Painted Desert SA

Submitted: Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 16:05
ThreadID: 104017 Views:3123 Replies:5 FollowUps:24
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I'm cognisant that there have been numerous discussions etc that have touched on this region of South Australia.

My specific question relates to whether the road/track from Coober Pede direct to Oonadatta will afford good (hopefully spectacular) photographic opportunities of the formations that the desert is famous for. We are heading to the Simpson Desert in July 2014 and unfortunately due to one of our group's strict timeframe, we can't spend a great deal of time on side trips etc.

One of my readings suggests that maybe the track from Cadney Park via San Marino Hut and Arckaringa may afford better views?

Thanks

Dunc.

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Reply By: Member - wicket - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 16:13

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 16:13
Make sure you visit The Breakaways just out of Coober Pedy, all the visuals of the painted desert but in a compact form.
Via Arckaringa would be my preferred route.
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 19:41

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 19:41
Hi Wicket & thanks for the reply. Visited CP twice in the past. 1st time I didn't know about the Breakaways & the 2nd time in 2006 it was that damn cold and miserable that I couldn't be bothered. I know my loss and hindsight is fantastic.
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Follow Up By: Member - wicket - Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 08:50

Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 08:50
Might also be worth investigating views from the air, I think you can do a fly over from William Creek with Wrights Air
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 15:26

Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 15:26
Have to see how we are pressed for time for that one, but well worth considering.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 13:45

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 13:45
Wicket,

To the best of my knowledge the "Painted Desert", accessible by road, is different from the "Painted Hills" that Wrightsair fly over, although they may be both of a similar geological makeup.

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Reply By: KevinE - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 19:20

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 19:20
Hi Dunc,

If you go in off the Stuart Hwy via Cadney Park heading towards Oodnadatta you get to drive straight into the Painted Desert without any backtracking on your way to Dalhousie to start your Simpson crossing. It would be my preferred route, but that's just personal preference.

The roads are good unless its been raining, but that goes for the other roads up that way too.

Whichever way you go, the Painted Desert is well worth the trip!

Happy travels,

Kevin.

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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 19:42

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 19:42
Thanks Kevin looks like 2 votes so far for heading in via the northern route. All the photos I've seen definitely suggest a trip well taking.



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Follow Up By: setsujoku - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 20:38

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 20:38
When we were up there the road from Cadney Park wasn't bad, and could be still travelled at a reasonable speed. The scenery is awesome, and well worth allowing the time to stop and take in.
Just don't take your 19' van out for the first time and complain that this is the worst road in Australia, whilst wearing all your jewellery, makeup, etc, and complain that nothing is still in place inside the van... There are some people out there that don't quite or understand what the area is like as well as others!
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 21:30

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 21:30
Setsujoku not much chance of that as 2 of us are in Troopies and the other a Yota Ute, roof top tent, swag & Oz Tent RV3. And coming off the Anne Beadell I think anything after that will be a dream.
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Reply By: austadv - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 21:31

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 21:31
In 2012 the track from Cadney Park to Oonadatta was excelent up til it passed Mt Willoughby then it deteriated dramatically. On the east side of San Marino Hut it was a single grader width one pass over rocks. If you are coming through Coober Pedy an alternative is to proceed towards Oonadatta but turn left at Mount Barry and take the station track to Arckaringa Station (camping available) and then continue on to Oonadatta.
Good views, though distant at sunset from Arckaringa Station.
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 21:48

Friday, Aug 23, 2013 at 21:48
Thanks Austadv had looked at that option as well. Appreciate what you say about the distance to the views from Arckaringa Stn.

Cheers

Dunc.
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Reply By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 11:38

Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 11:38
Which ever way you go in, I'd try to time it so i saw it at sunrise and sunset. The colours are different at both times and more dramatic than during the more normal sun. Much as I like the Breakaways, I can't agree that they are as good. Partly, this is because they don't get the early morning and very late afternoon sun on them in the same way (at least not from the usual viewing spot off the Sturt Highway.)
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 15:28

Saturday, Aug 24, 2013 at 15:28
Thanks Mfewster timing is all important and a lot will depend on just when we arrive and leave CP.

Cheers

D
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Follow Up By: Member - Paul T (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 09:55

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 09:55
Follow the light. We stayed at Arkaringa for two nights, gave us a sunset and a sunrise.

