Welcome to Wilpena |
Emu family at Wilpena |
We headed north again into the Flinders Ranges. This is a national park with a number of camping areas within the national park as well as a privately owned resort, Wilpena Pound Resort. There are two small towns on the way to the Park, Quorn and Hawker. We stopped in Hawker for lunch and wandered along the few shops before continuing the trip – a total of 180 kms. After checking the only Park campground that was easily accessible for the caravan we decided that the Resort would be a better option. This is a huge camping area and we soon set up camp and as we relaxed with a drink we were watched by a group of kangaroos just a few feet from us.
Kangaroo in front of our caravan at Wilpena |
Yanyanna Hut, Flinders Ranges |
Soon we came to a T junction and took the road to Brachina Gorge. We were so pleased that we did – this gorge was quite amazing. There was a camp ground in the gorge and would have been a great place to stay and explore. There were quite a few emu wandering around the gorge.
Historic yards at Yanyanna Hut |
Not a walk for us! |
There are quite a few ruins within the Ranges and we stopped off at Youngoona Hut ruins. We walked down to the waterhole but there was no water so was a little disappointing.
Buneroo Valley - see the wild flowers |
A goanna's guest book - quite humerous |
On our way back to camp we stopped off at “The Great Wall of China” – this hill top rock certainly looks like the photos we have seen of the Great Wall of China.
More wild flowers |
We said good bye to a couple (Ray and Dawn from Perth) who we met when camping at Port Augusta. We will head south again towards the Yorke Peninsula and they will head north to Lyndhurst. It is great meeting people along the way and surprising when you meet up again.
We drove from Wilpena and had a late lunch at Hawker before heading east slightly. We stopped at the rural town of Orroroo and saw the huge red gum tree that is believed to be about 500 years old. It was certainly huge.
We are now staying at Wilmington which is a very small town. It was not our initial plan to stay here but we pulled into town around 5 pm with empty diesel tanks. (Almost coasted into town) We did not anticipate the town to be so small or that the service station would shut at 11.30 am on a Saturday and not open again until Monday. There was an afterhour’s number, with the offer to open for an additional $5.00, but we got no reply to our call. So we have stayed two nights in the caravan park and will head further south again tomorrow after we fill with diesel. Wilmington has a heritage trail and we enjoyed wandering around the small town looking at the various old buildings.We drove from Wilpena and had a late lunch at Hawker before heading east slightly. We stopped at the rural town of Orroroo and saw the huge red gum tree that is believed to be about 500 years old. It was certainly huge.
When we booked in we asked the lady does the area get channel nine as we wanted to watch the live telecast of the World Cup finals on Sunday night. She said that some channels were hard to get but we should be okay. She was a good sales person – we paid and stayed and no television! Just as well ABC had a live broadcast on the radio and we could get it on the car radio. Great to be a kiwi tonight and celebrate the All Black win, even though the win was narrowly won.
Flinders Ranges |
View from our picnic spot |
Road into Brachina Gorge |
The sheer rock face |
Emu on track |
Brachina Gorge |
Brachina Gorge |
Info on Aroona Run |
Aroona Spring |
Info on Aroona Lookout |
Info on Aroona Homestead |
Ruins of Aroona Homestead |
Aroona Hut |
Feral goat info |
Info on Aroona Hut |
Inside Aroona Hut |
Youngoona Hut info |
Youngoona Hut ruins |
Blinman |
Historic home in Blinman |
Great wall of China Flinders Ranges |
Great wall of China, Flinders Ranges |
Get off the road! |
Caravan park at Wilpena |
Carving at Wilpena Pound |
Walking to Wilpena Pound |
At the pound lookout |
Wilpena Pound |
Aboriginal legend Wilpena Pound |
Hills homestead info |
Hills Homestead |
Hills Homestead |
Wild flowers at Wilpena Pound |
Giant red gum tree Orroroo |
Giant red gum tree Orroroo |
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