Oodnadatta to Marla

The final stage of the Oodnadatta Track

Oodnadatta to Marla is probably your last day on the Oodnadatta Track. I hope, you enjoyed this famous track as much as I did. It is a great example of Outback travel.

Oodnadatta is another tiny settlement on the track with the same name, located about 1000 km north of Adelaide. The town has a population of about 150, and basic facilities. The name Oodnadatta perhaps is an adaption of an Aboriginal word meaning "blossom of the mulga".

Oodnadatta is the last stop for travellers before heading for the Simpson Desert, Dalhousie Springs, and other beautiful places in the region. Local Aborigines run the Transcontinental Hotel, The Railway museum, and the general store. There's not much more than one main street, so you won't miss the places of interest.

The Pink Roadhouse Ph: (08) 8670 7822 is run by Adam and Lynne Plate and has cult status in the region. The Plates are the best source of information about the Oodnadatta Track and the adjoining areas.

You will see their funny and very informative mud maps along the track. The roadhouse offers everything a traveller needs in this remote area, a caravan & camping park included.

The railway station is one of the most imposing and enduring buildings in town, together with the goods shed it is on the State Heritage Register. The railway museum is located in the building.

Oodnadatta to Marla

The third and last section of the Oodnadatta Track leaves the route of the Ghan so there are no railway sidings or other historical stuff from Oodnadatta to Marla.

Angle Pole Memorial is just a few km outside of Oodnadatta and marks the point where the Old Telegraph Line and the old Ghan line turn straight to the north. The memorial commemorates all those involved in the building of the Overland Telegraph Line between Adelaide and Darwin.

The topography along the track is fairly flat, occasional tree-lined creek beds make a change in the scenery.

If you are lucky and travel in spring after some good winter rain. you can see carpets of wildflowers. Otherwise there might be just more gibber.

Even if there is no more history to explore as on the first sections of the Oodnadatta track, it is a great experience to travel here.

Marla, population 243, is a tiny town at the Stuart Highway, 1099 km north of Adelaide. Marla was established in 1980 to service the increasing traffic along the highway as it was planned to tar the entire road from Adelaide to Darwin. Marla offers a huge roadhouse, a motel, caravan park and other essential services for travellers.

I hope you enjoyed the last stage of the track from Oodnadatta to Marla. Wherever you go from here, enjoy the Outback South Australia.

Don't hesitate to ask me any questions about the Oodnadatta to Marla section, or any other part of the track.

Alternative routes and detours

If you are in a hurry you can take several short cuts to the Stuart highway from the Oodnadatta Track.

William Creek to Coober Pedy - 165 km

This is a remote and lonely track that passes by Anna Creek homestead and leads through the Woomera Prohibited Area. It is a public road, but you have to keep on the track. No permit is required for this route.

Oodnadatta to Coober Pedy - 195 km

Another lonely track that has not much to offer but sheer Outback and remoteness. For the last 20 km before you arrive Coober Pedy you'll travel across the moon plain. It is a lunar-like landscape of rocky plains, an experience you hardly can imagine until you really see it. The moon plain was the set for quite a few Aussie movies like Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and others.

Oodnadatta to Cadney Park 161 km

This is definitely the most rewarding and interesting route with a stunning scenery across the Painted Desert. This section is worth to be described on a separate page.

Detours to Lake Eyre

From Marree there is the 92km (one way) track past Muloorina station to Madigan Gulf.

The track to Halligan Bay 63km (one way) goes from south of William Creek to the shores of Lake Eyre North.

Both tracks are definitely 4WD only, and should be taken with care and good equipment. Take plenty of water as this is truly one of the driest, harshest and loneliest parts of Australia. Take your Outback safety seriously.