Camels in the outback. Photo by Nick Tatarnic.

Location

Burke and Wills Dig Tree is extremely remote.

Standing on the bank of Cooper Creek, the Dig Tree is in the heart of Australia where Queensland meets South Australia, just north of the New South Wales border.

Located in the Dig Tree Reserve within Nappa Merrie Station in Queensland ‘s Bulloo Shire, the Dig Tree has no street address. The coordinates are 27.62254471 degrees south, 141.07504536 degrees east. Access is from Innamincka Road via a private road called “Dig Tree Road”.

While some tour companies visit the Dig Tree on pre-arranged tours, basically the only way to get to the Dig Tree is by private vehicle, preferably with off-road capability.

For anyone considering a visit to the Dig Tree, planning is essential. The Dig Tree Reserve has extremely limited facilities for visitors. There are basic toilet and bush camping facilities but little else. There are no shops, showers, water, power. Free and open access to Wi-Fi is available at the gate to the site to pay by QR Code the Conservation Fees and for telephone, text messages and the internet. It’s a long drive to the nearest food, accommodation and petrol.

The nearest towns are Innamincka in South Australia 71 kilometres west, and Thargomindah in Queensland 326 kilometres to the east.

Photo by Lee Beanland.