Marree Hotel Campground is a free camping area behind the Marree Hotel. It doesn’t cost anything more than the price of a meal in the pub. Marree is where the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks cross meet It’s been a stopping point for travellers going back to the pioneering days.

Marree Hotel Campground Location And Info At A Glance

Cost: Free if you have a meal in the pub.
Type: Pub Camping
Pet Friendly: Yes
Location: -29.649041°, 138.064652°
Distance From Marree: 0km
Distance From Oodnadatta: 406km
Distance From Marla: 660km

How The Free Camping Works

The space out back is flat and big enough for cars and caravans, but it fills up when lots of people are travelling through. The deal is straightforward – you can camp for free if you buy a meal at the pub. Most people seem happy with this arrangement although as always there are some people who have complained in reviews we’ve read.

Amanda and I plus friends of ours have been to the Marree Hotel lots of times and eaten many meals there. The meals are big and well cooked – and they taste bloody nice. My favourite is the camel burger.

Staff and owners at the hotel know the area well and reviews commonly mention how helpful they are. The pub does get busy in the evenings during peak travel season – generally winter months and a month either side. The camel burger gets mentioned in reviews a lot so I’m not the only one that like it! There are more normal meals available if you’re not feeling adventurous.

Marree Hotel Campground Is Out The Back

Recent Changes At The Marree Hotel Campground

There’s been an important change to free camping at the Marree Hotel campground. Free campers used to be able to use the hotel’s toilets and showers but that has stopped as of early 2025. As I understand it some people were abusing the privilege and leaving a mess. So now those facilities are only for people who pay for rooms at the hotel. Fair enough too. We’ve personally seen firsthand the mess that some people leave behind – it’s just too hard for an inconsiderate few to do the right thing.

Facilities And Pet Friendly Status At The Marree Hotel Campground

The camping area has no potable water, no power and no bins. You bring everything you need and take your rubbish when you leave. Dogs can come along if they’re well behaved.

Amanda Having A beer At The Marree Hotel

Why People Keep Coming

Marree doesn’t have lots of options so the hotel becomes the centre of everything. It’s a small town in the middle of the outback. Supporting a real outback business feels right to most visitors and you end up meeting interesting people from all over the place. Each time we’ve been there we’ve met different backpackers working in the hotel from all over the world.

The location works well for people wanting to fly over Lake Eyre or explore what Marree has to offer. Being in town means good security and you’re close to everything.

Worth Knowing

Book a proper room or campsite if you need full facilities. The restaurant stays busy so getting in early for dinner makes sense. Apparently signing the walls inside is something people do – bring a pen.

Marree has some historical stuff worth seeing. Old railway buildings, small museums and inside the hotel there’s a display about Tom Kruse that outback history buffs seem to enjoy.

Marree Hotel Camel Burger

Bottom Line

Marree Hotel campground free camping still works for people who can look after themselves and don’t mind the basic setup. Recent changes mean you really do need to be self-sufficient now.

A few grubs who didn’t, couldn’t or wouldn’t follow simple rules have made things less ideal for others. Unfortunately this is becoming more common. I don’t know why, it’s not my position to philosophise on human nature.

According to the vast majority of reviews people who stay seem to think it’s worth it. Funny enough the poor reviews seem to be from people who arrived late in the day and were either turned away due to lack of space or were “squeezed in like sardines”. The moral of that story is arrive early.

We have camped overnight at The Amphitheatre campsite. It’s about 9km from Coward Springs on the Oodnadatta Track. It used to be a quarry but now it’s commonly used as a free camping site.

The Amphitheatre Campsite Location And Info At A Glance

Cost: Free
Type: Free Camping / Bush Camping
Pet Friendly: Yes
Location: -29.337625°, 136.748336°
Distance From Marree: 141km
Distance From Oodnadatta: 265km
Distance From Marla: 519km

The Amphitheatre Campsite Oodnadatta Track On Google Earth

What’s There?

• Nothing. No toilets, no water, no bins. You bring everything and take your rubbish when you go. People who leave mess behind wreck it for everyone else.
• The place is huge and flat.
• No trees anywhere so no shade.
• Lots of room to spread out. You can drive way back from the road. Even when it’s busy there would be space.
• One good thing – it’s not as windy as you’d think. Our awning was fine all night.

Bringing Dogs

Dogs are ok but keep them close. No fences and we saw kangaroos and heard dingoes off in the distance. Our dog stayed on the lead at night.

Other Things To Know

• The ground has prickles so wear shoes or if you’re feeling like living on the edge give your double pluggers a go. At least wear something.
• Flies are bad during the day but they go to bed when the sun goes down. Generally speaking flies also don’t bother you much if it’s windy.
• Don’t park near the water pump thing. Trucks come through and you don’t want to be in their way if they need to fill up. I don’t think it’s something that happens very often so it’s really not an issue.
• If other campers are all grouped together and you want quiet drive to the other end. There is lots of room.
• When Coward Springs is full this The Amphitheatre campsite often gets used as an overflow.

Why We Liked It

The stars at night were great – no lights anywhere for miles. You can see everything. We stayed up late looking at the sky – we can be a bit simple like that.

