Coward Springs

Coward Springs is a natural artesian mound spring and former railway siding on the Oodnadatta Track in Far North South Australia, about 130 km southeast of William Creek. It features a heritage-listed wetland created by an artesian bore drilled in 1886, a spring-fed swimming pool, restored fettlers' cottages and date palms. Notable as an outback oasis and campground, it is a key stop for travellers exploring Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) and the mound springs of the region.

Visitors can expect a remote outback oasis set in arid desert plains with a natural wetland, reed beds and a small spring-fed pool for swimming. The site includes restored stone fettlers' cottages from the former Central Australia Railway siding, a historic date palm grove, and a bush campground. Surroundings are flat gibber desert with mound springs. Visitors can swim, camp, view birdlife, explore heritage buildings and experience the quiet outback environment along the Oodnadatta Track.

Coward Springs was established in 1886 as a siding on the former Central Australia Railway (the original Ghan line) between Marree and Alice Springs. An artesian bore was drilled in 1886 to supply water for steam trains, creating an artificial wetland. Fettlers' (railway workers) stone cottages were built and a date palm plantation established. The siding operated until the railway closed in 1980. The site has been restored as a heritage campground preserving railway and pastoral history.

Located on Arabana Country, Coward Springs is part of the mound springs complex of the Great Artesian Basin, which holds cultural significance for Arabana people. The springs and wetlands are valued as natural and heritage features of the outback, illustrating early European railway expansion and adaptation to arid environments, and are within the Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park area.