Flinders to Alice Springs

Lake Hart near Woomera - normally salt - now water

It’s a 1,400klm drive from Flinders Ranges to Alice Springs. We planned to do this with 4 free camps but did it in three (not much to stop for and good roads).  The photos were taken on the trip.

Our Free Camp outside Coober Pedy at dawn

As we have spent some time at Coober Pedy last trip we didn't really do much sightseeing on the way – other than enjoy the slowly changing scenery as we headed north. So this blog is in the topic of water.

minimal "one nighter" - SAT TV and Internet

Before we headed out from the Flinders we did some research on where we can fill up with water along the way. For those who haven’t free camped for extended periods noting the technology for solar power and the ever reliable generator the only real constraint on how long you can stay away from caravan parks is availabity of good water.

Mullock Heaps outside Coober Pedy - yep that's a puddle of water

A few tips for future travelers:

Enjoying the first sun for days

•  If it rains while you are free camping collect water from your awning. After letting the dust and grime wash away, tie a rope around the lowest end of your awning and water will run down the rope into your jerry cans – pure rain water – there is no better! We collected 40ltrs this way whilst out at Flinders Ranges and could have collected a lot more if we wanted to.
• If you can - separate your shower/washing up water tanks from your drinking water tank – this will allow you to top up you shower water tanks from “suspect water” like clean rivers, lakes and bore water and keep your good drinking water in a separate tank.
• Email Visitors Centers of towns you are planning to travel through – they are generally very responsive and a great help locating that water tap. Coober Pedy for instance has a 24 hr facility where for 20 cents you can purchase 30ltrs of pure RO drinkable water (we filled up for less than a dollar).
• Talk to other grey nomads – we all have the same problem.
• We budget on using around 50ltrs/day while we are out in the bush which gives a 5 day endurance without rain or topping up the two 20ltr water containers we carry in the back of the Pajero. This is having a – get wet (tap off), soap and shampoo, wash off (tap on again) shower sing less than10ltrs each.
• When you are free camping run your taps at a trickle and make sure you don’t let any go down the sink till the water is  really dirty!
• If you stay in a caravan park before heading out bush make sure the last thing you do on the day you leave is to have a long hot shower.
• Drink lots of beer and wine – this helps save water J