Nearby Towns

Information on Nearby Towns

ANDAMOOKA

Andamooka is a short drive (approximately 33.2 km) from Roxby Downs.  Andamooka is famously known as home to the opal.   This precious gemstone from ancient seabed formed between 1.8 million and 70 million years ago is still being unearthed in the forms of shells, stones and dinosaur bones.  Other features of the town are the historic semi-dugouts and the homes of the first miners and dealers (now on the State Heritage Register) and the Opal Festival held annually in October. 

www.andamooka.sa.au

WOOMERA

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This town is an Australian icon.  The Woomera Prohibited Area is the largest land-based missile and rocket range in the western word.  Tourists can visit Missile Park, the Woomera Space Museum and Woomera Heritage Centre where there is a large showcase of missile and rockets to admirer.  Woomera continues to host a raft of space activities for Australian and international defence and aerospace organisations.  NASA operated a deep space tracking station at Island Lagoon (25 km south Woomera) in the 1960s.  The European launcher Development Organisation tested the Europa rocket (largest vehicle ever launched at Woomera) in the same decade.

WILLIAM CREEK

William Creek is only a couple of hours drive from Roxby Downs and is one the smallest towns in Australia with a total population of 10.  The town is situated on the world's largest working cattle station-Anna Creek Station, part of the Sidney Kidman & Co, which is 24 000 sq km.  Highlights of the area include: William Creek, which is the closet point to The Painted Hills which is Australia's newest natural attraction and only accessible by air tours from William and Cooper Pedy, and; charter flights over Lake Eyre. Enquire at Wrightstair on (08) 8670 7962.  It's only a 30-minute walk along the railway line to Breakfast Time Creek, and camel safaris. The town also hosts the William Creek races held annually in April.

OODNADATTA

The origin of the Oodnadatta name is from the Aboriginal word Utnadata which means 'blossom of the mulga'.  The famed outback town of Oodnadatta is a must-see for visitors who want to get 'off the beaten track'.  Stop for a cold drink at the Pink Roadhouse, which is a great place to gain information from for travellers heading into the Witjira National Park and the Simpson Desert.   Visit the town's heritage-listed sandstone railway station that has been converted into a museum and provides great tales of yesteryear.