heading to Dalhousie springs

Submitted: Monday, Dec 13, 2010 at 21:24

ThreadID: 83049 Views:4180 Replies:4 FollowUps:6

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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,

jon+lisa

we are heading to Dalhousie springs via oonadatta in the middle of next year and are after some advice about towing an jayco outback hawk or similar on these roads , we are looking at hiring something in victoria , thanks

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Reply By: Member - Wayne D (NSW) - Monday, Dec 13, 2010 at 22:52

Monday, Dec 13, 2010 at 22:52

dont know about the road out to Dalhousie but just finished the Oodnadatta track and never got into 4wd unless we headed off the track. You could always leave the van and head to places like Peake Telegragh Station or Lake Eyre. Towing would not be an issue on the track unless you struck rain.

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Follow Up By: mikehzz - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 00:29

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 00:29

Oodnadatta Track no problem (usually). The road between Dalhousie and Mt Dare had a hell of a lot of sharp looking rocks on it when I was there. I was real worried about shredding some tyres. Mike

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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 01:13

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 01:13

We were out that way back in August, Oodnadatta Track no 4wd needed until we got to boggy patches, (at the time that was most of the way LOL) from Mt Dare to Dalhousie was not a problem except bad corrugations, as said above could have tyre problems but we didn't, and there were 3 vehicles in our group but hey that is with all gravel roads.

Cheers

D

Simba, our much missed baby.

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Follow Up By: mikehzz - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 07:03

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 07:03

Maybe those rocks all sunk into the mud this year? I was out there the year before. It really goes to show that the same place can be totally different with the conditions. Mike

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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 at 00:42

Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 at 00:42

Hi Mike, there were rocks there but they didn't pose any problems for us, as you say they would have sunk into the mud, it was pretty wet out there at that time.
Fantastic trip though.

Cheers

Deanna

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Reply By: Member - Bucky - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 06:36

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 06:36

jon+lisa
Done the track 4 or 5 times now, last time being the worst. Apparently the graders went thru 1 week later.... That's life

There is a rough section, from Hamilton station, thru to Dalhousie, but if you let your tyres down to 22 psi, and about 20 on your Jayco, slow down to between 40 - 60 km/h then you will not have any trouble. No need to hurry, as something will break.

We have done the Oodnadatta Track and never had to drop below 90 km, but last year we never got over 60km/h the whole track. It's all about what you find on the day. At 90 km/h our pressured were 28 camper, and 30 vehicle

Cheers
Bucky

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Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 07:10

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 07:10

Bucky,

The track from Hamilton Station to Dalhousie is now closed and I am not sure when or if it will reopen.

This year we had to go via Blood Creek and even though it was longer it did not take any more time.

Wayne

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Follow Up By: Ozrover - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 10:08

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 10:08

Wayne,

The Pedirka PAR from Hamilton to Dalhousie is now open & will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

All roads in the area have now been graded, some are still a bit rough in places with lots of rocks.

The roads/tracks in the area could change quite quickly if we get a bit more rain.

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Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 14:09

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 14:09

We did it a couple of years ago towing a Kimberly Kamper.
Track deterioates from Hamilton, but is still OPK, deterioated more about 50km out.

You will be OK, but you must be prepared to lower tyre pressures and whlist towing drive at times at 20km/hr for a couple of hours if conditions are still as bad. Speed is the major problem, just hard to have the patience to drive slowly

The real shocker was Dalhousie to Mt Dare, unfortunately I don't seem to be ale to load these photos

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Reply By: rumpig - Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 19:10

Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 at 19:10

can only help you with what it was like this year between Mt. Dare and Dalhousie. we left Mt. Dare and drove about 10 klms (i think?) before turning left towards Dalhousie, i'm not sure what the road name is here, but it became very stoney and before long we stopped and lowered our tyres down to 20 psi as it was just to bumpy and the likelyhood of punctures with higher tyre pressures was to much we reckoned.
below are a couple of pics of what the road was like between Mt. Dare and Dalhousie....

this pic is us letting tyres down, you can see all the rocks about even though the track looks a touch better then surrounds, but it wasn't much better really...