Road trip Melb to Uluru over Easter - how long to do Oodnadatta track?

**sam_d** · 19th March 2018, 08:17 AM

You mentioned that you were staying at some cabins near Uluru. If you're staying at the cabins at Yulara be aware that they aren't anywhere as good as you might expect (and certainly nor as good as you'd expect for the money). I stayed in one last year after doing the GCR thinking that I'd give myself something a break from setting up my tent etc.

The cabins are small. No living area as such: you have a double bedroom, kitchen, another bedroom with bunks. The cabins don't have their own toilet or shower - you use the ones for the camp grounds.

WRT the Oodnadatta Track, the minimum you should allow would be about 3 days / 2 nights and that's if you're gunning it and the road is in good nick. Otherwise, allow as much time as you want - there is plenty to see and do on the way. The thermal spa at Coward Springs is great at the end of a dusty long day but it is quite small.

**Rextheute** · 19th March 2018, 08:20 AM

Why not try , Melbourne - Naracoorte ( check out Caves ) - Naracoorte To Renmark ( check out River ) - Renmark - Waikerie ( more River )-Murray Bridge - Little Desert - Melbourne .

Or , Just drive to one on those locations and relax .
All are within an 8 hr drive , realistically its a big push to just get to Marree in a couple of days - yes you can do it but wont enjoy the turning round to drive back so soon .
Easter is a busy time in Vic as everyone tries to fit a 'last trip ' in prior to winter .

For a little desert "Practice " drive a circuit through Little Desert up to Big Desert maybe touch Mildura and return .

Drive Safe

**Zeros** · 19th March 2018, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Rextheute

Why not try , Melbourne - Naracoorte ( check out Caves ) - Naracoorte To Renmark ( check out River ) - Renmark - Waikerie ( more River )-Murray Bridge - Little Desert - Melbourne .

Or , Just drive to one on those locations and relax .
All are within an 8 hr drive , realistically its a big push to just get to Marree in a couple of days - yes you can do it but wont enjoy the turning round to drive back so soon .
Easter is a busy time in Vic as everyone tries to fit a 'last trip ' in prior to winter .

For a little desert "Practice " drive a circuit through Little Desert up to Big Desert maybe touch Mildura and return .

Drive Safe

Little Desert / Big Desert NP in Vic is an excellent suggestion. Another magnificent option for a taste of the desert, a (long) days drive from Melbourne, is Lake Mungo NP.

**Tote** · 19th March 2018, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by carjunkieanon

Just a quick question not quite hijacking the thread...

How many days realistically Sydney to Uluru?

(5 kids in the car...they've managed one day of 12 hours driving but that's about the limit)

We've done Coober Peedy to Mildura in one day, Mildura - Yass on the second day(fairly easily), I would add another day to get from Uluru to Coober Peedy so three days would be achievable but not much fun.

Regards,
Tote

**donh54** · 19th March 2018, 05:14 PM

Maybe we should start a thread on how long it takes you to do a trip, rather than how quickly?

**Young Angus** · 20th March 2018, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Rextheute

Why not try , Melbourne - Naracoorte ( check out Caves ) - Naracoorte To Renmark ( check out River ) - Renmark - Waikerie ( more River )-Murray Bridge - Little Desert - Melbourne .

Or , Just drive to one on those locations and relax .
All are within an 8 hr drive , realistically its a big push to just get to Marree in a couple of days - yes you can do it but wont enjoy the turning round to drive back so soon .
Easter is a busy time in Vic as everyone tries to fit a 'last trip ' in prior to winter .

For a little desert "Practice " drive a circuit through Little Desert up to Big Desert maybe touch Mildura and return .

Drive Safe

I like this!

The wife and I very quickly figured out there was no way we were going to enjoy that trip and I'm not going all that way in a touring ready Disco to just drove up the quickest easiest most boring route. We are postponing that trip till the second half of October (which we had originally pencilled in an Esperence drive) and now we are going to use the time we already had aside to take our time and get up to Uluru and get to Lake Eyre too and really explore the Oodnadatta Track and anything else that takes our fancy. Very loose plans, but we have about 17 days put aside, and after reading a bit about it that would be a good amount of time to do a few very nice things and not rush around that part of the country

I'm going to try and get out to those closer desert trips in the meantime, maybe even next weekend (although I hate trying to go somewhere when everyone else is too). My wife and I could use a desert intro and that sounds perfect!

**Young Angus** · 20th March 2018, 09:01 PM

By the way, at the risk of sounding a bit silly what exactly are Little Desert and Big Desert? I've never been there...are they actual desert arid areas or are they national parks or are they just sandy places people go camping at...??

Would they be very busy on Easter weekend or are they not as popular as some other escapes around those times?

I've heard people talk about them plenty but I've never actually asked what they are...

**grey_ghost** · 20th March 2018, 10:53 PM

Hi Young Angus,

LD and BD are National Parks in far Western Victoria. I haven’t been theiugh them in 20+ years but enjoyed them years ago when I did!

**Zeros** · 21st March 2018, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

Hi Young Angus,

LD and BD are National Parks in far Western Victoria. I haven’t been theiugh them in 20+ years but enjoyed them years ago when I did!

They would both be relatively quiet over Easter. Lots of good camps. Grab your map and go! Check out the Pink Lakes too. Nice spot for an overnight camp.

**alien** · 21st March 2018, 06:14 AM

If your only doing few days each side of Easter consider joining in at the Melrose show over the weekend.
South Australian Land Rover Show – Easter long weekend, Melrose South Australia (normally the largest Land Rover only show)
It’s a good show a few of us Victorians attend every second year.
This year we are at Cooma in NSW for the 70th with 700+ Land Rovers Land Rover 70th Cooma NSW

A plan to concider if heading west is your thing...
Tuesday night at Parks Victoria -
Teddington Camping Area @40mins past Ballarat.
Wedneday and Thursday night Burra(or Burra Creek Gorge - Worlds End Gorge (FC) - Free Range Camping Directory
Thursday explore Burra including BURRA HERITAGE PASSPORT - SEE & DO - Visit Burra start early and a plan around the museum open times and it’s doable in a day.
The traditional pizza shop in town was good feed.
Friday head then Melrose and leave Monday.
Monday if you have another week head up into the Flinders for a few days.
For a taste of dirt exit via the road to Yunta including a stop at the old gold mine and pub.
From Yunta dirt to Renmak via farms or Dengali(camping) putting you a full days drive from Melbourne.

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