery is likely to be between $4,500 – $12,000 or even more.
The answer is unfortunately NO. We cover your tow vehicle and should it suffer any failure we can recover it as per our guidelines, but we do not offer any breakdown recovery assurance cover whatsoever for trailers. If your trailer suffers a breakdown we can recover it but will be charged out at our normal recovery rate of $500 per hour.
It’s an unofficial view that trailers are frowned upon in the Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert National Park as the towing vehicle causes much more track and dune erosion and damage. Practically, they are also hard to tow and are a real drag on your towing vehicle. A straight dune climb with a trailer can be achieved although much more arduous and harder on the tow vehicle but the winding climbs reduce momentum and are very troublesome all round. The descent is not a picnic either with unwanted ‘pushing’ tending to be again very hard on machinery, leading to many chassis fractures.
As per the Parks SA website, they do not recommend the towing of trailers or campers within the desert. For more information, please refer to the Parks SA website.
We can provide recoveries outside of the Simpson Desert area but it will be on a case by case basis. Our primary focus is to be at the ready to act on recoveries covered by our assurance package.
The eligibility area marked on the map covers the most arduous areas of the Simpson Desert where breakdowns usually occur. Areas outside of the eligibility area are either not big risk areas or are not easily accessible for our Recovery Vehicle (ie the Hay River Track). If you experience a breakdown outside of the eligibility area, you can contact us for advice and if you are accessible, we will provide you with a quote and timeframe to recover your vehicle at the normal recovery rate of $500/hr. Alternatively, if you experience a breakdown to the west of our eligibility area, you can call the Mount Dare Hotel to discuss options for recovery to the West.
About the Recovery Truck
Our brand-new Mercedes Arocs 1835 4x4 with 7.7 litre TDI engine developing 1400 Nm of pulling power is a bespoke heavy-duty off-road recovery vehicle specifically designed for recoveries out in Simpson Desert terrain. The tilt tray has been purpose built to carry large 4x4 vehicles including larger imported dual cab utilities that have become extremely popular with offroad touring enthusiasts. The tray has also been designed with our region specifically in mind with the ability to carry additional spare wheels, tools, and heavy-duty recovery equipment. Boasting bigger than standard off-road tyres to ensure premium performance in the sand hills, there are few places this vehicle can't go.
The cabin is well appointed with a bench seat in the rear of the cab to enable us to transport not just your vehicle but the family as well in safety and comfort! Our goal is to ensure that those taking on the adventure of the Simpson Desert feel rest assured that we have a premium recovery service to back you up should the trip not go to plan.
Terms & Conditions
By purchasing Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance, you are bound by the terms and conditions below that apply to the relevant product.
Anyone who is visiting the Simpson Desert with a capable fit for purpose 4 wheel drive road registered vehicle. You can also purchase cover for your motorbike.
We do accept Tour Operators but arrangements must be made directly with the Birdsville Hotel booking team.
Your nominated vehicle and up to five passengers within the recovery zone area. Our desert recovery truck can only carry 5 passengers maximum.
A minimum waiting period of 7 days from payment will be applied to all services included in package. The vehicle details cannot be amended once the package has started.
The waiting period may be waived if the package is purchased at The Birdsville Hotel in person.
Simpson Desert Recovery packages must be purchased no later than 7 days prior to entering the Simpson Desert. If you are within 7 days of your arrival date you must purchase your package in person at the Birdsville Hotel. Birdsville Hotel reserves the right to refuse a recovery and refund if the traveller has not checked in at the hotel reception for booking requests within the 7 day arrival window.
Where your nominated vehicle fails, as per the type of breakdowns we cover, once you have notified us of your breakdown our recovery crew will be dispatched as soon as possible. Your vehicle will then be recovered to Birdsville only. Please keep in mind, this is not a mobile mechanical repair service, this is a vehicle recovery service.
Following the recovery to Birdsville any repairs and further transportation are at your discretion and cost. Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance does not cover you for an Insurable Event and is not a substitute for motor vehicle insurance.
Wait times for recovery may vary and are dependent on vehicle location and prior recovery bookings. An estimated time of arrival will be given at the time of recovery assistance request.
Simpson Desert Recovery Packages are only valid for the period of 14 days and for the areas prescribed on the Recovery Zone map.
Vehicles are only covered while travelling on the specifically designated marked tracks within areas designated on the map provided at the time of purchase. If travelling on marked routes outside of the recovery zone and you experience a breakdown, we may be able to provide a recovery, but it will depend on your location and will be assessed on a case by case basis. Please understand that depending on your location, your recovery may be denied. Our primary focus is to provide recovery services to those who have purchased a recovery assistance package and are broken down within the recovery zone area.
Any 4 wheel drive vehicle or off-road motorcycle that is fit for purpose to cross the Simpson Desert and which meets the following criteria:
- Used for private purposes only; (unless tour company with prior arrangements direct with Birdsville Hotel)
- Registered;
- Roadworthy;
- Does not exceed the size limitations (see below);
- Not an Ineligible Vehicle (see below).
Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance does not cover motor vehicles or motorcycles that are:
- Taxis and limousines;
- Trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles that exceed the size limitations (see below);
- Unregistered vehicles or unlicensed drivers;
- Vehicles used for the purpose of operating a paid tour or another commercial use. Tour companies can be covered but must contact the Birdsville Hotel booking team via [email protected]
Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance does not cover vehicles that exceed one or a combination of the following:
- Length 6.5m from bullbar to towbar (if longer, please email our booking team with exact details);
- Gross Weight or fully loaded weight not to exceed 4.5 tonne;
- Height 3m
Except for any rights that you are entitled to by law, Simpson Desert Recovery and the Birdsville Hotel accepts no responsibility for any damage to your Eligible Vehicle, or other vehicles or property, including (without limitation) while in the care of the Birdsville Hotel during Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance. Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance & the Birdsville Hotel will not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss, including loss of income or any other expenses, or damage that arises from providing, or failing to provide, any services.
Insurance coverage cost and risk are entirely your responsibility in all circumstances, and you agree to indemnify Simpson Desert Recovery Assistance and the Birdsville Hotel against any loss, damage or claims.
Any Simpson Desert Recovery package fees paid to the Birdsville Hotel are not refundable or transferable. If your Simpson Desert travel dates change, consideration will be given to move your cover dates but will depend on availability at the time.