We spent the night free camping on the Oodnadatta Track at Algebuckina Bridge. This is an iconic free camping spot on the Oodnadatta Track that runs alongside the old Ghan Railway.

Camping At Algebuckina Bridge

Travelling From Beresford Siding To Algebuckina Bridge On The Oodnadatta Track

We travelled from our overnight free camp site at Beresford Siding to Algebuckina Bridge along the Oodnadatta Track. Distance covered was about 195km and included a stop for lunch in the pub at William Creek. The Oodnadatta Track from Beresfield Siding to Algebuckina Bridge was in great condition apart from a bit of damage from recent rain events to some of the dry creek crossings. There was also a creek crossing with water to a depth of about 45cm near the Algebuckina Bridge turnoff.

Leaving William Creek

William Creek

William Creek is a very quirky little town. It consists of a Hotel. An airfield where you can get general charter flights as well as a range of sightseeing flights. There’s also a caravan park.

William Creek Hotel

About The Algebuckina Bridge

58 kilometres south of Oodnadatta you will find the complete and intact Algebuckina Bridge. A wrought iron bridge it once carried the former Alice Springs narrow gauge railway across the flood plain of the River Neales. No train has passed over after the new standard gauge route was opened from Tarcoola. Algebuckina Bridge still exists today and it has a unique and interesting history.

Algebuckina Bridge On The Oodnadatta Track

In 1890, government workers began sinking the cast iron piers, and by the time wrought iron arrived for the superstructure, most of them had been completed. A considerable amount of progress was made during the first half of 1891, and according to the Public Works Report for the period ending 30 June, the pier cylinders had been sunk except for two or three at the northern end, and eleven spans of the superstructure had been completed. On 8 January 1892, it was completed and opened to traffic.

Warrina – Oodnadatta railway section was scheduled to open on 7 January 1891, but delays in delivery of ironwork to the Algebuckina site prevented this. In the meantime, a temporary causeway over the river bed was built to accommodate construction trains during June 1889, and it was during this period when the only floodwaters ever cut the line.

Algebuckina Bridge Alongside The Oodnadatta Track

This occurred for the first time on 5 February 1890, when the track was shut down for sixty hours. Another occurred on 8 April of the same year and lasted 168 hours, while a third took place during the ensuing year, but in this case, no trains were delayed. Following the bridge’s opening, the track across the causeway was laid within six months.

There are 19 spans on the Algebuckina bridge, each 101 feet 6 inches (30.9 metres) long; the total length is 1,928 feet 6 inches (587.8 metres), which is 51 feet 6 inches (15.7 metres) shorter than the Murray bridge; and the girders are 10 feet (3 metres) deep. Also, the clear road width on the Murray bridge is much wider than that on the Algebuckina bridge.

Algebuckina Bridge Free Camping

There is a mile of room to camp at Algebuckina Bridge. There are no services available whatsoever, no toilets, no showers and no potable water available. The only water is from the river and it’s not a permanent source – you’d have to treat it before use. Dogs are allowed. There is no mobile reception. Fires are allowed however bring your own wood as there is no firewood available at Algebuckina Bridge.

What is available at Algebuckina Bridge is a sense of freedom and complete tranquility. Bright clear skies at night and you can see millions of stars. And all that is available completely free of charge.

Free Camping At Algebuckina Bridge On The Oodnadatta Track

We camped for the night at Beresford Siding – an awesome free camp on the Oodnadatta Track. It used to be a siding on the Ghan Railway. The old Beresford railway siding was one of about four sites along the line which had water softeners built to treat water for steam locomotive on the Ghan Railway.

Camped At Beresford Siding

Travelling The Oodnadatta Track To Beresford Siding

We left Farina and headed off on the Oodnadatta Track. We pulled in at Marree and fuelled up and grabbed a few groceries from the general store. We also took a few minutes to air down our tyres on the van and car. We went down to 25psi as we have found that generally works well as a starting point.

