GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #45 | Page 67

RV TRAVEL
BIRDSVILLE TRACK
Onto the Birdsville Track . In the past , cattle were driven along routes fanning out across the top of Australia and feeding down through the Channel Country , considered some of the best ‘ fattening up ’ land in the world .
At Birdsville , these routes drew into one for a final 500km push to the railhead in Marree where cattle trains transported the beasts to Adelaide and Melbourne . Top-up your water tanks and jerry cans at the Birdsville Caravan Park . Stock up with whatever goods are available at the two small stores .
Take it easy through floodways and over cattle grids ; the Walkers Crossing track enters on the left at 124km and 14km further is Lake Surprise Creek , a nice spot for a rest .
There is plenty to see on the way to Marree : the Old Mulka Ruins , Clayton Station , and the Clayton River Wetland .
The iconic Birdsville Hotel .
In the past , the greatest delight about visiting Marree was staying at the Drovers Rest Tourist Park and having a yarn with the owner , Eric Oldfield , a legend on the Birdsville . He was a drover for many years and once owned Mungeranie .
Eric died in 2010 , and for us , Marree will never be the same . Today , Drovers Rest is now Drovers Run , with a second park called the Marree Caravan and Camping Park .
Road sign on the Birdsville Track .
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