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Oodnadatta Track

Difficulty: Trek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD 
If you’re a history buff you’re going to go nuts crossing the Oodnadatta Track. The track follows the orignal Ghan line from Marla to Oodnadatta and then on to Marree. There's stacks of ruins, mound springs, excellent conservation park information & railway sidings/rubble.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesMarla
Trek
FinishMarree
Distance637.43 kmMinimum Days2
Average Speed52.97 km/hrDriving Time12 hr 1 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 28 Mar 2008
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 Description

Following the Oodnadatta Track is a journey back to the days of early European exploration and settlement. The most obvious historical relics are the last remaining sleepers and ruins of the original Ghan railway that run alongside the track from Marree to William Creek.

The Oodnadatta Track is the name given to the stretch of good dirt road from Marree through to Oodnadatta, which follows a major Aboriginal trade route - the original track taken by the explorer Stuart, the Overland Telegraph Line and the Old Ghan Railway Line.

Along the Oodnadatta Track route there are mound springs, Lake Eyre (Australia's largest lake), the biggest cattle station in the world (Anna Creek Station - owned by Kidman) and an ever-changing countryside that is both harsh and beautiful.

Track conditions are generally good enough for a 2WD vehicle to travel the route, however a 4WD will be more comfortable over the potholes and better equipped if the weather changes as rain will make the track slippery and some sections are prone to sudden washaways. It is also impossible to visit Lake Eyre without an all-wheel drive vehicle with some sections being very sandy, particularly the Halligans Bay Track.

Lake Eyre is an Australian identity and is the focal point of a trip along the Oodnadatta track. The lake is a giant basin where all the inland rivers (Diamantina, Warburton, Thomson, Barcoo, Cooper, Georgina, Eyre Creek, Peake, Neales, Macumba and Hamilton Rivers) converge into a pool of vast proportions, yet it can lay dry for many years on end as a crusty saltpan. To find out the status of Lake Eyre, please visit: Lake Eyre Yacht Club

To mark the start of a new millennium, Lake Eyre flooded for the first time in over 10 years in June 2000 and water could be seen from the shore. This brought an enormous influx of tourists to the region and so track conditions and facilities in the region were lifted to cope with the level of tourism.

But just as quickly as it can fill, Lake Eyre quickly evaporates under the scorching outback sun.

