Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Oodnadatta Track
The legendary, lonesome Oodnadatta Track is an unsealed, 615km road between Marla
on the Stuart Hwy and Marree in the northern Flinders Ranges. The track traces the route
of the old Overland Telegraph Line and the defunct Great Northern Railway.
Lake Eyre
(the world's sixth-largest lake and usually dry) is just off the road. The landscape here is
amazingly diverse: floodplains south of Marla, saltbush flats around William Creek,
dunes and red gibber plains near Coward Springs. Bring a 4WD - the track is often pass-
able in a regular car, but it gets bumpy, muddy, dusty and potholed.
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Information
Before you hit the Oodnadatta − a rough, rocky and sandy track that's subject to closure
after rains − check track conditions with the Coober Pedy visitor information centre, the
Royal Automobile Association in Adelaide, or online at
www.dpti.sa.gov.au/Outback-
Roads
.
If you're finding the dust and dirt heavy going, there are escape routes to Coober Pedy
on the Stuart Hwy from William Creek and Oodnadatta. Fuel, accommodation and meals
are available at Marla, Oodnadatta, William Creek and Marree.
See the
Oodnadatta Track − String of Springs
booklet from the South Australian
Tourism Commission, and the
Travel the Oodnadatta Track
brochure produced by the
Pink Roadhouse for detailed track info.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Oodnadatta to William Creek
Around 209km from Marla,
Oodnadatta
(population 280) is where the main road and
the old railway line diverged. Here you'll find the
Pink Roadhouse
( 08-8670 7822,
1800 802 074;
www.pinkroadhouse.com.au
;
8am-5.30pm)
, a good source of track info and
meals (try the impressive 'Oodnaburger'). The roadhouse also has an attached
caravan
park
(unpowered/powered sites from $22/30, budget cabins d/f from $65/125, self-contained cab-
ins d from $110; )
, which has basic camping through to self-contained cabins.
Note that one of the roadhouse managers passed away in 2012 - at the time of writing
the future of the business was uncertain.
In another 70km you'll hit William Creek (population six), best enjoyed in the weath-
Creek; unpowered/powered sites $25/35, cabins s/d $35/70, hotel $110/140;
)
, an iconic
