Oodnadatta Track Planning a trip

Submitted: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 14:28

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Oodnadatta Track

If you’re a history buff you’re going to go nuts crossing the Oodnadatta Track. The track follows the orignal Ghan line from Marla to Oodnadatta and then on to Marree. There's stacks of ruins,

Oodnadatta Track

Section: Treks

If you're a history buff you're going to go nuts crossing the Oodnadatta Track. The track follows the original Ghan line from Marree to Oodnadatta. There's stacks of ruins, mound springs,

Marlyn

Hi everyone, just registered as a visitor. Great Site. Always great to read what experienced travellers have to say. I am trying to plan a trip Early next year to get out of the rat race. Being a country boy i often get that urge :) I am married with 2 kids 7 & 10 and we are interested in doing a trip to S.A starting form Broken Hill, well Melbourne actually, heading to Peterborough then up through the Finders Ranges to Marree then accross to William creek on the Oodnadatta Track then to Coober Pedy or up through the painted desert. From there probably back down to the SA coast possibly York Peninsula then back via the coast to melbourne. will be travelling in a Prado Diesel with camper trailer. OK here's my dilemma, we have 6 weeks to spend outta Melbourne Yeah!!!...but they have to be between Jan and early Feb. Considering i have 2 kids, would it be too hot up do incorporate Oodnadatta Track section and I am crazy even considering it? Despite my gentle persuading i cannot convince anyone to come with us (all workig) so we will be travelling on our own. Is this realistic enough? I am sure the cooler months would be better travelling but unfortunately we just cant get time off then.
I know its hot up there in Summer so am I just crazy or do i have to wait until i retire? (Which is 2 years further away now....thanks to KEV!!!)
We were originally going to do a similar trip 10 years ago before the kids came along and since then have had to settle for simpler trips to get them acquainted with camping. SO i have been hanging out for a while now to do a trip like this.

Any advice or alternatives would be much appreciated and gratefully accepted.

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Reply By: Madfisher - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 14:51

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 14:51

The kids are going to find it very uncomfortable when the air is not on. At that time of year it would be brilliant in the high country, but it is your choice.
Good luck and welcome Pete

AnswerID: 365668

Reply By: Rod, Sydney - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 15:13

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 15:13

Hi Marlyn.

If you do have to travel at that time then you need to be totally flexible. We travel back to Perth every couple of years and our travel is dictated by the weather. For example - we have planned to go to the Flinders in January and ended up as far south as possible at Port Lincoln due to heat; we have encountered roads closed due to summer rains.

I think there are plenty of other places to visit with kids at that time of the year - save the desert travel for the winter months.

Travelling on your own shouldn't be a problem as long as you prepare and don't take excessive risks.

Cheers

Rod, Perth

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AnswerID: 365671

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic) - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 15:22

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 15:22

Marlyn, I would follow Rod's suggestion to go down the Eyre Peninsular - lovely down that way and get them used to camping and responsibilities before you tackle the inland, Certainly hotter at that time of year.

Victorian and NSW coast too are good for then.

If you can then see your way clear head inland say from Easter break, assuming there may be a year to do it some time. Yes, it is hard. Be heading the same way myself next month.

AnswerID: 365673

Reply By: Motherhen - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 16:08

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 16:08

Hi Marlyn

I could never take holidays in winter, so missed out on seeing so much i wanted to. We toured the south coast, Eyre Peninsula and some inland areas of SA, and Tasmania - all wonderful trips and better suited to touring in summer. The rest had to wait until i got senile enough to be irresponsible and chuck in my job to go to the Kimberley and NT.

Some people can cope with the heat - I can't. It depends on you and your family. As suggested, flexibility may be the key - go inland if you get lucky enough to get a cool spell, otherwise stay nearer the coast. All of SA is worth seeing - it has to be the most under rated state in the tourism stakes.

We didn't start travelling until the children were old enough for us to leave behind, when we were able to save up and take longer holidays of 5 or 6 weeks at a time.

Mh

Motherhen

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AnswerID: 365679

Reply By: Member - Footloose - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 16:28

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 16:28

I once took my family up the Silver City Highway in summer.....never again! I was young and fit but....I can remember offroading to get under some shade already taken by cattle...and drinking two huge milkshakes sitting in the gutter in Broken Hill. No air con in those days, and it was 32C at 8am and climbing.
Even a trip across from Perth was found to be too much in February without air con.
It's always too hot and or wet in summer time. Love my deserts but will never go in summer again, even with air con.
It only takes a flat, or a kid getting heat stroke, or the cook being hot and cranky....
Having said all that, some people don't mind travelling in summer at all. How they manage it is beyond me.

AnswerID: 365685

Reply By: DIO - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 18:02

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 18:02

Hereare some B.O.M. stats for Leigh Creek Jan & Feb 2009. You will note most days over 30 to many over 40 degrees.

Jan 2009

Feb 2009

The further north you travel at that time of the year the hotter it will be.

AnswerID: 365703

Reply By: Marlyn - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 21:50

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 21:50

Thank you all very much for your replies. The general consensus seems to carry a particular theme. DON'T GO THERE!! :( I guess it conforms what i kinda already knew but i guess it will have to wait till another day. Some good alternatives given thank you. We had considered NSW coast but at that time of year it will busier than Melbourne, so we canned that idea. The Ayer Peninsula was a good alternative...have to look at that. Thanks again to those how replied.

AnswerID: 365750

Follow Up By: joker.com - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 22:28

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 22:28

If you are looking for a 2 week trip in October school holidays, search this forum for "Bourke Outback Trek". They are going to Uluru along the Oodnadatta track.

FollowupID: 633449

Reply By: jdphoto - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:18

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:18

Eyre Peninsula is beautiful at that time of year. We have camped out at both Lincoln and Coffin Bay National Parks in late December and hardly seen anyone. Also some nice camping at reserves south of Ceduna on the coast. And swimming with the seals and dolphins at Baird Bay is great.

On our last trip out that way (5 years ago I think) it was actually quite mild inland--with highs in the low 30's in the Flinders...so it would have been ok to head out that way in January. However we had to get to Perth to meet someone, so we had to keep going. So like a few others have said plan a flexible itinerary to take advantage or (or avoid) the weather.

And the south coast of WA is fantastic...and not too busy (at least by east coast standards) at that time of year.Nuytsland Nature Reserve, Israelite Bay, Cape Arid, Cape Le Grand, Fitzgerald River NP. All great places to spend time. In January--though the weatehr can be unpredictable....fine and sunny then windy and cool....who knows? And every time we have been to Cape Arid it has rained! But still nice.

If I had 6 weeks then, I'd plan a south coast trip, but keep it flexible enough to head inland if the weather was suitable.

VIC and NSW coasts are way too busy at that time of year.VIC High Country is nice though, as is Kosciuszko. We've traveled through both areas in early January over the past 2 years and really enjoyed it.

AnswerID: 365793

Reply By: troopy 2005 - Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 13:55

Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 13:55

yes it gets hot but theres no wimpy tourists around .weve travelled with our kids for 20 years in the christmas hols all over the outback and loved every minute.Birdsville pub with no tourists is a joy ,53 degrees on the verandah at mungeranie,new years eve at innaminka,alice springs ,tanami,rabbit flat broome,ningaloo,your only going to die if your stupid, if not stay south with the rest of them.

AnswerID: 366336