Dalhousie Springs Witjira | Desert Thermal Pools | Gekko Safari

I’ll say this up front: Dalhousie Springs is remote. It’s in Witjira National Park, up near the Northern Territory border, and it’s a long way past where most Lake Eyre trips turn around. But if your itinerary stretches that far, it’s one of the best things you’ll do all trip.

The springs are fed by the Great Artesian Basin, and the water comes up warm, somewhere around the high thirties Celsius. After a few days of dust and heat, floating in a warm pool surrounded by reeds and date palms, in the middle of one of the driest places on the continent, is a bit surreal. The largest pool is big enough that you can properly swim.

Before you go

• It’s a long, remote drive, so a 4WD and proper preparation are essential
• A park pass is needed for Witjira National Park
• The water is warm all year, so a swim feels best in cooler months
• Respect the springs: they’re culturally significant and ecologically fragile

Most people won’t make it this far north, and that’s part of the charm. If you do, it’s the kind of stop you’ll still be talking about years later.