Anyone stayed at Marla?

[justinc]

Any experiences or tips, even alternative accomodation nearby, will need to be motel type or homestead stay, easy access from highway as a halfway stop from Port Augusta to Alice springs.

J

[Hogarthde]

G’day Justin,
Glendambo has good facilities as does Coober Pedy.

Dont miss the Road Transport Hall at Alice

cheers Dave

[ramblingboy42]

mate I think you and I might be the only ones know where Marla is.

but I haven't stayed there.

I know its 200 odd km south but Coober Pedy might be a better all round place to stop.

Only my 2/- worth having been there many times. It has everything there you might need.

[Hogarthde]

Yes, not much at Marla !

Mind you ,the first time I traversed the ‘ south road’ it was named Marla Bore

[justinc]

Have travelled up and down a little, stayed at Coober Pedy before, so looking at a change. It has a low star rating but has some reasonable reviews (If you sort through the dismayed city dwellers!🤣) so might give it a go. I read somewhere of a homestead b and b type of arrangement alternative, but can't remember where....

[austastar]

Hi,
Blink and you will miss it.
Don't remember any thing substantial there and it is all very close to the highway.
Cheers

[justinc]

mate I think you and I might be the only ones know where Marla is.

but I haven't stayed there.

I know its 200 odd km south but Coober Pedy might be a better all round place to stop.

Only my 2/- worth having been there many times. It has everything there you might need.

When we took the Ghan we did the sunrise breakfast stop at Marla, fantastic dawn it was, too!

[ramblingboy42]

When we took the Ghan we did the sunrise breakfast stop at Marla, fantastic dawn it was, too!

yeah Justin do something different.

every one of my trips in that area (William Ck) we try to do something different afterwards although we are repeating ourselves this trip and doing Tarcoola - Ceduna down Googs because we have a whole heap of guys haven't done it....8 vehicles so far.

[justinc]

G’day Justin,
Glendambo has good facilities as does Coober Pedy.

Dont miss the Road Transport Hall at Alice

cheers Dave

Hi Dave, looking to spend lots of time out in the West Macs this time. The whole area just defies adequate description❤

[justinc]

yeah Justin do something different.

every one of my trips in that area (William Ck) we try to do something different afterwards although we are repeating ourselves this trip and doing Tarcoola - Ceduna down Googs because we have a whole heap of guys haven't done it....8 vehicles so far.

Totally. We're not into repetition!!😁. Was talking to Graeme this afternoon, is he doing Googs with you lot?

[bemm52]

Was there passing through this time last year after doing painted desert
$70 for a slab of West End cans and had to go through ID hoops to purchase them.
Unusual vibe in Marla we ended up in the scrub free camping south of there.
In fact we were glad to get of the highway at Kingoonya and head to the Gawler Ranges
Cheers Paul

[justinc]

Unfortunately won't be able to free camp, or do much camping at all on the way there due to time constraints... need to get there quickly, and then spend time exploring. Decided to drive instead of last time when we trained in, hired a car for trips then flew back. Hire vehicles just aren't the same.. besides the journey is part of the adventure!

[V8Ian]

Marla's OK, but there is a story that a large eagle swooped on a toy poodle. The city lady had the pooch on a lead and a tug-of-war ensued. It was declared a draw, the city slicker retained possession of the dog but it didn't survive.
I'm not sure if it's a myth or for real.

[bemm52]

Marla's OK, but there is a story that a large eagle swooped on a toy poodle. The city lady had the pooch on a lead and a tug-of-war ensued. It was declared a draw, the city slicker retained possession of the dog but it didn't survive.
I'm not sure if it's a myth or for real.
Interesting folk tale we have one similar associated with Marlo a little west of here.....
a pelican and some sort of toy breed dog called Fluffy were the stars, legend has it Fluffy was never seen again much distressing lady owner

Cheers Paul

[Markf]

The caravan park has loads of cabins. We've only ever had the camper with us so we've stayed in that (without parking on the grass) so I don't know what the cabins are like. The meals, breakfast and dinner, in the bar are good but not brilliant. The supermarket has a decent range even if it's a bit expensive. In short it's an OK place to stay but not brilliant.
As for Glendambo - I wouldn't give you a bad haircut for the place.

[Ricrose]

We stayed in the rooms at the Marla roadhouse when we came off the Oodnadatta Track this time last year. Rooms were cheap and clean.

[Graeme]

I'll be staying overnight at Marla later this month but in our van.

[Graeme]

...doing Tarcoola - Ceduna down Googs because we have a whole heap of guys haven't done it....8 vehicles so far.What dates please? I should be heading north along Googs 21/22 September with one other vehicle.

[ramblingboy42]

week of 19 august

[ramblingboy42]

the longer north approaches were very badly scallopped and we had to crawl down the north sides sometimes because suspension could not cope with the scalloping.

I'll make a report on track condition when I get back.

[ramblingboy42]

Totally. We're not into repetition!!😁. Was talking to Graeme this afternoon, is he doing Googs with you lot?

No , all the guys accompanying me are croweaters, maybe an odd mexican in there.

[Xtreme]

Not much help re your situation Justin but we stayed in a Donga at Mintabie (about 40k's west of Marla) quite a few years ago now. The daughter of a friend was the nurse there and was the only female in the mining community of about 150. Was a very interesting place and we witnessed a magnificent sunrise the following morning.
Can't even remember what Marla was like then.
Hope you find somewhere suitable and have a good trip.

[RANDLOVER]

G’day Justin,
Glendambo has good facilities as does Coober Pedy.

Dont miss the Road Transport Hall at Alice

cheers Dave

National Road Transport Hall of Fame in administration after investigation finds financial irregularities - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-25/national-road-transport-hall-of-fame-under-administration/11341568)

The Museum should still be open as seems the volunteers are running it till a manager can be appointed.

[justinc]

I'll be staying overnight at Marla later this month but in our van.

Graeme you do realise that our phone conversation has precipitated my planning this adventure, Dont you? 🤣🤣

[Graeme]

I wondered if that had happened although you must have already had a yearning to get back there. Does this mean that I don't have to take pictures?

[BigJon]

I have stayed at pretty much all of the available places between Adelaide and Alice over the years. None were particularly bad that I recall. It really depneds on where you want to be / how many km you want to drive in a day. We did Adelaide to Alice in a single day with a 2 year old and 3 year old.

[rick130]

It's pretty basic mate, stayed there two years ago, but that's all I needed.
I just wanted a shower and some power to plug the 'puter in.

[gavinwibrow]

For what its worth, we are in Cooper Pedy tonight and next night planning to do a bucket list flyover of Lake Eyre and maybe Painted Desert. Not cheap, but it doesn't rain here every week.
I won't go into why we had to deviate to Alice from the Great Central Road for caravan repairs (and then go back up to get to NW Qld after here).
Just got here. Road to William Creek is apparently okay and graded, but still checking on the bit from there to Oodnadatta and north.