Coward Springs

Coward Springs describes itself as a heritage and conservation property with a focus on eco camping. It's run on conservation principles: reduce, recycle and reuse.

The Old Ghan railway site

Coward Springs tells the history:

• The Old Ghan railway reached Coward Springs in 1888, Oodnadatta by 1891 and Alice Springs in 1929. The last Old Ghan train ran in 1980.
• Coward Springs Siding was once the most western point on the line. Around the turn of the century, camel teams carried goods from here to stations in the west and to the Tarcoola goldfields. See cameleers.
• Of the many railway-era buildings, only two remain: the Station Masters House and the Engine Drivers Cabin. Both have been restored using traditional methods and original plans. Coward Springs says they're the only heritage buildings on the Oodnadatta Track to have been restored.
• The Engine Drivers Cabin is a museum for campers and day visitors, with displays, artwork and photos of the restoration. It's closed between late October and April.

The Coward Springs Railway Site was entered in the South Australian Heritage Register in 1998. The register lists the station master's house, the engine driver's cabin, the original bore, rainwater tanks, date palms and tamarisk trees. It describes the site as a good example of an outback railway site: an important stopover for passengers to Oodnadatta and a stock and supply terminus.

The natural spa

The campground's natural spa sits on the edge of the wetland. Coward Springs says it's 29°C and high in mineral salts, and always refreshing. Try it under the stars, or in the early morning when steam rises off the water. See the Great Artesian Basin.

Birdlife

Coward Springs says 187 bird species have been recorded in the Lake Eyre South region. Many records at Coward Springs are historical, because the wetland is now much smaller since the bore was rehabilitated. Bring binoculars anyway. See birdwatching.

Camping

• Campsites are shaded by historic tamarisk trees and date palms. Others are among more recently planted native trees.
• All sites are unpowered. It's an eco camp.
• Fees are listed at $18 per adult and $8 per child aged 5 to 15. Check current rates.
• Facilities are built from recycled railway materials, and include toilets and showers.
• Bookings: submit a booking request online. The campground replies with an invoice, and your booking is only confirmed once it's paid.
• Day visitors are welcome between 9 am and 4 pm, for a small fee that helps cover water costs and the upkeep of the heritage buildings.

Fires and firewood

• Each site has its own fireplace.
• No fires between the end of October and April.
• There's no firewood collection at Coward Springs, within 10 km of it, or inside Wabma Kadarbu Conservation Park. Bring your own, or buy one of the small eco-log fire kits sold on site.

How it got its name

Wikipedia, citing South Australia's place names records, says the name refers to a nearby mound spring. Police Commissioner Peter Warburton named it in 1858 after Corporal Thomas Coward. The South Australian Heritage Register places the site in the locality of Stuarts Creek.

Getting there

Coward Springs is on the Oodnadatta Track between Marree and William Creek. Coward Springs gives these distances:

• Lyndhurst to Coward Springs: 212 km
• Roxby Downs to Coward Springs: 216 km
• Coober Pedy to Coward Springs: 236 km

The Oodnadatta Track is unsealed and can close after rain. Check the SA Outback Road Report before you set out, and carry water, fuel and spares. See fuel, permits and road conditions.

Nearby

Coward Springs says it's a good base for exploring:

• Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park, which surrounds the campground
• Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre National Park
• Strangways Springs, where the old telegraph station buildings have been stabilised, about 35 km towards William Creek. See the Overland Telegraph Line.
• Margaret Siding fettlers' cottages, about 12 km towards Marree
• William Creek

When to visit

The cooler months, roughly April to October, are the most comfortable, and the museum is open then. Summer is extremely hot on the Track, and fires aren't allowed from the end of October to April. See outback weather by month.

Contact

Coward Springs Campground, PO Box 206, Roxby Downs SA 5725. Phone 08 8675 8336.

Nearby park guide: Witjira National Park and Dalhousie Springs.