Cooper Creek - What to Expect

OK, we camped at the Dig Tree reserve a couple of years ago for 5 night until the weather chased us out. There will probably be someone that has been there more recently but I can answer some of your questions. Here goes:-
Will there be water in the creek and if so, is it drinkable?
Probably yes and I wouldn't drink it as there is lot's of live stock in the area. This is answered better later on.
Would you boil it to drink? Would you fill the water tank?
Don't drink it and make sure you are self sufficient with water & food
Would you swim in the creek?
Absolutely as long as it is safe of course. Don't forget the fishing gear and the Yabbie nets. We were catching at least a dozen good sized yabbies every day at leaset.
Is it tree lined? Redgum, coolabar, myall, mulga?
Coolibah mainly.
Can you just wander off and camp on the banks anywhere?
Not really, if your going to the dig tree you'll havve plenty of room to camp.
Is it ethical to burn local firewood? Is there any firewood there anyway?
The local caretaker (Bomber is his name) supplied us with plenty of wood even though we had a lot when we arrived. had some great fires
I'm guessing some of it is station land while other may be national park or the like.
It's part of a station named Nappa Merrie which when we were there was part of the "S Kidman & Co" empire.

Enjoy it, we loved it and it's on our "to back to" list.

Have a look here in "Places" wher at least you can have a look at some photos. They will show you plenty of water in the creek, so you can swim if you dont mind muddy feet. Would not suggest drinking the water though - go prepared with plenty of water and firewood.

Cooper Creek is lined with Coolabah, River Red Gums and lignum, though away from the creekline the vegetation becomes sparse. Apart fom the Dig Tree there are a number of other sites around Innaminka that are related to the Burke and Wills saga, and its worthwhile to have a look at all of them, and Cullyamurra Waterhole too.You will need to spend a few days in the area to see it all and take it in.

Cheers,

Val.

Definitely be sure to take your own drinking water, as stock and wild pigs are all around. Creek water OK for washing etc. Some firewood can be found if left by others in campsites, but don't collect it from the local area, especially around Cullyamarra waterhole as it is part of national park and is important animal habitat.
I'd recommend some research on Cullyamurra Waterhole as we found it such a special place. There are some great photos on Google earth, and a really good over view. National parks have installed some excellent composting toilets in the right places. there is a fee to camp there, payable to National Parks and Wildlife Dept (check their website) We spent 12 days there, and I'd go back in an instant. Good fishing for grunter, yellowbelly, catfish and yabbies, with about 10kms of campsites in beautifull redgum and Coolabah country. I believe Cullyamurra W/H is up to 90 feet deep in some places.
Wildlife and birdlife is sensational. We had birds joining us in camp, dingoes around camp at night (pack up food bait, scraps etc)
Cheers, Bob

Hi Bega P, the Cooper stopped flowing in the first week of June so only big waterholes like Cullyamurra will have water. But it never dries up. So no flow at the Innamincka causeway nor at Nappa Merrie. Get yourself onto the Burke and Wills Bridge and try and visualise it underwater in Jan 2010. Click on link to see pix. Head out to Coongie Lakes then let us know if they have any water........W

Yes it's part of Nappa Merrie station. My friend taught at Tibooburra School of the Air a few eyars ago now and one of her students lived on this station, so she once took some other students on a history excursion there!
But, being of significance, this part is open to the public and controlled. I had no issues with paying the honesty box to support the upkeep and protection of such a significant area, esp the fact that there is tar road to within about 70km (if I recall) when coming from Thargomindah on the Bulloo Dev Rd!! Something that was once so remote can be almost accessed by my 2WD these days!
Cullyamarra was serene and lovely but be aware that you're on your own if all hell breaks loose in any way. Cost a bomb, and then a big storm hit. We were registered so people knew we were out there (along with about another dozen groups). An 8 hour storm hit at 10pm and with no warning, we could only ride it out in our tent, camped unknowingly under big trees (to escape the day's heat). The tent was almost destroyed (the sides blew in so far that it was like spending 8 hours in front of a spinnaker and the walls and floor on 2 sides weren't connected by much by 6am!) and the nearest tent shop to Innamincka is...?!
No warning signs were posted in "town" that day and we were all ignorant of what was to come, or to re-pitch out from the trees!
In contrast, that same storm...the Birdsville cop had warning and went to the caravan park to warn the campers and then did the rounds of town to tell them to batten the hatches.
Still cranky about the lack of warning, 12 months later.

Coooper Creek at Innamincka. One of my fav camping spots ever.

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes
All of them,
No (and getting more restricted all the time),
No - everyone else has burn't it before you. Good idea to collect and bring your own, especially at the Dig Tree/grave sites,
Yes and Regional Reserve as opposed to NP,
Photograph...spend time there? My addage is this;

"Time spent on the Cooper is time that is not deducted from ones lifespan"!

It is truely an iconic Australian location. You can not possible spend enough time there. Bird and wildlife at any time of the day would keep any photographer happy for weeks. The history of the place is simply an added bonus.

Check the treck notes, places and blogs on the site. There is a wealth of info there.

Cheers Mick

we camped at The Dig Tree back at the start of July, below is the pic of our campsite. the closer you camp to the toilet block area nearer the entry, the higher up you are from the water, and most of those areas have less of a view of the creek itself IMHO. keep heading right down the back of the camp area when you get there, and the embankment opens up more to allow better views of the water. it's to far to walk to the toliet block when camped right down the back though, so be sure and be self sufficient like we were whilst there, or be prepared to drive to the toliets.

OUR CAMPSITE

One little item that hasn't been mentioned.
If you are camping anywhere in the Innamincka Regional Reserve (NP), which is most places apart from the Town Common camping area, you will need a Desert Parks Pass.

This can be purchased online from the SA Government website Desert Parks Pass or maybe the Innamincka Store when you arrive and before heading out to one of the camp sites.

Last time I was at Cullyamurra Waterhole, there was an abundance of water weed along the banks which detracted a little from the otherwise beautiful location.

We stayed at Cullyamurra waterhole for 4 days in 2011 and that was not enough time to see all we wanted. Were planning to go back again this year, but couldn't co-ordinate holidays with our friends. Maybe next year.The dig tree was an easy half day trip from where we camped.
I won't repeat the answers others have given you, but on the basis a picture is worth a thousand words the photos of our trip are on Flickr here
The Strezleki track begins on page 2
Photos of Montecollina Bore start on page 3
Innaminka/Cullymurra Waterhole photos commence on page 6
Our trip to the dig tree commences on page 17
We leave Cullymurra Waterhole heading to Camerons Corner and Sturt National park on page 24

If you're a birdwatcher, photographer and/or canooer and have the time (and the track is open) I'd highly recommend you go to Coongie Lake as well. It's about 75km NW of Innamincka. There are campsites on the Cooper leading into it as well as on the Lake itself. It's a stunning spot.

For what it's worth, in October last year we had a look at Cullymurra Waterhole. But mindful of the fact our children were only 8 & 10 year old, for the most part we couldn't find anywhere decent/safe to swim. So we chose the Town Common where there were plenty of camping spots. The water was waste deep & very refreshing after a long drive in 35c heat.
The last thing my wife was expecting when driving into the Sturt Stony Desert was a swim & a cold beer!!!