2026 Spring Trip – OZ Camper Travels

5th & 6th September 2026

Distance: 274 km

Fuel: 23 L

The Target

Over the years decades I have made a few attempts to travel the Oodnadatta Track between Maree and Marla in South Australia. Every time I have got near the rain has come and closed the road for, sometimes, several weeks.

This month my daughter and I are going to try to travel the track.

She has a new campervan that she has built herself based on a Delica. It is not quite ready to go as I take my teardrop camper to her house for the weekend to prepare for this trip.

7th September 2026

Distance: 342 km

Fuel: 34 L

First Day Out

Today we set out but because of some minor fixes needed on the Delica we were late leaving to our original target of reaching Goolgowi or even Hay was far too ambitious, we would have been driving at dusk, a time I try to avoid as the animals start moving about. We decided to review our situation at Barellen.

Barellen is the place that Evonne Goolagong grew up, it is a small town but we decided it was the best place to stop if we could find accommodation.

Barellen Showground was mentioned in both the Camping and the Caravan book so we decided to have a look. Turns out it is $30 a night for a powered site, $15 for an unpowered site, the facilities were pretty good so we went to the town’s General Store and paid for a night.

We were lucky, the previous week had been the Horse Show when doubtless the town and showground would have been booked out

8th September 2026

Distance: 409 km

Fuel: 39 L

Barellen to Lake Benanee

We are still in NSW and still heading east.

Ah! the Hay plain, flat and desolate as always, tonight we are staying at a free rest area still in NSW.

Lake Bananee is a rest area that I have stopped at before but never stayed overnight, it has toilets but no other facilities. Pleasant enough place to spend the night.

9th September 2026

Distance: 440 km

Fuel: 53 L

Lake Benanee to Burra

We set off fairly early for Burra partly because there were no showers or facilities here in the rest area.Tonight we are staying at the Bon Accord Hotel in Burra, they offer free unpowered sites in exchange for a buying a meal, a powered site was $35

We arrived at Burra fairly early and booked into the hotel, after setting ourselves up we had plenty of time to explore the town. It is a town we have stayed at before but last time it was more of a social occasion where we all met up on our way to Uluru, I don’t think we even left the caravan park except to buy fuel on that occasion.

The camp stop in the hotel grounds suited us well as we were able to park close together.

Burra

The town itself turned out to be very interesting, it is an old mining town.

After visiting the mine we wandered the town and later enjoyed a coffee and snack there.

In the evening we had a very nice meal at the Bon Accord hotel.

Disappointment

Sections of the Oodnadatta track have closed after some rain and the rest is still 4WD only, so after much soul searching decided to abandon the original intention of this trip and revise our plans. What had been side trips now became our primary focus and a trip to Lightning Ridge was added.

10th September 2026

Distance: 365 km

Fuel: 41 L

Burra to Lake Albert

Our revised trip meant heading south toward The Coorong and Lake Albert near the mouth of the Murray River but before we left we had to make a small pilgrimage just outside of town to the house featured on the Diesel and Dust LP from Midnight Oil.

We headed south, on our way we came across some Silo Art which we had to stop for.

And Map the Miner.

Followed by a giant Rocking horse where we stopped for coffee

We crossed the Murray River on a free cable drawn ferry at Wentworth Road ferry.

Before eventually arriving at Meningie and our caravan park next to Lake Albert.

11th September 2026

Distance: 309 km

Lake Albert to Mount Gambier

Fairly easy drive initially along the Coorong.

By the time we arrived in Mt Gambier my windscreen and bullbar were a mass of insects, I have never seen so many in one day. The area must be a breeding ground for them, all that stagnant, fresh water I guess.