Overland to Darwin & Back 1926-2026

23/05/2026

Day 6 - Marree to Coward Springs to William Creek Sat 23rd May 2026

204klm covered, Donations to date: $4935 (target $26,000), two 1925 Studebakers and five support vehicles with 11 people made it🎉🥳🎉🥳

Our first day on dirt roads (Oodnadatta Track) - with exemptions in place for our 2WD 1925 Studebakers we were keen to see what average speeds we would maintain and what water/mud obstacles were in our way - see pictures for the story.

See videos in the comments

Highlights:
- the Studebakers went through the mud and water easily - maybe too quickly on one deep water crossing but spluttered to life and returned “on song” - see the reel taken from the passenger seat.

- one support vehicle got bogged twice (we have a “Spectacular Breakdown Award” that passes from awardee to awardee - see picture for today’s winners

- late morning tea at Coward Springs at the cafe was amazing - try the date scones 🤤🤤😊😊

- maintenance on arrival at William Creek involved oil, grease, fanbelt tightening

- great news on the oil leak situation, it appears we are now only loosing 0.5L/100klm so that’s a vast improvement over the 2.2L/100klm we were experiencing before the gasket between Block and Crankcase was cleaned out and replaced with gasket goo by the maestros at Marque Restoration 👍

- today onto Oodnadatta and the Pink Road house

23/05/2026

Today (Day 6 - 23rd May 2026- on the Oodnadatta Track after it has just opened up - plenty of water around (a bit too much some would say😉)









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22/05/2026

Hi folks - many have asked about our timing of visits over the next six weeks. I have attached our latest propose itinerary fyi.

22/05/2026

22/05/2026

Day 5 - Beltana to Farina to Marree - Friday 22nd May 2026

Leaving Beltana we headed first to Leigh Creek to top-up fuel and supplies. Then onto Farina and it’s incredible bakery which was a hive of activity as preparations were well underway for their opening tomorrow 23rd May 2026 - we were very lucky to be given a pre opening taste test of the amazing pies, pasties, cakes and coffees for lunch. FANTASTIC 😋😋🤤👍👍

Also we traced the location of the scene in Clarence Judd’s movie at Farina where a team of donkeys are waiting to start their journey towing a large cart outside of the Exchange Hotel - one of the oldest hotels in Farina now a stabilised ruin - and photographed the Studebakers in the same spot in front of the remaining walls of the hotel (see pictures)

Onto Marree and we were treated to a tour of the Royal Flying Doctor Service clinic by Michelle and Alicia and took them on a tour of the town.

Tomorrow - onto the Oodnadatta Track which has only been recently reopened following heavy rain events last week.

22/05/2026

Beautiful Beltana at dusk in our Studebakers - time for a cruise around the town that’s left - when Bagot and his passengers passed through it would have been a thriving mining and agricultural town.

Here’s a brief synopsis from Wikipedia:

“Beltana’s best time was between 1875 and the 1920s. During these years mining activity was at its height. The town supported a brewery, two hotels, post and telegraph office, school, police station, doctor, court-house, church, baker, butcher, blacksmith, hospital, railway station, cricket team, race meetings, a saddle maker, carriage maker, mining exchange, several shops and, at times, as many as 500 people.[9]: 14 “








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21/05/2026

A fireplace here at Beltana tonight makes a good reminder of our donations target ($26,000)

Please feel free to donate to this vital service for the outback locals and visitors alike - the Royal Flying Doctor Service

https://sant.doyourthing.org.au/fundraisers/OverlandtoDarwin/overland-to-darwin-and-back-1926-2026

21/05/2026

Day 4 (rest day at Beltana) - checkout the sunset 😊😊😊

21/05/2026

We detoured into Parachilna Gorge today - spectacular

outbackway






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21/05/2026

Day 3 & 4 - Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st May - Hawker - Beltana (+rest day in Beltana) 150klms

It was great to arrive at the front if the Beltana Royal Victoria pub in two 1925 Studebakers just like Captain Bagot’s party - see the pictures

What a highlight it was to be hosted by the Beltana Progress Association at their community hall last night! We had over 50 people attend the BBQ and the full screening of the movie. Some being local and others coming up with us from Adelaide and interstate.

The drive up from Hawker was plain sailing in the red Studebaker (aka Big Red) but the brass coloured car (aka Goldilocks) had one if its fan blades shear off apparently from fatigued metal. Luckily the flying metal blade did not damage anything - particularly the all important and hard to replace radiator)

The rest day today has been a chance to do some maintenance on rear axles, greasing and the electrical system for Big Red ) and work up a fix for the fan blade (welded a section back) for Goldilocks

19/05/2026

Driving a 100 year old Studebaker North from Clare to Hawker