Strzelecki Track — Innamincka to Lyndhurst via the Cooper Creek Desert Corridor
Burke and Wills didn't make it. You might.
The Strzelecki Track runs roughly 460 kilometres from Innamincka — where Burke and Wills made their fatal last camp beside Cooper Creek — south to Lyndhurst on the edge of the Flinders Ranges. The northern half follows the floodplain country of Cooper Creek before climbing into the red sand dunes of the Strzelecki Desert, where the track twists and humps over loose crests that will bottom out an unladen ute if you’re not reading the terrain. Montecollina Bore is the key midpoint fuel and water check — don’t skip it. The track is unsealed throughout, and after rain the clay sections near Innamincka become impassable bog that has caught better-prepared travellers than you.
This is a high-clearance 4WD run, not a soft-roader day trip. Two spare tyres minimum, long-range fuel (no reliable fuel between Innamincka and Lyndhurst outside Montecollina), UHF and satellite comms, and enough water for a breakdown delay. Best season is May through August — summer heat here kills engines and people. No permit required for the track itself, but the Innamincka Regional Reserve has its own entry conditions. The reward is genuine outback solitude, stunning dunefield sunsets, and the strange, flat silence of the Australian interior.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 286 mi / 460 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 820 ft |
| Best season | May-August |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with long-range fuel and dual spares |
| Nearest town | Innamincka, South Australia |
| Land manager | South Australian Department for Environment and Water / Innamincka Regional Reserve |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | SA Parks – Innamincka Regional Reserve Outback SA Roads – Strzelecki Track |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifted Hilux or Patrol on all-terrains handle the Strzelecki Track, or do I need something more serious?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Hilux, Patrol, or Land Cruiser 70/200 series is the minimum — but only if it's mechanically sound and loaded with dual spares. The dunefield sections will punish soft sidewalls and anything running street tyres. Aggressive all-terrains and a working diff lock are strongly advisable.
When is the Strzelecki Track closed or genuinely dangerous to drive?
Summer (December–February) is brutal — daytime temps regularly hit 45–50°C and the track can be impassable after flash flooding with zero warning. Stick to May through August. The track can also close without notice after rain events regardless of season; check Outback SA Roads conditions before you leave Innamincka.
Do I need a permit to drive the Strzelecki Track through Innamincka Regional Reserve?
No permit is required to transit the track, but a camping fee applies if you're staying within Innamincka Regional Reserve — pay through SA Parks or self-register on-site. Innamincka town is on Coongie Lakes Aboriginal land so respect any signage and closures around sacred sites.
What's the hardest section and what specifically makes it difficult?
The Strzelecki dunefield between Innamincka and Montecollina Bore is the gut punch — long, parallel sand dunes that require tyre deflation, momentum, and the ability to read the crest before you commit. Get it wrong and you're digging out in 40-degree heat with nobody coming past for hours. Don't air up too early once you think you're through; the dunes keep going longer than you expect.
How much fuel do I actually need to carry — is there anywhere to refuel between Innamincka and Lyndhurst?
Fuel between Innamincka and Lyndhurst is 460 km apart with nothing reliable in between — treat it as a single-tank-plus-jerrycan run. Carry a minimum of 200 litres total if your vehicle has heavy fuel consumption. Top up in Lyndhurst at the end and don't gamble on Innamincka having adequate stock — call ahead to confirm availability before departure.
Trail track
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