Campsite On Oodnadatta Track

Would We Camp At The Amphitheatre Campsite Again?

Yes. It’s basic but that’s what we needed. Good for people who don’t need fancy stuff and clean up after themselves. Plenty of room to spread out.

Quilters Ruins is about 42 kilometres northwest of William Creek and makes for a great overnight campsite if you want to get away from the main track. The old railway ruins give the place a bit of character and it’s usually pretty quiet.

Quilters Ruins Campsite Location And Info At A Glance

Cost: Free
Type: Free Camping / Bush Camping
Location: -28.632512°, 135.891761°
Pet Friendly: Yes
Distance From Marree: 260km
Distance From Oodnadatta: 145km
Distance From Marla: 399km

Quilters Ruins Campsite Oodnadatta Track

Getting There

Heading north from William Creek on the Oodnadatta Track at about the 42km mark look for the old cattle yards on your left – that’s your turnoff. You can’t really miss them, they’re the only thing around there. Follow the track behind the yards heading southwest until you hit a T-junction then turn right. Ruins are straight ahead from there.

Road in is good – we’ve seen plenty of larger rigs make it in without any drama. Takes about five minutes from the turnoff to reach the campsite. Track’s well formed and rarely gives anyone trouble.

The Ruins At Quilters Ruins

The ruins are what’s left of the old Boorthanna Fettlers Cottage and railway sidings. Built in 1890 then used until 1926 when they closed this section of the line. Fettlers were the blokes who maintained the track – pretty tough job out here in those days. Ruins are in reasonable condition and worth having a look around.

Camping At Quilters Ruins

Quilters Ruins is your typical Oodnadatta Track bush camp setup. No facilities whatsoever – no toilets, no water, no bins. You’ll need to bring everything in and take everything out. Dogs are allowed but keep them under control.

You’ll usually have the place to yourself. Good spot for a campfire if you’ve brought wood – none lying around.

Access And Conditions

The track in is suitable for most caravans and camper trailers. We’ve seen 22-footers get in without any issues. Ground’s generally firm and level areas are easy to find for setting up.

If you overshoot the cattle yards and hit the old railway line cross it and turn right – you’ll loop back to the ruins that way.

What To Bring

Everything. Water, food, firewood if you want a fire and something to take your rubbish away in. It’s a fair way from anywhere so don’t count on being able to duck out for a bottle of milk or a hamburger.

Big Flat Camping Area Quilters Ruins Oodnadatta Track

Our Assessment Of Quilters Ruins

Good overnight stop if you want somewhere quiet with a bit of history. Easy access, plenty of space, and you’ll usually have it to yourself. Just come prepared and don’t expect any luxuries. The ruins are interesting enough for a wander around and the sunsets make it worthwhile. Worth staying if you’re not in a hurry and want to get back in off the track for a night.

We’ve stayed at Stuart Creek a few times and it’s been a great campsite. Free camping just off the Oodnadatta Track and it’s usually quiet which is a hard thing to find these days.

Stuart Creek Stay Campsite Location And Info At A Glance

Cost: Free
Type: Free Camping / Bush Camping
Location: -29.489504°, 137.076053°
Pet Friendly: Yes
Distance From Marree: 102km
Distance From Oodnadatta: 303km
Distance From Marla: 557km

Finding It

Turn off just before the concrete causeway – you can’t miss it if you’re paying attention. Track’s normally fine but turns into a real mess when it’s been raining. Saw a big motorhome get through last time we were there but he was taking it pretty easy.

Stuart Creek Campsite Oodnadatta Track

The Camp

• Big open area, well away from the road so you won’t hear anything going past overnight.
• Creek runs along one side but it’s dry more often than not.
• When there’s water in the creek it’s good for the birds – have seen heaps of zebra finches and some other small stuff we couldn’t identify.
• Usually pretty quiet. Sometimes you’ll have it completely to yourself, other times there might be another group or two but there’s so much space that it doesn’t matter.

Facilities At The Stuart Creek Stay Campsite

• There are no facilities here. There are no toilets, bins or water so plan accordingly.
• Bit of dead timber in the creek bed for fires but that’s about it. Don’t go cutting anything off trees whether they look dead or not – rangers don’t appreciate that sort of thing and you won’t enjoy the fine.
• No shade either, which makes summer pretty unpleasant. Even in winter you’ll want a decent hat during the day.

What’s Not To Like

• Flies are terrible when there’s no breeze. Had to eat dinner inside the caravan one evening because they were driving us mad.
• Track gets boggy after rain. Wouldn’t attempt it in a 2WD if it’s been wet recently.
• Toilet paper gets dug up by animals and scattered everywhere if you bury it. Either burn it or take it with you.

Our Take On The Stuart Creek Stay Campsite On The Oodnadatta Track

Handy spot when everywhere else is full but it’s actually pretty good in its own right. Easy to get to, plenty of room, proper outback feel without the hassle of difficult tracks. Just bring everything you need and don’t leave a mess for the next people.

Us Camping On The Oodnadatta Track