A Spring Trip

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.

After setting our camp up we went for a walk into the centre of Mt Gambier – this sink hole is right next to the council offices.

On to The Nullarbor

6th May 2024

Distance:429 km

Fuel: 43 L

The times they are a’changing

Left at 8am this morning thinking of the long journey taking 5 hours forgetting that once again I was changing time zones. In actual fact it took me ages to find the correct time in Eucla – even my phone got it wrong taking it to Perth time – Eucla is 45 minutes ahead of Perth.

Penong to Eucla

Easy driving on a good road had to overtake a few caravans crawling along but the long straight stretches of road made that easy. The scenery varied at first.

There were a surprising number of cyclists.

The road skirts the Nullarbor Plain hugging the coastline and offering spectacular views of the Great Australian Bight.

Sometimes the highway is very close to the cliffs

Arrived at the WA border and at the quarantine inspection checkpoint they took my potato and onion again!

It was only 12 km to the Eucla Roadhouse, Motel and Caravan Park where I checked in and filled up with fuel ($2.52 a litre!)

Discovered that the caravan park didn’t have water except for showers ($1) and washing. I think if I had known I would have driven on further. Anyway after setting up walked around looking at some of the sights that Eucla has to offer.

A fella I had been chatting to earlier knocked on my camper just as it was getting dark – he was going back to SA so he gave me some carrots and onions to stop them being confiscated. So win some. lose some.

Penong

5th May 2024

Distance: 392 Km

Fuel: 43 L

Left Kimba at about 8am, there was really nothing there to delay me, I was up at 6am for a shower so once I had some breakfast I connected up and set .off.

Interesting enough drive, had to overtake a couple of trucks and caravans but easy enough – not much traffic.

I find that travelling at 110kph on my speedo is about 103kph in actual speed, keeps me out of the way of trucks and seems to be reasonably economic.

Stopped briefly at Wudinna to have look at the granite sculpture which appears to be a tribute to Australian farmers.

Made surprisingly good progress, filled up with fuel in Ceduna, probably the last below $2 a litre for at least a few days.

It was only about 80km to Penong, where I arrived just after midday, I had booked a site a couple of days ago but when I arrived it seemed to have been forgotten but was able to get one though the park filled up by late afternoon. Once I had set up drove to the local servo to top up the tank and made a stop at Penong’s only attraction – its collection of windmills.

On the site next to me was a young girl on a motor bike also doing the Big Lap. She seemed to be well set up.

On to Kimba

4th May 2024

Distance: 262 Km

Fuel: 30 L

After a shower and breakfast went for a walk to the local IGA for a couple of groceries before coupling up the camper and getting ready to go.

Not far to go today, less than 300km so no rush, nice drive through the Flinders Ranges, hardly any traffic until I got close to Port Augusta. Tom Tom found a short cut round Port Augusta but it was bumpy I should have stuck to the highway.

BTW am back on Highway 1 which circumnavigates Australia and is the longest road in the world, Left it when I got to the top of Mt Ousley in Wollongong but am back on it for the next 1200km across the Nullarbor Plain.

Arrived in Kimba just after midday but for the second day running the sat nav had trouble finding the caravan park. its location was actually not even close.

Took the opportunity to hand wash some clothes before having a quick look at Kimba. It appears to be a big rest stop for the road trains crossing the Nullarbor, there is a big parking bay opposite the fuel stop where drivers have their compulsory breaks – quite interesting watching the activities there.

Orroroo

3rd May 2024

Distance: 321 Km

Fuel: 33 L

Lake Bonney to Orroroo

It was a lovely morning, cold but beautiful skies as the sun rose. the lake was like a mirror, the only ripples cause by the waterbirds.

Made my porridge for breakfast after remeasuring it (my big bowl was broken) – had a lovely breakfast watching the birds on the lake as the sun got brighter and the clouds burnt off.

Left as usual about 9am but only about 300km to drive today.

Passed through a variety of scenery before coming across the Flinders Ranges they are quite stunning after the flat country of the previous day.

Made one stop for a sandwich and toilet break. Loaded an audiobook into the car’s CD player.

Hit a small roo, thought I had missed it but it hit the camper.

For some reason the sat Nav went peculiar as we neared Orroroo and kept telling me to turn round. Eventually I just ignored it and followed the signs to the town where the caravan park was well sign posted. I have no idea what went wrong but the information the Tom Tom had was clearly wrong.

After setting up wandered into town for coffee, cake and an ice cream.

