Cooper Creek - Easter 2011

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 19:40
ThreadID: 85932 Views:3125 Replies:3 FollowUps:7
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We finally found the time to travel to Cooper Creek Crossing on the Birdsville Track.
Camped at the Cooper Creek Camping Ground on the left side of the Track which was a serene area with only a half dozen camp sites spread over the camping area.

We took a drive along the bypass track from the northern end to the Cooper Creek Ferry crossing and there is a significant amount of water still, with the headwaters of the last flood estimated to be about 3 weeks away.

Peter from Cooper Discovery Cruises has just set up his base at the crossing and we took the opportunity for a trip along the cooper first to Lake Kopperamamma entry, then back along the Cooper Creek for some 4 or 5 kilometres. A very enjoyable trip and Peter is quite knowledgeable about the Cooper Creek system.

Looking at the Ferry, the new extension is about two meters and takes the total length to a bit over 9 metres.
Stephen will no doubt give the exact measurements in his updates in due course.

We spent a good part of the day at the crossing and even caught a half dozen Cooper Creek Callop (Yellowbelly) which we consumed that night for dinner.

What a great, although too brief trip.
Oh, between two vehicles we experienced three punctures, all on the left rear tyre of both vehicles (towing campers).
My mate had a deflated (staked) tyre on arrival at camp which I repaired with the trusty Safety Seal kit.
Then I received a staked tyre on the return trip between Marree and Farina on the unsealed track.
Finally, my mate received a wound to the outside side wall of his spare tyre, between Farina and Lyndhurst which obviously couldn't be repared. This was about three kilometres short of the bitumen. (bugger!) Oh well, "stuff" happens!
He travelled back to Adelaide without further problems on the plugged tyre. A good result from the Safety Seal repare kit.

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Bill.
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 20:21

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 20:21
Hi Bill

Great to hear that you had a great time in great country, with the most perfect weather thrown in for great measure. You beat me to the new pictures of the upgraded ferry, which I am still waiting on, so thanks for showing us all what the upgrade looks like. The Upgrade was carried out in Adelaide, and then trucked up to the ferry site and then attached to the ferry.

I am still waiting on the official details, but will give you what I have been personally told, but unofficially of course. As recently as today, I have emailed my contact who is still on leave and requested the information, so I hope that I do not burn the rug from under me with these details.

The ferry had yet to be certified for the extension as of a month ago, but the new official ( still yet unofficial ) length will be 9.9 metres in length and able to take most trailers and camper trails towed behind the towing vehicle.

Also apart from the extra length, the ferry will be able to carry extra passengers, which was limited to 6 passengers when in previous service.

It looks like Fiona will have to work over the June long weekend, which is a bugger, as we hoped to get up there again, so it looks like we will take a week off during some time in June and head up for another ride, this time on the new lengthened ferry.

Thanks for the great pictures.


Cheers



Stephen
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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:32

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:32
Thanks for the photos Bill. Can you or Stephen tell me what they're charging for a car and trailer to cross. Heading that way in June, so it would help with trip planning, as I'm guessing they'll only accept cash.

Thanks

Jon
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:43

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 21:43
Hi Jon

In South Australia, the ferry operations comes under Transport SA and as part of their service to the General Public, whether it be along the Murray River, or on the Birdsville Track, the uses of any ferry is a service to all travellers and free of any change, including the trailer or camper.


Have a great trip, it is a great crossing, even if it only takes 8 minutes.



Cheers



Stephen
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Follow Up By: happytravelers - Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 22:04

Thursday, Apr 28, 2011 at 22:04
Thanks for the info Stephen. If it was Qld. there would certainly be a fee, it won't be long before the Bligh goverment starts charging you to breath the air here.

Jon
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 00:19

Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 00:19
It will be a race to see if the Federal Govt beats the Bligh Govt re taxing the air LOL.

Is the ferry running again????? I must have missed that with all the activities going on in our family at the moment.

Cheers

D


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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 08:04

Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 08:04
Hi Deanna

I trust things are fine with you over in the West, as I haven't seen you on the site recently. No the upgraded ferry is not back in operation just yet, just biding its time for the next few weeks or so. In that time it is hoped that the next major body of water will be down that far and then it will be business as usual at the site again.

Bill took some great pictures of the upgraded ferry and he was up there in the most perfect of conditions. All things being equal and with some fine weather, we hope to head up that way again for a lazy week on the Cooper some time in June.


All the Best


Regards


Stephen
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 11:56

Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 11:56
Hi Stephen, The pictures that Sandman put up are great, I'm so glad that we did that quick trip last year, seeing those pics again made me want to pack up and off again. LOL.

Cheers

Deanna


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Reply By: vk1dx - Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 03:18

Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 03:18
Hi Bill

Great shots. We couldn't get up to there. Not enough time from Canberra. We stopped at Marree and had a flight over the lakes from there. No water bird life down south as the lake is too salty.

You may want to read my report in thread 85926 "A short (???) run to Lake Eyre". We also had tyre trouble and stripped the tread off the same wheel. Left rear. Strange.

Enjoyed the report

Phil

Lake Eyre Easter 2011

Lake Eyre flight photos - Easter 2011
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Reply By: deserter - Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 19:38

Friday, Apr 29, 2011 at 19:38
Do you reckon that water will be gone by mid July !! If there is no more rain that is.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 17:46

Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 at 17:46
More rain or not, the headwaters from the last Queensland floods are still coming down the Cooper.
The estimation is three weeks for the headwaters to reach the ferry crossing and cut the Birdsville track not long after.
The ferry will probasbly be back in operation in a month or so and the water will remain in the system for months after that. The water currently there is the remains from the flooding mid last year so it hangs around a bit.

I was quite amased to be catching fish at midday on a bit of red meat and those Callop tasted mighty fine for dinner that same night.
Just filleted the fish and removed the skin before coating in flour and shallow frying.
Sweet as and a nice firm texture.


Bill.
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