The Route

We depart from Gidgealpa Station on the Cooper Creek. We follow the Cooper Creek floodplain, finishing at Etadunna Station on the Birdsville Track. Most nights we will be camped on water holes.

In General

A large flood in late 2007 and a top up flood in 2008 caused the Cooper Creek to flow past its usual ‘pulling up points’ at Gidealpa (Embarka Water Hole) and Coongie Lakes. It is expected to flow through the Strezlecki Desert to Lake Hope, just east of the Birdsville Track.

This is a journey of contrasts, as the Cooper Creek takes many forms. There are lengths of channel with periodic waterholes, open areas of lignum swamp, some wet, some dry and canegrass swamps. This creek runs through sand plains with belts of dunes and areas of gibber as it merges with the Sturt Stony Desert

There are constant reminders of Aboriginal occupation in this area, stone artifacts of various kinds, graves etc. We will look for ‘magic circles’, rings of gibbers that were used as ‘cure areas’.

The bird life is varied and constant. We rediscovered the Night Parrot here in 1979 and will again, be searching for this rare and elusive bird.

If the rains have been good in the preceding months, we will be rewarded with wild flowers on mass and an increase in the native animal population.

We fish for the delectable Yellow Belly and Black Bream, arguably the best eating fresh water fish in the world.

Something is experienced of line on a cattle station at the beginning of this expedition.

The pace is leisurely with rest days.

The Cooper Creek is the very essence of the Aussie OUTBACK.

The Camels

There is no better way to truly experience the desert than to travel by camel, as well as being your transport and lifeline, they provide an ongoing floorshow with their antics.

Party members have the option of riding on comfortable, padded saddles (with your swag in front, our tried and proven method) or walking some of the terrain. Most of the walking is easy, but an average fitness level is required. If you can walk for an hour or so over sometimes uneven ground, you are fit enough for this journey. Pre conditioning is recommended.

Help, where possible is always appreciated when loading, unloading and ‘shepherding’ the camels.