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The Oodnadatta Track in central SA is one of Australia’s most famous outback drives.
This unsealed route between Marree to the south and Marla up north snakes its way across a punishingly arid landscape of low-rise tablelands and solitary mesas, red gibber plains, rolling sand dunes, and blindingly white salt pans. Travelling the heavily corrugated gravel roads surrounded on all sides by what feels like an almost alien world, it’s hard to believe that there’s method to the madness. But in fact, the Track follows an ancient Aboriginal trading route that linked a series of mound springs — locations where water stored underground in the vast Great Artesian Basin bubbles to the service under extreme pressure.
The springs sustained those Indigenous travellers of old, and later, European explorers, labourers constructing the Overland Telegraph Line, and those who built the epic Central Australia Railway from Port Augusta to Alice Springs — better known as the Ghan. Evidence of every chapter is on display as you travel along the Oodnadatta Track.
Oodnadatta Track (Marree to Marla), South Australia – Google My Maps
Watch our video of great things to do on the Oodnadatta Track: https://youtu.be/TkSmeCljE3s The 620-kilometre unsealed Oodnadatta Track in central South Australia is renowned as one of the country’s best outback drives.
A trip along the Track requires careful preparation, and your first decision will be what type of rig to travel in — which will likely come down to an off-road caravan, a camper trailer, or a combination of both. Hybrid caravans offer the best of both worlds: ease of manoeuvrability, off-roading capabilities, and creature comforts. Their rugged build generally includes hard composite walls and suspension that can stand up to the toughest outback roads. And you won’t have to sacrifice a level of luxury inside. These innovative trailers often feature a well-appointed kitchen and bathroom, along with solar panels up top to power your appliances.
Other important considerations when planning your trip include the weather, track conditions, where to purchase fuel, and how to communicate with the outside world. Don’t underestimate just how remote this drive is and how important thorough preparation is. Dot your ‘i’s and cross your ‘t’s. Myriad things can go wrong, so be prepared.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do on the Oodnadatta Track.
Watch our video of ten top things to do on the Oodnadatta Track:
Top 10 Things to Do on the OODNADATTA TRACK & COOBER PEDY, South Australia, 2025 | Road Trip Guide
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1. Meet the ghosts of the old Ghan in Marree
Your odyssey will kick off in the far-flung township of Marree — 589 kilometres north of Adelaide. This was once the railhead for the Ghan as it travelled north to Alice. That’s until the line was moved further west to avoid periodic flooding and a notoriously slow narrow-gauge track. The last passenger service departed Marree railway station in 1980, and it feel like the town is stuck in something of a time warp. Rusty locomotives still sit on what would have been the sidings, seemingly waiting for passengers who will never board. It’s a photographer’s dream.
2. Do a scenic flight over Lake Eyre
Dating back to 1883, the characterful Marree Hotel offers accommodation, cold beer and excellent meals. It also operates 1.5-hour scenic flights in high wing aircraft over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre — Australia’s largest salt lake and lowest elevation (around 15 metres below sea level). This inland reservoir has been in the news of late as it fills with flood water coming down from Queensland, but even seeing it bone dry from the air is a surreal experience. It almost feels like you’re flying over a polar landscape, so brilliantly white is the salt crust. You’ll likely get a bird’s-eye view of the enigmatic Marree Man (a geoglyph created by persons unknown depicting an Aboriginal man holding up a boomerang) on your way back to Marree.
3. Snap a selfie with Lake Eyre South
Buckle up because it’s time to hit the Oodnadatta Track, which runs alongside the remains of the old Ghan rail line and extends well beyond the horizon. Set a pace you feel comfortable with and drive to the conditions, including the depth of the corrugations you encounter. Slow-and-steady is generally the best policy, and it will probably take you about two hours to reach the southern tip of Lake Eyre South. Break the trip with a quick stop at the Mutonia Sculpture Park, which features an array of bizarre metal creations.
Once you hit the shore of Lake Eyre South, pull off into the viewing area (a slightly elevated car park with some interpretive signage). Walking onto the lakebed isn’t permitted and it’s actually a lot further away than it looks. Snap a selfie and move on.
