NOW: Googs Track – Ceduna to Coober Pedy.
After crossing from Kangaroo Island we headed north through Port Wakefield which was once an important cargo port. The mangroves and salt flats have taken over but lots of people come here to fish. Our fishing destination was Port Augusta where our nephew took us squid fishing in Spencer Gulf. He also cleaned the squid and cooked it forr lunch so we were on a winner on all counts.
We headed along the Eyre Highway through the grain towns of Kimba, Wudinna and Wirrulla where paddocks were being ploughed and seeded after the recent rain. Kimba’s claim to fame is that it’s halfway across Australia! So I guess we must be!
Halfway across Australia, Kimba
After trying the local whiting for dinner we started off early for Googs Track which is often described as a mini Simpson Desert. The Googs Track was pushed through by Goog and his son Dingo in 1979. The track travels from their home on Lone Pine Station to Googs Lake and on to Mount Finke.
Googs Track sign, the start of the next adventure
Heading off on Googs Track, 4WD only
Up and over on ‘the mini Simpson’
The track was a firm sandy base with lots of corrugations. The dunes were easily crossed in comparison to our previous experience of the real Simpson dunes! At the memorial to Goog and Dingo the track straight ahead leads to Googs Lake where wespent our first night. The salt lake had water in it and made a great backdrop for our camp.
Overnight at Googs Lake
Googs Lake reflections
By the fire at Googs Lake
After a gentle introduction on day one we hit the dunes properly on the next section from the lake to Mount Finke. Number one rule-Don’t take the chicken track. When you try to cross back to the main track you get all caught up and can’t back the trailer back down for another run at it. We only made that mistake once and had to use the shovel and Treds to get over the crest. One other dune caught us out but we were able to back down and have a second go!
Sand and Gidgee
Through the trees at Googs Lake
When we arrived at Mount Finke we had the whole place to ourselves except for what sounded like a distant car alarm but turned out to be a bird! We were pleased with our fuel consumption ataround 28 litres/100 kilometres with afull fuel load, 140 litres of water and all our gear on board.
On our third day we crossed through the middle of another salt lake which fortunately was dry. The track became quite stoney on this last section and we needed to adjust our tyre pressures on the gibbers.
Airing up for the gibbers
Arriving at Mt Finke
Across the salt lake, we’re glad this one is dry
We had lunch with some emus at the abandoned town of Tarcoola and gave a wave to the driver of a really long freight train. He returned our wave with a blast of the train horn! On to the moonscape of Coober Pedy next.
NEXT: Coober Pedy and Binns Track.
See you On the Emu Track
Cheryl and David.
