Blogs from Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia, Australia, Oceania - page 4

We finally left a bit after 11 o’clock Tuesday and drove through to Ouyen. Stopped for tea and then couldn’t be bothered driving any further, so stayed at the local caravan park. Unfortunately too close to the road and the trucks only stopped between 2.30am & 4am. Not much sleep. Had a look around Mildura on Wednesday - only one paddle steamer was around, and it was closed up. Crossed the border into NSW - just to say we had been there. Stopped at Lake Cullulleraine for lunch - very pretty, will remember it for next time. Was searched at the Quarantine Station for fruit & veg & got the all clear. Restocked with fruit & veg at Renmark. Drove through to a little campground at Burra Creek Gorge. We turned at the first driveway and ... read more

We finally left on Tuesday and did lots of driving. On Wednesday we looked around Mildura went over the border at Yamba. Saw a purple swamp hen at Lake Cullulleraine (thanks Mr. Keystone). Took lots of photos. Stayed at Burra Creek Gorge Campground and Dad told us all about the Drop Bears! On Friday, we did lots of walking. Saw some kangaroos and a joey. Walked to the top lookout of Wilpena Pound - and Dad gave me a shoulder ride halfway back. Had lots of fun. We saw Aboriginal rock carvings and paintings. ... read more

Adelaide will always be special to me, as that's where we met Bruce, our first camperoo. And so you all heard it here first folks, five months of mostly only talking to one another and we've finally cracked and begun to anthropomorphise our vehicles. But to Bruce, a mere five years old and already travelled over 275,000 kilometres carrying tourists of all shapes and sizes the length and breadth of Australia. Bruce is a 'cheapa campa', in other words the poor man's campervan, but don't think that he's cheap, no, his mosquito nets may be broken and his paintwork slightly worn, but he was a trouper and when we discussed our itinerary with him - 2,600 kms in a week - his engine purred and he obliged. First off we navigated the city traffic, which to ... read more

The main attraction in the area is the Flinders Ranges National Park, in particular Wilpena Pound, a natural rock amphitheatre formed by a giant serpent in Aboriginal legend. My first day there was overcast, and the walk to Waranga Lookout resulted in a fine view over the Pound but, creaturewise, only a solitary roo, an emu, and a few small birds. The trip to Sacred Canyon was quite different. It was along an unsealed road, which left the (red) car covered in orange dust, and almost shook the filling out of my sandwiches. This is precisely the sort of road that's specifically forbidden in the rental contract, given the risk of the paintwork being chipped. I passed any number of kangaroos, bouncing around in their peculiar fashion. They also have an endearing way of shaking their ... read more

What a weekend!! Just got back from a 4wd tour of the Flinders Ranges. Amazing place and the tour was brilliant - saw so much. It all started on Friday night when i caught the bus from Adelaide up to Port Augusta (The Crossroads of Australia apparently - all the outback towns use it for supplies and such). There i was told to look out for a white 4WD and a black cowboy hat, and sure enough there he was, Paul Keen my tour guide. Absolute typical Aussie bush man!! Didn't get into Port Augusta till pretty late so me and my two companions on the tour, a Dutch woman called Hellete and her son Peter, headed straight for the hostel. The Andu Lodge - not bad as far as hostels go. Next day we had ... read more