Part Three of our Aussie Adventure – In July 2008 my family and friends from Sydney travelled for 3 weeks around outback Eastern Central Australia 4WDriving where possible. We visited iconic outback towns and pubs like Birdsville, William Creek Hotel, Oodnadatta, Mount Dare Hotel, travelled the old Ghan railway track, Alice Springs, camped near Chambers Pillar and much more.
Day Thirteen – We left Birdsville and our next stop is Innamincka and we planned to camp on the banks of Coopers Creek. To camp at the Innamincka regional Reserve you must have a ‘Desert Parks Pass’.
So we set off from Birdsville crossed the border back into South Australia and went past Cordillo Downs Station which in the early 1900′s was the largest sheep station in Australia with 85,000 sheep, later it has changed to a cattle station with 7000 head and they round them up with 4WD vehicles, motor bikes and helicopters. Visitors are allowed to look at the old Wool Shed that was used to shear the sheep in the early years.
About a kilometre past Cordillo Downs Station we came across a stranded traveller. A man with 2 dogs, 4WD and old trailer that should not have been on 4WD or maybe it should not have left home. It was full of rust and no good for travelling on corrugated rough roads. The leaf spring had broken off from where it was attached and shredded the tyre. He had changed the tyre and was trying to work out how to fix the detached leaf spring when we arrived. We did manage to fix it temporarily by using some No. 8 fencing wire that we always carry with us (first time we have used it) and out friends had a hand drill, so a hole was drilled so that the leaf spring could be held in place with the wire. So at least he was able to drive a bit further slowly and get to somewhere to fix it properly.
While the men were busy fixing the problem the rest of us were playing the 2 dogs the man had a black golden retreiver cross called Sallyand a very cute blue heeler puppy called Harry – ‘Harry Met Sally!!’. We continued on our way to Innamincka.
We arrived at Innamincka, went to the General Store which is right beside the Innamincka pub and organised to camp, we already had the Desrt Park Pass. Then left of find our camp site, we found a good camp on the banks of the Cooper Creek and we set up camp and had to have a sit down before we had tea we cooked on the campfire.
Day Fourteen to Seventeen - We decided to stay at Innamincka for 5 nights, rather than moving again, there was plenty to see and we were looking forward to having a break from moving often before heading home. We visited most days, there is public showers and toilets in the carpark which was popular. It was quite amazing how travellers people stopped there each day we were there. Just a constant flow especially later in the afternoon looking for a camp site.
Innamincka is where Burke and Wills finished their famous trek, the ‘Dig Tree’ unfortunately with a tragic ending. This is the ‘Dig Tree’ in the photo to the right. The dig Tree is a Coolibah tree and we saw quite a few of these in the area.
This is Coopers Creek and us relaxing.
Day Eighteen to Twenty - We packed up again and left Innamincka from here we headed home to Tibooburra via Camerons Corner, named because this is where NSW, SA QLD meet, the area is called Corner Country.
Right behind Camerons Corner post is ‘the Dog Fence’ which is 9600 kilometres long which runs from WA to QLD. This fences was built to protect sheep in the south from dingoes, the north is primarily cattle country which dingoes don’t bother.
We camped at Tibooburra that night, next day we travelled to Broken Hill stayed in a cabin and travelled home the next day.
Another Great Aussie Adventure.
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The perfect destination for an adventure family holiday is Central Australia also known as the Red Centre.
http://www.travel-australia-planning-guide.com/adventure-family-holiday.html
This sounds so great, to get to experience all this with you loved ones must be amazing. I hope to accomplish this some day.