Coward Springs anyone stayed there.

Submitted: Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 13:14
ThreadID: 69608 Views:2744 Replies:12 FollowUps:4
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I have been looking for places to visit during our next trip and a friend mentioned Coward Springs.Is their much to see around this area looks OK when I goggled it. The amenities look OK in the picture from the outside.Any info would be appreciated.

Kind Regards Scoof . :-)
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Reply By: Member - Lance S (VIC) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 13:29

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 13:29
Scoof, we stayed there just on 3 years ago, great camp sites, honest box think it was around $15 per vehicle a night. Showers and toilets, showers had to be heated by a fire, great fun for the kids which took about 1/2 an hours to heat up the boiler. We stayed 2 nights there.

There is also a house which has some fantastic photos remembabilier about the area and plenty of information about the ghan, there is also a small hot tub. We went to Willem creek for lunch, great feed and meet up with Klaus who was walking around Australia with his trusty camels and dog, great fella. It is a beautiful area, enjoy.

cheers,

Lance
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Reply By: tim_c - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 13:29

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 13:29
Yes, I stayed there on my way up the Oodnadatta Tk, was better than staying at any of the nearby towns IMHO. When I got up in the morning, I took a walk to the nearby springs but didn't have a swim (although many did) - I was more interested in the restored buildings from the Old Ghan Line (railway) which were also at that sight.

Across the Oodnadatta Tk from there is also the Blanche Cup spring (and one other that I can't remember right now) and these are also worth a look - the water is just coming up out of the ground continually, and is so hot that it's steaming (ie. don't try swimming in these ones!).
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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 14:32

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 14:32
It does have some interest, and the amenities are good considering the remote locality, but if staying put while there, I reckon 1 night is plenty.

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Reply By: Member - Scoof (SA) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 14:43

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 14:43
Thanks for the reply's

Cheers Scoof . :-)
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Reply By: RobAck - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 14:44

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 14:44
All depends on your needs and expectations. We use it as a staging point as it is close to the Mound Springs and Bubbler so you can either stop in their on the way to CS, heading North, or on the way out again. The spa is a nice spot on a cool evening and there has been a lot of work put in by the owners on the interpretative side of the railway and local area and the facilities are quite good as well. Please remember to pay as sadly there are many travellers who do not.

There are some nice shady camp sites and room for camper trailers as well.

Apart from that just be prepared for a few mosi's

Regards

RobA
AnswerID: 368941

Follow Up By: tim_c - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 17:24

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 17:24
Unfortunately, I doubt whether there are many people who innocently don't "remember to pay" ... and no doubt they somehow expect the campsite will be maintained and still available for their next visit.
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Reply By: Member - Troopy's Crew - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 15:00

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 15:00
Scoof

Coward Springs is a special spot. We stayed there in 2001 and woke up getting sporadic radio reception telling us about the world trade centre being destroyed by terrorists. Talk about a weird sensation!

As others have said the mound springs are also very special - definitely no swimming though. Take a dip in the hot natural spa at Coward Springs and enjoy how just about everything is built from railway sleepers from the old Ghan track. I think that the overflow from the spa has formed a wetland which is said to be good for birdwatching.

Cheers,

Val
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Reply By: Trent M - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 15:29

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 15:29
Scoof, I passed through in January on the way south on the track that time of the year it was nice and hot and the refreshing hot tub was very much appreciated.
I’ll be passing next week with a stopover on Tuesday 16th. As mentioned by Lance, the honest box is on the left as you drive in. It’s a shaded, clean with well maintained amenities. 1 night would be amply, setting up late afternoon, going for a dip and chilling with a beverage.
That’s the plan!
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Reply By: Carlin - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 19:30

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 19:30
In 2001 we got stuck there in alot of rain for 4 days. No one was allowed to drive on track ....... it was a lovely place to get stuck .... a few points of interest kept us busy and the spring was a relief from the mud! Very unusually wet year!
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Reply By: Member - Mary W NW VIC - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 20:08

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 20:08
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Follow Up By: Member - Mary W NW VIC - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 20:11

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 20:11
That was july06 -the ladies loo-I was very impressed -haven't seen anything better since
Cheers,
mary
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Follow Up By: Member - Scoof (SA) - Tuesday, Jun 09, 2009 at 18:11

Tuesday, Jun 09, 2009 at 18:11
Thanks Mary , nice looken thunder box. LoL

Regards Scoof . :-)
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Reply By: Anthony (Vic) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 20:59

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 20:59
The shower and wash basin. The hot water is heated using a wood fire.

Next pic is one of the camp sites.

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Reply By: Member - Mal and Di (SA) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 21:44

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 21:44
I agree with all of the previous positive comments about Coward Springs but what made it very special for me were some VERY isolated graves nearby. I found them as a player in the world wide Geocaching Game. Unfortunately the cache that was there has been destroyed by wild animals but the site is certainly well worth the trek over the gibbers.

The coordinates are S 29 24.560 E 136 48.236.

It's about 1.2 k's from the campground toward the west and very worth while.
For Geocaching see http://www.geocaching.com/
AnswerID: 369028

Follow Up By: Member - Scoof (SA) - Tuesday, Jun 09, 2009 at 18:10

Tuesday, Jun 09, 2009 at 18:10
Thanks for your reply ,
I do know a little about Geocaching we were on a houseboat on the River Murray when on a walk I spoted a plastic container under a Rivergum . When I had a look inside , it had been left so guys like your self could find it.So we just left a note inside and placed it back under the tree roots.

Cheers Scoof . :-)
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Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 23:18

Monday, Jun 08, 2009 at 23:18
Scoof,

Camped there in 2005 and was great. Dingo prowled around my swag though.Things to do as others have said.
Stopped in 4 weeks ago heading North. Still looking good.
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