South from Chambers Pillar?
Submitted: Sunday, Oct 18, 2026 at 21:04
ThreadID: 154030
Views:538
Replies:3
FollowUps:4
Cuppa
If heading south from
Alice Springs to
Chambers Pillar, does anyone have any route recommendations to continue south to come out on the Stuart hwy somewhere,
Erldunda,
Kulgera, Agnes Ck? Lots of small tracks on the map.
Reply By: Member - nick boab - Monday, Oct 19, 2026 at 06:19
Monday, Oct 19, 2026 at 06:19
Hi Cuppa I ask the station that is adjacent to
Chambers pillar 2 years ago if I could access their property from the railway line Road and Hugh River Stock Road and got a big fat NO but you could try you never know your luck or you could return to the Old South Road and back to Hugh River Stock Route . The
Hugh River crossing would be a very nice spot to
camp for the night / lunch.
The railway line Road is theoretically belonging to the Railway and not a public access although plenty of people would use it.
You could keep traveling South along The Old South Road to Finke and back out to
Kulgera.
Edit . The Old South Road I mentioned "known to by locals" is the Maryvale Road.
My old stomping ground happy travels
AnswerID:
649671
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Monday, Oct 19, 2026 at 06:45
Monday, Oct 19, 2026 at 06:45
Cuppa . What's your travel plans from this area??
Heading south for summer :))
FollowupID:
931551
Reply By: Cuppa - Monday, Oct 19, 2026 at 07:34
Monday, Oct 19, 2026 at 07:34
Hi Nick, thanks, I had a feeling, perhaps a vague memory from past discussions that many of those roads/tracks were not accessible. :(
Yes we are heading south. Going into Alice today to restock & possibly get new tyres if we can. Then down to
Chambers Pillar via Maryvale rd, as we haven't been there before . Previously came up from
Oodnadatta via Mt Dare & Old
Andado. Road currently closed just north of Old
Andado.
Heading to
Adelaide to get a couple of things done there (& maybe new tyres if we cant get them in Alice. The tyre place we spoke with in Alice 10 or 12 days ago has been uncontactable since that storm went through,
(We were at
Tower Rock at the time & got a bit of weather, but nothing like they had in Alice. Stayed there for 8 days to let roads dry out & left 2 mornings ago. Probably should have waited longer as the drive out was 'interesting', but we made it.
Not sure whether the Maryvale road has had much rain.
After
Adelaide , back home to Victoria for a short (hopefully) time to get a few things done & then over to Tassie for a year or so. Currently negotiating a house sit over there for the winter months, with a view to touring before & after.
AnswerID:
649673
Reply By: Galloping Galah - Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026 at 08:50
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026 at 08:50
I drove up from Mt Dare on Sunday to
Alice Springs (think I drove past your vehicle in town). You would get down to Finke OK, unless last night's noise produced a heavy fall somewhere. I presume then out to
Kulgera.
I'm about to head down the highway to
Marla
AnswerID:
649678
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026 at 15:45
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026 at 15:45
Is the Finke and Hugh River running after the rain ??
FollowupID:
931553
Follow Up By: Galloping Galah - Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026 at 22:45
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2026 at 22:45
Change of mind and went via
Chambers Pillar.
Sign near Maryvale to the effect of
no through road past
Chambers Pillar. Return via Maryvale.
No
water in either river. Some showers, odd tacky bit of road, one spot where a little tree pruning might be required to keep a high vehicle on drier ground (I've taken out some of the lower ones)
Had a good look around Rumbalara. Surprisingly large facility for rail work such as loco servicing etc given its proximity to Finke.
FollowupID:
931556
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 at 08:23
Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 at 08:23
Galloping galah , when I first went to
Chambers pillar (in the 70's) it used to be a full-on four-wheel drive adventure just to get in.. unlike these days as I understand it's a lot easier and even caravan friendly ?
Rumbalara : The old railway track could tell some stories of D-rails and flooding etc
The old joke was if you were a passenger and you felt like stretching your legs you would simply get off and walk along with the train while in Motion and then hop back on when ready :))
We will be looking forward to Cupp's next blog of
Chambers pillar area
Happy travels
FollowupID:
931561