Oodnadatta Track to Coober Pedy

Six days in the outback: from Port Augusta to Marree, along the Oodnadatta Track past Lake Eyre and mound springs, then to the opal town of Coober Pedy. Best from April to October.

Distance: 1,271 km (790 mi)
Driving: 13 h 52 min
Suggested days: 6
Stops: 10
States: South Australia
Updated: April 29, 2026

At a glance: 6-day road trip of about 1,271 km (790 mi) with 10 stops, from Port Augusta to Desert Cave Hotel. About 13 h 52 min of driving in total.

More road trips in South Australia · More road trips from Port Augusta

Route description

Drive from Port Augusta to Marree, about 370 km on sealed road via Hawker and Leigh Creek, a day of increasingly empty country. Fill every fuel tank and spare can in Port Augusta or Leigh Creek. At Marree, the start of the track, ask about current road conditions; the Track can close after rain, and it is unsealed for most of its length.

Follow the Oodnadatta Track north-west from Marree, a graded unsealed road that suits a high-clearance vehicle in dry conditions. About 130 km on, stop at Coward Springs, where date palms and an artesian spa mark an oasis. Camp here, carrying your own water. There is no mobile coverage along most of the route, so tell someone your plans.

Continue to William Creek, around 75 km past Coward Springs, with only a handful of residents, with a famous pub and the airfield for scenic flights over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. A flight is the best way to understand the lake's scale; visiting the national park by road needs a Desert Parks Pass and conditions that suit unsealed driving. Fuel is available here, but check opening times.

Drive about 210 km to Oodnadatta, stopping at the 1892 Algebuckina railway bridge about 55 km before town and at the Pink Roadhouse for fuel and advice. Then take the Oodnadatta road south-west, about 200 km, mostly unsealed, to Coober Pedy. Visit the Kanku-Breakaways and sleep underground at the Desert Cave Hotel. From there the sealed Stuart Highway leads back south to Port Augusta, about 540 km.

Stop-by-stop itinerary

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Port Augusta
South Australia
Start
2

Marree
South Australia
382 km
3

Coward Springs Campground
CampingWilliam Creek, South Australia
A campground built around an artesian mound spring on the Oodnadatta Track, shaded by date palms and with a warm outdoor spa bath. A welcome oasis between Marree and William Creek; carry your own water and supplies.
149 km
4

William Creek
South Australia
85 km
5

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre
NatureWilliam Creek, South Australia
Australia's largest salt lake and its lowest point, about 15 m below sea level, usually a glaring white crust and only rarely filled with water. Scenic flights from William Creek give the best view of the patterns.
141 km
6

Algebuckina Bridge
HistoryOodnadatta, South Australia
A steel railway bridge about 580 m long, built in 1892 across the Neales River for the old Ghan line and now standing quietly beside the Oodnadatta Track. The nearby waterhole attracts birds, and the span is photogenic at sunset.
196 km
7

Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta
OdditiesOodnadatta, South Australia
A famous pink-painted roadhouse in one of Australia's most remote towns, selling fuel, supplies and track information. A key stop on the Oodnadatta Track, where it is wise to ask about current road conditions before heading on.
63 km
8

Coober Pedy
South Australia
212 km
9

Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park
NatureCoober Pedy, South Australia
Flat-topped, multicoloured hills of ochre, cream and red, about 33 km north of Coober Pedy, with a lookout that is spectacular at sunrise and sunset. The gravel access road is passable for 2WD in dry weather.
22 km
10

Desert Cave Hotel
StaysCoober Pedy, South Australia
A hotel in Coober Pedy with guest rooms dug into the rock, where the temperature stays steady year-round while the outside heat can exceed 40 degrees in summer. A rare chance to sleep underground in the outback.
22 km

Suggested stages and overnight stops

6 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Port Augusta → Marree · 382 km · 4 h 10 min
Day 2: Marree → Coward Springs Campground · 149 km · 1 h 37 minOvernight at the campsite itself.
Day 3: Coward Springs Campground → William Creek · 85 km · 0 h 56 min
Day 4: William Creek → Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre · 141 km · 1 h 32 min
Day 5: Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre → Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta · 258 km · 2 h 49 minOn the way: Algebuckina Bridge.
Day 6: Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta → Desert Cave Hotel · 256 km · 2 h 48 minOn the way: Coober Pedy, Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park.

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and November. Hot in December–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.

Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons

FAQs

How long is Oodnadatta Track to Coober Pedy?

6-day road trip of about 1,271 km (790 mi) with 10 stops, from Port Augusta to Desert Cave Hotel. About 13 h 52 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for Oodnadatta Track to Coober Pedy?

We suggest 6 days: about 13 h 52 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does Oodnadatta Track to Coober Pedy start and end?

It starts in Port Augusta and ends in Desert Cave Hotel.

Which states does Oodnadatta Track to Coober Pedy pass through?

South Australia.

When is the best time for Oodnadatta Track to Coober Pedy?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)