Itinerary Suggestions Please?

Submitted: Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 18:09
ThreadID: 151182 Views:2424 Replies:6 FollowUps:10
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Sometimes you have to travel despite the weather.... and this week it's cold and raining but we have to leave tomorrow in bad weather enroute to Victor Harbor to see family (yes we are getting back "on the road")!!! We noticed its been wet in far west NSW and we'd like to dodge the rain and closed roads so does anyone have any good suggestions for where we can enjoy a few days? We are heading west of Sydney - Katoomba - Cowra etc. Was then thinking of stopping along the Murray somewhere or even the Border Track? If you've got some specific suggestions that would work in this weather, please let me know - we leave tomorrow!
Cheers!
MM
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 19:29

Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 19:29
If you have not seen Lake Eyre with water you should plan to do so. Opportunities don't come often.
I would suggest via Muloorina Station.
lakeeyreyc
And if the budget is OK, take a flight over it from William Creek.
Watch this as you get closer......
SA Outback Roads.
Come in from the North down the Oodnadatta Track and then south via the Flinders.
The wild flowers should be great.
Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 21:16

Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 21:16
thanks for the reply but as nice as that would be, this isn't practical for our itinerary from Sydney to Victor Harbor.
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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Reply By: Bricky - Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 21:50

Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 21:50
If you haven't already....Wentworth to Renmark north of the river is a good trip.
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 22:40

Friday, Aug 01, 2025 at 22:40
The old Wentworth rd ? The highlight of that route would be a detour to lake Victoria & rufus river outlet , some very interesting history there . But not if it's wet :((( Very slippery in the wet .
Edit also a trip down to lock 7 on the Murray river , good bush camp there .
It's always a nice drive along the river :))
Make sure to pack your winter woolies , It was bloody cold in Victor Harbor today .
Happy travels.
Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 08:16

Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 08:16
Hi guys thanks for suggesting this - in the ExplorOz treks this route is shown but someone has written a review sayings its no longer accessible - so we are a little confused. Old Coach Road
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:03

Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:03
Michelle and David this may be the place mentioned" not-accessible" I'm fairly sure the area marked private is an Aboriginal area
Google Maps would indicate that the road is following the Rufus River Road and not the old Wentworth Road .Google Maps doesn't mention the Road being private like your maps do .
If you decide to head this way it would give you an excuse to follow this up ?
Edit okay just found a photo on Google indicating the old Wentworth Road no entry trespasses prosecuted sign and some Gates

Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:27

Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:27

We have camped on Wompinni Station (now closed) several times, most recently in 2023.
It is the dead-end at the bottom left corner of the track on the river.
The most western of the two N-S tracks is the most interesting (all of the others are "roads"). There are some "keep out" signs which the Wompinni owners then told us were not legitimate and we should ignore. It passes through a forest reserve.
We also camp in the Conservation Park on the SA side (booking via SA NPs). There is border and trade history in there to explore.
Some areas in the park have been subject to flooding in the past. Unless there was short term flooding, I can not imagine the main Rufus River road being closed to the east.
Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 10:09

Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 10:09
From Renmark you could do the northern end of the Border Track to Pinnaroo, lamaroo,tailem bend and Victor .
Cheers Nick

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Follow Up By: Member - silkwood - Monday, Aug 04, 2025 at 18:48

Monday, Aug 04, 2025 at 18:48
If you end up around Renmark and birdwatching appeals, Gluepot Reserve is a short drive away, with lovely campgrounds and bird-hides.

Not a good spot if rain is on the cards, though. It's called Gluepot for a reason.

Cheers,

Mark
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Aug 04, 2025 at 19:06

Monday, Aug 04, 2025 at 19:06
We like Gluepot too.
Be aware though that it is a dead-end, one way in and same way out, which is a pity.
Cheers,
Peter
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Reply By: Member - Duncan2H - Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:26

Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:26
Travelling down through Murray Sunset and then carrying onto into Big Desert NP and/or Ngarkat would be a nice way to drop a little further south..

You could head into Big Desert from Pinnaroo and spend a night at Blue Gums Campground (see your Place Entry, its lovely) before heading west into Ngarkat (or just continue on and do the "Border Track" down to Bordertown.. if you head into Ngarkat head over to the Baan Hill Track or Jimmy's Well Track and use one of those to drop further south with a view to getting down into the Coorong, so you can head into Meningie and then pick up the loop of land called Narrung, ferry back to the "mainland", then the ferry across the Murray at Wellington and then dropping down into Victor Harbor through Goolwa.

If you do Narrung (pleasant drive, take the time to google David Unaipon beforehand and take a look at a $50 note before you go).





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Reply By: Andrew M1 (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:42

Saturday, Aug 02, 2025 at 09:42
If you are going via Renmark, then I would suggest you stay at Plush's Bend Camping Area. We were there about 3 years ago, just prior to all the flooding. There are about 10 camping areas that are within metres of the river. You have to book/pay for the site, there is a large sign as you enter giving details of how to book/pay for the site. We took a photo of the sign then drove in and found a great spot, then booked and paid for it over the internet.
Directions, head out of Renmark towards Adelaide on the Sturt Hway, turn left down 23rd St (immediately after the distillery), after a 1km veer left onto Plush's Bend Rd, follow this (1.5km) to river. There are drive in areas along the river, look for camping area number nailed to trees.
After pulling up it only took me 5 minutes to get 2 rods in the water, then I started setting up the camp site!!
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Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Sunday, Aug 03, 2025 at 08:35

Sunday, Aug 03, 2025 at 08:35
Hi Guys,

Back in 2015, at the start of a Simpson Desert trip, we travelled from Mildura to Renmark on the Old Mail Road. This road follows the Murray River on the Victorian side of the river. There are numerous tracks off this road leading to the river. This road is listed on both Exploroz Traveller, and Hema. If the weather is wet, this road can be quite slippery.

First photo, I got “sucked” into a deep hole on the edge of the road after hitting a deep puddle, the road is actually at the right of the picture. Second photo is our first night camp site down a track off the Old Mail Road. This camp site is just down stream from Lock 9, you can access this spot from the Lock 9 access road.



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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Sunday, Aug 03, 2025 at 09:31

Sunday, Aug 03, 2025 at 09:31
Macca , I watched this video while ago on old mail road . We use to camp for many years at lock 7 at Easter... one of my favourite spots great memories with friends and family.

Old mail rd sunset NP
Cheers Nick

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Reply By: Garry L - Monday, Aug 04, 2025 at 19:38

Monday, Aug 04, 2025 at 19:38
Howdy

Duncan2H has a good suggestion - have done most of that.
Yellow Gums and Blue Gums are nice and very accessible without having to do the Border Track, they're off the Murrayville Nhill road.
Red Bluff at the bottom of the Border Track isn't bad either but you are getting further south of Victor Harbor.
The Border Track is a days drive from Murrayville to Red Bluff with some nice sand hills and is currently damp due to rain so pretty easy going ( just got back yesterday from it )

You guys are also welcome to stay, camp and use the facilities at my place if you like - I'm on a few acres 6k's south from Murray Bridge.

Good luck and enjoy whatever option you choose

Cheers
Gazz


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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Tuesday, Aug 05, 2025 at 19:16

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2025 at 19:16
Hi Gaz thats very kind of you thankyou! Would love to take up the offer but we’re on a timeline with a family visit being the reason we are going to VH. Next time for sure - would love to have more time to explore Swan Reach and Big Bend area again.
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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