Used by Australian Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years, the Oodnadatta Track route spears into Australia's daunting outback from Marree, South Australia to Oodnadatta and beyond.

The program includes expert commentary, travel tips, interviews with outback identities and music. 

The "big" stories of outback icons are told as sweeping narratives: aboriginal trade, dingoes, camel handlers, the old Ghan Railway and the Overland Telegraph.  Facts and figures are kept to a minimum.  Listen to why things happened as well as what happened. Click here for a table of contents list.

Scenic attractions along the Oodnadatta Track include:

• the ‘Marree Man’ - at four kilometres the largest work of art in the world
• the desolate expanse of salt called Lake Eyre - which can transform into a vast inland sea almost overnight
• Australia’s first ‘Inland Mission’—the hospital at Oodnadatta

Some of the special attractions include:

• Bubbler (click to view an image)
  A mound spring in the Wamba Kadarbu National Park called ‘The Bubbler’. The water gurgling into the salty desert sands fell as rain two million years ago and 2,000 km away.
• Ghan Locomotive (click to view an image)
  One of the last narrow-gauge diesel-electric locomotives used on the old ‘Ghan’ lies rusting in the sun at Marree, South Australia. The rails were pulled up and sent to the Queensland cane fields in 1981.
• Sturts's Desert Pea (click to view an image)
  Sturt’s Desert Pea (Clianthus formosus) The floral emblem of South Australia, this spreading annual or perennial herb is widely distributed in central Australia.
• Oodnadatta Train Station (click to view an image)
  The Oodnadatta railway station. The old narrow-gauge ‘Ghan’ railway arrived in Oodnadatta in 1891. The station is the most substantial building in the community.
• Overland Telegraph Pole (click to view an image)
  A segmented metal pole from the Overland Telegraph line. The 3,000 km line from Adelaide to Darwin was completed on 22 August 1872. It’s purpose was to connect with a new undersea cable to Java and on to London. The original wood poles were quickly attacked by termites and were replaced by these metal poles designed to collapse for easy carrying on the back of camels.

And while the focus is on heritage values, talks with local residents provide fascinating details about present day remote area living.  Also included are driving tips on safety, UHF radio, tyre pressures, etc.

Two acknowledged experts on the Oodnadatta Track have vetted the content.

This professionally-voiced and mixed program is available as a four CD set or on two standard 90-minute audio cassette English only.

The program is structured to be played in your four-wheel-drive (SUV) as you drive along the Oodnadatta Track.  However, it also makes a wonderful talking book.

• Listen in your car during those long, traffic-clogged commutes to work or
• As an interesting mental diversion on a long drive in the country or
• Take an intriguing "virtual journey" along the Oodnadatta Track while listening at home.
• The program would also make a fantastic educational resource or
• Provide an extremely rare audio-documentary for the sight-impaired

Presenters:

Jenny Murphy, Jim Johnson

Didgeridoo/clapsticks: Johnny Daylight-Lacey

Writer/Producer: Bob Dunn

Production Engineer: Guy Gibson

Recorded in Australia at ArtSound fm 92.7 and on location

Featuring the song: “Flinders Ranges” by Charlie Davey

Special thanks to:

Lyell Oldfield

Laurel Frahn

Tony Williams

Alison Speirs

Lynnie & Adam Plate

Martyn Martin

Many thanks for your interest in the Oodnadatta Track, Australia’s most historic road!