Murray Sunset & Wyperfield June Long weekend
Breakaways 4WD Club Murray Sunset & Wyperfield Adventure 6–8 June 2026
Saturday 6/6
The convoy assembled at Tailem Bend at 9:00am sharp (well, close enough for a 4WD trip!). Trip Leaders: Gordon & Joy, Crew: Greg & Maria, Connie & Paul, Will & Emily, Dave, and Aaron.
A beautiful sunny morning greeted us as Gordon briefed everyone on the weekend ahead. Joy also announced she was coming out of retirement for weather duties and confidently guaranteed good weather all weekend.
As it turns out, Joy still hasn’t lost her touch. First stop was Pinnaroo for the final fuel top-up before heading into the tracks. Along the way, the impressive Lameroo silo murals caught everyone’s attention—definitely worth a second look. After fuel and a comfort stop at Pinnaroo, we rolled into Murrayville and aired down around midday.
The sand was surprisingly firm to begin with but gradually softened as we ventured further in. Time for the fun to begin! Track conditions were remarkably good considering the rain Adelaide had recently received. There were a few muddy sections and water crossings along the way.
Gordon was quick to find alternative routes around a couple of larger mud pits, making it very clear that the 79 Series wasn’t planning on getting bogged this weekend! Lunch was enjoyed at the dam around 1:30pm before continuing on our merry way.
The muddy patches became more frequent, and Maria certainly wasn’t avoiding them. The 200 Series received what could only be described as a deluxe mud spa treatment. By this stage, Gordon had apparently changed his mind about avoiding mud and was enthusiastically testing the 79 through some of the puddles as not too many other options,
We arrived at Mt Crozier around 3:00pm and set up camp. With tents up and camp chairs out, the usual stories, laughs, and exaggerated driving achievements were shared around the fire.
Aaron decided it was time to test his camp baking skills, armed with bread premix and yeast. With a bit of assistance from Maria adding a few extra ingredients and helping work the dough, the loaf was left to prove under the bonnet—a surprisingly effective method after a full day of driving. The camp oven did the rest. A couple of tweaks next time and it will be bakery quality! ⸻
Sunday 7/6
The first night in Gordon and Joy’s new setup was declared a success. Once again, Joy delivered perfect weather with sunshine and warm temperatures making for a fantastic day.
Camp was packed up and everyone was back on the tracks by 9:00am. There was plenty of water across the roads, but with unknown depths and questionable outcomes, most of the side tracks got plenty of use. One particularly long muddy section required a bit of commitment. Once in, it was simply a matter of keeping the momentum up and enjoying the muddy water spraying everywhere. Interestingly, a chicken track appeared right at the exit, which a few people happily chose to use!
After passing another group of Victorians, we stopped at Mopoke Hut for morning tea. Everyone was fed, watered, and ready to continue after a short break. Today’s travels took us into Wyperfeld National Park.
The landscape was noticeably different from the previous day. Recent bushfires had passed through sections of the park, leaving some areas looking quite barren but highlighting the resilience of the bush. Lunch was enjoyed at Snowdrift Picnic Ground amongst the stunning white sand dunes. The afternoon tracks provided an enjoyable drive. A grader had recently been through, making some sections smoother than usual—slightly disappointing for those hoping to rattle a few fillings loose.
With daylight becoming a consideration, Gordon made the sensible decision to overnight at Wonga Campground rather than push on to the originally planned destination. Considering the remaining roads and the prospect of arriving after dark, it was the right call. The campground was busy, but we managed to secure a great site complete with fire pit and table. Dinner was cooked, stories flowed once again, and another excellent day wrapped up around the campfire. The temperature dropped noticeably compared to the previous night, encouraging everyone a little closer to the fire. ⸻
Monday 8/6
Joy continued her unbeaten weather streak with blue skies and sunshine all day. Gordon requested everyone be ready for an 8:30am departure as there was still plenty of country to cover. The morning was frosty enough to make packing up an adventure in itself. Fingers quickly stopped functioning, making simple tasks seem far more complicated than they should.
Back on the tracks, kangaroos were everywhere. The countryside had transformed dramatically from the burnt landscapes of the previous day, with lush green growth stretching across the horizon.
Travelling through Lake Albacutya provided more sandy tracks and rough sections to enjoy. Fun fact: water hasn’t significantly filled the lake since the early 1970s. A quick ten-minute morning tea stop followed before tackling the next series of tracks, complete with plenty of moguls to keep everyone entertained.
The convoy spread out slightly, requiring a regroup before continuing through more rolling terrain and muddy sections. By now it was becoming clear that local car washes would be enjoying a busy week. Everyone successfully conquered Separation Hill—although Maria provided a little extra entertainment by not quite being ready for the climb and stalling halfway up. Thankfully, pride was the only casualty. The white sand dunes were firm thanks to recent rain, making for enjoyable driving conditions compared to previous trips.
Eventually we reached Big Billy Bore where tyres were aired back up, the obligatory group photo was taken, and reality slowly began to set in the weekend was about to come to an end.
A final reminder was given that all fruit and vegetables needed to be disposed of before crossing the fruit fly exclusion zone, making Murrayville Hotel the last opportunity to comply, you wouldn’t read about it – we all disposed of everything drove through the check point, and it was closed!!
What an incredible weekend. Great company, fantastic tracks, perfect weather, plenty of laughs, a little mud, a lot of dust, and yet another memorable adventure. A huge thank you to Joy for once again delivering flawless navigation and somehow arranging perfect weather, and to Gordon for leading an excellent trip and finding plenty of fun tracks along the way.
Breakaways—you’ve done it again! Until the next adventure…