4WD Guide Finke Desert Race to Flinders

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There’s something special about hitting the road that resets your whole perspective. It’s not just the change of scenery – it’s the adventure, the chance to connect with people and to share real life experiences long after the dust settles.

For our Adelaide Branch Manager, James, the NT’s red dirt offered all that and more.

“I’d had mates hassling me to get up there and see the [Finke Desert] race for ages. After a few changes at home I thought, stuff it! The only thing stopping me from going is me.”

 

Before you know it, James was on the blower calling up his mates and asking them to take three weeks off – we’re going to watch the Race.

What started as a plan to go camping at the famous Finke Desert Race grew into a three-week reset through the Red Centre. And with six Norweld builds in tow and a crew that felt like family, it was always going to be a trip to remember.

Finke to Flinders

The crew set off from Adelaide, heading north to Marla, with their first night spent at the Marla Traveller’s Rest. From there, they pushed into the Northern Territory, camping along the dry riverbed in Owen Springs Conservation Reserve. By day three, they’d reached Camp Chaos, 59km into the Finke Desert Race track, where they joined other travellers and signed Ben’s legendary handmade sign, a tradition that kicks off the annual gathering.

The Finke Desert Race is a bucket-list event for any off-road enthusiasts who love a bit of high-speed competition and adrenaline-fuelled fun in an Aussie outback setting.

 

The original idea was to cross the Simpson Desert, but when the weather closed the tracks, the crew pivoted.

“After Finke, we hit some of the touristy spots through the Red Centre, headed down the Oodnadatta Track, and then into the Gammon and Flinders Ranges. Not a bad Plan-B.”

Think Palm Valley’s ancient palms, Kings Canyon’s stair-climbing views and a humbling Uluru sunset.

 

The crew and Norweld builds

Everyone on this trip was a mate of James, either through working at Norweld or had crossed paths along the way.

“It’s not often you can take a bunch of people who barely know each other and throw them into a campsite and everyone gets along great! It says a lot about the kind of people you choose to keep around.”

 

The full Norweld line-up looked like this:

 

The Norweld setups where rock solid on this trip! Weeks on the road, corrugations, red dust thick in the air, creek crossings – you name it-  and not once did the canopies let the team down. Everything stayed dry, dust-free and exactly where it was meant to be.

The under-tray drawers and toolboxes allowed plenty of space for firewood, jerries and all the extras they didn’t want stacked on the roof.

Smart organisation made a big difference too, especially after a long day behind the wheel. Recovery gear was within arm’s reach, the trundle drawers kept tools and less-used gear tucked away and the extra space in the Deluxe Lite canopies for another fridge meant cold beers at camp were always at the ready.

Having access to clean water was another game changer. Between everyone, a couple of utes were used for cleaning and washing up, one for drinking and cooking and they used Jerome’s canopy to run his Joolca Hottap shower.

“Nothing beats a hot shower in the middle of the desert as the temp starts to drop off.”

The Norweld rigs kept everything secure, organised and protected. Exactly what you want when the focus is on mates, the track and the journey, not worrying about your setup.

 

 

tips from James for your Finke Desert Race to Flinders trip

No big trip goes off without a little drama, but the key is being prepared. For James, the only major issue was a blown tyre on the Oodnadatta. His very handy advice? If you’re running an uncommon tyre size, make sure you bring two spares.

“Carry tools and spare tyres, and you’ll probably never need them – however it’s better to be looking at them than looking for them.”

  • Don’t overpack: There’s plenty of places to buy groceries and fuel etc. You have to remember these communities and towns rely on tourists to survive, if we don’t spend money there, they’ll no longer exist.
  • Carry paper maps: Don’t rely on Google Maps or any single GPS unit. Roads can vary from day to day.
  • Starlink: An awesome tool to be able to book last minute campsites. Some days, we’d choose a rough direction and hit the road – then we’d check the relevant national parks website to book the site as we arrived. Opens up so many more options with touring. It’s also handy for coordinating meet-ups with mates.
  • Check your rig before you go: If you’re already questioning whether something will last the trip, odds have it, it probably won’t. Better to sort it before you go then end up chasing parts or repairs in the middle of nowhere.
  • Have a plan: Then be ready to scrap it

This trip wasn’t about ticking off every track or having the perfect itinerary. It was about getting away with good people, having a laugh and finding a bit of space to reset.

James had a real ‘this is what it’s all about’ moment that applies to all of us at some point in our lives, and that is:

“Life isn’t about focusing on the negatives or the stress, it’s about getting out there and doing what brings us peace and joy. There’s no point waiting for anyone else to plan it for you – just do it.”

Because travel isn’t just about seeing new places. It’s about stepping out of your day-to-day, embracing the unknown and sharing the journey, the real stuff, with the people who get it. Whether it’s chasing thrills or sunsets or a little of both, a good 4WD trip with mates gets you in the right headspace to reflect and reconnect.

And sometimes, that’s all we ever need.

Ready to plan your own Finke Desert Race camping trip or explore the Flinders? We have Norweld-owned branches in Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and various agents around the country. Get in touch with our team to organise a quote today.

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