Road between Oodnadatta & Alice Springs

Submitted: Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 19:22

ThreadID: 86920 Views:2267 Replies:5 FollowUps:9

This Thread has been Archived

Frances

I'm wanting to drive from Oodnadatta up through Finke and then on to Alice Springs in about a week's time. Can anyone give me any information on what this road is like, is it open, have you been on it recently and is diesel readily available. And also is the road from Burra up through Leigh Creek, William Creek and on to Oodnadatta open at the moment?

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: rynoat- Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 19:39

Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 19:39

I have been looking into this myself so will be very interested in the responses, maybe have a look at my last post. There was some excellent responses and knowledge of that area.
cheerss
ryno

AnswerID: 457192

Follow Up By: Frances - Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 19:42

Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 19:42

Thanks Ryno. When are you leaving?

FollowupID: 730334

Follow Up By: Rip64 - Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 20:03

Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 20:03

Thirty years ago we just headed off !!!!! Now we ask for guarantee's from people we may never meet from the comfort of our PC's (personal Computers)
Truth be known, this is a much travelled well maintained gravel highway and I bet you are not travelling in a 1998 landcruiser - If you are in the position to be doing it - Just do it - Experience it - Both good and testing - cause there is no BAD in seeing this great country.
Safe travels

FollowupID: 730337

Follow Up By: Member - Ozzie Nomad (VIC) - Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 22:47

Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 22:47

I'm off up that way in a couple of weeks myself. After all the terrorists have deserted the race carnival. Been through a couple of times in the past and allways have a great trip. The track is pretty sandy and can be a bit corregated here and there, but you get what you get when you head bush. It's all part of the adventure after all. These days... it's not really that remote. Every winter, outback tracks Downunda are a-buzz with a steady stream of Southern Grey Nomads in Toorak Tractors. Even if your truck snuffs it, there will be someone along in a few minutes, you won't die of thirst out there anyway.

Just do it mate.
Have a great time discovering it all as you go.
Cheers,
Ozzie

FollowupID: 730352

Follow Up By: rynoat- Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 11:05

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 11:05

Hi we leave on the 7th July leaving Canberra and counting down the days

FollowupID: 730393

Reply By: Bravo Man - Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 20:09

Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 20:09

Hi Frances...I just travelled from Finke to Alice a week ago on the Ghan Heritage trail which runs along the old Ghan rail line.

Most of the way was sandy with continues corrugations.With the Finke desert race on this weekend I imagine it would probably be worse with the extra traffic.

Regards Bravo Man

AnswerID: 457197

Follow Up By: Frances - Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 09:04

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 09:04

Hi Bravo Man, thanks for that information. I'm towing an offroad camper trailer - it doesn't have a treg hitch. Would I have any trouble getting that through? and also is diesel an issue out there do you know?

FollowupID: 730384

Follow Up By: Bravo Man - Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 09:47

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 09:47

We came from Mt Dare where deisel $2.15 I think,there was a dingy fuelstop at Finke but didn't need to stop.
The Ghan Heritage Trail was very corrugated but I would do it again,you know what they say drive to the conditions,the track is really flat being an old rail line so towing should be alright.
Nice trip along there and you can check out the track for the desert race which runs parallel to the road.

Regards Bravo Man

FollowupID: 730389

Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 21:30

Sunday, Jun 12, 2011 at 21:30

A mate of mine just came up there about 3 or 4 weeks ago driving a V8 Troopy and towing a large Kedron Caravan.

See thread 86641

.

gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 457212

Follow Up By: Frances - Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 09:12

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 09:12

Thanks for that Doug, that was interesting reading at the time and good to read it again.

FollowupID: 730385

Reply By: AdlelaideGeorge - Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 13:12

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 13:12

Hi

Did that trip a few weeks ago - thoroughly enjoyed it. Had a couple of marvelous dry camps along the way too - have a look at Eringa.

If you are banking on stoping at Finke for fuel, bear in mind they dont' serve being 12-00 and 2-00pm.

No idea why - they just don't.

Geo

AnswerID: 457270

Follow Up By: Frances - Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 13:24

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 13:24

Thanks Geo for that. I'm guessing I'll have to fuel up at Finke. Is there a caravan park there by any chance? And wondering about groceries. Where would I find groceries after Oodnadatta? Are there any groceries at Oodnadatta?

FollowupID: 730402

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 14:41

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 14:41

Hi Frances

If you are over in Burra, the quickest way for you to leave the town is to head north on the Broken Hill Road and a few kilometres out take the turn off to your left signposted to "Spalding".

Coming into Spalding you will have the small pipeline on your left hand side and then come to a "T" junction. Turn right and head a short distance up the main street and you will see a road on your left signposted to "Jamestown".

Take the Jamestown Road and just keep heading north through Orroroo and follow the signs to "The Flinders Ranges" and Hawker. If you need to refuel in Hawker, you will have to turn right into the town, refuel and retrace your tracks back to the Main road and just head north. Do not buy any more fuel until you get to Lyndhurst, then head for the Pub, which sells the cheapest diesel fuel in the area (Usually around 30 - 40 cents per litre cheaper than Marree, only 80 kms up the Road and about 10 cents cheaper than Leigh Creek). The Copley Caravan Park is always a good place to stay and the Copley Pub has great meals.

Up until Lyndhurst, you will have very good bitumen roads all the way. The Road from here up to Marree is broken up into 3 sections of bitumen.

Have a great trip.

Cheers

Stephen

Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

AnswerID: 457277

Follow Up By: Frances - Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 16:58

Monday, Jun 13, 2011 at 16:58

Hi Stephen, this is the sort of info I am after so thanks for that. We will turn off at Burra so I will make a note of your recommendations and take them with me. Many thanks again.

FollowupID: 730418