AusTourer: Day 21 - Thursday - The Oodnadatta Track

Today was the big drive. The Oodnadatta track is said to be one of the most interesting drives in Australia. The country is flat to gently undulating for most part and the gravel road is maintained in reasonable condition.

I did 400km today starting at 10 am and arriving in Oodnadatta at 530pm.

Such a wonderful trip… The roads are only suited to a 4wd basically due to the corregations, minor sand and rocks the size of your fist and smaller all over the track continuously.

That said I saw one guy in a 2wd van. Who knows how he would have gone..

There is so much to keep you interested.

First up i came upon a Sculpture display.

Is this the Oodnadatta Farmer ?

Dog Fence .. As the sign says , a bloody long fence.

50km on futher and South Lake Ayer greets you on one turn.

Its dry for most of the time but has filled to capacity on three occasions in the last 150 years. When it does fill, usually due to heavy rains in Queensland funneled south via creeks and rivers, birds flock to it.. As a side note I strongly recommend the ABC documentary on Lake Eyre 1 & 2 made by Paul Lockyer

I saw it on Foxtel last year. Unfortunately he and his film crew died in a helicopter crash making the third episode. A must see documentary.

Its great to be here albeit viewing a big salt lake with no water……

Next was Wabma Kadarbu conservation park which has a series of natural springs fed by water from the Great Artesian basin supporting a small ecosystem of plants and animals. I even saw a rabbit. It was strange but upon my arrival, as I was the only person around for what would have been at least 50-100km??..the landscape became very misty and the sky clouded out the sun. At this point about I had only seen one other car. Very surreal. I felt like and explorer.. Albeit in an airconditioned toureg. At 43 degrees now, I have no idea how the labour of the early 1900s ever survived in such conditions.

Note the little bird coming in for a drink

Another 50km up the road to Coward springs which was an important link on the old Ghan Railway line. Today its noted for its wonderful campground and Restored station masters house and engine drivers cabin. I drove in and it was here I met Adam and his girlfriend who had camped the previous night and were packing to move

Adam and Girlfriend

At 43 degrees just what one needs. A cold natural spa

We chatted and then I looked around. I wanted to camp but as they were leaving I wasn’t going to be there by myself. As he suggested, its probably safer here than any place in Sydney …but that said, I wasn’t going to feel good sleeping in a tent by myself hours from any other person. The current owner has created a spa area from the natural springs which was a very welcome cool down on a day that was so hot

I also continued to travel along the Dog fence and the original Telegraph line opening up Australia to the world.

Jaybear just chilling out.

Just caught this eagle as he flew off. I would say a 3mtre wingspan

From 200km onwards to the 400km mark the temperature dropped from 43 to 32 degrees.

The old Ghan is always with you as you travel seeing old bridges, and lines running parrellel to the track for hundreds of kilometres…

The Old Ghan follows the trail all the way. All is going to ruin

The type of rocks all over the track

Arriving in Oodnadatta, its not what I expected. No way I will find my dreams here….that said the locals seemed ok. Population 277.

My room is a cupboard with a tv that doesn’t work…but at least I got a bed and it has power to keep my fridge cool overnight. A very nice sunset here as well.