Fri, 22nd June, 2018 Bush camp, Poole Creek, Oodnadatta Track to Muloorina Station campground, Lake Eyre, SA (exploring)

7 am 4.6 degrees clear sky and a nippy little breeze. Steve found this nearly intact ceramic insulator in the bush while he was getting some kindling to get the fire going so we can warm ourselves up. As you can see I am feeling the cold.

I draped our clothes over the chair near the fire to warm them up before getting dressed.

The sun was on us as we packed up but it was still cold, 9am 9 degrees.

Back under the bridge then across the creek and the double grids into Callanna Station. The vermin fence ran along the edge of the road for a bit then turned south at the end of the rail bridge.

Through some hills then on to flat country again as we reached Wangianna fettlers quarters. This one still has its roof. Interesting reading on the walls!!

The embankment continues on. Where they would have stored their little wagon to go up and down the rail line doing repairs.

Spotted the big water tank for Callanna siding but nothing left of the building.

Callanna Siding

About 14km from Marree at the first of the railway workman’s cottages is a large water tank. Steam trains usually travelled 30 to 40km between water points but his tank, close to Marree, supplied rain water from a dam on Callanna Creek. Rain water was preferred for steam trains as it did not cause boiler scale. The ruins of the old windmill which pumped water to the tank can still be seen some distance to the east of the road.

Zoomed in on the windmill over in the creek.

Turned off onto the Lake Eyre-Goyder Channel Road just before Marree - 99km from here to Goyder Channel. Unusual rocks on a hill where everything else is smooth.

We were just commenting on not seeing any kangaroos when a nice red one stood up on a ridge as we zoomed by. 

Further on we stopped for a cuppa on the multi coloured gibber stones. The wind was blowing hard and cold. This plain then falls away to another one. I walked over to the edge and spotted another kangaroo.

As I walked closer to the edge another one was just below me.

As he jumped away a herd of them came down the ridge.

Steve had his eagle eyes working and spotted a clear crystal amongst the rocks. Will see if it can be cut.

We both started looking in earnest then and found another nice one. I also found some interesting gibber stones.

Onto Muloorina Station.

Muloorina was first selected in 1882 and used for 20 years as a sheep run. It was abandoned for some years then was used as a camel depot for the SA Government. Elliot Price bought Muloorina and moved there from Peterborough with his wife and four children in 1938. His genius for adapting to the environment and for modifying machinery is well known. Elliot donated a portion of his property, Hunt Peninsula, to the SA Government as a Conservation Park and it was subsequently named after him. The rest of Lake Eyre is now National Park. Members of the Price family still run Muloorina station as a cattle and sheep property and there is a campground available.

Open flat ground with the only green bits in the creek.

Passed some yards with water tank etc and some good looking cattle.

Poor old wagon has seen better days. Passed more roos laying around – must be a ‘friendly’ station as they don’t seem worried about vehicles passing them.

Across the old and new vermin fence grid. It has an alarm on it to frighten off the cattle when  they get too close. Certainly loud enough. The fence went up to Lake Eyre then turned east which is why we are crossing it here. We will cross it again when we head up the Birdsville Track. Looking east then west.

Red sand ridges appear as we approach Muloorina Station homestead. A lot of trees in the wide Frome River. It starts on the west edge of the North Flinders Ranges and flows (well when it does) to Lake Eyre.

Found the campground on the other side of the waterhole. Info and great photos.

Found the donation box - $10 per night, near the toilets.

Drove over to the lagoon. Lots of area to camp.

The bore water is flowing well under the causeway. It is cold here but apparently very hot when it comes out of the bore.

Drove along the track beside the lagoon. The station homestead is a bit further over. Looks like a good swimming spot. Will come back here and camp later.

Back to the track and continued on towards Lake Eyre and the Goyder Channel.

Goyder Channel

Named after Surveyor-General George Goyder, it links the two sections of Lake Eyre/Kati Thanda. In 1950 and 1974 water flowed south after heavy rains in Qld but in 1984 unusually heavy rains in the Marree area meant water ran north through the channel. A causeway built across the channel is maintained by the owners of Muloorina station enabling them to check stock on their lease near Lake Eyre.

Wide flat sandy country.

Some sections have low shrubs. Some section of the track are quite rutted where people have gone through when the track was wet. Drove along beside some sand ridges. Hundreds of corellas were feeding off something on the ground.

As we approached Lake Eyre South the mirages began again. Track very corrugated here – probably the worst we have been on so far. Lots of detour tracks around some of the rough bits.

Heading into Level Post Bay.

The start of the Goyder Channel.

Up to the top of a white sand ridge. View over part of the channel, the track then part of Lake Ellen to the right.

Station fence going down to the channel.

The Goyder Channel nearing the North section of Lake Eyre.

Onto Price Peninsula to Level Post Bay. Track used to go down to the lake but now there is bollards and a car park. Made some lunch and sat in the sun which is quite hot but if you sit in the shade you need a jumper. Got the thermometer out of the drawer and it said 16 degrees but after a few minutes in the direct sun it quickly climbed up to 30 degrees.

Walked over the sand ridge to a great view of this small section of Lake Eyre. Took a video. Same info as the other side. Probably should have come out at sunset as the sun setting over the salt lake would look amazing but we don’t think it is worth the 80km return trip again.

The sign about Donald Campbell’s land speed record is very hard to read. Someone tried to make it better. He set his record about 20km north of this point on 17^th July, 1964 doing 649km/hr.

Climbed up further on the sand ridge. Not the best selfie!!

Looking back over the truck.

Stopped at Muloorina station causeway over the Goyder Channel – south to north view.

Interesting they don’t call this a desert and it is more desolate than the Great Sandy Desert is. Proof the cattle do walk all this way to graze.

Got some firewood then headed back into the campground. Crossed the lagoon end to check out the other side. Another couple were parked up in their van so stopped for a chat. They are from Adelaide Hills and are heading up the Birdsville Track too.

We chose the spot near the pontoon as it was clear of cow pads and we had a nice water view.

The cows were wandering in the shallows eating the reeds.

Lovely view along the waterhole and great reflections.

Lots of birds. Worked on my blog while Steve had a walk along the waterhole.

Nice temperature till the sun started to set then out with the big coat again. Birds getting very noisy as the sun set. 5pm 19 degrees.

Rang Malcolm on the Sat Phone to give him an update of the road conditions in case they come this way.

Showered using the artesian water from the waterhole.

Lovely evening by the fire – away from it you realised how cold it had become. 9pm 11 degrees.