Beresford Siding Free Camp 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