Blogs from Flinders Ranges, South Australia, Australia, Oceania - page 3

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Oceania » Australia » South Australia » Flinders Ranges October 17th 2012

Flinders Ranges On our way to Hawker we saw a guy broken down on the side of the road. We stopped to help him. He had run out of petrol. WE had to drive him back to this cute, old town called Quorn (pronounced corn). It had a really great 2nd handbook shop. I got a few more books (what a surprise). He got some petrol and we drove him back to his car. He was a nice young guy. He said his wife was due to have a baby any day. Hawker was great. The caravan park had a pool. It was really hot the afternoon we arrived so dad took James and I for a swim. The water was freezing. But it was good to be back in the water again. The next morning ... read more
T sign
who me?
look out


Day 2 – (July 1st, Luke’s 10th birthday) -Moorook to Parachilna (558 kms) In bed we were gently woken by the sound of pelicans landing on the water and kookaburras having a giggle about something or other. The evening clouds had all dissipated overnight, leaving clear, starry skies and very cold temperatures. At 7.15am the temperature was 3 degrees. No visible frost on the ground but the grass was all crunchy and crispy as Hazel and Anna went for a brisk morning walk along the river. The sun was just rising over the Murray, providing the perfect lighting for Luke to open his birthday cards and presents. Lucky Luke got a Stig mug, Angry Birds card game and an iTunes voucher and the favourite present of a bucket of Maltesers (plus promises of lots ... read more
The pelicans in the morning sun.
Birthday presents
Waiting for the ferry at Morgan

Oceania » Australia » South Australia » Flinders Ranges March 25th 2012

We had a bit of lie in today, compared to the last few days, as we were up at 7am for breakfast outside the cave. After breakfast we had a tour through a museum that one of the locals has built to explain the process and history of opal mining. The museum itself was built under ground, so we first watched a video explaining the history of opal mining in an underground movie theatre before the owner, Yani (Greek) showed us the process of cutting and polishing opals and told us a bit more about the varieties of opals, from black opals to milky white opals – the colourful opals being the most valuable. Yani then led us through a tunnel which took us down further to a depth of around 18 metres, where he has ... read more
Opal Mine
Cutting & Polishing Opals
Returning from the mine

Oceania » Australia » South Australia » Flinders Ranges March 20th 2012

Le lendemain on remet ça, on a prévu de faire 3 rando mais on est raisonnable vu l’état de mes peids, elles sont plus courtes. Et je change de chaussures et de chaussettes, ça va le faire ! Dès 9h on attaque un chemin qui grimpe un peu, très sec, végétation digne d’un désert. Beaucoup de yaccas, dont les Aborigènes mâchent les tiges et brûlent le bois pour se soigner. On entend de drôles de bêlements, on cherchant bien on les voit dans la montagne. Qui ça ? Les chèvres sauvages bien sûr !! Celles-là ont échappé au nettoyage et gambadent comme des folles sur les rochers. Ca me fait penser à la chèvre de Mr Seguin, je crois qu’elle aurait adoré être une « feral goat » !! On est une heure plus tard de ... read more
Debut 1ere marche
Nico cherche les oiseaux
Devant le yacca

Oceania » Australia » South Australia » Flinders Ranges September 21st 2011

Marree was a big time railway town up to 1980. About 400 kilometres south of Oodnadatta and 685 north of Adelaide, it was firstly a terminus, then an important stop on the Great Northern Railway from Port Augusta to Alice Springs. Then it was a break-of-gauge station when the standard-gauge railway arrived. It was a serious railway and service town. In 1980, though, the railway line was re-routed a few hundred kilometres to the west. When the last train left Marree for Oodnadatta, the locals, desperate to keep the railway going and in a just-slightly-futile protest, kept uncoupling the carriages so the train couldn’t depart. It’s apparently been all downhill since then. Marree now has a pub, a general store and a collection of rusty old Commonwealth Railways locomotives gathered around the remains of the railway ... read more
Coober Pedy - Dirt
William Creek
Flinders Ranges


After a wet night in Burra we packed the camper trailer between showers and had a quick walk around this heritage listed town. We decided to drive through the Flinders Rangers National Park on our way to Farina Station camp ground. The National Park was beautiful but after the rain we needed all David's 4wd skills to get us through some pretty wet creek crossings. The park looks fantastic after the rains and was well worth the effort. We headed onto Farina Station where we set up camp. The camp ground is near the old ruin town of Farina on the Old Ghan railway line and has heaps of historical landmarks and a war memorial... read more
Burra
Burra
Flinders Ranges


9-13 May 2011 A highlight of the trip to date is bunking down at Merna Mora - a sheep and shorthorn cattle station in the magical Flinders Ranges. After one night at Clare (possibly our coldest night yet!) in the Clare Valley on our way up to the Flinders Ranges, we found ourselves at Merna Mora. It was quite a coincidence that we ended up here but, once again, we couldn't have asked for a better place to be. It was to be our last stop with the parents and we were all so glad we were able to experience the Flinders Ranges together. Merna Mora is a family owned and run station that has only six powered sites (but plenty of bush camping) and the old shearers sheds have been converted to units (this is ... read more
Merna Mora Station (18)
Merna Mora Station (4)
Wilpena Pound NP (11)

Oceania » Australia » South Australia » Flinders Ranges April 30th 2011

I am in the southern Flinders Ranges tonight and it has been great getting here. I took the Main North Road out of Adelaide and this is where it takes you. You pass through a lot of lovely little towns on the way too and there is a lot less traffic than the Port Wakefield Road. More info may come if I ever feel like writing it.... read more
tb2
tb1
tb4

Oceania » Australia » South Australia » Flinders Ranges July 10th 2010

There was quite a storm last night - wind and rain but we were snug inside our cabin. We are glad we are not camping like some others around here. We spent the first part of the morning doing our chores and washing ready for the next leg of the journey. We then went for a morning walk up behind the cabin on the Rawnsley Station property. This was a steep climb up to the base of the outcrop rocks a total distance of 5 Kms - we saw colourful birds and a wallaby close at hand and had good views down the valley. After lunch we went to the Wilpena Pound and walked up the valley to the old homestead. We then climbed up to a lookout to view the Pound basin ringed with mountains. ... read more
Rawnsley Station walk
Graham marching forth
Beautiful walk


Today started out very cold - just above freezing but the skies cleared later and it warmed up. We set out on a 4WD trip around the Wilpena Pound starting off at the Cazneaux Tree for a photo shot. We then went via the Bunyeroo & Brachina Gorges and saw wallabies, emus and occasional kangaroo. This was a spectacular trip down the creek beds, with high cliffs on either side. We then emerged on to tar seal again to go up to Parchilna - a one pub settlement on the railway line. The rail line apparently hauls coal to the power station at Port Augusta. We then turned in to the Parchilna Gorge and emerged at the old mining town of Bilman. This was a copper mine established back in 1860 and has old historic buildings ... read more
Our accommodation
Rawnsley Bluff
Wilpena Pound




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