 Interactive Route Map

MarlaOodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton TkSix Mile Creek FloodwayThe Angle Pole MemorialOodnadattaMt DuttonWilliam CreekIrrapatana SidingStrangways SpringsBeresford Railway SidingCoward SpringsWabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation ParkCurdimurkaBopeecheeMarree
Marla
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 133.6233ºE   27.3010ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Oodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk
Distance: 190.3km
Average Speed: 46.77km/h
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 135.3568ºE   27.4214ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Six Mile Creek Floodway
Distance: 9.16km
Average Speed: 54.98km/h
Features: River Crossing
Position: 135.4016ºE   27.4857ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: The Angle Pole Memorial
Distance: 1.37km
Average Speed: 41.08km/h
The Angle Pole Memorial
This pole marks the spot where the Overland Telegraph Line changed to a more northerly direction.
Features: Point of Interest
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: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 135.4495ºE   27.5496ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Mt Dutton
Distance: 45.32km
Average Speed: 44.81km/h
Mt Dutton
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Place Name
Position: 135.7167ºE   27.8146ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: William Creek
Distance: 163.52km
Average Speed: 48.61km/h
William Creek
William Creek is a great place to stop and see the inside of a true outback pub. Facilities have also improved greatly with a nice new cafe, improved caravan park facilities including units and scenic flights depart from here also.
Features: Populated PlaceCaravan Park Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Toilet Pub Food,Shopping
Position: 136.3387ºE   28.9066ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Irrapatana Siding
Distance: 20.08km
Average Speed: 60.99km/h
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 136.4902ºE   29.0254ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Strangways Springs
Distance: 15.45km
Average Speed: 96.48km/h
Strangways Springs
Near this location is Strangways Siding with nothing much left, but to the left of the road a rough bulldusty track goes up a hill to an impressive ruined site that was once the Strangeways Telegraph Repeater Station.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 136.5699ºE   29.1461ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Beresford Railway Siding
Distance: 13.82km
Average Speed: 44.16km/h
Beresford Railway Siding
The old Bersford railway siding was one of the sites along the line which had giant water softeners to prepare water for the steam locomotive, It is 50.4 Klm S.E from William Creek. Water for the Ghan was not extracted from the mound springs but from deep underground bores.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 136.6518ºE   29.2393ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Coward Springs
Distance: 26.14km
Average Speed: 34.93km/h
Coward Springs
Restored old Ghan railway buildings and historical displays plus a shady picnic spot.Take a spa in the warm artesian waters. Large camp sites with vegetation separating each site. Firewood supplied at a central point -- chop your own. Each site has own fireplace.
Features: Populated PlaceWater Supply Toilet Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Camp Fee
Position: 136.7890ºE   29.4003ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park
Distance: 13.87km
Average Speed: 52.01km/h
Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park
Not a hole in the ground but a low mound around 10m high. Clear warm wateris out of bounds and is seen surging without a sound from the base of the pool at the top of the mound. Over the centuries minerals in the water have built up layer upon layer to make the mound higher.
Features: National Parks,ReservesWater Body,River,Stream,Falls Point of Interest
Position: 136.8580ºE   29.4503ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Curdimurka
Distance: 28.5km
Average Speed: 44.56km/h
Curdimurka
This abandoned railway siding on the old Ghan Railway Line next to the Oodnadatta Track is 104 klm West of Marree. For many years this siding had been home to the many fettlers who looked after the railway line between Marree and William Creek.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 137.0849ºE   29.4772ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bopeechee
Distance: 32.87km
Average Speed: 66.61km/h
Bopeechee
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Place Name
Position: 137.3845ºE   29.5953ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Marree
Distance: 69.93km
Average Speed: 59.17km/h
Marree
Located 685 km north of Adelaide, Marree is an old settlement on the edge of the vast desert area of Central Australia. It has an average annual rainfall of only 155 mm.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 138.0618ºE   29.6451ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 Permits

SA Desert Parks Pass for entry to Lake Eyre, otherwise not needed. Permits - day (24hr) visitor permits to Lake Eyre are $30 per vehicle. They can be purchased from the William Creek store and Marree Post Office. For longer term travellers, the Desert Parks Pass is also available. The pass is currently $95.00, valid for 12mths and applies to all SA Desert Parks Pass. The pass can be purchased online in the Adventure Shop.

 Things to See & Do

Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
National Parks,Reserves Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Point of Interest
Not a hole in the ground but a low mound around 10m high. Clear warm wateris out of bounds and is seen surging without a sound from the base of the pool at the top of the mound. Over the centuries minerals in the water have built up layer upon layer to make the mound higher. Surrounded by a harsh desert landscape.
Coward Springs   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Water Supply Toilet Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Camp Fee
Restored old Ghan railway buildings and historical displays plus a shady picnic spot.Take a spa in the warm artesian waters. Large camp sites with vegetation separating each site. Firewood supplied at a central point -- chop your own. Each site has own fireplace. Chip heater for shower. Toilet and shower buildings made from old Ghan sleepers.
Curdimurka   RatingRatingRatingRating
Point of Interest 
This abandoned railway siding on the old Ghan Railway Line next to the Oodnadatta Track is 104 klm West of Marree. For many years this siding had been home to the many fettlers who looked after the railway line between Marree and William Creek. There is a never-ending line of scattered remains of both telegraph and track.
Beresford Railway Siding   
Point of Interest 
The old Bersford railway siding was one of the sites along the line which had giant water softeners to prepare water for the steam locomotive, It is 50.4 Klm S.E from William Creek. Water for the Ghan was not extracted from the mound springs but from deep underground bores.
The Angle Pole Memorial   
Point of Interest 
This pole marks the spot where the Overland Telegraph Line changed to a more northerly direction.
Strangways Springs   
Point of Interest 
Near this location is Strangways Siding with nothing much left, but to the left of the road a rough bulldusty track goes up a hill to an impressive ruined site that was once the Strangeways Telegraph Repeater Station.
Irrapatana Siding   
Point of Interest 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

