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Mt Dare to Oodnadatta via Dalhousie
Difficulty:
Suitable for:
This trek provides an easy opportunity to access Dalhousie Springs, one of the main icons of the Simpson Desert without a significant detour if touring between South Australia and the Red Centre.
Start
Mount Dare Hotel
Finish
Oodnadatta
Distance
250.13 km
Minimum Days
1
Average Speed
50.44 km/hr
Driving Time
4 hr 57 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team Updated: 21 Nov 2007
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Description
Environment
Interactive Route Map
History
Permits
Driving Directions
Things to See & Do
Trek Feedback
Preparation
Related Pages
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Recommended Reading
In this Trek Note
Description
The attraction of the Dalhousie mound springs, combined with some delightful ruins of old stations and railway sidings make this a must-do trek if travelling in this vicinity.
This trek note paves a typical route for travellers either commencing or ending a trip across the
Simpson Desert
but also enables those of us that are less adventurous to soak up the outback ambiance without venturing too far into the red desert.
This trek involves numerous small creek crossings and terrain varies from stoney to sandy in patches but does not involve the crossing of any major sand dunes.
Interactive Route Map
Mount Dare Hotel
Mt Dare Hotel is situated on the western edge of the Simpson Desert just 10km south of the Northern Territory border.
Features:
Position: 135.2475ºE 26.0689ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Mt Dare Road & Dalhousie Road
Distance:
10.98km
Average Speed:
45.09km/h
Mt Dare Road & Dalhousie Road
Junction of Mt Dare Road and Dalhousie Road.
Features:
Position: 135.1935ºE 26.1412ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Dalhousie Rd & Bloods Creek Rd
Distance:
23.03km
Average Speed:
52.46km/h
Dalhousie Rd & Bloods Creek Rd
Junction of Mt Dare - Dalhousie Rd & Bloods Creek Rd
Features:
Position: 135.2389ºE 26.3320ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
3 O'clock Creek
Distance:
23.89km
Average Speed:
55.07km/h
3 O'clock Creek
Visitors to 3 O'clock Creek may camp here provided they have a Desert Parks Pass. The bush camping area has drinking water, shady spots and firewood.
Features:
Position: 135.4120ºE 26.4599ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track
Distance:
8.02km
Average Speed:
53.36km/h
Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track
This junction is just 3km from Dalhousie Springs and the Ranger Station. Nearby is Tenacity Bog, and a bog detour linking the Dalhousie Rd to the Pedirka Track bypassing this junction.
Features:
Position: 135.4803ºE 26.4443ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Dalhousie Springs
Distance:
3.41km
Average Speed:
36.43km/h
Dalhousie Springs
These hot, fresh water springs are very unique and are an outlet from the Great Artesian Basin. It is the largest known springs and the main spring offers a nice soothing swim for travellers after a hard day’s drive.
Features:
Position: 135.5031ºE 26.4225ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track
Distance:
3.41km
Average Speed:
36.43km/h
Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track
This junction is just 3km from Dalhousie Springs and the Ranger Station. Nearby is Tenacity Bog, and a bog detour linking the Dalhousie Rd to the Pedirka Track bypassing this junction.
Features:
Position: 135.4803ºE 26.4443ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Dalhousie Ruins
Distance:
8.53km
Average Speed:
47.76km/h
Dalhousie Ruins
The first lease of Dalhousie was in 1872. Abondoned in 1925. 100 year old date palms rustling in the breeze. Remnants of the cattle yards and chook pen. Many old buildings including homestead, stockman's quarters and blacksmith.
Features:
Position: 135.4684ºE 26.5142ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Witjira NP, Western Boundary
Distance:
15.7km
Average Speed:
53.07km/h
Witjira NP, Western Boundary
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 135.4298ºE 26.6175ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Pedirka Siding Ruins
Distance:
26.88km
Average Speed:
55.83km/h
Pedirka Siding Ruins
The ruins of this railway siding consists of fettlers cottages, bases, and a bore located on a flat and barren expanse of gibber rocks.