Changing State

2nd May 2024

Distance: 475 Km

Fuel: 48 L

Hay (NSW) to Barmera (SA)

Left Hay Caravan Park at about 9am on a cloudless day. For some reason my back is playing up today to the point where I took one of my painkillers about mid morning. Once again it was a cold morning but it didn’t seem as cold as yesterday however I dug out my fingerless gloves just in case.

Driving across the Hay Plain was, as usual, less than exciting, until I passed through Balranald when the scenery did improve with a bit of variety.

Crossed into Victoria before entering Mildura where I filled up with fuel (in the end it was actually cheaper in Barmera but them’s the breaks)

As I passed the South Australia border sign I watched my sat nav and sure enough at exactly that border crossing the clocks changed back half an hour.

Before arriving at the quarantine check point at Yamba I threw away a couple of potatoes and an onion into the bin provided, when I arrived at the checkpoint I was told that the onion would have been allowed… Ho hum.

Drove through Renmark before reaching Barmera where the caravan park is situated. It is a very smart park situated on the shores of Lake Bonney, ironically it was actually cheaper at $34.50 than the park at Hay but has much better facilities including a kids water park, lake side picnic shelters and good sized sites.

Once I was set up I drove a couple of kms to fill up with fuel for tomorrow’s trip to Orroroo (love the name)

Just before sunset the sky clouded over. I don’t know if there will be rain.

Port Augusta to Hay

21st September 2023

Distance: 846 Km

Fuel: 94 Litres

The Marathon continues…

Apart from a couple of stops, one for fuel at Renmark and another at Lake Benanee near the town of Euston it was a day of serious driving.

Lake Benanee was actually a very nice spot to stop and when we were there some caravans were already setting themselves up for a night of free camping. The council had even provided a toilet.

We, however, had more driving to do.

We had started driving at just after 8am and checked into Hay Caravan Park at about 5.45, just before it got dark. It was a long day. We also changed time zone, back to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Marla to Port Augusta

20th September 2023

Distance: 787 Km

Fuel: 93 Litres

A Long Day

Another long day driving over old territory. Set out at 8.30am with the intention of staying at Woomera and drove steadily south with that in mind.

Refuelled at Glendambo with 60 litres of diesel, that meant 12 litres left in the tank which should have got us to Woomera but it would have been a close run thing.

Stopped at a salt lake (Lake Hart) for a breather and a chance to stretch our legs a few kms before the Woomera turn off.

When we did arrive at Pimba where the road turns off to go to Woomera it was only 2.30pm, a quick look at the map showed Port Augusta only another 170 km further on, so made the decision to keep going.

Finally arrived at Port Augusta at 4 30 and booked in at the Shoreline Caravan Park, it is indeed right on the beach!

Deposited the camper and filled up with fuel at the local Coles Express and settled in for the night after a quick walk to the water front to watch The Ghan set off for Alice Springs and Darwin.

After the heat of Central Australia the cold wind here was a bit of a shock, down to 9° tonight.

Heading South

19th September 2023

Distance: 537 Km

Fuel: 55 Litres

Kings Canyon to Marla.

Our group broke up this morning, Katie and Geoff heading north on the Mereenie Loop to Alice Springs to visit a friend, The rest of us to our various homes, at varying speeds and in various directions.

I shall miss their company, Katie and Geoff’s new trailer was brilliant but also has plenty of scope for modification.

Andrew’s new tent seemed spacious and he has a great set up especially designed for free camping.

Dale had a swag on a stretcher another really good idea especially for free camping (I was sure I took a picture but I am blowed if I can find it), you can just see his car and swag in the background of the above photo. They are all so well set up.

We have decided to put in long driving stints to try to be home by the weekend, hence today’s long distance drive to Marla.

Marla Roadhouse is OK if a bit of a higgledy piggledy layout, we thought Andrew might be there but he had gone further on.

We intend to try to make it to Woomera tomorrow, by-passing Coober Pedy.

Coober Pedy to Kulgera Roadhouse

12th September 2023

Distance: 423Km

Fuel: 51 Litre

Leaving SA

Up early and showered in order to be at the IGA when it opened to get bread and milk to last for a few days.

We all set off at about 10am with the first stop the Cadney Homestead for fuel and coffee. Fuel economy is very poor because of head winds (as it has been for most of the trip to date).

Stopped again at Marla for fuel and a toilet break. Fuel will only get more expensive as we travel north.

After about 410 km crossed the border into the Northern Territory where we stopped briefly at the sign.

The kids stayed at the border to free camp but we drove on to the Kulgera Roadhouse where there was a campsite with facilities. The cost of diesel there was $2.90 a litre