We had a bit of rain and the track was a bit wet. Not soft at all but it was throwing up mud all over our the car and van as we travelled. The road from Marree through to Beresford Siding was in decent condition with only a few corrugated stretches. It was a bit rough in patches around the mound springs.

The Oodnadatta Track Was A Bit Corrugated In Places

Oodnadatta Track Sculpture Park

We called in at the sculpture park for a look around again. It’s a really cool thing. I love the two planes standing together with wings stretched out like intertwining arms.

Oodnadatta Track Sculpture Park

Lake Eyre Viewing Platform

It was well worth pulling in to the Lake Eyre viewing area this time as water was visible not far away. Last time we were there the water (we think we saw water) was at least a kilometre from the shoreline.

Lake Eyre Viewing Platform

The Mound Springs

The mound springs are another place to call in for a look around. It’s amazing to see the water bubbling to the surface in the middle of the desert. If you stop and have a look at the mound springs make sure you take the time to read the information boards describing the dreamtime stories of why and how the mound springs on the Oodnadatta Track came to be. One other tip – the road in off the Oodnadatta Track to the mound springs is about 4km long and extremely corrugated so make sure to unhitch your caravan at the start if you are towing one.

Beresford Siding

Beresford Siding is about 50km SE from William Creek when travelling towards Marree. It’s on the left hand side of the Oodnadatta Track when heading towards Marree. Water used for the engines on the Ghan Railway wasn’t drawn from the mound springs but was pulled from underground bores. At the Beresford Siding you can see water softener tank built to remove harmful minerals from the bore water that caused scaling in the boilers of the steam engines.

Beresford Siding Water Treatment Plant

Free Camping At Beresford Siding

You can free camp pretty much anywhere at Beresford Siding. There are no facilities at all. Water isn’t available. You can have a fire if you can find some wood, if you can bring your own with you that would be the safe bet. The area where you camp is absolutely massive and you have your pick of spots. We camped out the front of the siding building. There was another van behind the old siding building and there was a young bloke in a rooftop tent down by the water tank.

Beresford Siding Station Building

We spent a couple of nights camping at Farina again. What a fantastic place to camp on the edge of the desert. There is so much to do and see!

We spent a good few hours exploring the old ghost town. This was the fourth time we’ve been to Farina and we still found a load of things we hadn’t seen before. I think we’ll keep on going back and discovering even more.

Using The Donkey Boiler While Camping At Farina

The camp site has drop toilets and welcome hot showers fed by an old donkey boiler. The old donkey boiler is an amazing piece of old school technology. You build a very small fire underneath it it and 30 minutes later you have an endless stream of hot water. We know how they work so we always light the boiler and get it going in the early evening. It’s quite funny to see other campers wander across before the donkey is lit go in to the showers and then walk back out a few minutes later because there was no hot water!

The Donkey Boiler At Farina

The camp site is absolutely massive. There is plenty of space for a lot of campers when camping at Farina and you can all spread out and have a load of room between you. There are shady sites. This time there was even a fair bit of grass around. Firewood is all but impossible to find however you can go up to the station house and buy some from there between 4 and 6pm each day.

The Campground At Farina Is Massive

Farina War Memorial

On our first morning I wandered up the hill just behind where we were camped and visited the war memorial. I was surprised to see just how many people who went to the first and second world wars from Farina didn’t come back. I was even more surprised to see just how many people went to both wars from Farina given that the towns’ population reached a peak of only 600 in the 1890’s. It seems as if most able men of age must have heeded the call to serve their country.

Farina War Memorial

Cooking In The Camp Ovens

We had a great dinner our second night camping at Farina. We are travelling with our mates Kev and Deb and between us we cooked up a pork and a beef roast in a camp oven with potatoes, pumpkin and carrots in foil trays. Amanda even made some iced chocolate brownies in a camp oven for desert.

Cooking In The Camp Ovens At Farina

The Old Car Outside The Police Station At Farina

Once again had my photo taken in the old car outside of the Police Station at Farina. This is the fourth time. I’m not sure who is going to rust away first me or the car. I honestly have my money on it being me!

The Old Car Outside The Police Station At Farina