Google Maps time estimates for tracks/offroad

[Hefty]

Howdy peoples!
We're planning a big trip involving the Oodnadatta and Strzelecki tracks and we've been marking points on Google maps but the times it is suggesting for these types of tracks seem a little over-exaggerated. Eg Burke to Wannaring 190km - 5 HOURS?!

Basically, we're looking to go across southern QLD/northern NSW to Cameron Corner and then down the Strzelecki to Lyndhurst and then across to Coober Pedy. Can anyone with experience please give us a more realistic ball-park figure for how long this would take in driving hours, mainly the Strzelecki and Oodnadatta tracks?

I know track conditions vary depending on weather etc but any advice on how much time to allow in dry season conditions would be really helpful. Eg would averaging 60km/h be reasonable, too fast, too slow?

Cheers!
Jono.

[MDS69]

You could probably do both tracks in a day each but really you want to take your time.
On our trips
We stayed overnight about 30km north of Innamincka next to a waterhole. Next day drove to Innamincka for lunch then onto the Strzelecki and camped overnight at Montecollina Bore. 4 days later after the overnight flooding receeded we hightailed it to Hawker. So basically two days on that track.

Another trip we overnighted at Hawker then travelling through Maree and stayed at Coward Springs on the Oodnadatta Track. Lunched at the William Creek Hotel the next day with a side trip to Lake Eyre South and camped overnight alongside a dry creek bed about 20km west of William Creek. Next day lunched at Pink Road House and overnighted at Marla. Plenty to see on the Oodnadatta Track in that you could take another day.

Basically get your distances off a map and use your average speed of 60kmh on dirt to work out driving time then add in stops. Don't use google or Travelmate etc for dirt driving time but they are good for the black top.

With these two tracks you mention do a search of the forum for some trip reports to give you an idea of travel times and things to see/do.

[hawks667]

I did the Oodnadatta track last month. Road conditions were fair to very good. The northern section was corrugated, but ok. It was being graded into William Creek as we drove through and smooth as a baby's bum. The southern sections were good. I could have sat on 80k easily for most of it, I wasn't towing. We spent 5 days traveling it and pretty much stopped in and had a look at most of the "attractions". Cattle can be a worry, we saw a few on the northern section.

SWMBO's father was towing his Kokoda Off Road van with his 100 Series TD & sat on 60 to 75 most of it.

This is the northern section, Marla to Oodnadatta in 10 minutes. Its at 16x speed....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQG-TqP9DPY

We saw some funny things on the way through...and have some funny pictures...

A Volvo XC60, all by its self on the side of the track with the space saver on it, flat as a pancake...The original tyre was at William Creek with a couple of nice holes through the side wall.

An old Jayco Wind Up Camper on the Halligan Bay Road with a broken Stub Axle. From memory it took about 5 days for the flat bed to come and get them.

But that's all changed now with the rain over the last few days.

I have driven the Bourke to Wanaaring Road on numerous occasions. The worst was about 5 years ago after summer rains and before it had been graded. An absolute shocker, some of the worst ruts and corrugations i have ever had the pleasure of driving on. If you're lucky to catch it after its been graded, its smooth sailing....

So as you said, I suppose it really depends on road conditions, what you want to stop and look at, how much time you have. But i would calculate your time on say 60klm and work it from there.

[austastar]

Hi,
   On the Oodnadatta track (6 months ago) we maxed at about 80kmh, but corrugations kept us at about 15kmh for a few hours.
We had plenty of time though, no dead line for a few months ahead.
Cheers

[Team Evil]

Last Year I did Bourke to Wanarring in approx 3 hrs easy. Then on to Tibooburra, first vehicle after it opened after some rain.
Two vans were stuck in Wanarring for four days because of that rain.

Timing is everything..

[BaseCamp]

I did the Oodnadatta track last month. Road conditions were fair to very good. The northern section was corrugated, but ok. It was being graded into William Creek as we drove through and smooth as a baby's bum. The southern sections were good. I could have sat on 80k easily for most of it, I wasn't towing. We spent 5 days traveling it and pretty much stopped in and had a look at most of the "attractions". Cattle can be a worry, we saw a few on the northern section.

SWMBO's father was towing his Kokoda Off Road van with his 100 Series TD & sat on 60 to 75 most of it.

This is the northern section, Marla to Oodnadatta in 10 minutes. Its at 16x speed....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQG-TqP9DPY

We saw some funny things on the way through...and have some funny pictures...

A Volvo XC60, all by its self on the side of the track with the space saver on it, flat as a pancake...The original tyre was at William Creek with a couple of nice holes through the side wall.

An old Jayco Wind Up Camper on the Halligan Bay Road with a broken Stub Axle. From memory it took about 5 days for the flat bed to come and get them.

But that's all changed now with the rain over the last few days.

I have driven the Bourke to Wanaaring Road on numerous occasions. The worst was about 5 years ago after summer rains and before it had been graded. An absolute shocker, some of the worst ruts and corrugations i have ever had the pleasure of driving on. If you're lucky to catch it after its been graded, its smooth sailing....

So as you said, I suppose it really depends on road conditions, what you want to stop and look at, how much time you have. But i would calculate your time on say 60klm and work it from there.

Hey Hawks...    great post....

A couple of questions:

(1) Loved the vid...  What camera did you use?

(2) I noticed a few times - (starting with I recall at about 1700hrs??...)  you were driving one way; then suddenly took another track...

Are these (what I imagine) critical forks in the road well sign posted??..

(3)  What combo of paper maps; (brand & scale); and gps/tech stuff were you using?

Thanks - all info appreciated

[hawks667]

Hey Hawks...    great post....

A couple of questions:

(1) Loved the vid...  What camera did you use?

Its a SJ4000 Action Cam....Runs 32Gb Micro SD cards which gives about 5 hours HD footage...I have about 6x32Gb cards and just swapped them over daily...We ended up with pretty much complete footage driving the Oodnadatta and most of Melb to Central and back again...Best part is they are cheap....I bought mine on eBay

(2) I noticed a few times - (starting with I recall at about 1700hrs??...)  you were driving one way; then suddenly took another track...

Are these (what I imagine) critical forks in the road well sign posted??..

Somethings are sign posted, others not so....We were exploring and looking for a camp for the night, so if it looked good, we had a look. I found the northern part of the track interesting, but i think the mid and southern section contain a lot more spots to stop, look and explore..

(3)  What combo of paper maps; (brand & scale); and gps/tech stuff were you using?

I run a Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10' Tablet on a cheapie eBay RAM mount. It runs Hema Explorer, WikiCamps and a few other navigation tools. I also have a Garmin Nuvi GPS with Topo Maps on it. My phone, a Samsung Galaxy S5 also has the same apps on it, so the car was mess of USB cables keeping everything running...A mate asked me before i left " do you really need all those USB and ciggy points in the car" When i showed him what i was running, he simply laughed....   

The missus got real good at using the Tablet with the Hema application, it gave her a sense of control i suppose...hahaha....

Thanks - all info appreciated

[BaseCamp]

Hey mate - thanks for the updates ...   explained that way, it looks easy enough to do the same..