The Oodnadatta Track

The great Outback Australia travel adventure

The Oodnadatta Track is certainly the most historic Outback track in Australia, hence it should be on top of your South Australia travel itinerary.
The track is classified as an easier route, so it is just right for anyone with no Outback experience.

The Oodnadatta Track follows an ancient trail used by Aborigines for ochre trading for thousands of years. Artesian mound springs supply water in this arid region.
Aborigines relied on this water source as well as the European explorers who used the route to build the Overland Telegraph and the Old Ghan railway lines in the late 19th century.

This was the time when the story of the Australian camels began. Without the ships of the desert exploring the vast Australian inland would have been even harder.

Wongianna Ruins - Oodnadatta Track

These days the Oodnadatta Track is a well maintained gravel road of approx. 620 km that begins in Marree. It is a great route to travel from South Australia to the Northern Territory, and it is much more interesting than the sealed Stuart Highway.

How to get there?

Coming from the south take the Hawker-Leigh Creek Road that passes by the Flinders Ranges. The bitumen ended in Lyndhurst until recently.
On my last trip to this region (Nov. 2008) roadworks were in progress, and locals in Marree told me that the route from Marree to Lyndhurst is going to be sealed very soon.
Don't miss the Ochre Pits and the ghost town Farina on your way to Marree.

If you come from the north along the Stuart Highway, the entry to the Oodnadatta Track is roughly 160 km south of the South Australian border.

Travelling along the track can be divided into three legs, which are decribed in detail in the Outback Guide. If you really want to take it easy, and take your time to explore the ruins and natural highlights along the way, you allow yourself one day for each stage of about 200 km.

The route step by step

• Marree To William Creek (204 km) - in my opinion the most diverse part of the track. Lake Eyre, mound springs, several ruins of former Ghan railway sidings are among the highlights.
• William Creek to Oodnadatta (202 km) - see more relics of the Old Ghan, including the huge Algebuckina railway bridge.
• Oodnadatta to Marla (211 km) - Both the Ghan and the Overland Telegraph Line leave the track north of the township Oodnadatta. So on this last leg you won't see much history, just beautiful Outback landscape.
• If you get the chance make a detour to the Painted Desert from Oodnadatta. This is sheer Outback beauty, and truly worth the visit. You can also use the painted desert track for a short cut to Australia's famous opal capital, Coober Pedy.

Check the driving Distances Outback for more travel distances in this part of the South Australian Outback. Prepare yourself and your car for the trip, don't miss the section about Outback safety in this guide.

Stuart Range - Outback South Australia

Each little town along the track offers basic Outback accommodation and other facilities travellers need. It is always wise to refuel, and check your water stocks.

The Oodnadatta Track takes you into true Outback country - stony plains, rocky hills and wildflowers after good rain. You have to cross several creeks and river systems, most of them are usually dry.

"Sandy creeks that flow nowhere,

Excepting when it rains"...

This line from a Slim Dusty song really fits. Everywhere in the Outback you'll recognize dry waterways by the stands of river red gums and coolibah trees along the dry creek beds.

Talking of rain.... water causes the biggest problem when driving out there, anywhere in the Outback. It doesn't rain often, but if the rain comes it can be torrential. Always check with the locals for the weather report.

Take your time and explore this timeless land, and the historic features along the way. Make it a trip of a lifetime. For me it really was an unique Outback travel experience.

When you reach Marla on the Stuart Highway, you are back on bitumen, but still in the Outback. You can either go to the Alice Springs and Uluru, or down south to Coober Pedy, Port Augusta and Adelaide.

Permits

As long as you stay on the main road you don't need any permits. However, if you plan to make a detour to a National or Conservation Park, you need to obtain either a Deserts Park Pass or a day permit. Both are available in Marree and William Creek.

Map of the Oodnadatta Track - opens a new window for your convenient reading and planning.

Enjoy this most interesting track in the South Australian Outback. I just loved this tour!

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You saw Lake Eyre in flood?

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Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Lake Eyre - Level Post Bay  Hi,
I'm travelling through that area on the weekend and staying Saturday night at Lyndhurst and have Sunday free before heading down south.

My better ...

Lake Eyre Trip  hello, we would like to travel to lake eyre now the waters are there, but would also like to visit coober pedy and see the flinders national park.
We ...

Canoeing Lake Eyre  Hi Rita,
My son and I are travelling to Lake Eyre (4 wheel drive and camper) in the school holidays and would like your help with a few things.

1....

Lake Eyre  Just wondering which is the best track to see the most, as we are planning to go to lake Eyre in a couple of weeks.

Lake Eyre Halligan Bay photo ...