Marree South Australia | Camel Town and Lake Eyre Gateway | Gekko Safari

Marree is small, dusty and easy to drive past. We stay there on purpose. It’s the natural base for exploring Lake Eyre, and it has a history that most visitors never hear about unless somebody tells them.

Marree was a hub for the camel trade. Cameleers, many of whom came from Afghanistan and the surrounding region, worked the long routes through the outback with their animals, carrying supplies to stations and settlements. The railway later replaced them, but their influence on the region lasted, and it’s often said that the Ghan railway’s name comes from them.

Why Marree works as a base

• It’s the departure point for the scenic flight over Lake Eyre
• It sits at the junction of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks
• There’s a real sense of outback community, even though the town is small
• It gives you a night out of the vehicle before the big day

Take a bit of time to wander. There’s more history on the street than you’d expect, and the sunsets over the plains are very good.