Googs Track – South Australia’s Forgotten 4×4 Gem

Published: February 2025 / Read Time: 4 Minutes

Commonly described by travellers as the “mini-Simpson Desert”, Googs Track is a little-known route that traverses through South Australia’s iconic outback. Having been on my bucket list for quite some time and with the promise of some challenging four-wheel driving, stunning rugged landscapes and good times I was itching with anticipation to finally take it on and see if it would live up to the hype.

Track Details

Location: South Australia (8hrs from Adelaide)
Track Length: Approximately 200km
Terrain: Sandy tracks, dunes and corrugated roads
Permits: Camping permits required for Googs Lake

Vehicles

Starting Googs Track

Suzuki Jimny and Ford Ranger on Googs Track in South Australia

After topping up with fuel and some last-minute supplies in Ceduna we headed out of town, taking a right off the Eyre highway. The route starts by following a well maintained gravel road away from the coast and into unassuming farmland. Continuing along the gravel for another 20 kilometres we reached the official start of Googs Track, of course stopping for the mandatory photo with the sign.

Suzuki Jimny and Ford Ranger starting Googs Track in South Australia

Crossing through the Dog Fence

Having only started the track in the late afternoon we set our sights on reaching Googs Lake for the night and headed north. This first section of track winds its way through undulating Mallee scrub and presents no real challenge apart from enduring some corrugations.

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Making our way in during golden hour

Keep your eyes peeled along the way and you’ll spot a myriad of wildlife

Googs Lake

Arriving at Googs Lake there is 2 options; Stay at the main campground where you’ll have access to long drop toilets and likely some new neighbours for the night. Alternatively, and what I would recommend to most is continue along the side of the salt lake where there is plenty of additional campsites away from the main campground. None of these campsites have toilets but will likely be less busy and you’ll be able to score a great spot all to yourself.

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Camped on the edge of Googs Lake.

After a quick bacon and eggs cook up we packed up camp and were back on the track. Our first stop for the day is back at the main track intersection where we turned off last night to head into Googs Lake. Here you’ll find a memorial for ‘Goog’ and ‘Dinger’ who pushed the track through back in the 70’s. It’s worth stopping here to get an understanding of the track’s history.

Day two is where the fun really starts, the dunes get bigger, the track gets rougher and you start to get a sense of being truly remote.

The drive mostly consists of stretches of flatterer undulating terrain followed by sections of steeper sand dunes. Some of the dunes can make for a good challenge, especially if the track has been chopped up by substantial traffic or is extra soft from the heat. Whilst I wouldn’t say the dunes are as challenging as the Simpson they certainly make for a good time and will keep everyone in the convoy entertained as you bounce your way up them.

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After a few hours of solid driving and a couple coffee stops to break it up, we began to see a mountain silhouette appearing on the far horizon. This distant silhouette is Mount Finke and will be our camp for the night.

Suzuki Jimny on Googs Track in South Australia

Mount Finke appears in view

Mount Finke

Many kilometres later and Mount Finke’s outline is slowly growing bigger. However, one thing that is quickly growing around it is a dark storm cell drastically changing the landscape in front of us. Whilst for many the prospect of a storm whilst camping is less than ideal, I’m the opposite. I’m a sucker for a desert storm, there’s just something about them that I find absolutely thrilling and so for me this was shaping up to be a perfect scenario.

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With high hopes of witnessing a storm growing and pins and needles from a day in the driver’s seat we we’re edging closer and closer to Mount Finke. The sky was getting ever darker and then finally, rain drops started to land on my windscreen. Unfortunately, these proved to be short lived and whilst they were helping to keep the dust down, it seemed as if my hopes of a desert storm were going to go unanswered.

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Upon arriving at Mount Finke, we we’re quick to find a camp and set up, trying our best to shield ourselves from the wind behind some small trees. What followed in the next few hours is something I’ll remember for a long time to come.

Sitting around the fire we spent the next couple of hours watching the storm roll through, fascinated by its size and also grateful to experience such a big storm in the desert. Unfortunately for myself it appeared that it would be just missing us with the worst of it seemingly past. However with light fading and not a hint of what was to come the skies opened up. Not with rain but with hail. Small pea sized hailstones began falling rapidly covering the ground with a thin white carpet. Desert storm – tick.

Camping on Googs Track in South Australia

By the time there was a break in the weather to get the cameras out all of the hail had already melted

Heading Out

Day three will likely be your last day Googs Track with the end only a few hours’ drive away. Before leaving camp, take the time to walk up Mount Finke and get a fresh perspective of the surrounding country – Just as the early explorers did.

Halfway up Mount Finke

Setting of from Mount Finke the majority of sand dunes are finished and you’re back into flatter, open country as you make your way out to the main road. Along the way you will have to navigate a clay pan which may become challenging during wet weather however was no challenge whilst we were there.

Eventually you will come to the end of Googs Track where it links back up to a gravel road, take a right and you’ll find yourself passing through the abandoned ghost town of Tarcoola before reaching your first available fuel stop in Kingoonya. Personally, I think it’s a good idea to stop and put in a few litres even if you don’t need it. Yes you’ll be paying a few cents more than the corporate fuel chains but ultimately it helps keep the fuel stop operating which is a vital link for the small towns that rely on it.

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From here you’ll have a range of options in front of you, you can head further north towards the Red Centre (maybe you’re ready to take on the Simpson now?), check out Lake Gairdner and the Gawler Ranges or make your way back to the coast.

Regardless of whether you’re just getting into outback touring or you’re a seasoned desert dweller, Googs Track is well worth a look.

Words And Images By Jayden Threadgold

“From being thrown in the 4WD when I was three for a lap around Aus, all the way through to today, I’ve spent most of my life exploring hard to reach corners of Australia and doing my best to capture them through my lens.”