Oodnadatta Track

The Oodnadatta Track is an unsealed 614 km (382 mi) outback road in the Australian state of South Australia, connecting Marla in the north-west via Oodnadatta to Marree in the south-east.[3] Along the way, the track passes the settlements of Oodnadatta and William Creek,[4] the southern lake of the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, and mound springs known as Freeling Springs, Strangways Springs, and The Bubbler and Blanche Cup (Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs).[5]

Oodnadatta Track

South Australia
The Oodnadatta Track (depicted in blue)
Oodnadatta Track is located in South Australia
Northwest end
Northwest end
Southeast end
Southeast end
Coordinates
General information
TypeTrack
Length614 km (382 mi)[1]
Major junctions
Northwest end Stuart Highway
Marla, South Australia
 Birdsville Track
Southeast endThe Outback Highway
Marree, South Australia
Location(s)
RegionFar North[2]
Restrictions
Permitsnot required
Fuel supplyOodnadatta 27.548684°S 135.448297°E / -27.548684; 135.448297
William Creek 28.906615°S 136.338789°E / -28.906615; 136.338789
Marree 29.645566°S 138.063621°E / -29.645566; 138.063621
FacilitiesAirstrips, charters at all towns, UHF Radio repeaters with 100 km range on various channels provide emergency contact with locals. Swimming pools and police stations at Oodnadatta and Marla

Some maps show Oodnadatta Track as route D95, which, under the extended Australian alphanumeric road numbering system, belongs to a D road, a category distinct from a C road. However, the D95 is not signposted, as the Department for Infrastructure and Transport has a policy of not marking unsealed roads.[6]

History

The track follows a traditional Australian Aboriginal trading route. Along the Track are numerous springs feeding water from the Great Artesian Basin, the most accessible examples being the mound springs near Coward Springs, now in the Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park. Later, because of the availability of water, the route was chosen for the steam-train powered Central Australia Railway, the original route of The Ghan.

It was also the route taken by the explorer John McDouall Stuart on his third expedition in 1859.[7] Remnants of the many railway sidings and bridges, the ruins of railway buildings, and Overland Telegraph Line repeater stations are located along the track – some of the best preserved are at the Coward Springs Campground – complete with a natural artesian spa and the abandoned Curdimurka railway siding.

Angle Pole (27°30′13″S 135°24′57″E) is the point near Oodnadatta where the direction of the Telegraph Line changed to a more northerly direction.[8] It is near the Peake cattle station,[9][10] also known as "The Peake", or Freeling Springs. The ruins of Peake telegraph station exist on the station today.[11] Nearby Peake Creek was named after Edward John Peake by John McDouall Stuart in June 1859, hence Peake Station, which was acquired by Kidman Holdings in 1898.[12]

The Track was named by Adam Plate of the Oodnadatta Progress Association in about 1980, to form a trilogy of unsealed tourist routes with the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks nearby. This Road has no major intersections.

Route

The Oodnadatta Track heads southeast from Marla to Oodnadatta, and then roughly follows the former Central Australia Railway further southeast, until meeting the sealed Outback Highway at Marree. The road's surface has been well maintained in recent years.

In dry weather, the track is passable to most vehicles and caravans. A four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicle gives a more comfortable journey, and is essential for driving the track during and after rain. Since the track is unsealed, the Government of South Australia recommends that users check whether it is open before departure.

Major junctions

Oodanadatta Track is entirely contained within the Outback Communities Authority local government area.[13]

Location[1][14]km[1]miDestinationsNotes
Marla00.0 Stuart Highway (A87) – Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Alice SpringsNorthwestern terminus of track
Oodnadatta214133Kempe Road – Coober Pedy
Callanna546339Borefield Road – Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs
Marree614382Birdsville Track – Birdsville
The Outback Highway – Lyndhurst, HawkerSoutheastern terminus of track
  •       Route transition
  • Mound Springs on the Oodnadatta Track
    Mound Springs on the Oodnadatta Track
  • Lake Eyre South from the Oodnadatta Track
    Lake Eyre South from the Oodnadatta Track
  • Road signs at Oodnadatta
    Road signs at Oodnadatta
  • The Oodnadatta Track heading north from Oodnadatta
    The Oodnadatta Track heading north from Oodnadatta
  • The Oodnadatta Track from a slight rise in the road
    The Oodnadatta Track from a slight rise in the road
  • Trackbed of the former Central Australia Railway – the "old Ghan" line – near Lake Eyre South (left distance)
    Trackbed of the former Central Australia Railway – the "old Ghan" line – near Lake Eyre South (left distance)

See also

icon Australian Roads portal

References
  1. Google. "Oodnadatta Track" (Map). Google Maps. Google.
  2. "Location SA Map viewer with regional layers". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. Hema, Maps (2007). Australia Road and 4WD Atlas (Map). Eight Mile Plains Queensland: Hema Maps. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-1-86500-456-3.
  4. "Oodnadatta Track: Wiliam Creek, Coward Springs & Pink Roadhouse" In Australien. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  5. "About mound springs". Friends of Mound Springs. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  6. "Ozroads: South Australia". www.ozroads.com.au. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  7. "Outback: The Oodnadatta Track". National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA). Archived from the original on 6 August 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  8. "The Angle Pole Memorial SA". ExplorOz.
  9. "Railway Construction In Western Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 14 February 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  10. "Search result for "Angle Pole" (Record No. SA0001492)". Department of Planning Transport and infrastructure. 1 July 2004. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  11. "Freeling Springs (The Peake)". Friends of Mound Springs. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  12. "S.A. Northern Pioneers: S. Jarvis". SA Memories. State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. "Location SA Map viewer with LGA layers". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  14. "Location SA Map viewer with suburb layers". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2022.

Further reading
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