Image 1 is sunrise and in my view really highlights the "badlands"

Image 2 is am, but it was too late in the day for the best colours.

Both images won't look very attractive via this site as most peole will not be using clour corrected monitors, but at least will give some idea of the views and the potential for photography.





Cheers & Regards
Paul T



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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 10:55

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 10:55
Paul very nice photo's indeed. My monitor hasn't been calibrated (too slack) but I get a very good image quality. Like the foreground sharpening in the 1st photo.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:01

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:01
Beautiful shots Paul T. I am addicted to very Wise angle shots with close foreground for landscapes.
Here are a couple of mine of the Painted Desert. Notsure whether or not these will display correctly or at proper size as I haven't posted shots here before. Apologies if they don't come out correctly.





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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:07

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:07
Hmm, there should have been three shots and it should have read wide angle, not, wise angle. let's try again




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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:10

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:10
http://mfewster.smugmug.com/Travel/Simpson-Desert-and/i-ztDdPtd/0/M/Painted%2520Desert%2520Sunrise-M.jpg
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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:15

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:15
Damn, I have stuffed that up, is there a way to take my posts off and edit them? I was trying to share the shots straight from a gallery and Itthink it would have been better just to have embedded them.
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Follow Up By: Member - Paul T (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:56

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:56
Hi Mike

Nice image. Can't help you with how to remove and edit your posts.

Hope to get back to the Painted Desert for 3 - 4 days in the near future so I can have the time to scout the place out for good photography locations.

Really tempted to pack a back pack for an overnighter or two plus my photography gear and go for a walk about in the area. Would need a lot of planning though, as I don't want to become a statistic yet.

Cheers

Paul T
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Follow Up By: Member - Paul T (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:59

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 11:59
Hi Duncan

Thanks for the remarks, did a little blurring and sharpening on the foreground.

Enjoy your trip and keep safe.

Cheers

Paul T
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Follow Up By: Member - Paul T (NSW) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:04

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:04
Hi Duncan

Sorry re the number of posts. meant to comment re the Anne Beadell and photography.

If you haven't been across the AB before the photo opportunities will drive you nuts, there are so many.

Unfortunately when we did it in 2011 I was with a group who aren't into photography other than snap shots (which is fine) and couldn't take the time to hang around and wait for the right light to get what I wanted.

Hope to retire this year and pending on the rains in the AB will go back and take 3 or so weeks to do the crossing as a photographic trip.

Wild flowers with the landscape and desert colours are absolutely brilliant.

Cheers (again)

Paul T
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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:08

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:08
Thanks Paul. I will revisit this sometime in the next day and try to publish shots that aren't too big and that actually show. I'll try not to get a lot of meaningless failed posts cluttering this thread up.
Walking in the area would be good. You would probably need permission from the station owners as well.[img][url=http://mfewster.smugmug.com/Travel/Simpson-Desert-and/6223238_7MB9dm#!i=392717187&k=ztDdPtd&lb=1&s=A]
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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:10

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:10
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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:13

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:13
Sorry everyone, I finally worked it out. If you look real hard at the top left on the top of the hill you can see a mate of mine plus tripod. A fellow photography nut.

http://mfewster.smugmug.com/Travel/Simpson-Desert-and/i-3LLwM4K/0/M/Painted%2520Desert%2520Sunrise-M.jpg
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Follow Up By: Member - Mfewster(SA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:16

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 12:16
And for some reason the previous post didn't show the image????



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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 18:09

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 18:09
Mike enjoyed your photo website, some very nice photos. The long range one you captured of the vehicle hitting the top of the dune and all the sand flying was a lucky shot I'd wager?

Paul, I'm the photography nut amongst us all. My mate who I travel with never takes a photo and has no idea how to even use my point and shoot camera let alone my large DSLR with all the different lenses and features. And the others will stop and take happy snaps when the opportunity arises. I can see I'll be taking a lot through the car window.

Cheers

Dunc.
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Reply By: Member - wicket - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 17:44

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 17:44
and The Breakaways

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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 18:11

Sunday, Aug 25, 2013 at 18:11
Not quite as dramatic as the others Wicket but still an interesting landscape feature begging to be photographed.

Cheers

Dunc.
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