Features:
Position: 135.2119ºE 26.6582ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Hamilton Creek
Distance:
16.98km
Average Speed:
57.87km/h
Hamilton Creek
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 135.0790ºE 26.7090ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Fogartys Claypan
Distance:
46.09km
Average Speed:
55.09km/h
Fogartys Claypan
Fogartys Claypan can be quite difficult to drive across when it is wet as the surface is soft and boggy. During the dry and hot conditions, the surface can be very dusty. The distance across this claypan is around 3km and is rather challenging.
Features:
Position: 135.2458ºE 27.0446ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Alberga River & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk
Distance:
14.07km
Average Speed:
56.71km/h
Alberga River & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk
During construction of the Overland Telegraph Line in 1871, this point of the river used to be known as the Macumba River.
Features:
Position: 135.2783ºE 27.1571ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Oodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk
Distance:
31.51km
Average Speed:
57.01km/h
Oodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 135.3568ºE 27.4214ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
The Angle Pole Memorial
Distance:
10.53km
Average Speed:
48.03km/h
The Angle Pole Memorial
This pole marks the spot where the Overland Telegraph Line changed to a more northerly direction.
Features:
Position: 135.4144ºE 27.4951ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Oodnadatta
Distance:
7.1km
Average Speed:
46.46km/h
Oodnadatta
Oodnadatta is an unusal township with a checkered history. Located 1,011 km north of Adelaide via Coober Pedy, or 1092 km via Marree and the Oodnadatta Track Oodnadatta lies just south of Lake Eyre on the edge of the Tirari Desert.
Features:
Position: 135.4495ºE 27.5496ºS (GDA 94)
Route Control
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Permits
To visit or camp at
Dalhousie Springs
, which is located within the Witjara National Park, visitors must hold a Desert Parks Permit. If
Dalhousie Springs
is the only location in the desert where you wish to visit, then a special 24 hour permit is available from the onsite Ranger. A 24 hour pass is not required if you hold a current 12 month Desert Parks Pass.
Things to See & Do
Dalhousie Springs
These hot, fresh water springs are very unique and are an outlet from the Great Artesian Basin. It is the largest known springs and the main spring offers a nice soothing swim for travellers after a hard day’s drive. Since the late 1990s, new camping facilities have provided a nice area to camp and relax within the Witjira National Park.
Fogartys Claypan
Fogartys Claypan can be quite difficult to drive across when it is wet as the surface is soft and boggy. During the dry and hot conditions, the surface can be very dusty. The distance across this claypan is around 3km and is rather challenging. It can also be hazardous during extreme weather condition so caution need to be exercised.
The Angle Pole Memorial
This pole marks the spot where the Overland Telegraph Line changed to a more northerly direction.
Dalhousie Ruins
The first lease of Dalhousie was in 1872. Abondoned in 1925. 100 year old date palms rustling in the breeze. Remnants of the cattle yards and chook pen. Many old buildings including homestead, stockman's quarters and blacksmith. Taken over in 1984 by the Department for Environment and Heritage and was dedicated as ‘Witjira National Park.’
Pedirka Siding Ruins
The ruins of this railway siding consists of fettlers cottages, bases, and a bore located on a flat and barren expanse of gibber rocks.
Dalhousie Springs
The Angle Pole Memorial
Pedirka Siding Ruins
Fogartys Claypan
Dalhousie Ruins
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
Mount Dare Hotel
,
Oodnadatta
Diesel
4cyl 35 litres
ULP
4cyl 41 litres
LPG
4cyl 50 litres
6cyl 38 litres
6cyl 45 litres
6cyl 44 litres
8cyl 40 litres
8cyl 41 litres
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel
(* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Best Time To Visit
Closest Climatic Station
Oodnadatta Airport
Distance from Trek Mid Point 84.02km S
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mean Max. °C
37.7
36.6
33.7
28.5
23.2
19.9
19.5
22.0
26.5
30.2
33.8
36.4
Mean Min. °C
22.8
22.3
19.2
14.4
9.8
6.6
5.8
7.4
11.4
15.0
18.5
21.2
Mean Rain mm
24.6
32.2
12.3
11.2
12.8
12.6
10.5
7.8
9.3
14.1
11.3
16.5
Best time to travel
Ok time to travel
Travel NOT recommended
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
Mount Dare Hotel
,
Oodnadatta
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Dalhousie Springs
These hot, fresh water springs are very unique and are an outlet from the Great Artesian Basin. It is the largest known springs and the main spring offers a nice soothing swim for travellers after a hard day’s drive. Since the late 1990s, new camping facilities have provided a nice area to camp and relax within the Witjira National Park.
