Natural · Outback artesian mound spring · South Australia
Dalhousie Springs
The experience
Dalhousie, in full
On the western edge of the Simpson Desert in far-northern South Australia, Dalhousie is a National Heritage-listed complex of artesian mound springs fed by the Great Artesian Basin. The main pool — warm, around 38–40°C and large enough to swim across — is one of Australia's most significant outback soaks, and sacred to the Lower Southern Arrernte and Wangkangurru peoples as Irrwanyere.
This is wilderness, not a resort. A basic campground beside the water offers showers and sites; everything else you bring yourself. Reaching it takes a well-equipped 4WD, permits and planning — and the reward is a long, mineral-warm float under a desert sky after hundreds of kilometres of driving.
Signature: A warm desert pool of national significance.
Services & facilities
What you'll find
- Large warm main pool, a short walk from the carpark
- Basic campground with showers and sites
- Volunteer campground hosts in season
- Caravan, camper and tent camping
- Dark-sky wilderness setting beside the water
- Endemic desert fish in the spring system
The good
- A genuinely remote, iconic outback soak
- A large warm pool, perfect after a long desert drive
- Deep cultural and ecological significance
- Star-filled wilderness camping by the water
The catch
- 4WD only, permits, long distances, no phone coverage
- Very basic facilities maintained by volunteers
- Some springs are dangerously hot and off-limits; summer closure
Good to know
Before you go
Keep exploring
