Friday 27 June to Monday 30 June - The Oodnadatta Track

This dirt road is over 600Km long and is known as ‘The String of Springs’ because it follows springs fed by the artesian basin. It is full of history about the early aboriginal traders, the Afghan Cameleers and The Ghan.  It has localities and ghost towns along it with such iconic names such as Bopeechee, Algebunkina, Curdimurka and, of course, Oodnadatta.

The oldback postman's truck

Trying to get out of the wind for moring coffee

Maree at Marree Railway Station

Us and the narrow gauge diesels at Maree

Lake Eyre South - Just salt at present

Unfortunately the headwinds hit us again as we continued up past Marree towards our next destination of Coward Springs. On the way we took a few pics at the Alberrie Sculpture Park then had lunch at Curdiminka railway siding, sheltering out of the wind behind the old gangers huts.



Alberrie Sculpture Park

Alberrie Sculpture Park

Alberrie Sculpture Park

Outback sense humour - great stuff

Alberrie Sculpture Park

Curimurka railway bridge

Curdimurka railway buildings

Curdimurka railway crossing

The birds are so hungry they gnaw the window frames

During the afternoons travel a stone from an overtaking vehicle broke one of our towing mirrors. That’s the luck of the draw on a gravel road.

The days end saw us set up camp at Coward Springs where Willy took up some defencing when he tried a tight turn into a camp site. As we set up camp I found a heap of screws floating around inside the van. One holding the top fridge hinge bracket had sheared off, a handle had fallen off a saucepan and all the screws holding the stove trivet had escaped. Don’t know where the other screws belong.

We had a quick dip in the spring before stoking up the ‘rocket’ heater at the camp for a hot shower then fivsies.

Fence in tow

Lighting 'the rocket' for a hot shower

Spa at Coward Springs

Sunset at Coward Springs

A home away from home at Coward Springs

Day 2 at Coward Springs was a rest day from travelling in the unrelenting wind. Rugged up in windcheaters, coats and beanies we visited a couple of springs including Blanches Cup and The Bubbler with the intention of having morning tea out there. The wind was too strong so we went back to camp for a coffee.

Maree and Chris at Blanches Cup

The Bubbler near Coward Springs

Day 3 on the Track saw us leave Coward Springs and take a morning coffee break at an icon of the outback - the William Creek hotel.

Inside William Creek Hotel

And outside the William Creek Hotel

After that we made good time up the road to our lunch break at longest span (for South Australia) and heritage listed Algebunkina bridge.

Algebunkina Bridge - 19 x 30.9 spans - built 1892

Algebunkina Bridge spanning the Neales River

Remains of a 1963 Holden near Algebunkina Bridge

Later we reached the isolated outback town of Oodnadatta where we had a chippie break at the Pink Roadhouse.

Sadly this is probably the most famous icon of Oodnadatta

What? Another hottest town?

That night we set up camp at Kathleen Creek, just over 100Kms from the north end of the Track.

Boiling the billy at Kathleen Creek

The night ritual of filling the thermos for the next day



Bush camp at Kathleen Creek