Innaminka

Entering Innaminka

Coming down the hill into Innaminka it was easy to see the result of the storm that had passed through the area. The parking lot outside the hotel and trading post was a lake. It was necessary to use four wheel drive to even get to the fuel pumps at the trading post.

Hotel and Trading Post

The road alongside the parking lot was lined with camper trailers and caravans who would have had to leave the camping area on the town common alongside Coopers Creek. Any that stayed wouldn’t be leaving until the access track dried and they risked being flooded out. Coopers Creek floods to above 12 metres here. 

We fuelled up (diesel $1.90 a litre) then moved next door to the hotel to check in. We had only booked one night but it was obvious we would need to stay longer. This wasn’t a problem as the staff are well used to dealing with the vagaries of the tracks in this area, so we have a room for the next week. Pay by the day and leave when we want to. Not that we want to stay any longer than absolutely necessary.

Yesterday this road train was bogged on the approach to Innaminka

Our room is large and comfortable, a lot better than we had expected. Anyone who has been here will know about the seemingly random way the accomodation units have been built. I don’t think planning permissions made much of an impression here. Still it seems to work. Since our last visit the hotel has installed large areas of solar panels and a substantial battery bank. This has reduced the use of diesel generators by 65%. A pretty good saving I would think.

View from our motel room

We went for a walk but because of the all pervasive mud had to be very careful of where we went, which turned out to be just on the road around the hotel.

The hotel parking lot “lake” is gradually diminishing

At least we are now in South Australia and one step closer to home. We have transit permits for Victoria but cannot apply for Tassie permits until we are within 24 hours of arriving in Tasmania. So I have to wait until the morning of leaving Border Town (SA) for the boat until I apply for the permits. Just hope we get them! I have amended our Spirit of Tasmania booking until the 10th. Had to do a two day change as the boat is only sailing every second day at the moment.

Went to dinner at the hotel last night. It was crowded, everyone stranded at Innaminka must have turned up for a meal. Half the items on the menu were not available and I ended up ordering a steak schnitzel, not what I wanted but not much else available. The cooks were undoubtedly pushed to the limit and we waited ages for our meals. My schnitzel when it came was inedible. It had been cooked so long it would have made good shoe leather. I ate the salad and chips but left the disgusting piece of meat. Vicki’s meal wasn’t any better.

Have just checked the road conditions (Sunday 9:30am) and the northern part of the Strezlecki Track is still closed to all vehicles. It is a nice and sunny (although cool) day here and the wind is getting up. So hopefully this will help to dry the track. 

Not much chance of local sightseeing

Its a real pity we can’t take the time to explore this fascinating part of Australia. We have been here before and have visited such things as the Burke and Wills Dig Tree and Coongie Lakes but one could spend months in this area and still not see it all. However; 1) the roads are closed 2) we have no recovery gear and 3) we are in get home mode. So taking all this into account we will just have to move on as soon as we safely can.

When the Strzelecki Track opens we can head south

The Strzelecki Track has just partly opened. The first third from Innamincka south is only open to 4WD under 3 tonne and not towing, and that is us. The middle third is open to 4WD and heavy vehicles whilst the bottom third is open to all vehicles.

We have just had dinner and tonight dinner was okay. Got talking to a couple who had arrived from south today (I think they must have ignored the road closed signs). About our age but pastoralists who are used to travelling on these roads. The around 400 kilometres of gravel track has in places water, mud and corrugations but they said drive carefully and we should get through. If we leave it until the track dries out further it will be opened to vehicles towing and heavy vehicles and the corrugations and wheel ruts will get much worse.

In a couple of years this will all be sealed and the Strzelecki as we know it will cease to exist. I’m sure the locals will appreciate it but in a way it will be a pity. No more will it be an adventure, just a bitumen drive.

So tomorrow, as long is the track is still open, we will let down the tyres and see if we can get to Lyndhurst.