William Creek: Old Ghan history and scenic flights

William Creek is located on the well-known Oodnadatta Track. Scenic flights to various destinations at Lake Eyre and beyond depart from here. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, consider the focus of your stay: the route and its surroundings, the town’s history, or a specific flight destination. These aspects shape different travel-planning questions—from the drive to the national park to choosing between different flight routes.

Oodnadatta Track and national park

For travellers on the Oodnadatta Track, a visitor brochure provides guidance on waterholes, plants and animals along the route. It combines practical guidance for the journey with nature-related information: waterholes serve as landmarks, while the plants and animals offer a broader view of the Track’s landscape.

Kati-Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park is 60 km east of William Creek. From William Creek, the park can be reached via the Oodnadatta Track and an access road suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles. Check current park alerts and track conditions before setting out. The distance and vehicle requirement answer different questions: the first describes the park’s location, while the second applies to the access road.

Railway history and museum

William Creek opened in 1888 as a stop on the Old Ghan Railway. The William Creek Hotel is a remote Australian pub that has retained much of its original character. These two features highlight different sides of William Creek: its history as a railway stop and the hotel’s preserved pub character.

The William Creek “Museum” displays memorabilia from the Old Ghan Railway, the Woomera Rocket Range and other historical artefacts. The Old Ghan Railway thus features both in the town’s founding story and among the memorabilia on display, while items from the Woomera Rocket Range add another historical connection. For travellers interested in history, the museum is a tangible complement to the railway’s past and the hotel’s preserved pub character.

Scenic flights from William Creek

The scenic flights differ in their destinations and routes. One flight departs from William Creek for the southern end of Lake Eyre North at Belt Bay; another offers a tour of the Anna Creek Painted Hills. A third route travels from William Creek past several landscapes and viewpoints at Lake Eyre to the Dalhousie Artesian hot springs. When choosing, consider whether you are looking for a specific destination such as Belt Bay or the Painted Hills, or would prefer a route with several viewpoints continuing to the springs. If the endpoint is what matters most to you, use the description of each destination as a guide.

Internet during your trip

A pilot project launched in mid-2024 enabled residents and visitors across much of William Creek to access free high-speed internet via QR codes. If you are relying on this access during your trip, check locally whether it is currently available.

For the broader travel overview: Electoral District of Stuart.