Strzelecki Track #1

Mar 15, 2018
2 min read

We had talked for some months in the lead up to our trip on what Tracks we wanted to do and the Strzelecki was near the top of the list!! We decided on the route we would take in advance and given there had been lots of rain in the Channel Country, we were checking the weather forecast, river flows downstream and road conditions through radio and online. The trip would be completed in 2 legs – Arkaroola to Montecollina Bore (208km) and Montecollina Bore to Innamincka (250km) – originally we were going to cross at Moomba to Cameron Corner but after talking to some locals and others who had travelled this section of the road we decided against it – it tends to be very corrugated.

Leaving Arkaroola, we followed a small almost farm track across country. This road is not well kept and so was a slow trip doing only 60km/ph when it was good. There are many dry river crossings which have some ‘V’ like dips in the middle that can buck you around and some with larger stones. We just took our time as we had given ourselves 4 hours to get to Montecollina Bore with a stop here and there.

We joined the Strzelecki Track just east of Mount Hopeless – a welcome sigh of relief as we were getting a bit over our little goat track we had been on! We did however have one down moment; our van was full of red dirt!! We had put the dust flap up but had not realized that the vent on the step would then suck in bull dust and fill the van. We were about half way along our journey from Arkaroola when we noticed the issue and didn’t have anything immediately to hand to fix the problem. On reaching Montecollina, a piece of cardboard from a XXXX Gold box and gaffer tape were our solution!! Then it was cleaning up the mess! We also had our first road kill – hit a roo, well actually it basically went under the front of the car – lucky no damage done to either the car or van!

Charles Sturt named the Strzelecki Creek during his exploration in 1845. John Costello was the first person to use the Strzelecki track in 1865 when he took 200 horses south for sale. The most infamous person to use the track was Harry Redford when he drove 1000 stolen cattle down Strzelecki Creek to Blanchewater Station. The Strzelecki Track was possibly more hazardous that the Birdsville Track because travelers rely on waterholes, dams and wells. The only bore drilled on the track was Montecollina – where we stayed in the Cobbler Desert. During major drought the track was closed for years at a time. Station owners especially from Innamincka took animals via the Birdsville track to market as more waterholes and bores are available. The Strzelecki Track was realigned to serve Moomba and Innamincka.