William Creek To Oodnadatta

Back on the Oodnadatta Track, the section from William Creek to Oodnadatta has more Outback South Australia scenery to offer. Patchy salt bush, occasional wildflowers and sometimes a low range on the horizon, along with more ruins from the Ghan railway, make the trip diverse. Small trees and bushes along a dry creek bed that’s all what is growing in this barren landscape. The creek crossings increase and the creek beds get wider.

Duff Creek, near the turn-off to Nilpinna homestead, is a fairly broad creek bed, deeply covered with fine, powdery sand. A rusty railway bridge stretches across Duff Creek some hundred metres west of the track. It is no problem to manage these creek crossings if you drive careful and slow down.

Twenty-four kilometres further on is Edwards Creek railway siding. The usual water tank, water softener and a few ruins can be seen from the roadside. The siding is on property of Nilpinna station.

One of Adam Plate's pink mudmaps says: "Congratulations – you've made it to the centre point of the Oodnadatta Track! Drive to survive – only 320 km to go!!"

The next railway siding area on the William Creek to Oodnadatta section is Warrina. The ruin of a fettler’s cottage and a few rusty pieces of a cart and some sort of machinery is all that remains. Five kilometres further on, at the turn-off to the old Peake telegraph station, Giles Memorial commemorates the crossing of the continent by Ernest Giles.

I can't help to throw in a little piece of Outback history every now and then :).

The 17 km side track to the Peake historic site is recommended for 4 WD only.

The ruin of the fettler’s cottage at the North Peake siding is set on a vast plain. Amazingly, there’s a piece of rail left in front of the cottage which, together with the ruin and the far horizon, makes a pretty good photo. Don't you just love the Outback?

As you approach the Algebuckina area, there are a few surprises. The Neales River is by far the largest watercourse on the Oodnadatta Track, with a northern and a southern branch and several smaller channels, lined by coolibah trees. Depending on the season, there is water in the river, and invites to camp for the night.

However, the most stunning sight is the huge Algebuckina bridge. It is the longest bridge in South Australia, 578 metres. You can climb up the railway dam to reach the bridge. Most of the sleepers and the rails are left intact, however, nobody knows how sturdy the wooden sleepers remain after 120 years, so don’t walk out more than a few metres.

At the foot of the bridge is the wreckage of a Holden car, although nobody would recognize it as that. Anyway, the driver tried to cross the flooded Neales River on the bridge and was pushed away by an oncoming train.

Bad timing, as there usually were no more than three trains a week on the timetable. It is said that the driver was able to escape from the car and survived, while his dog jumped into the river and wasn’t seen anymore.

Leaving the Neales river behind, the Oodnadatta track takes you to more stunning scenery, as you pass the low hills of the Stuart Range at Bartons’ Gap. The mix of the bare ochre-coloured hills and deep red gibber plains dotted with greenish saltbush, set against a deep blue sky with big white clouds, make a beautiful sight and even better photos.

Barton's Gap, Oodnadatta Track

Now there are only a few kilometres, and you arrive at Oodnadatta. Congratulations, you made the second stage of the Oodnadatta track!!

Did you enjoy the trip from William Creek to Oodnadatta? Then let's continue to the last piece of Oodnadatta Track from Oodnadatta to Marla.

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