The Oodnadatta Track: A Traveller’s Guide
Few roads in Australia carry the same sense of history and remoteness as the Oodnadatta Track. Stretching across South Australia’s outback, this legendary route follows the path of the old Ghan railway line and the Overland Telegraph, connecting some of the country’s most fascinating outback towns and landscapes. Here is what makes it worth the journey.
A Road Built on History
The Oodnadatta Track largely follows the route established for the Overland Telegraph Line in the 1870s, and later the original Ghan railway line, which operated until the 1980s before the modern Ghan route was relocated further west. Travelling the track today means passing directly through landscapes shaped by over a century of outback settlement, pastoral history, and Aboriginal culture.
Marree: Gateway to the Track
Marree marks the southern starting point of the Oodnadatta Track and carries a rich history as a key hub for the Afghan cameleers who once operated camel trains supplying remote outback stations. The town’s heritage is still visible today, and it remains a welcoming stop with genuine outback character.
Lake Eyre South
Not far along the track from Marree, travellers get their first sight of Lake Eyre South — part of the broader Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre system and a striking introduction to the scale of South Australia’s salt lake country, with the white expanse stretching to the horizon in every direction.
Farina Ghost Town
One of the most evocative stops along the track, Farina was once a thriving township established in the 1870s, complete with a bakery, hotels, and a school. Drought and the decline of the railway eventually led to its abandonment, and today its ruins offer a genuinely haunting glimpse into the realities of early outback settlement.
The Ochre Cliffs at Lyndhurst
These striking, colourful cliffs were a significant resource for Aboriginal communities for thousands of years, with ochre used for ceremonial and artistic purposes. The cliffs’ vivid bands of red, yellow, and white make them a popular stop for photography.
William Creek
Often cited as one of Australia’s smallest towns, William Creek consists of little more than a pub and an airstrip — but it serves as a key departure point for scenic flights over Lake Eyre, making it one of the most important stops along the entire route despite its tiny size.
Anna Creek Station and the Dingo Fence
The Oodnadatta Track passes alongside Anna Creek Station, the largest cattle property in the world, covering an area larger than some small countries. Nearby, the iconic Dingo Fence — one of the longest structures in the world — marks the boundary built to protect southern grazing land from dingo predation.
Travelling the Track Today
While it is possible to self-drive sections of the Oodnadatta Track, much of the route requires a well-prepared 4WD vehicle, careful fuel planning, and genuine outback experience, particularly after rain when sections can become impassable. A guided tour removes all of this complexity, allowing you to focus entirely on the landscape and history rather than logistics.
Gekko Safari’s Lake Eyre Spectacular tours travel a significant stretch of the Oodnadatta Track as part of the journey between the Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy, with stops at many of the landmarks covered here.
