Oodnadatta to-Alice via andado

Submitted: Friday, May 28, 2010 at 15:39

ThreadID: 78847 Views:4392 Replies:4 FollowUps:5

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Binns Track - Mt Dare to Alice Springs

The Old Andado Track traverses fascinating terrain that includes mountain ranges, rocky gibber plains, desert sand dunes and floodplains in the Red Centre just south of Alice Springs.

Binns Track - Mt Dare to Alice Springs

Section: Treks

The Old Andado Track (also known as Binns Track), traverses fascinating terrain that includes mountain ranges, rocky gibber plains, desert sand dunes and floodplains in the Red Centre just south of

Member - Greg S (NSW)

Taking 2 x 11 yr old girls and missus up the Andado (Pajero). Will leave Ood'ta early Sunday the 4th July and need to be in the Alice late arvo' the 8th - that's 5 days.

Any opinions on an itinery and stop overs (times) that would be good for kids ? i.e a day around Dalhousie or Old Andado homestead, Mac Clarke. What's Santa Theresa all about ? It shows diesel and campsites but cannot see much about it ?

Would Santa Theresa to Trephina Gorge be a good day drive, camp overnight a
and then head back into Alice the next day be good value ?

Not sure if we want to spend much more than four hrs per day travelling but obviously can if worth it ? (after all, we will have driven 12 hrs Syd to Broken Hill - though it's only back top of course).

Thanks for your thoughts, Greg

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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 16:05

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 16:05

In brief :-o)...........
Roads around Dalhousie - check with locals prior (Mt Dare for example - some closures in place).
This is what Santa T is all about....
Santa Teresa Mission
Trephina is a nice place - Arltunga area too.

AnswerID: 418553

Reply By: jdwynn (Adelaide) - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 16:14

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 16:14

We took 3 days to get from Coober Pedy to Alice. Arrived late - should have stayed xtra night on the track. So I think 3 days from Ood - Alice with good track conditions and no diversion out to Dalhousie. So 5 days with Dalhousie may be ok but be sure conditions / vehicle / tyres are good. Personally, I hate deadlines with off-road trips and to a point they can be hazardous if you end up pushing things too much.

Mac Clark, Andado homestead worth a stop. Sorry to say Santa Teresa was covered in rubbish when we went past in 08.

Suggest you leave Trephina Gorge, Glenn Annie etc for another trip - just my thoughts.

Cheers

AnswerID: 418556

Follow Up By: Member - Greg S (NSW) - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 17:47

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 17:47

Agree time schedules are a pain, but with school etc and booking cabins and tours here and there, unfortunately planning is the only way. When ankle biters grown we will meander then. Thought I might leave S Teresa alone and you might have convinced me. Thanks v much

FollowupID: 688670

Reply By: Member - John and Val - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 16:19

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 16:19

Hi Greg,

Bear in mind that currently the track through Hamilton to Dalhousie is closed, but could be a different story come July. Also the Binns Track north of Mt Dare has been heavily used by mining vehicles and can have a lot of bulldust. Its a great drive nevertheless, but slow.

If the track from Hamilton is open you will want to overnight at Dalhousie, having spent a while looking around the old homestead site, then having a swim. Another overnight at Old Andado, looking around Molly Clark's homestead and having a hot shower. It's then worthwhile going out to the Mac Clarke reserve and seeing the desert oaks; from there suggest you continue north approaching Alice via Santa Theresa which you will bypass as its a closed community. You would be able to find a bush camp somewhat south of ST - I dont know about a track from there to Trephina Gorge (yes I can see one on the map but dont know that its a public access track.)

Did this trip a couple of years ago with friends who had a 9yo grandaughter with them - she loved it.

Cheers,

Val

J and V
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AnswerID: 418558

Follow Up By: Member - Greg S (NSW) - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 17:51

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 17:51

Thanks Val, the hot shower will go down well (in July) with my lady passengers - guess I won't mind one either, regards Greg

FollowupID: 688671

Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 18:09

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 18:09

The girls will have fun lighting the donkey boiler first!

Cheers,

Val

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

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FollowupID: 688674

Follow Up By: Member - Megan and Kevin D (AC - Friday, May 28, 2010 at 22:53

Friday, May 28, 2010 at 22:53

Hi Val
You are so right! Our grand daughter loved it so much she doesn't seem to have forgotten a moment of the trip. Here she is loving the idea that this is a baby tree (an Acacia Peuce) that will take many, many years to reach the adult size of its neighbours. And of course, here is a photo of her and a sand dune!
Would recommend all the places you mentioned and Greg - the girls might love to be involved in planning and preparing the meals.

MeganImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found

FollowupID: 688714

Follow Up By: Member - John and Val - Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 08:19

Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 08:19

Hi Megan,

Great photos. My head must have been elsewhere when I referred to Acacia peuce as Desert oaks - wow!

Cheers,

Val

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

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FollowupID: 688737

Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 11:25

Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 11:25

Gday,
Do you realise Santa Teresa is only about 80km from Alice and there is a good road between them?
I would head into Alice from ST and then do a day trip out along the Eastern Macs.
I wouldn't plan on spending any time at Santa Teresa..........Its just a blackfella community......not a real bad one but not exactly a tourist destination either.

Cheers

AnswerID: 418643