3 O'clock Creek
Visitors to 3 O'clock Creek may camp here provided they have a Desert Parks Pass. The bush camping area has drinking water, shady spots and firewood.
Mount Dare Hotel
Mt Dare Hotel is situated on the western edge of the Simpson Desert just 10km south of the Northern Territory border.
Oodnadatta
Oodnadatta is an unusal township with a checkered history. Located 1,011 km north of Adelaide via Coober Pedy, or 1092 km via Marree and the Oodnadatta Track Oodnadatta lies just south of Lake Eyre on the edge of the Tirari Desert.
Dalhousie Springs
Mount Dare Hotel
Oodnadatta
3 O'clock Creek
Environment
Dalhousie Springs
form the largest complex of artesian springs in
Australia
and the rehabilitation and protection of this internationally significant area was one of the main reasons for the establishment of the Witjara National Park, named with the aboriginal word for the paperbark trees "Melaleuca glomerata" fringing the springs.
The origin of the date palms in the area surrounding the
Dalhousie Ruins
is still being debated. Romantics believe the trees were planted by Afghan cameleers, but there is firm evidence that dates were planted by the Lewis family who took over the lease of Dalhousie in 1896.
History
For thousands of years before Europeans discovered them,
Dalhousie Springs
provided water, shelter, food and medicines for the desert Aborigines. The ancient springs had a mythological significance too for the Aborigines and are featured in many tribal myths and songs. The Park also has an extensive European history.
Dalhousie Springs
served as a refuge and base camp for
Simpson Desert
crossings by early explorers, as well as today's many adventurous 4WD travellers.
The first pastoral lease in the area, which later became part of the Mount Dare property, was taken up by Ned Bagot in 1872 with the Dalhousie Homestead, stockyards and outbuildings constructed in the following decade. Sheep were the initial mainstay of pastoralism, but the focus shifted to cattle by the turn of the century. Although many bores were sunk on Mount Dare station,
Dalhousie Springs
remained vital for the
survival
of stock.
The land was marginal pastoral country and, during the brief history of the industry, various leases were abandoned, particularly from the start of the century until just prior to the First World War. Evidence of white habitation remain at the
Dalhousie ruins
and in the form of old stockyards and agricultural equipment in the area.
More than a century of grazing by sheep and cattle ceased in 1985 with the declaration of Witjira National Park. Mount Dare Homestead now operates as a private enterprise and provides fuel, meals, supplies and
accommodation
for visitors.
Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
Mount Dare Hotel to Mt Dare Road & Dalhousie Road
10.98 km
SW
214°
14 min
Mt Dare Road & Dalhousie Road to Dalhousie Rd & Bloods Creek Rd
23.03 km
S
168°
26 min
Dalhousie Rd & Bloods Creek Rd to 3 O'clock Creek
23.89 km
SE
130°
26 min
3 O'clock Creek to Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track
8.02 km
E
76°
9 min
Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track to Dalhousie Springs
3.41 km
NE
43°
5 min
Dalhousie Springs to Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track
3.41 km
SW
223°
5 min
Spring Creek Delta Track & Pedirka Track to Dalhousie Ruins
8.53 km
S
189°
10 min
Dalhousie Ruins to Witjira NP, Western Boundary
15.7 km
S
198°
17 min
Witjira NP, Western Boundary to Pedirka Siding Ruins
26.88 km
W
258°
28 min
Pedirka Siding Ruins to Hamilton Creek
16.98 km
SW
247°
17 min
Hamilton Creek to Fogartys Claypan
46.09 km
SE
156°
50 min
Fogartys Claypan to Alberga River & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk
14.07 km
S
166°
14 min
Alberga River & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk to Oodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk
31.51 km
S
165°
33 min
Oodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk to The Angle Pole Memorial
10.53 km
SE
145°
13 min
The Angle Pole Memorial to Oodnadatta
7.1 km
SE
150°
9 min
Mount Dare Hotel to Oodnadatta
250.13 km
4 hr 57 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
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