A pub, an airport for Wright Air, Flying Doctor’s hub, Oodnadatta Track and the desert William Creek portrays the quintessential Aussie outback. Australia’s smallest settlement is located on the property of Australia’s largest cattle station, Anna Creek Station.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO IN WILLIAM CREEK?
- A William Creek mustdo is a pub lunch. The pub is crammed full of memorabilia with walls, ceilings and any space in between sporting buffalo heads, cattle harnesses, photos galore, faded maps, clothing
- Scenic flight over Lake Eyre and onwards to the Painted Hills.
- A selfie at the William Creek golf course
- Gawp at the relics left behind from a wooden wagon, rocket parts from the nearby Woomera testing station
William Creek Tours – BOOK NOW, PAY LATER
The town’s pub, William Creek hotel offers basic accommodation. Fuel can be purchased, there is a general store and an all-weather airfield. Everything is a short stroll from the pub.
William Creek is built on a salt plain 204 km north-west of Marree located on the Oodnadatta Track. The remote settlement is the closest town to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre.
OODNADATTA TRACK
Follows ancient Aboriginal trade routes connected by a series of artesian springs. The unsealed 614 km outback road connects Marree to Marla in South Australia.
Oodnadatta is a popular 4WD tourist route with the William Creek pub, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, an extraordinary pink tinted salt lake, mound springs from Blanche Cup and Coward Springs and settlement of Oodnadatta highlights.
Oodnadatta settlement has a permanent spring. The town witnessed the Afghan camel trains, the creation of the Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta to Darwin and the original Ghan narrow gauge railway. There are relics throughout the thriving settlement.
- Oodnadatta population 100+ 2023
- Population is over 80% Aboriginal people from the Aranda, Antakirinja, Luritja and Pitjantjatjara nations.
- Oodnadatta was the northern terminus of the Central Australian narrow gauge railway before it was extended to Alice Springs.
- Oodnadatta is a desert town with the former Railway Station now a Museum.
- The Pink Roadhouse is a much photographed insta location, source of hot food, snacks, accommodation and advice. Check their website for useful safety information about the Oodnadatta Track.
- Oodnadatta is a hub for those planning to cross the Simpson Desert, that takes in Witjira National Park and the popular Dalhousie Springs.
Oodnadatta Track’s road’s surface is variable and care should be taken when travelling.
In dry weather, the track is passable to most two wheel drive vehicles and caravans, but a four wheel drive vehicle will provide a more comfortable journey, and will be essential for driving the track during and after rain, which on occasion will close the road altogether.
Since the track is unsealed, the Government of South Australia recommends that users of the track check if it is open before departure.
The Track was named by Adam Plate of the Oodnadatta Progress Association Inc and Pink Roadhouse in about 1980 to form a trilogy of unsealed tourist routes with the Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks nearby.
CLIMATE IN WILLIAM CREEK & OODNADATTA TRACK
Desert climate, hot and dry. Hot & dry.. Average maximum temperature is over 30°C from November to March. Regularly over 40 c in summer.
VISIT in winter with temperatures between low 20 c at night to low 30 c. Rainfall is very rare.
The best time to visit is between April to October.
FESTIVALS
- William Creek has regular fly and fly out events, check out William Creek hotel for updates
- William Creek campdraft and bronco branding – August
WHERE IS WILLIAM CREEK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA LOCATED?
William Creek settlement is located on the Oodnadatta Track.
William Creek to Coober Pedy – 165 km
166 km – remote unsealed road crosses over the privately owned Anna Creek cattle station and crosses the Woomera Prohibited Area. It is a public road, but you have to keep on the track. No permit is required for this route.
William Creek to Marree
204 km on the first section of the Oodnadatta Track. The excitement builds as you pass the Lake Eyre Yacht Club as you exit Marree and the road sign appears.
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