Lake Eyre North

Just 7km south east from William Creek is a 72km long access track that heads out to Lake Eyre North. This track is marked 4WD (mainly because of large potholes, soft sand, and claypans) and takes you 62km to a Y junction at the ugliest section of Lake Eyre you'll see. The terrain all around appears burnt out but on closer inspection you realise that it's not the aftermath of a holocaust but strange natural colours of the landform. As soon as you turn left and begin the 10km out to Halligan Bay you leave the stark black scenery behind and suddenly you are surrounded in soft pastels and salmon coloured sand. The sand is soft so consider deflating your tyres if you get stuck. (Don't become a statistic out here. People have died because they weren't prepared).

Here you will find an information shelter, toilets and a small water tank. Other than that there is absolutely nothing else here but salt. You can safely walk out along the softer, muddy brown coloured crust which crumbles beneath your weight for about a kilometre until coming to the edge of the starkest white.

After staying a while, backtrack to the Oodnadatta track. You will pass a cross marking the spot where a traveller died. In the heat of summer 1998 a couple of misfortunate foreign travellers in a hired 4WD, had car trouble and waited for 3 days and then decided to walk back for help. They were bogged in sand and didn't know to deflate the tyres. The pair had an argument and the guy returned to his vehicle and was later rescued, but his partner was not so lucky and perished about 40km short of the Oodnadatta track. A cross beside the road marks the spot where she was found the next day. It's worth the drive out for the view and for a sharp reminder of how desolate this country is. It's all too easy from the comfort of your air conditioned 4WD to forget how reliant you are on the shelter it provides.

 Preparation

Your vehicle will need to be extensively prepared for remote area travel, with all fuel, water, food and vehicle repair equipment and spare parts.

All travellers should read the 4WDriving Topic for related articles and checklists for vehicle setup and driver awareness.

We advise that you refer to the latest information and advice about outback communications in the Communications Topic. All drivers should set their UHF radios to scan all stations, but take note that Channel 10 is the offical channel for the Simspon Desert. Anywhere in the Diamantina Shire (comprising the towns of Birdsville, Betoota and Bedourie) you must not used UHF Ch 8 and 38 as these are to be reserved for emergency calls only - these channels are monitored by the Clinics, Police and station operators and must remain clear.

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolMarla, Oodnadatta, William Creek, Marree Diesel4cyl 75 litres * ULP4cyl 102 litres LPG4cyl 127 litres
6cyl 111 litres *6cyl 102 litres *6cyl 181 litres *
8cyl 109 litres8cyl 101 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 103.49km N
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 37.736.633.728.5 23.219.919.522.0 26.530.233.836.4
Mean Min. °C 22.822.319.214.4 9.86.65.87.4 11.415.018.521.2
Mean Rain mm 24.632.212.311.2 12.812.610.57.8 9.314.111.316.5
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Marla, Oodnadatta, William Creek, Marree
Marree is a good place to stock up your supplies, with supermarkets, caravan parks, a pub and some interesting bits of local history that fill in the gaps you missed in history class.

