Dalhousie Springs Campground — Witjira National Park

Dalhousie Springs is a cluster of natural artesian springs in Witjira National Park, with water coming up warm enough to swim in year-round. The main pool is lined with reeds and date palms and sits in the middle of gibber plain and dune country. The camping area is set back from the pools, with basic toilets and not much else. Expect cold nights in winter and a swim that feels like a bath. It’s a good place to wash the sand and the French Line corrugations off after a crossing.

It’s a few hours of remote track from Mount Dare, so carry your own water, fuel and recovery gear. The 4WD tracks around here can be corrugated and sandy. Winter, roughly April to October, is the only sensible season, and summer heat out here is brutal. Entry to the park needs a Desert Parks Pass or the park’s own entry arrangements, and camping fees and booking rules can change. Check the SA parks site before you go. Leave the pools clean and keep soap out of the water. Have a dirty day.

Warm artesian soak at the end of the dunes