Is it worthwhile camping at Mintabie, NT?

Submitted: Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 21:59
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G'Day All,

Just researching for a trip in April. After heading to Oodnadatta and through the painted desert, we are thinking of camping a night at Mintabie. Is this a worthwhile trek or is it just easier to camp at Marla or Kulgera?

Any thoughts appreciated

Regards

Rolande
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Reply By: Kenny Wilson - Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 22:03

Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 22:03
Mintabie and Marla are in SA
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Follow Up By:- Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 07:48

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 07:48
My mistake, was thinking Kulgera and the NT bit slipped in.

Rolande
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Reply By: Member - Prickle (SA) - Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 22:33

Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 22:33
Yes, Mintibie is in SA. (Bit like the BORDER TRACK it is in SA NOT VIC - the best parts anyway) It is a mining town and whilst I have not been there for 10 odd years, I would suggest that it would probably not provide acceptable camping areas. I would head for Kulgera.

Enjoy!!
Russ


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Reply By: Member - Geoff C (QLD) - Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 22:59

Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 22:59
We went there in 2003 and stayed in our caravan in the pub grounds. Lovely people,we had a great time. The locals took us for a tour of the area treated us very well. We did a bit of fossicking but didn't find anything but one of the fellows we met there gave my partner a triplet for a souvenir. The road in was dirt but was no trouble.
Geoff
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Follow Up By:- Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 07:52

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 07:52
G'Day Geoff,

I take it your answer would be YES?

Rolande
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Reply By: Willem - Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 23:01

Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 23:01
Neither Mintabie, Marla or Kulgera are very exciting places.....unless you want to listen to big diesel generators, road trains and tourist vehicles thru the night.

There are a vew bush camps off the Highway which offer more secluded overnight camping

Cheers
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Follow Up By:- Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 07:51

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 07:51
G'Day Willem,

SWMBO coming on this trip, (first outback run for her), and it will be day 3 without showers.

Thought if it was off the main highway it may at least be a bit quieter?

Any other thoughts appreciated, I may need to "sneak" an overnight bush camp in without telling her.

:)

Rolande
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Follow Up By: Willem - Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 08:20

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 08:20
Hi Rolande

My apologies for my terse view of these places. Haven't been to Mintabie for some years now and the other places are just as unexiting in my opinion. But you never know, you might enjoy them :-)

There is no need to go without a shower or a wash for 3 days. Just take enough water with you,...lol

There is a Free Camp at Cadney Park Roadhouse. But it will be noisy with traffic passing through the night. Earplugs will do the trick though. All Roadhouses on the Stuart Hwy have shower and toilet facilities. The rest areas are marked along the way and most are between Coober Pedy and the SA/NT Border

Cheers
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Follow Up By:- Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 17:41

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 17:41
G'Day Willem,

No apology necessary.

There are showers, and then there are showers!

Moving her from 5 star to 1 Million stars is a sensitive process, hence I am looking to set up tent somewhere with flushing toilets / proper showers at least every third day.

A female friend of hers boasts she has crossed the Simpson twice tagging along with Hubby. I was reasonably impressed until she told me the solution was to wear a shower cap between camps.

May end up going on the next trip by myself if not careful.

...........come to think of it..............

:)

Rolande
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Reply By: Trevor W(Brisbane) - Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 08:36

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 08:36
We visited the Painted Desert in July. You need to see the Hills and the Colours at either Dusk or Dawn and there are some short walks to the top of the ridges that are worth doing.It is a vast place and you need to take some time to have a look around.
We stayed overnight at the Station Homestead where they have a Flat Area at the back of the house set up for camping with Hot Showers on Gas and a big Fire Ring with Logs to sit on.Quite a good place for an overnight stop ,we had a 4wh drive club in on the same night so it was a little crowded. This will give you a good chance to explore the Painted Desert between 4 pm and Sundown after you have set up Camp at the Homestead.$15.00 was the charge for a Basic Camp.
AnswerID: 280919

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 10:22

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 10:22
Mintabie aside, if you are going to camp along the Stuart Hwy, we found it pays to slow right down about 10km outside of the towns - you should find heaps of little tracks leading off into the scrub - lots of people bush camp either side of places like Kulgera and Marla etc - as Willem said, they can be noisy in the wee hours - you can have a whole clearing to yourself, highway traffic can't see you if that concerns you, and you can relax for the night - with the stars out and only minor noise, it can be great.
AnswerID: 280938

Reply By: stevie1947 - Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 21:00

Friday, Jan 11, 2008 at 21:00
Rolande. Yes go to Mintabie, it is fantastic to see how people live in these places. The pub is great and the people are very friendly. We just camped in the bush close to town. Had a shower in the pub and the women used the pubs dunnies.
Loved the place and the experience. Totally worth the drive in.
AnswerID: 281075

Follow Up By:- Sunday, Jan 13, 2008 at 21:04

Sunday, Jan 13, 2008 at 21:04
Thanks for the feedback. It's on our list this April. Expecting something like Coober Pedy 30 years ago

Rolande
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