Marla to Marree via Oodnadatta

[wanted Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanted]

Hi PP folks,

Planning a trip from Marla to Marree via Oodnadatta, this will be on the way back from Alice to Adelaide.
Questions:
1. What is the average time to do this trip while being able to see things around? Would like to see Lake Eyre NP on the way. Google says 9 hours from Marla to Oodnadatta, is this correct?
2. Precautions, fuel (knowing D4D is sensitive to fuel?), Tyre pressure (697's), any others?
3. Recomendations, Accomodations etc.

Thanks in advance. Questions will grow as I better understand what the trip could involve.

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

2-3 days would be a very comfortable time. Plenty of fuel at Marla, Oodnadatta and William Creek and Maree. Run 26-28 psi HOT and keep speeds to about 80 kph even though you could do a lot more. Camping available at all 4 spots [and anywhere in between] and probably cabins as well. Ring each of them to check.

[wanted Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanted]

2-3 days would be a very comfortable time. Plenty of fuel at Marla, Oodnadatta and William Creek and Maree. Run 26-28 psi HOT and keep speeds to about 80 kph even though you could do a lot more. Camping available at all 4 spots [and anywhere in between] and probably cabins as well. Ring each of them to check.

Thanks for the information. Had the same time frame in mind. How long is comfortable drive between Marla>Od, Od>William Cr/Lake Eyre, then finally to Maree. Just want to ensure that we have given it enough time in each section to see things. How long will it take reasonably to get from Marla to William Creek, and from Willliam Creek to Maree?

Also what is 26-28 psi 'HOT', psi is fine what is the 'Hot' bit mean?

Edit: Ok figured out Hot bit. So just for understanding I think one needs to use the Hot psi figure due to tires already being warm by the time you would reduce the pressure?

Thanks.

[Nova Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nova]

We are doing the same thing in October so I also interested in people's opinions.

We did part of this 5 years ago, dalhousie to William Creek in one day. Didn't get to see much, lunch at the pink roadhouse, visited Peake ruins in the afternoon and got to William Creek late in the day. Next day, Lake Eyre flight, drive to Coward Springs with a brief stop at Strangways ruins along the way (easy day, camp set-up by 3). We were going to go to Marree but changed and went to Roxby instead.

This time we are doing the "full" track. The plan is to leave from the rock and camp somewhere along the start of the track. Next night camp at Albekuninga (I'm sure that is spelt wrong) then William Creek the third night. I think 2 nights there, doing a flight and possible drive to halligans bay if the track is ok. Then onto Marree (or possibly Farina) the next stop. We plan to stop and look at more than we did last time, heaps of ruins and railway sidings to see.

There used to be a short 4wd track/loop around Oodnadatta that I have heard is good, might have to look into that.

The roads were great last time, but I assume they vary a lot. Either way, graded road with varying corrugations, plan 70/80kmph and you should be fine. Stop and look at heaps of stuff, if you fly through you may as well drive the bitumen.

Tyre pressure will depend on road conditions and speed. Personally I tend to run lower pressures and keep speed down, less chance of a puncture and a softer ride. Don't forget trailer tyres of you are towing.

Cheers, Nova

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

Correct re pressures. I have done that trip several times but can't remember the split times. Just look at the map and see the distance between points and work out how long that will take at 80 kph [or google it] Last time I did it Marla to Ood. was the stoniest part and the rest of it was quite ok BUT as with any outback road if it rains it is a whole new ball game [if the road is open at all]. The signs at Marla will have up to date info. It is a much more scenic trip than the Stuart Hwy.and provided it has not rained in the last few days the OOdnadatta Track is easily done in a normal car. There is plenty of books/ general info out there on the Oodnadatta Track and it is worth finding a few so you know what to see . A great trip and not to be missed.

[hawks667 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hawks667]

Give you am idea of the drive, well part of it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQG-TqP9DPY

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

we took 3 days towing our 2.4T van from 80km nth of Marla to home in Adelaide via the oodnadatta track
camped at the bridge & then at Farina, stopping and looking at things along the way

we filled at Marla and got through to Pt Augusta on the tank (had 10L left)

if you havent been that way there is quite a lot to look at
you can take much more time, the road is very good , we ran 26psi in the car and 35 in the van
but the car was 3.4T and the van was 2.4T sat on 80km and kept out of the dust where possible ( let the fast one go !!)

[wanted Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanted]

Thanks everyone. Got some good information from here. Looks like will be able to do it without too much trouble. Will go in prepared though. Stock standard vehicle. I guess that is the beauty that it should be able to do lot as stock standard anyway. We are planning later in October as well but have been warned that it will be getting warm/hot so might need to do it sooner. Thanks again.

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

Take your fly nets!

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Get yourself a copy of the HEMA Maps book on the Oodnadatta Track, as that has a lot of useful information, including Fuel, Distance and travel times and also what to see with contact numbers.

[Nova Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nova]

Anyone come back from the Oodnadatta track? I have heard the track is pretty rough.

Cheers, Nova