Road Trip Through Oodnadatta Track

I have do the Oodnadatta Tk many times , it is a very interesting drive . First time was 1986 in a Sigma sedan towing a Jayco Finch . The Track has always been in good condition.

But I would not go there in Summer , Dec / Jan ,way to hot . I got talked into doing a trip in April one year the heat was unbearable.

Rangana

Your proposed route is like a highway these days, major route with a significant amount of traffic. Albeit perhaps less traffic at the time of year you are planning. There has been a lot of roadworks to the north of William Creek.

These areas will be hot in December/January and whilst that should not deter you from travelling then, make sure you plan well, especially with regard to water sufficiency.

There should be plenty of information available, the EO shop as a book on the Oodnadatta Track and if you have as look in the "Treks" section you will see notes for this route.

Enjoy...

Baz - The Landy

Hello Rangana.
We done the track a couple of months back, from Alice all the way down, it was the week after the Finke races, The corragations cracked my gas line,80 serese land cruiser, and my mate told me that his diesle line had a fine crack in it, he found it when he got home, the track got better the closer we were to the S/A border, it was a terrific drive for me as I'd never been that way and I had plenty of time, and the history along the way, but if one was to go that way thinking it would save time forget it.cheers Billy.

It is an easy drive. You shouldn't get the "corrugations" that it used to known for. But you will get some. It will be damned hot so take extra water. There won't be much traffic. No mobile phone access at all.

I would recommend another time of year if you can.

It was such an easy drive the last time that we went that way, that we didn't even bother to drop our tyre pressures until we were north of Oodnadatta, and on the way to Mt Dare.

Phil

Thank you everyone for all the advice and tips, due to our limited time we wont be going anywhere north of Ood.

On our way back we are thinking of doingCoober Pedy -> Williams Creek -> Maree -> Port Augusta.
I've read that there isn't much to see on the road between Odd and Williams Creek.
Would anyone be able to give me some insight in to this?

Is it worth while doing this route (below)

If we are doing Coober Pedy -> Williams Creek -> Maree -> Port Augusta ? (below)

Hi Rangana,
The Oodnadatta Track is as mentioned more akin to a highway than a track these days. However, this is not to say that it should be tackled unprepared. The area is isolated and at the time of the year that you plan to travel there will be far fewer travellers. Tyres can be an issue especially standard road tyres. Areas off the track such as Peake Telegraph Station are only accessibly using a 4WD such as a Prado or Landcruiser etc. I would seriously recommend that you reconsider the time of year you are planning to travel. May through to early September are much more suitable.
Robert

Hi everyone.

After reading all the comments, and more 'Googeling' I've change our route.
Sadly we wont be able to change the dates and everyone has already applied for time of and what not

Marla -> Cadney Station -> Ood -> Coober Pedy.
It looks like a short drive, which means we can have a good rest at Coober Pedy

Next morning head out to Williams Creek -> Maree -> South through the flinders -> Port augusta.
Looking at maps (from may 2008) from Coober Pedy theres about 450km of unsealed road up to Lyndhurst. Hopefully we can do around 90kms on these.



Thank you everyone for your advice and please keep em coming, any advice/tips more than appreciated.

@The Landy, I've bought the guide book you linked. thanks for that.

Hi the temps during the day can be mid 40's for days on end. Not so bad driving with an air con, but in my opinion the nights are the worst. I have worked in remote areas often during summer, with nights regularly in the 30's without a breath of wind. Hell in a swag or tent!

Regards
Craig

I just re read your first post and I see that one vehicle is a Toyota Camry, I would definitely not be going out there in that in December/January.

I was in Marree last week, took a run out to Lake Eyre then back to Marree then south, I was able to do 90klm in Some Places going south in a Prado but I seriously doubt that would be wise in a Camry. I was doing about 80km mostly and that was enough if you actually want to see the scenery.

In some places I was down to 70klm and it was still rough, a car would be bottoming out quite often, most dips will have a pile of gravel in between the wheels and it is likely that a car will be hitting some of these.

It would be distinctly likely that something will break and to be stranded out there in 40plus degree heat is life threatening stuff.

If you must go I would suggest a sat phone and lots of water, they recommend 4 litres per day per person, in a disabled car in the sun it will 60c or 70c so it will be bad.

We spent a week on a cattle station between Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy in mid January a few years back. Shade temperature was 50C or close EVERY day (and there is no shade).

But the Painted Desert is special....

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Thanks everyone.

From all the feedback I've got it looks like I may have to re think this.
Maybe we'll go to the painted desert from stuart Hwy and come back the same way.

And possibly give a miss to the route through Williams Creek -> Maree.