If you’re planning to go camping for the weekend, experience the remote wilderness, and far from the crowds, with the stunning view of Coorong National Park, camping in Salt Creek is the best way to go. This place is the perfect getaway for nature-loving campers longing to escape the hustle of the city and relax in the presence of natural surroundings. So what are the things that make this place so unique?
Salt Creek is one of the best campgrounds situated at Coorong National Park. 4WD, fishing, kayaking, birdwatching, and mountain biking are only a few exciting things that you will enjoy doing at Salt Creek. This beautiful small town will let you experience that historical background of the place and expresses the culture of the first people who once lived in the creek.
Here is an overview of the campgrounds in Salt Creek:
- Loop Road
- 42 Mile Crossing
- Wyomi Free Camp
- Narrung Ferry
- Wrights Bay Bush Camping
- Mark Point
- Frank Potts Reserve
So, are you up for a quick camp in Salt Creek? Read on and know more.
How Do I Get To Salt Creek?
Salt Creek is 209 kilometres away from Adelaide, approximately 2-hour and 17-minute drive if you’re taking the fastest route, with the usual traffic.
Via National Highway M1 and Princes Highway:
- Take Glen Osmond Road to National Highway M1 in Glen Osmond
- Continue on National Highway M1. Take Princes Highway/B1 to Salt Creek Road in Salt Creek
- Turn left onto Salt Creek Road
What Should I Know About Salt Creek?
Salt Creek is situated along Coorong National Park on the Princes Highway between Meningie (60 kilometres) and Kingston S.E. (85 kilometres). In 1996, Coorong National Park was established and later, campgrounds like Salt Creek were recognized around the National Park. It became a famous campsite due to its accessibility and beautiful natural setting.
In the 1800s, few people built a small company and discovered that there are petroleum deposits in Salt Creek, so they sent out few men to uncover the truth. But it was all a sham as traces of water were seen on the surface of the land. Upon all of their baseless claims, they built a replica of the oil rig as a monument.
The Ngarrindjeri people were the native people who took care and protected the lands of Coorong before the European settlement. But afterwards, the natives were only employed to do seasonal work, but continue hunting and gathering food for the people. Their tradition and culture are well-preserved until today and passed on their children.
How Are the Campgrounds In Salt Creek?
You have a lot of options if you want to go camping in Salt Creek, you can stay at:
Loop Road
Loop Road is a very comfortable camp, which is easily accessible by 2WD and has a long-drop and composting type of toilets. There are 30 campsites in the area that have camping fees, not a dog-friendly site, and no water available nearby. There is a fishing spot close to the area that you can also take a quick dip.
42 Mile Crossing
42 Mile Crossing is a great camp that is easily accessible through walking or via 4WD and has access to the beach. There are no toilet and water facilities, but there are wood barbecues in the area available. Fishing spots, kayaking and canoeing spots near the area.
Lions Park Campground is very accessible with ten good campsites. There are excellent quality facilities available, and typically, drinking water is pretty accessible in this area. Lions Park has a view of the ocean that makes it an excellent campsite. Also, there are pleasant spots for fishing, kayaking and canoeing nearby.
Wyomi Free Camp
Wyomi is a free camp for private vans and motorhomes. There are flushing toilets available, oceanview, fishing spots, and canoe/kayaking spots nearby.
Pinks Beach is a good camp if you want to try beach camping, and there are three campsites in the area. Flushing toilets are subtle, and there is a good amount of activities that you can try, like canoeing/kayaking or fishing in the area as well.
Narrung Ferry
Narrung Ferry is a free and huge camp that is perfect for your campervans and situated near the lake. There are ten beautiful campsites and proper flushing toilets. If you want to make a campfire, designated bins are available in a specific area, and you can swim in the lake nearby. Fishing spots are there, picnic tables, horse riding and so are canoeing/kayaking spots nearby.
Wrights Bay Bush Camping
Wrights Bay Bush Camping is privately-owned land and has ten sites that you can camp, and many of these campsites are well-sheltered. It has access to the beach, and the caretaker is helpful and friendly. There are long-drop and composting toilets, dog-friendly, and water is accessible.
Mark Point
Mark Point is located at the banks of Coorong with beautiful scenery and has ten campsites which are the best area for self-dependent campers. However, there are no toilets and water available in this area, but has a great spot to take a swim, canoe or kayak.
