Birdsville, QLD
80.0 km (3 hrs )
★★★★☆

Big Red is the name given to the 30 m high sand dune that marks the eastern edge of the Simpson Dessert. Located 40 km west of Birdsville, the dunes are reached via a well maintained gravel road. Crossing the dunes requires an adequately prepared 4WD and can only be done in the cooler months of the year. The Simpson Desert National Park is closed during summer due to the intense heat and dangers that this brings.

The nearby Little Red is in some ways even more spectacular than Big Red, with the red coloured sand due to iron particles in the sand. The dunes are best seen at sunset when they appear to glow in the setting sun.