Access road between Pedirka and Dalhousie Springs

Submitted: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 11:01
ThreadID: 102072 Views:3523 Replies:1 FollowUps:7
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Does anyone know if the access route from Pedirka (North of Oodnadatta) to Dalhousie Springs is open at present?

We have previously travelled that route, which is a short cut from the Old Ghan Rail Route, but have a vague idea that access was removed by the station some time ago. An issue of the maintenance of the road, I recall. Or lack of maintenance.....

Anyway, we will be travelling that way soon and want to take the shorter route, rather than going up to Mt Dare and curving back. It is rougher but saves a lot of distance.


I am checking with the relevant Govt Department but their computers are down. Also they don't seem to know where it is exactly, so my confidence levels are low. I might also try Mt Dare.
Chris
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Reply By: Ozrover - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 11:55

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 11:55
CrisVal7,

Both the Mt Dare & ExplorOz websites have road condition reports sections, & yes all roads are open at the present time.

AnswerID: 510505

Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 12:14

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 12:14
Many thanks Jeff.
We will be seeing you after we leave Dalhousie. (We spoke to you at the Adelaide Camping Show....and are friends with Peter and Jane Roper. They leave about 100 metres from our house).
Chris
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Follow Up By: Ross M - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 14:40

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 14:40
Ozrover
G'day Jeff, does that meant the road from Hamilton to Dalhousie is open?
I know it was closed, re, the cost to the station owner of maintaining the road and it was closed when I was there nearly 3 years ago.

Maybe the Government has supplied some money to assist with maintaining the road.
PS are Wayne and Janet still at H or have they moved south?

Regards
Ross M
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Follow Up By: The Bunyip - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 15:27

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 15:27
We met some people in Quilpie (Qld) in October last year who had just driven across the Gibson Desert. They mentioned the road north into Dalhousie Srpings was the worst stretch of road they encountered for the whole trip!
So it may technically be open but unless something drastic has changed in the past six months, the road is probably still in poor condition.
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 17:24

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 17:24
Hi bunyip.
Yes it is rough, and we have been on it a couple of times now. It is merely a matter of letting the tyres down ( but they will already be down from the rest of the Oodnadatta and the Ghan Rail Track) and driving carefully and slowly. Our van has high clearance and is made for these conditions. Of course, major washouts could give us headaches, but we will check conditions closer to departure time.
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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 21:27

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 21:27
Ross,
The Pedirka PAR was only closed for a short time when Wayne Williams (Hamilton Station) had a disagreement with DEWNR about it's upkeep, It's been open ever since.
Tim Williams has been looking after Hamilton Station for the last few years.

ChrisVal7,
Say gerday to Peter & Jane for us & see you when you get here.

Bunyip, a road is either open or closed, if people are aware of the rough bits & drive accordingly then they will have no issues, & there are a lot worse roads around than the ones out here, if that bit of road was the worse that they've been on then they need to get out more.

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Follow Up By: RedCherokee - Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 21:28

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 at 21:28
All roads were open when we were there at Easter. We took the road from Hamilton to Mt Dare, so didn't do the Perdika bit.

There are two options between Dalhousie and Mt Dare. They split about halfway there. The slightly longer way is via Bloods creek and is actually faster than the more direct route. That short cut is really rough. We did them both in the same day, and felt the shortcut was not much fun. You can stop and check out the ruins at Bloods creek, so it is a little more interesting as well as more comfortable and faster.
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Follow Up By: ChrisVal7 - Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 09:23

Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 09:23
We have arrived in Alice Springs after coming off the Oodnadatta Track and Dalhousie Springs via the Pedirka Track, then back to the Stuart Highway via Mt Dare.

The Oodnadatta Track got some rain, especially around Marla where 39 mls fell. We stayed put at Coward Springs for a few days to let the road dry out but it was all in fine condition.

The Pedirka track was in good shape having been graded only four weeks ago, although it it still has some rocky sections and a little sand but nothing to worry about.

The advice re exiting from Dalhousie to Mt Dare via Bloods Creek is sound. Both are OK but the shorter route - see RedCherokee's comment above) is spot on. The shorter route has a bit of rocky, flinty stuff. Our van, a Kedron offroader, had no trouble with any of the tracks.

Nice to catch up with Jeff at Mt Dare.
Chris
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