Point Sturt is a large yet flat and too exposed camp area that makes it so hard to pitch a tent. It has ten sites where you can park your campers, no toilets, no water, but there are fishing spots nearby.
Frank Potts Reserve
Frank Potts Reserve is a camp that is most suitable for self-contained RVs or motorhomes, has six free campsites available. If you are a pet owner, you can bring them along under certain conditions, but toilets are unavailable. They have water, electric/gas barbecues, and picnic tables offered in the area.
If you want to know more about the campgrounds in the area, you can visit their website.
Where Can I Take Bushwalk At Salt Creek?
Easy Walks
- Ngrugie Ngoppun Walk is a 2.7-kilometre circuit walk that has a duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes. This trail is best for your hiking and biking experience with beautiful scenery of birdlife while walking.
- Lakes Nature Trail Walk is a short and easy 2.02-mile loop track with a 3 feet elevation along the way with the beautiful scenery of Pipe Clay Lake.
- Lakes nature walk is a 1. 8-mile loop track located in Coorong, with a breathtaking view of nature.
- Nukan Kungun is a mild 25-kilometre return and takes two days to complete. The terrain is flat and very accessible even if you’re an amateur.
What Are the Other Things That I Can Do At Salt Creek?
If you’re visiting Salt Creek, you should:
- Visit the Oil Rig Monument
- Visit Jacks Point Observatory Deck
- Go Camping
- Try Canoeing or Kayaking
- Try its excellent fishing spots
- Visit Coorong National Park
What Is The Best Time To Visit Salt Creek?
The best time to visit Salt Creek is from December to January when the area is filled with different species of birds. Also, this is the best time to explore trails with the spectacular view of the lake that is fully occupied with birds. Binoculars and patience are must-haves for those bird enthusiasts.
What Do Other Tourists Say About Salt Creek?
“Back in the 1890s a group of “entrepreneurs” mistook a compacted vegetable substance (now known as ‘coorongite’) as proof that there was oil to be found beneath the Salt Creek near Coorong. This place started a survey project to hunt for the magical black gold, but they did not succeed.
To celebrate their failure, a Replica Oil Rig has been built to mark it so that future generations can also take part in the disappointment. This replica is one of those great Australian roadside attractions that you have to stop when you are passing in the car. Take your camera and get a great photo of you and your fellow travellers looking excited in front of this very underwhelming monument. It is a short visit which should take less than 5 minutes to read the sign which includes the history of oil in Australia. Also, there is a picnic table close to it if you’d like to make it a longer stay. Climbing on the rig is not permitted.” – Screech1616 (TripAdvisor)
Related Questions
Why Is Salt Creek Called Salt Creek?
Initially, it was named Little Des Plaines River during the European Settlement, but in the mid-nineteenth century, it was called Salt Creek after a great wagonload of salt spilled in the waterway.
What Fish Can You Catch In The Coorong?
Usually, you can catch a native species of fish like Black Bream and Golden Perch.
How Long is Salt Creek Trail?
Salt Creek is linked in many trails, and its length might depend on the trail bound, but in Nukan Kungun, the path is 25-kilometre return and takes two days to complete.
What Are The Things I Can Do When Visiting Coorong?
- Visit Pelican Path
- Go to the Meningie Cheese Factory Museum.
- Climb at Meningie Hill Lookout where you can see the 360° views of the area.
- See Flip-Flop Windmill.
- Try Bird watching as the region is home to 230 bird species.
- Visit Pink Lake, where a chemical called carotene causes the colour pink.
- Go to Point Malcolm Lighthouse overlooks the Narrung Narrows.
- Visit Raukkan Church depicted on the Australian $50 note and David Unaipon.
- Visit Historic Mark Point Windmill.
- Visit the Coorong Ngarrindjeri Cultural Centre and Museum.
- Visit Chinamans Well.
- Visit Jane McNinamen’s Grave, a local murder victim story.
- Go to Salt Creek’s replica Oil Rig, which is Australia’s first oil drilling site.
- Go to Jack Point Observatory, a very large Pelican Rookery.
- Head to Forty-Two Mile and Tea Tree Crossing where the Ninety Mile Beach is a favourite Surf Fishing spot.
- Boothby Rocks is a natural outcrop of Granite Rocks.
