Painted Desert

StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesCoober Pedy
FinishOodnadatta
DifficultyDifficulty 2/5
Suitable ForAWD Motorbike 
Distance231.5 km
Minimum Days1
Average Speed77.42 km/hr
Travel Time2 hrs 59 mins
Page Updated: 21 Oct 2021

Description

Heading north east from the wonderful, if dusty streets of Coober Pedy, along gibber roads through country made famous in the Mad Max movies, a detour via Arckaringa homestead will take you into surely the most spectacular country in South Australia if not the entire outback.

The Painted Desert, just a few kilometres from Arckaringa features fantastic mountainous mesas and formations composed of colourful sands, pebbles and rocks that simply defy description. Photographers and painters will delight in the show of colour at sunset and dawn.

The road via Mt Barry and Arckaringa is far from boring, though it travels through some of the most featureless terrain on earth. The area where the Mad Max movies were shot was chosen because nothing could be seen for 360 degrees.

Here are in fact many interesting things to see along the way including Lollipop Lane and great areas of ground covered in large sheets of gypsum. Interesting geological formations in the Painted Desert and the country between there and Oodnadatta satisfy even the most jaded traveller.

Though it is possible to travel this route in a single day it would be a terrible shame to do so. The roads vary from well formed wide gravel to stony with occasional bulldust holes. The trek is relatively easy going even for 2 wheel drive vehicles but remote so carry sufficient water and spares.

Coober Pedy has all of the facilities of a modern centre, Oodnadatta is a good place to restock or do some repairs if necessary.

How to Use this Trek Note

  • To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.

TIP

ExplorOz Traveller now features the NEW EOTopo 2024 mapset!

Environment

Around Coober Pedy and along the tracks to Oodnadatta the terrain is predominantly gibber plains intersected by Coolabah fringed creek bed. The moon like appearance of thee gibber plains were used to great effect in the Mad Max movies. The Painted Desert describes the area of the Arckaringa Hills which are composed of very soft and fragile but highly coloured rock-rock seems too harsh a word to describe these fragile soils.

During the summer months the temperatures may reach 45 to 50 degrees Celsius. Travel in the region between October and March is not recommended due to high temperatures

History

Coober Pedy
Fourteen year old Willie Hutchison, while searching for water, discovered opal on the 1st February 1915. The worst drought in the Statep@>s history, was responsible for Willies searching on behalf of an Adelaide Gold mining syndicate. Had it not been for the drought, the opal may not have been discovered until many years later.

Lack of water proved to be the main problem for Coober Pedy during itp@>s early history. The discovery of opal at the Eight Mile in 1945 by aboriginal woman Toddy Bryant, was a turning point that helped establish Coober Pedy's future prosperity.

Oodnadatta
The history of Oodnadatta is intertwined with the history of the great north-south connections, the Overland Telegraph Line and the railway line that came to be known as the Ghan. There is plenty of this history to explore at Oodnadatta and along the Oodnadatta track.

TrekID: 106

Preparation

MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek - Outback Safety, Outback Driving Tips, Outback Communications, and Vehicle Setup for the Outback.

TIP

Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability.
While this is a short trek by Australian standards, visitors should be aware that this is a very remote region. Four wheel drive vehicles are not required to traverse these tracks when dry, but may be necessary following rains. All of these outback treks in remote country require high level of vehicle preparation. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended and you should carry sufficient water for 4 days, at least one spare tyre and tyre repair equipment, as well sufficient fuel.

A UHF Radio with a repeater function will offer some degree of comfort to travellers, as there are numerous repeaters in the area that will allow contact with the outside world in the event of an emergency where reception is available.

This is remote area travelling and preparations for travel should take this into consideration. If your vehicle breaks down or you have some other trouble, stay with your vehicle.

Supplies
Restocking of supplies is possible at Coober Pedy and Oodnadatta. There is no opportunity to restock along the way. Camping and cabins at Arckaringa homestead would serve as a great base for those opting to stay for a while.

Permits

None required.

Fuel Usage

DieselULPLPG
4cyl 33 litres4cyl 37 litres4cyl 46 litres
6cyl 36 litres6cyl 50 litres *6cyl 41 litres
8cyl 36 litres8cyl 38 litres
Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Oodnadatta Airport
Distance from Trek Mid Point 86.52km NE
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C37.936.633.728.523.219.919.622.126.630.333.736.3
Mean Min. °C23.022.319.214.49.76.55.87.411.415.118.621.2
Mean Rain mm22.932.214.310.912.711.710.08.19.913.913.017.1
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Map

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Directions

Coober Pedy to Giddi Giddinna Creek
Driving: 40.75 km
Heading: 29°
Avg Speed: 96.48 km/hr
EST Time: 25:20
Giddi Giddinna Creek to Kempe Rd & Arckaringa Access
Driving: 54.4 km
Heading:
Avg Speed: 90.41 km/hr
EST Time: 36:06
Kempe Rd & Arckaringa Access to Arckaringa
Driving: 43.37 km
Heading: 324°
Avg Speed: 74.77 km/hr
EST Time: 34:48
Arckaringa to The Painted Desert
Driving: 9.82 km
Heading: 64°
Avg Speed: 55.87 km/hr
EST Time: 10:32
The Painted Desert to Painted Desert Road & Kempe Road Intersection
Driving: 32.48 km
Heading: 80°
Avg Speed: 66.69 km/hr
EST Time: 29:13
Painted Desert Road & Kempe Road Intersection to Hookey Waterhole
Driving: 43.48 km
Heading: 46°
Avg Speed: 85.18 km/hr
EST Time: 30:37
Hookey Waterhole to Oodnadatta
Driving: 7.2 km
Heading: 17°
Avg Speed: 72.54 km/hr
EST Time: 05:57
Distance is based on the travel mode shown (Driving, Straight, Cycling, Walking etc), Direction is straight line from start to end, Avg Speed & EST Time is calculated from GPS data.

What to See

The following video prepared exclusively for ExplorOz.com by Member - George Royter will you give some idea of the sights you can expect to see along the Painted Desert trek.

Facilities

Where to Stay

Services & Supplies

No Services & Supplies available for this trek

Wildflowers

Related Travel Journals

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