Description
Nilpena Station is one of the few stations that allow access to Lake Torrens, there are no public access routes to the Lake. This trek starts from the
Prairie Hotel at
Parachilna and goes to Nilpena Station and then to Lake Torrens. It takes about three hours and costs $30.00 a vehicle. Bookings can be made at the
Prairie Hotel on (08) 8648 4844.
The graded station track meanders along the gibber and sandy plains. There are a couple of low sand hills to cross over to bring the traveller in to the dune corridor which eventually peters out as the shore of the lake is approached. In the distance to the east the
Flinders Ranges provide a back drop to this trek which is best viewed on the return trip. Lake Torrens lies 8 metres above sea level and is 205km in length and 40km wide. It is usually a dry
salt lake but the surface is powdery and when damp can become a quagmire. Visitors are requested not to attempt to drive on the lake as bogging is inevitable, recovery difficult and will leave unsightly scars on the lake.
Interactive Route Map
Parachilna
great out back pub nestled on the edge of the Flinders range with the flat plains to one side and the Flinders on the other. Sunsets are great and sunrises too.
Position: 138.3941ºE 31.1328ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Blackfellow Creek & Route B83
Distance: 14.13km
Average Speed: 62.91km/h
Features:

Position: 138.3831ºE 31.0059ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Route B83 & Nilpena Station Access
Distance: 10.47km
Average Speed: 67.89km/h
Features:

Position: 138.3342ºE 30.9305ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Lake Torrens Track
Distance: 13.06km
Average Speed: 59.22km/h
Features:

Position: 138.2414ºE 31.0009ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Lake Torrens Track & 6 Mile Well Access
Distance: 4.26km
Average Speed: 36.46km/h
Features:

Position: 138.2146ºE 31.0233ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Unknown on Nilpena Station
Distance: 3.41km
Average Speed: 51.36km/h
Features:

Position: 138.1889ºE 31.0428ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Lake Torrens Lookout
Distance: 16.45km
Average Speed: 51.59km/h
Features:

Position: 138.0993ºE 31.1276ºS (GDA 94)
Permits
Key required for access. A $30 fee applies as well as a refundable key deposit of $20. Contact the
Prairie Hotel (08) 8648 4844.
Things to See & Do
A pleasant drive over plains and dune corridors to a
lookout over Lake Torrens
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
 | Parachilna |
Diesel | 4cyl 5 litres * |
ULP | 4cyl 10 litres |
LPG | 4cyl 12 litres |
| 6cyl 10 litres | 6cyl 11 litres | 6cyl 11 litres |
| 8cyl 10 litres | 8cyl 10 litres | |
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
There is fuel available at
Hawker (83km) and Leigh Creek (66km). These towns are not featured in this trek note.
Best Time To Visit
Closest Climatic Station
Leigh Creek Airport
Distance from Trek Mid Point 51.21km N
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Mean Max. °C |
35.0 | 34.4 | 31.2 | 26.2 |
21.0 | 17.0 | 16.4 | 18.9 |
23.2 | 26.4 | 30.5 | 33.0 |
| Mean Min. °C |
20.4 | 20.4 | 17.3 | 12.9 |
8.8 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 6.1 |
9.3 | 12.3 | 16.1 | 18.6 |
| Mean Rain mm |
24.1 | 23.1 | 17.4 | 10.6 |
16.2 | 17.7 | 19.2 | 16.8 |
16.8 | 19.3 | 16.3 | 24.2 |
Best time to travel Ok time to travel Travel NOT recommended
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
ParachilnaThere are supplies available at
Hawker (83km) and Leigh Creek (66km). These towns are not featured in this trek note.
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Environment
Sandy loam soils interspersed with gibber stones cover the plains to the east of Lake Torrens. The flora comprises salt bush, blue bush, samphires and other fleshy leaved plants which can stand being inundated with water. There is no growth on the surface of the lake other than salt crystals. It is rare to see water entering this flat salt encrusted basin. Visitors are requested not to attempt to drive on the lake as bogging is inevitable, recovery difficult and will leave unsightly scars on the lake. Nilpena Station runs cattle on some very sparsely vegetated country.
History
Lake Torrens became part of the speculation and myth amongst early European explorers of the presence of an Inland Sea. In 1831 after Charles Sturt had rowed down the
Murray River, he confirmed that the river did not flow in to the inland sea.
Edward John
Eyre explored the western side of the
Flinders Ranges in 1841 and he 'discovered' Lake Torrens and named it after Colonel Robert Torrens who was one of the founders of
South Australia.
Eyre was also under the impression that it was part of the great inland sea. Further explorations by Babbage and Warburton in the late 1850's skirted around the western side of the lake.
In the 1883 a scheme was mooted to permanently flood Lake
Eyre via a canal connecting Spencer Gulf to Lake Torrens and on to Lake
Eyre. This scheme was howled down with derision and shelved.
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.