21 May 2021
This part of the trip, due to time restraints will be a lot quicker than we would have liked. The Tenterfield incident was 6 weeks ago and has compressed the time we have to get to the Finke Desert Race. Also with the constant threat of border closures due to Covid we wanted to get at least into the NT more sooner than later. The first overnight stop for this trip was Durong South, a sleepy little place.
22 May 2021
We joined the Warrego Highway at Chinchilla before stopping at Charleville for the night. We both slept well being back in the middle of nowhere with little noise to disturb us.
23 May 2021
We took some time to explore the mural art around Charleville before a top up of water and fuel. Charleville marks the start of the Diamantina Development road – Australia’s longest road of 1334kms. We followed this to Quilpie, where we stopped for lunch in Quilpie and found diesel @ $1.29/l – so we topped up again. Here we left the Diamantina Development road and took the Cooper Development road where the scenery made way for an industrial landscape. By 3pm we were airing down for the rougher roads ahead. We found camp near Durham Downs.
24 May 2021
This morning we reached the Cooper Creek and found it flowing. We were in Durham Down Station as we headed into the Cook Oil Fields.
We were lucky enough to meet a couple of the local workers who gave us track conditions ahead.. rough and sandy. After heavily using Hema Maps we found ourselves crossing the QLD / SA Border at Arrabury.
The next stop for today was Cordillo Downs Station, which has the largest stone shearing in Australia. From here we pushed further north towards Birdsville via Cadelga Station. Tonight we camped just short of Cadelga Ruins.
25 May 2021
This morning we spent photographing Cadelga ruins before reaching the Birdsville Development road. The ruins are the old homestead of the Cadelga Station, which was a significant sheep station.
By mid day we arrived at Birdsville.
We did a quick re-acquantance with the highlights of Alice, and by 3.30 we were south bound again heading down the Birdsville Track. At 4.45pm we had a very light dusting of rain and by 5pm we were in camp for the night.
26 May 2021
Today we continued along the Birdsville Track to Maree. Stopped at the Mungeranie Road house for a few photos. Got to love the McDonalds coming soon sign! (Yes Neil, it is still there after all this time).
About 2.30pm we reached Marree.
This was a first time visit for Alison, while Steve was last here in 2009. So we had a quick look around town, which doesn’t take long, By 4pm we had reached Farina. This is a wonderful project that is protecting the ruins, but also providing a great bakery for the area. We camped on the highway just outside of Farina on some very soft ground. Fortunately it didn’t rain.
Steve cooked up a spaghetti bolognese for dinner. We stayed round the ruins for the expected full moon rise. Little did we know there was a lunar eclipse a little later. Lucky we did notice how dark it was becoming and watched a beautiful blood moon/eclipse.
27 May 2021
We could not leave Farina without a visit to the bakery. Soon an apple pie, a lemon slice and pull apart bread were purchased, possibly the best we have ever tasted! Then we took in the bakery tour before heading back to Maree to get up to date with the world again.
11.30am we turned 4WDaus onto the Oodnadatta Track headed for William Creek. The Oodnadatta Track follows the route of the original Ghan steam train that once used this area. There are many bridges and staton ruins to see along the way.
Something a little different is the Mutonia Sculpture Park.
The track also passes close to the shores of South Lake Eyre. This is where we camped for the night. There was an amazing sunset and moon rise over the lake.
28 May 2021
Cold start this morning before we ventured off to Curdimurka siding, water tanks and rail bridge.
We also visited Margaret siding and Blanche Cup Springs and the Bubbler.
At Beresford Springs ruins we stopped for lunch. Sadly there is so much graffiti here. Next stop was Strangways telegraph station ruins and then Irrapatana Siding where we found some rusty old cars and some ruins. By the time we reached William Creek we were joined by an SLRV Commander owned by Martin and Renate. They call their vehicle Fidgety. A great name! And of course a beer in the William Creek Hotel was required.
That night we camped on William Creek Road near Coober Pedy with Martin and Renate.
29 May 2021
Left camp 8.30am and went to into Coober Pedy. We caught up on news and filled up with fuel. $1.409/litre 303.27 litres. Achieved 22.7 litres per km over last 2000kms. Then it was time to shop at IGA (a really big store WOW). Then out to Visitor information centre and on to The Breakaways . Camped near Marla.
30 May 2021
Caught up on news and the Victorian Covid outbreak has the NT Govt requesting border declarations, so onto the web site to complete. We also thought it might be sensible to complete our journey to NT today. Crossed the Border by late afternoon. Camped near Kulgera. The Kulgera Roadhouse is always interesting to visit. Renowned for being either the first or last pub in the NT, depending on whether you are coming or going.
31 May 2021
Rest Day