Adelaide to Ayers Rock via Lake Eyre

Adelaide to Ayers Rock via Lake Eyre

Borefield Road

Hi, we are driving from Adelaide to Ayers Rock and back to Adelaide in April 2011. Is it unreasonable to try to go to Lake Eyre as well?? Where would we turn off to go to lake Eyre and what towns would we go through?
Thanks for any advice.

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Adelaide to Ayers Rock via Lake Eyre

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Mar 10, 2011

Lake Eyre Detour
by: Rita

Well, if it is reasonable to go to Lake Eyre depends on your car and the weather at the time of your trip.

You have several options to go to the lake:

1 ) via the Flinders Ranges to Marree.
2 ) Leave the Stuart Highway at Woomera and take the unsealed Borefield Road (unsealed) to join the Oodnadatta Track.

3) Or you can go along the William Creek Road (unsealed) from Coober Pedy to William Creek.

There are access tracks to Lake Eyre from Marree and William Creek to the lake. You definitely need a 4WD to use these tracks.
You can also take a flight from Marree or William Creek to the Lake.

The weather in the South Australian Outback has been far from "normal" this year, so it is hard to make any predictions if you can make it next month.

Have a safe trip. Would be great if you can tell us if you made it to Lake Eyre.

Rita

Mar 10, 2011

oonadatta
by: Kylie

Thank Rita, we have a Ford Escape 4wd, so it will depend on how bad the road i, and we are towing a off road camper trailer.
If we go through Woomera is it a loop that will end up further along the stuart hwy? and if so what is the time frame to allow.

Mar 15, 2011

Several options back to Stuart Highway
by: Rita

Hi Kylie,

When you take the Borefield Road from Woomera via Roxby Downs you turn left to William Creek once you reach the Oodnadatta Track. About 30km along the road you reach the Lake Eyre South lookout point.

When the public access road is open, you can take that to reach Lake Eyre North. It is just a few km before you reach William Creek.
Now you can go back to the Stuart Highway on the William Creek Road to Coober Pedy.
The other option is to continue to Oodnadatta and return via the beautiful painted desert to Cadney homestead on the Stuart Highway.

Depending on the Lake Eyre activities you plan (flight, drive to the lake) I would say you should allow 2 to 3 days for this loop.

Just ask in Woomera or Roxby Downs about road condition and if the tracks are open.

The sign pictured above is in Roxby, where the Borefiled road begins. It doesn't say anything about the painted desert road from Oodnadatta, unfortunately.

Rita

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