oodnadatta track

Back on the Track!
We continued South to our next stop, William Creek. This place is a tiny outback settlement with a real sense of adventure. The William Creek Hotel is the heart of this remote town, offering a cold drink and a yarn. Fun fact – William Creek is found on the world’s largest cattle station (Anna Creek Station). You can also fuel up your vehicle here at the hotel.

From William Creek, we set our sights on the Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs. Located about 4km off the Oodnadatta track, The Mound Springs are natural artesian springs formed by water from deep within the Great Artesian Basin, filtering up to the surface to create mounds and bubbling ponds. The wetlands formed by the spring’s overflow provide a vital habitat for a variety of waterbirds. A pretty cool sight to see in the middle of the desert!

Continuing along the track, a trip out here would be incomplete without a stop off at the South Lake Eyre viewing area. The carpark is right next to the track and you can’t miss it! (famous last words). The southern section of Lake Eyre offers a more intimate experience with the salt flats, where you can walk across the shimmering, cracked white surface. It looks like the flat white surface goes on forever. The surreal landscape is especially captivating at sunrise or sunset, with the sky’s colors dancing on the salt crust, making it a photographer’s dream.

After taking a stack of photos and videos here, it was time to find camp. And what better place than the famous Coward Springs Campground. This place is a true oasis in the desert. The Campground is a rustic retreat with a natural hot spring to soak in after a long day on the road. In the desert!! The palm-fringed springs and restored heritage buildings offer a tranquil stop along the Oodnadatta Track, complete with hot showers (you need to light a wood fire in what’s known as a ‘donkey’, to heat the water up – very unique!). We settled in for the night with some camp cooked tacos, ready to hit the track again the next day.

Our final day on the track. We said goodbye to Coward Springs Campground, to tackle the final leg of the track. Our main stop for the day was the Mutonia (Marla) Sculpture Park.

This awesome art installation is a quirky roadside stop that showcases a collection of fascinating, locally made sculptures. The park’s eccentric artwork stands in stark contrast to the endless red desert, offering a fun and unexpected break along the journey. This is where you’ll find a couple of planes mounted tail down into the ground, along with a bus, and various robot-like figures created from old car parts!

The home stretch was upon us as we left the park, and finished the track in Marree. Maree sits at the junction of the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks, a gateway to the arid heart of Australia. With a rich history tied to camel trains and the Old Ghan railway, Maree is a must-stop to soak up the atmosphere of the old outback. The pub here also has great meals, and fuel is available as well.

It would be too lengthy to describe every stop along the Oodnadatta track, but these are the main attractions. The entire track has plenty of railway history along it, and you can stop off at many old railway buildings and farm houses along the journey! Whilst you can complete the track quite quickly, you may as well take your time and see it all. After all – how often do you get to the South Australian Outback!