Alice to Boulia, Marree and Oodnadatta back to Alice

I spose your gonna head to Birdsville, then down the B'ville track to marree then back up again yeah??? Never done full length of Birdsville track so cannt help there but most people do it in a couple of days or 3.......

Alice - Boulia give yourself 3 days...(in oppsdite direction we camped on Georgina River / Glenormiston station, then Jervois station then altunga ruins...)
Boulia - Bridsville 2 days....camped north side of bedourie....

Oddnadatta track...well...depends I guess...I think we did 4 days...(camped east of Kulgera, then at Dalhousie, North? creek - about 15km out of oodnadatta, cant remember if we were in lyndhurst the next night or somewhere else...) Kulgera - Alice 1 day, but if you go up andado it could be a couple more days......

Hope this helps a little.....

as for track conditions, Ill leave that to others....its been nearly 2 yrs since I was out there....

Laura

You can do Alice to Boulia in 2 days, but they would be very long days. Would advise overnight Gemtree, then somewhere along the route, into Boulia the 3rd night. Check out the fuel availability, given whatever is your range. Boulia to Birdsville is an easy day - could get further south if you did not want to stop and look around and enjoy Birdsville. We did Birdsville Track comfortably with one overnight stop (in bush where Cooper Ck crosses track), towing van, so not speeding. Next time, we'll try the station camp area a bit south of Cooper Ck - looked ok when we passed it. You can also camp (fee) at Mungerannie RH but it was a too busy for us. A look at the wetland bit there is worth the stop though. You can stay at commercial CP's at Marree - we prefer Drovers Rest because it is not in centre of township and we like the old drover. Nothing flash but adequate. If you want to detour, camping out at Muloorina wetlands is great. Both the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks are pretty well maintained, though you can get some corrugations and dustholes, depending on when graders have been through, weather etc. Be very wary of either track if rain is likely!! Went up O.Track with van last May, taking time and looking at ruins, springs etc. Camped 1 night at Coward Springs - a return visit 'cos we like it. Next night at Neales River/Algebuckina Bridge - we don't like long days! Then camped at Arkaringa Station after visit to Painted Desert (a must),then a night by the road on SA/WA border, then easily into Alice next day: total 4 nights Marree to Alice. But if you want to linger and really enjoy the bush, that sort of circuit could be extended over weeks!

Last May I did Gemtree to Boulia in a day but I was trying to outrun the rain. I succeeded and they closed the road behind me. On this trek I left Gemtree at 6:00 am and after one trying section through heavy mud on the Plenty got to Tobermory at 1:00 pm. By this time I'd outrun the rain but could see it coming in behind me so I carried onto Boulia and the safety of the bitumen. Got into Boulia at 4:45 pm.

Based on this I'd do the run from Boulia via Jervois (night 1), Gemtree (night 2) and then a small drive to the Alice. My original intention had been to drive Alice to Tobermory and the next day head out to Boulia. Unfortunately Tobermory no longer encourages guests for camping but you might like to ring them to see if you can stay. They do have amenities there though fuel is definitely no longer available.