Innamincka Hotel, South Australia
The Innamincka Hotel is so much more than just a pub. Located on the edge of two deserts, this remote outpost is a surprising oasis in the South Australian outback.
Located just a stone's throw from the mighty Cooper Creek, the biodiversity of channel country surrounds Innamincka with beautiful bushland, lively birds and wildlife, and tranquil waterways to explore. Follow the trail of Burke & Wills to the Dig Tree, cruise or kayak along the Cooper Creek or wet a line in Australia's largest billabong, the Cullyamurra Waterhole.
Providing a warm welcome to this picturesque ecological sanctuary, the Innamincka Hotel offers comfy beds, beautiful pub meals and the kind of outback hospitality you need after a long day of travel and exploration.
The History of Innamincka
The region around Innamincka is rich with fascinating stories; the Yandruwandha people have lived in the region for over 40,000 years, and in the 1860s the ill-fated journey of Burke & Wills came to its grim conclusion along the Cooper Creek.
The pub was built in the 1880s, a welcome addition to the small but growing town. Until 1901, Innamincka prospered as a customs depot where state taxes were collected from increasing numbers of drovers who moved cattle from Queensland into South Australia and down the Strzelecki.
These days, the Innamincka Hotel is the perfect home base to stay while you explore the region's rich, and sometimes wild, history.
Campers and caravans will find plenty of space to stay in town as well, so wherever you set up, make sure to stop by the pub for a game of mini golf, or a beer and a yarn in the Outermincka bar.
Must Try Experiences
- Cooper Creek Cruise with an EcoCertified Tour Guide
- Follow the trail of Burke & Wills to the Dig Tree
- Hire a kayak and go for a paddle on the Cooper or the Cullyamurra Waterhole
- Have a drink and a round of mini-golf in the Outermincka bar
Getting to Innamincka
Along with the Birdsville Track, the Strzelecki Track is a legendary stock route populated by pastoralists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after rustler Harry Readford cheekily drove 1,000 head of stolen cattle down the track and sold them at Blanchewater Station before scarpering to Adelaide.
Later, and with the discovery of gas by Santos in the 60s, the track became a well-used route to and from Moomba and today some sections of the track are sealed to allow for overtaking. Depending on the season, travellers can expect corrugations, stones, bull dust and flooding after heavy rains.
Points of interest include Montecollina Bore, the Dingo Fence, Blanchewater Homestead ruins, Cobbler Desert, Lake Blanche, and the Moomba viewing platform.
If I could give 6 stars I would. Loved this place! A+ for everything. Rustically sophisticated if you know what I mean. Interesting and delicious native food choices - emu parfait lipsmackingly great - indigenous art gallery vibe, with some seriously good art for your visual pleasure, and awesome service. All this after exploring spectacular Flinders Ranges country. As good as it gets.
