Oodnadatta Track — Oodnadatta to Marla via the Old Ghan Railway Corridor and Finke River Country
Old Ghan ghosts and artesian springs in Australia's dead heart.
The Oodnadatta Track is one of Australia’s great outback drives, and the northern leg from Oodnadatta to Marla is the wildest stretch. The Old Ghan Railway — decommissioned in 1980 — ran this same corridor, and you cross its ghost repeatedly: rusted culverts, abandoned sidings, forgotten fettlers’ camps overtaken by red dirt. The mound springs at Neales Crossing and the Finke River floodplain define the landscape here — artesian water bubbling up through ancient rock, surrounded by desert. At Algebuckina, the old stone bridge still stands in the middle of nowhere, perfectly preserved, going nowhere at all.
This northern section is genuinely remote — Oodnadatta itself has limited fuel and the Pink Roadhouse is your last real stop before Marla. The track is mostly dirt and gravel, passable for high-clearance 2WD in dry conditions, but the Neales River crossing and the Finke floodplain crossings can stop any vehicle in wet weather. Do not attempt after rain without local intel — the clay flats turn to glue fast. Carry 80+ liters of fuel, 20 liters of water minimum, and an emergency beacon. Best window is April through September. The solitude out here is absolute and the night sky will rearrange your priorities.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 103 mi / 166 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1050 ft |
| Best season | April-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended; HC 2WD possible in dry conditions |
| Nearest town | Oodnadatta, South Australia |
| Land manager | South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | SA DIT Oodnadatta Track Info South Australia Tourism |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a high-clearance 2WD ute handle this section of the Oodnadatta Track?
In dry conditions, a high-clearance 2WD can manage it, but you're gambling. After rain, the clay and gibber sections turn greasy and corrugated sections get ugly fast — 4WD becomes mandatory, not optional. Don't attempt it in a standard passenger vehicle regardless of conditions.
What months should I avoid driving the Oodnadatta Track?
October through March is the outback summer — extreme heat (50°C days are not rare), flash flooding risk from monsoonal rain, and the Finke River crossings can close without warning. April to September is the window; June and July are the sweet spot for temperatures and track condition.
Do I need a permit to drive this section of the track?
No permit required to drive the Oodnadatta Track itself — it's a public outback road managed by SA DIT. However, some surrounding land is Aboriginal freehold country; if you plan to leave the track corridor, check with the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands office as a separate APY permit may be needed.
How serious are the Finke River crossings on this route?
In dry season the Finke is typically a wide sandy wash with little to no standing water — most crossings are straightforward but soft sand can trap unprepared vehicles. After any upstream rain the river can rise quickly and crossings become genuinely dangerous; check conditions at the Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta before you leave, they'll give you straight talk.
How much fuel do I need to carry for this 166km section from Oodnadatta to Marla?
Fill up completely in Oodnadatta before you leave — the Pink Roadhouse is your last fuel stop. The run to Marla is roughly 166km and there is nothing in between; carry a minimum 20-litre jerry can on top of a full tank to account for soft sand, detours to mound springs, and the fact that help is a very long way away.
Trail track
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