 Camp Sites & Accomodation

Coward Springs   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Water Supply Toilet Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Camp Fee
Restored old Ghan railway buildings and historical displays plus a shady picnic spot.Take a spa in the warm artesian waters. Large camp sites with vegetation separating each site. Firewood supplied at a central point -- chop your own. Each site has own fireplace. Chip heater for shower. Toilet and shower buildings made from old Ghan sleepers.
William Creek   RatingRatingRating
Populated Place Caravan Park Airstrip Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Toilet Pub Food,Shopping
William Creek is a great place to stop and see the inside of a true outback pub. Facilities have also improved greatly with a nice new cafe, improved caravan park facilities including units and scenic flights depart from here also.
Oodnadatta   RatingRatingRating
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
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.
Marree   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Located 685 km north of Adelaide, Marree is an old settlement on the edge of the vast desert area of Central Australia. It has an average annual rainfall of only 155 mm. The area around Marree was first explored by Europeans when, In 1840, Edward John Eyre travelled north from Spencer Gulf and reached the southern shores of Lake Eyre South.
Marla   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Marla to Oodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk 190.3 km E 95° 4 hr 4 min
Oodnadatta Tk & Oodnadatta - Hamilton Tk to Six Mile Creek Floodway 9.16 km SE 148° 9 min
Six Mile Creek Floodway to The Angle Pole Memorial 1.37 km SE 130° 2 min
The Angle Pole Memorial to Oodnadatta 7.1 km SE 150° 9 min
Oodnadatta to Mt Dutton 45.32 km SE 138° 1 hr
Mt Dutton to William Creek 163.52 km SE 154° 3 hr 21 min
William Creek to Irrapatana Siding 20.08 km SE 132° 19 min
Irrapatana Siding to Strangways Springs 15.45 km SE 150° 9 min
Strangways Springs to Beresford Railway Siding 13.82 km SE 143° 18 min
Beresford Railway Siding to Coward Springs 26.14 km SE 143° 44 min
Coward Springs to Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park 13.87 km SE 130° 16 min
Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park to Curdimurka 28.5 km E 98° 38 min
Curdimurka to Bopeechee 32.87 km SE 114° 29 min
Bopeechee to Marree 69.93 km E 95° 1 hr 10 min
Marla to Marree 637.43 km     12 hr 1 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.

 Trek Feedback

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What Others have Posted

Member - Don W (VIC) : 4 Apr 08 11:45
In July,whilst driving from Darwin to Melbourne, we would like to tr...
True Blue : 27 Mar 08 11:57
I know lots of you have done it, but I haven't. If anyone has done i...
Jack & Mick : 11 Mar 08 21:25
Planning a trip on the track in early July and was wanting some feed...
Graham Watson : 25 Feb 08 22:03
Planning a trip along the Oodnadatta trip in he October School Holid...

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 Recommended Reading for Oodnadatta Track

Oodnadatta Track
This map covers the Oodnadatta Track from Lyndhurst to Oodnadatta via Marree, Lake Eyre, William Creek and Algebuckina.The Oodnadatta Track closely follows a major Aboriginal trade route, the Overland Telegraph Line and the Old Ghan Line.
Great Desert Tracks of Australia SC
This is just one map from the 6 map set of the Great Desert Tracks Map Pack. This particular map covers Googs Track, Nullarbor Plain, Connie Sue Hwy, Anne Beadell Hwy.
$14.95 [Add to Cart]Latest Edition
Desert Parks Pass
The Desert Park Pass is more than a permit and a windscreen sticker. This is a pack of valuable information and maps that will ensure you get the most from your visit to the SA outback. The pack contains: your annual permit (windscreen sticker), the Desert Parks Handbook and 3 maps covering Western, Eastern and Outback South Australia.
$105.00 [Add to Cart]Latest Edition
Oodnadatta Track - The Outback Travellers Guide
Series 1 Fourteen stripmaps break the Oodnadatta Track into identifiable sections giving travellers information on regional roads, access routes, tourist information, historic snippets, fuel, water, land-marks, elevations, camping, accommodation, Old Ghan Railway, GPS waypoints and much more.
Natmap Raster 2005: Premium - DVD
This new NATMAP Raster was released in April 2005. This is a 2 DVD set that contains all 1:250 000 scale NATMAP topographic maps covering Australia, published to December 2004.
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South Australia
This double sided road map of South Australia features a comprehensive map of the state on one side and the Flinders Ranges and the South East on the other. This easy to read fully indexed map features national parks, places of interest plus more.
South Australia (Polyart Paper)
This double sided road map of South Australia features a comprehensive map of the state on one side and the Flinders Ranges and the South East on the other. This easy to read fully indexed map features national parks, places of interest plus more.
Great Desert Tracks of Australia SE
This is just one map from the 6 map set of the Great Desert Tracks Map Pack. This particular map covers Oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks, Strzelecki and Corner Country.
$14.95 [Add to Cart]Latest Edition
Outback Central and South Australia
This map features a detailed road map on one side whilst on the other side information on the history of the areas covered, places of interest, travel information and illustrations.