Flinders Ranges Oodnadatta track and Coober Pedy May 2016

[mickwebs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mickwebs]

Hi
We Just did our first trip in our Prado 150 that we got last year(2012 Model). Wow over 4500kms it was loaded no trailer just roof rack and 3 of us (wife daughter and me) with two other cars. We had a great time car performed faultlessly. great fuel economy (diesel at Oodnadatta was $1.77 William Creek $2.00 a litre). We went out on Halligans bay track and stayed at Lake Eyre for a night Coward Springs Algebuckina Peak ruins amazing places probably needed some more time but it was a great introduction to touring for us. We have an 80 series Cruiser but the cost of petrol would have killed us and no range. Our Prado is stock we just put a roof rack on and it had Cooper AT3's on it when we got it. Not even a puncture! The 150 litre fuel tank meant no jerry cans of fuel to carry like our friends in a Hilux and a Ranger.

The track was in great condition not even many corrugations. With the recent rains up that way Lake Eyre at Halligans Bay had some puddles on the surface. Most places we stayed were free camping and were great. We had selected most before we left and knew what to expect. Took our own shower and toilet all worked a treat.

[RBJET Member Find all posts View Profile Close RBJET]

Photo's look awesome mate.
My cars almost identical to yours and am about to do a similar trip in August but going to continue on to Darwin for a week or so.
What was your average fuel consumption and did you let your tyres down at all on the Oodnadatta track?

[mickwebs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mickwebs]

no We did not let our tyres down it was mostly just a long dirt road with some slightly soft sections from the recent rains but make sure you allow plenty of time from Marree to Oodnadatta there is lots to see. We stayed at Coward Springs 2 nights and went back to lake Eyre South and the Mound springs from there. There is plenty too see.

We had amazing fuel consumption we were only doing about 80km/h on the Track. mostly about 90-95 on the highway just to try and get good fuel economy but it never got much above 10 L/100 km on the gauge and from Warrnambool to Mildura it was 9.6 measured liters used vs kilometers traveled on the way from Mildura to Berri it showed 8.0 on the gauge but was probably around 9.00 calculated so it was amazing but I was very light footed.

[RBJET Member Find all posts View Profile Close RBJET]

I'm not too sure if we'll go all the way to Oodnadatta as we have to pick how much time we spend in places to make more time for places like Kakadu so we may end up just cutting across from William Creek and head straight up the highway.
So you didn't end up camping at any of the pubs? That was my plan just so showers were available for the morning. What shower did you use?

That's awesome economy and similar to what I think I'd get but I know I'm not going to get that sitting on 100+

[hawks667 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hawks667]

Did Halligans bay track October last year...It was some of the worst corrugations i have ever had the pleasure of driving on...

Great part of the world hey, so much to see.....

[mickwebs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mickwebs]

Coward springs has hot showers (you just have to light the Rocket wood heater) we have a Coleman hot water on demand we carried 65 liters of water in the car but but we also stopped at Reba's in Coober Pedy so we did not need the shower every day with our portable shower but a shower took me about 4 to 5 liters of water and the girls a little more we also stayed at Wilpena pound resort for three nights on the way up. there are camp grounds with amenities at Marree Coward Springs William Creek. some photos from north of William Creek are below. had we travelled at the posted speed limit our fuel use would have been more!


the Peak telegraph station and copper mine a 20km 4wd track in


Algebuckina Rail bridge


Fettlers Hut Ruin (a few of these along the way)

[RBJET Member Find all posts View Profile Close RBJET]

Sounds good to me. I don't think we'll bother with the portable shower n just plan to stop somewhere with amenities at least every 2-3 days.
From Wilpena Pound can you venture into the Flinders Ranges with day trips and see most of it? I only plan on staying 2 nights there.
Also what do you do for fire wood?
Sorry for all the questions haha. Just want to make sure I'm prepared. Awesome pics again!

[spike69 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spike69]

Nice pics Mick, thanks for posting. We're doing Cameron Corner to Flinders Ranges in 4 weeks, can't wait. I hear they've had some rain and things are looking pretty green.....

Cheers
Spike

[mickwebs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mickwebs]

Sounds good to me. I don't think we'll bother with the portable shower n just plan to stop somewhere with amenities at least every 2-3 days.
From Wilpena Pound can you venture into the Flinders Ranges with day trips and see most of it? I only plan on staying 2 nights there.
Also what do you do for fire wood?
Sorry for all the questions haha. Just want to make sure I'm prepared. Awesome pics again!

Yep stay at Wilpena and drive around is what we did just watch out the roos and emu's are out very early 4.00pm and lots of them we found some great camping sites the gorges are beautiful and you see quite a bit in a day. it is a great part of the world.

[mickwebs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mickwebs]

Nice pics Mick, thanks for posting. We're doing Cameron Corner to Flinders Ranges in 4 weeks, can't wait. I hear they've had some rain and things are looking pretty green.....

Cheers
Spike

it was amazing you can see from the Peak ruins that it was quite green there were some slightly wet crossings if you steered for the water. one of our friends we traveled with went a similar way a few years ago and was blown away by the relative lushness of the salt bush and trees it was very pretty with the red dunes in some area's. Just makes me want to go again. only got back yesterday!

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Drive at "100+" out there on the dirt on road pressures and expect trouble. Try 28psi and sit on 80ish and you will see more and have a whole lot less tyre trouble. You may be lucky at higher speeds and pressures but then you may not. Also lots of hidden dips on the Oodnadatta Track that creep up on you despite the signs. Often deeper/steeper than they look. Brake before them and not at the bottom of them.

[RBJET Member Find all posts View Profile Close RBJET]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Sounds like an amazing part of the world.
I'll most likely let my tyres down a little once I hit the dirt. Should make the trip a little more comfortable too.
I've been told before to watch out for the dips on the Oodnadatta track so I'll be keeping an eye out for them and driving to conditions.