Oodnadatta Track

We made incredible coals with the sleepers!

Miserable Pr1ck. Whats the diff with people making a bush camp with sleepers? Does he own the sleepers?

No Brew he doesn't own the sleepers but is attempting to conserve a timber supply for future campers to have a fire. I suppose he's trying to avoid what's happened at Pedirka over the past 20 years with campers heading into Dalhousie springs picking up sleepers. When I went through the first time in 1985 sleepers were readily available at the road crossing now you need to travell over a KM in either direction to find one & most of the dead timber in the trees around the Stevenson's creek are stripped bare too. It may be our "God damm right" to have a campfire but with current usage you couldn't blame anyone for banning them in some places.
Cheers Craig.............

Holy Hell!

When you drive the Track and see how many sleepers are lying around, or still bundled in "pallets" which ANR were originally going to cart out, there is plenty of stock around.

It is far better to utilise these sleepers than cut down live timber.

We didn't stay at Coward Springs and after reading comments on the Forum since we returned, we're bloody glad we didn't.

Algebuckina Waterhole Campground (also on private land) allows campfires, as does the Caravan Park at William Creek. (great spot to camp)

To transgress slightly, we experimented with a different product and can recommend the fire logs, available in hardware and camping stores, and some supermarkets.
I had two bags of redgum timber (always a great campfire fuel) plus one bag of "fire logs". Our camping companions also had two bags of the "fire logs" and they are quite practical. They stand up to the promotional blurb on the bag that they burn hot, long and provide good coals at the end.

They are very compact and light compared to "real timber" (they are hollow logs) and will definitely be my choice for future "excursions". I estimate about four bags would take up the same room as one bag of timber and as they are light, are easy to lift/handle.
The price is about $9.95 per bag.

Sand Man, what's the somke level from these logs like, looking for something with a very low smoke level.

Very Good,

They are kind of like the Heat bead construction, but rather than burn away to a white powder, they maintain their shape longer with good coals and burn with little smoke. (Just enough for "atmosphere"):-)

I will qualify my experience at this stage by stating that the two bags we burnt were the Redhead brand. I still have one bag I got at Ray's Outdoors which I haven't tried yet.

Am heading to Cooper Pedy from from there. What places would you recommend Darian?
Thanks

Beresford siding, 24km further on has always suited us better - we are bush campers - no facilities at Beresford - just the derelict station, and old water treatment tower and a big ground tank for stock water. But plenty of room to find a nice spot re the wind - and nobody making rules ! If you want a campfire, the best bet is to pick some up en-route - this is popular bush camping country - all of the recognised spots have been cleaned out near the camps - tree lines as they cross the road, in between locations, are the best go. We just carry a cheap Bunnings handsaw - have a good 'un !

Thanks Darian,
We also enjoy bush camping so will check it out.

Coward Springs was a great spot to camp when I last stopped there. Good tree'd shelter to get out of the wind, a donkey boiler feeding the hot showers, a bit of history with the coal bunkers for the rail, bird life coming in for the water overflow & of course the great arteisen spa bath..............beats the hell out of Beresford in my opinion. Of course there is a small fee which some in there $20,000+ 4 wheel drives don't like paying ;-)
Cheers Craig..........

Too right Craig, I've camped at Coward Springs several times and will go back. Having firewood provided is apparently a detraction?! Not worth the spa? Each to there own, but worth visiting in any case...

Not surprising that a lot of 'readers' dont take to Coward Springs ...there you are asked to respect others and be mindful of the environment ...If it costs a couple of bucks to stay a night in this well provided for camp ground , there are plenty who will rubbish the operators ..as per above 'comments' ... they do not reflect the opinions of most travellers....who are out there to enjoy and are not a measly mouthed bunch of whingers