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Voykit pocket guide · Australia
Marree
Stop one night in Marree if you are driving the Oodnadatta or Birdsville Track; skip it as a standalone destination — it is 6 h of sealed road from Adelaide.
Marree is a 100-person outback town at the junction of the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks, about 680 km north of Adelaide. It exists for travellers crossing the outback: fuel, a bed, a meal and the ruins of Australia's first mosque. One night is enough; two if you fly over Lake Eyre or the Marree Man.
- Country
- Australia
- Best months
- Apr–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (40 °C (104 °F)+ days, track closures after rain)Dec–Feb (104 °F (40 °C)+ days, track closures after rain)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AUD
- Money
- Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$). Contactless cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, including public transport in the big cities; some small cafes are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget A$80–130 excl. bed · Mid A$130–220 excl. bed · High A$220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 000 · From mobiles 112
- Plugs
- Types I · 230 V · 50 Hz · Angled two- or three-pin Type I, shared with NZ, Fiji and China; sockets have their own switch — turn it on.
- Tipping
- Cafés and casual meals: Nothing; a tip jar is optional.; Restaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.; Taxi / rideshare: Round up or nothing.; Tours and guides: Optional; A$10–20 for a great day guide.; Surcharges: Weekend and public-holiday surcharges of 10–15% are legal if shown on the menu.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps. Carry plenty on any outback drive or walk.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | A$5–7 |
| Pub meal (counter or bistro) | A$25–40 |
| Beer, schooner | A$8–12 |
| Fuel, per litre | A$2.20–2.80 |
| Scenic flight over Lake Eyre | A$400–700 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MRZ · Marree Airport
- Small airstrip; mostly charter flights for Lake Eyre and Marree Man sightseeing. No scheduled passenger service.
Typical fares
- Fuel, Marree
- about A$2.20–2.80 per litre
- Marree Hotel room
- A$85–148 per night
- Scenic flight
- A$400–700 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a vehicle. The town is a few streets; everything is walkable once you park. Fuel is available in town but is expensive and hours can be short — fill up whenever you can. Unsealed track sections north and west are 4WD-only after rain.
See and do
Known for
- Junction of the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks
- Site of Australia's first mosque (1882)
- Marree Man geoglyph
- Lake Eyre scenic flights
- Old Ghan railway heritage
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) scenic flight | Charter flight from Marree Airport | 2–3 h |
| Marree Man geoglyph | Charter flight only; the site is on closed land | 1.5–2 h |
| Lyndhurst | Drive south on the sealed Oodnadatta Track | About 1 h 30 min |
| Marla | Drive west on the Oodnadatta Track, partly unsealed | 3–4 h |
Sleep
- Railway Terrace (town centre)
- The Marree Hotel and the caravan park sit within a few minutes' walk of each other; this is the whole town.
- Oasis Caravan Park
- Powered and unpowered sites plus cabins; the practical choice if you are self-driving with a van or tent.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the fuel? | Where's the fuel? |
| Is the track open? | Is the track open? |
| How far to the next town? | How far to the next town? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake or 'G'day' / 'How are you going?'; first names from the start; avoid: Formal titles; long answers to 'how are you'
- Rounds: Buy your round ('shout') when drinking in a group; avoid: Leaving before your shout
- Queues: Queue patiently; sitting in the front seat of a taxi when alone is common; avoid: Pushing in — it is noticed
- Country: Listen to Welcomes and Acknowledgements; use local place names when offered; avoid: Touching artefacts or photographing ceremonies without permission
- Beach: Swim between the flags; respect lifesavers' instructions; avoid: Swimming at unpatrolled beaches alone
- Humour: Expect teasing and understatement; laugh along; avoid: Taking dry sarcasm literally or boasting
- Walking and driving: Keep left on footpaths and escalators; wave thanks to drivers who let you in; avoid: Stopping on the road to photograph kangaroos
Scams and watch-outs
- Unsealed track sections close after rain; check road conditions before leaving Lyndhurst or Marla.
- Fuel and food hours are limited; carry water and a spare tyre.
- No mobile coverage on much of the surrounding tracks — a personal locator beacon is sensible.
- Summer heat is dangerous: plan driving for the morning.
Very low crime; the real risks are heat, distance and unsealed roads after rain. Tell someone your route and carry more water than you think you need.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Marree yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Junction of the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks
- Site of Australia's first mosque (1882)
- Marree Man geoglyph
- Lake Eyre scenic flights
- Old Ghan railway heritage
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- South Australia Tourism — Outback: www.southaustralia.com/things-to-do/outback
- Oasis Caravan Park / Marree Lake Eyre Flights: www.marreelakeeyreflights.com.au/accommodation/marree-motel-caravan/
- Wikivoyage: Marree, revision 4654065 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4654065
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/marree). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.