4. Visit Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park
Thirty minutes further along the Track, pull off to visit Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park — home to Blanche Cup and The Bubbler — two mound springs fed by the Great Artesian Basin below. A vehicle entry fee applies (which can be paid online) and the carpark and boardwalk to the springs are about four kilometres off the main drag.
5. Splash down at Coward Springs
From there it’s another 30-or-so-minute drive to Coward Springs, which served as one of many sidings for the Ghan. Coward Springs is best known amongst Australia’s off-road vanning fraternity for its bush spa, which hovers at around 29 degrees and is high in mineral salt content. But there’s plenty more to recommend this eco-style campground. It’s beautifully landscaped and has great facilities (including wood-heated showers). There’s even a cafe serving unexpectedly good coffee and tasty date scones made from home grown dates. Leave time to explore the onsite museum, which is housed in what was the engine drivers’ cabin. The informative displays will point you in the direction of other remnants from the rail era.
6. Explore the abandoned Strangways Settlement
The distance from Coward Springs to the town of William Creek — likely be your next overnight stop — is around 80 kilometres. Hang a left just out of Cowards Springs to check out the long-abandoned Strangways settlement. This once thriving township had a hotel, a police station, and various other stone structures, and the ruins are testament to the pioneering spirit of those who built both the Overland Telegraph Line and Central Australia Railway. On the flipside, it’s a sobering reminder of the ability of the outback to swallow up entire communities.
7. Go a goat curry at the William Creek Hotel
You’ll no doubt find it’s a relief to roll onto the tar in William Creek and leave the dust and corrugations behind, if only for the night. With just 20 permanent residents, William Creek is a small place with a big heart. There’s a great campground (complete with glamping tents if you’re up for a little pampering), a petrol station, and vehicle servicing centre. Special mention to the William Creek Hotel, which is a cracker of an outback pub! Every inch of space is covered with memorabilia and you could spend hours taking it all in. Note the sign advertising their famous goat curry, which must be pre-ordered to guarantee a serving. It packs quite a kick!
8. Admire South Australia’s second longest bridge
At 200 kilometres, the drive from William Creek to Oodnadatta will likely be one of the longest stretches you’ll do on this trip in one go. It’s punctuated with yet more deserted rail sidings and crumbling fettlers cottages. One of the most incredible sights is the Algebuckina Bridge, which was constructed in 1891 to elevate the rail line above the Neales River floodplain. Just under 600 metres in length and constructed from long lasting wrought iron, it remains the second longest bridge in South Australia. It’s possible to climb up to the start of the single-track span, from where you’ll get a great photo. However, take extreme care doing it.
9. Check out the famous Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta
With a permanent population of around 200 hardy souls, the Oodnadatta Track’s eponymous town is also its largest, and you’ll find all the services you need — including fuel, groceries, and a slither of internet — at the fabulous Pink Roadhouse. Painted hot pink back in the early 1980s to attract attention from passing traffic, it’s been a sight for sore and dust-filled eyes ever since. There’s a campground out the back, along with several well-appointed guest cabins. The Pink Roadhouse serves lunch and dinner, with the famous ‘Oodnaburger’ occupying pride of place on its menu.
10. Marvel at the majestic outback en route to Marla
Departing Oodnadatta for Marla — a tiny dot on the mighty Stuart Highway — it’s time to farewell the old Ghan rail line. However, history intersects in Marla; the modern north-bound Ghan rail service stops here once a week for a bonfire and BBQ breakfast as the rays of the rising sun strike the red earth like cosmic tongues of flame. The final two-hundred-kilometre leg of the Oodnadatta Track is a chance to simply immerse yourself in the arid beauty of this vast, age-old land. And despite the dust and corrugations, all too soon your journey on the Oodnadatta Track will come to an end. Enjoy the sense of achievement and associated bragging rights!
This post was published thanks to Swag Off Road Campers.
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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do on the Oodnadatta Track? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Important note: Travelling through the Australian outback is an amazing experience, but it requires careful planning and preparation. Make sure you seek the advice of the relevant local authorities when arranging your trip.
Additional images: Depositphotos and Envato
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
