Arkaroola via Danggali Conservation Reserve

[Boyce Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boyce]

Hi all, we are in the process of finalizing a couple of weeks away camping and plan to go to from Melbourne to Arkaroola. Been there before and really loved it. First night will be at Pink Lakes and after that we're not sure. We were thinking of including Danggali Conservation Reserve in SA as part of it and also the road from Yunta up to Frome Downs and then to Arkaroola. Anyone got any advice or recent experience with these areas and current road conditions or who can recommend any good places to camp along the way? Looking forward to your comments/suggestions. Thanks, Boyce

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Which dirrection are you going from the Pink Lakes? back to the bitumen or through the park?

I haven't been to Dangalli for over a year now, last time I went through they were doing a lot of work to the road at teh south entrance to the park. Lots of soft sand through Dangalli, nothing to get too concerned about, we have towed our camper through several times without issue.

We have camped at Manunda creek crossing before, although we had station owners permission for that, also camped at Yunta creek just South of Yunta, just drove up the creek bed until we found a good spot.

Waulkeringa ruins North of Yunta would also be a good spot for an overnight, definately worth stopping to see the ruins by the roadside and also head up to the old abandoned gold mine that you can see up the hill from the ruins.

North of Dangalli the roads are generally reasonably well maintained, its been pretty dry here for a fair while so I doubt you would have any issues getting through.

Cheers Andrew

[Boyce Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boyce]

Thanks Andrew. Appreciate your camping recommendations! We plan to head from Pink Lakes via Pinaroo and then up your way with a camp on the Murray somewhere. Will probably scoot up to Arkaroola on the bitumen via Flinder's Ranges for a couple of nights with the intention of beating the school hols mob and return at our leisure down the back way past Lake Frome and then through Danggali north to south. Cheers, Boyce

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Anywhere in particular you were thinking of camping on the Murray? Just before Burra is a turn off to Worlds End and Burra Gorge, that is an excellent spot although I must admit we have never camped there. We have planned a trip there a few times but something has always come up, but we have stopped there for lunch a few times and its a great spot.

Cheers Andrew

[Boyce Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boyce]

Hi Andrew, thanks for your reply. We had to come back after a couple of nights due to a family illness issue. We stayed at Lake Crosbie campground at Pink Lakes first night. We like it there. A good campsite with drop dunnies and nice reflection over the salty water. Beautiful light around sunset. The next day we headed off on the track through the mallee and sand-dunes and ended up at Rocket Lake. Good drive over the dunes and a bit of water and mud on the higher clay parts. Car was fantastic as usual! Saw two Mallee Fowl on the way. Haven't seen any of these for over ten years. Decided to camp by the Murray about 45k's south of Mildura. Great night by the river and noone else around. Rain in the morning and then the drive back to Melbourne through all of the heavy rain. Everything that was dry got wet! We have been to World's End before, last year on the way to NT. It was a bit crowded for us then. If you have got any recommendations about places where the masses don't head, especially on the river, that would be appreciated. Best wishes!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Yeah Pink Lakes is a good spot, we've camped there a couple of times, likewise Rocket Lake is a good spot. The track between the 2 is real interesting when it rains

Good spots along the river around here, Thieles Sand Bar just on the edge of Loxton is good free camping. Kataraptko is a great spot in the Murray river NP, Likewise Lyrup Flats although that is often busy being only just of the Bitumen and well known.

Cheers Andrew