Burra to Port Augusta via Flinders Ranges

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We headed off north from Burra to the Flinders Ranges. We booked into the Rawnsley Park Station Caravan Park which is a caravan park located within a working sheep station. Not much grass around - very dusty. The park is located within the Wilpena Sound National Park. Wilpena Pound is an area with beautiful rocky hills caused by a geological fault millions of years ago which makes it look like a meteorite crater. We stayed here for 4 nights.

We left the caravan at the park and for three days we drove around the area along the dirt tracks in the park. Some of these tracks were very ordinary and wove their way through rocky dry creek beds in amongst the gorges. We saw lots and lots of kangaroos and emus. We were also really lucky to spot 5 yellow footed rock wallabies which were almost extinct a while ago, but park management have been baiting and ridding the park of foxes and so they are breeding again and are now down to endangered status. The wallabies are normally very shy and hard to spot, but we came through one section very late one afternoon because we stayed too long at the Prairie Hotel (for cocktail hour - see photo) and they were really close to the road. The one in the photo has a joey in its pouch if you look closely. We were very excited to see them.

Going through another gorge we spotted an echidna heading towards the rocks - they are such funny creatures. We managed to head it off long enough to get a couple of photos - you can just see his nose in the photo.

The days here were nice and sunny, about 18 degrees, but the nights were still bloody cold at about -1. The sunsets were magnificent against the rocky hills - I’m guessing that there will be more mention of sunsets in upcoming blogs.

On day two of our drives, one section of road going to an old ghost town was really badly corrugated and we didn’t notice that we had blown a tyre and so we drove on it for a bit before noticing - hence the tyre was shredded. We travelled 290kms that day - we went to a place called Leigh Creek which kept reminding me of the horror movie Wolf Creek which everybody keeps telling us we should see, but we keep avoiding. Why would we want to watch a horror movie where some psychopath is killing travellers in the outback is beyond me - thanks Dom!!! We had to be careful driving from then on because we had no spare and paid $325.00 for a replacement tyre today in Port Augusta.

They call Port Augusta the crossroads of Australia because Highway 1 which goes right around the coast of Australia, and the highway which goes right through the centre from top to bottom intersect here. And that’s about all I can say about the place. We cleaned the caravan and 4WD inside and out today to get rid of the dust from the Flinders Ranges - no need to sightsee.

We are heading to the opal mining town of Coober Pedy tomorrow and then to Ayers Rock on the weekend (Uluru by its Aboriginal name).

Oh, and by the way - Wes is still hogging the doona!!

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Photos

One view of Flinders Ranges
There are so many completely different views of this place - its hard to pick just one or two

Flinders Ranges iii
There are emus in the middle of photo.

The Prairie Hotel
Here is where we stayed too long - meant we had to drive in the dark avoiding millions of kangaroos to get back to caravan.

Wes Changing the Tyre
While I make myself useful taking photos!!

Echidna
You can just see his nose underneath on the left

The Cadeaux Tree
This tree was photographed by Dick Smith's Grandfather in 1937 and won lots of international awards. The tree is probably about 400 years old.

Comments

[Sue and Martin]

Jealous As
Hi Guys It looks bloody fantastic. Wish I was there with you. Do you need a four wheel drive to see Flinders or will Little Buddy be ok? Not on the dirt roads though. Martin wants to know what did the echidna taste like? Ha Ha. Martin and I are travelling to Adelaide tomorrow (Thursday). My Aunty died last weekend so we will go to her funeral on Friday and stay a few days to look around. Martin has very itchy feet since coming back from up north. Too bloody cold down here in Melbourne. We finally see what you (Amanda) have been complaining about all these years. Horrible Melbourne weather, grey and freezing. At least you are having nice sunny days. Martin has an article that proves Melbourne has the most cloudy days in Australia, even Queenscliffe has less. A thought from Martin - lets open a Ray's camping franchise somewhere profitable and warm. Between us we should have the knowledge side sorted. Amanda, bad luck, I reckon you'd have the books to keep. Wes and I can road test the equipment and Sue can sell! Lots of luv and good wishes Little Buddy

[kylie b]

travelblog a winner
Its great how you are keeping us informed on this travelblog. Its almost like we are taking the journey with you. But I bet your glad we're not!! The photos are great, keep em up! Hugs K x

[Ann (Chicago)]

Thank you!
Great travel blog - and your photos are so professional, I'm impressed! It brings back so many memories for me ... so far you're on a very similar route to the one we took way back in '92, though you're seeing far more than we did. Look for my signature in the book at the top of Uluru ;-) Thanks so much for including me in your group list. Looking forward to more!!

[Amanda]

Love the piccies!
As I’ve said before, I’m dead jealous!!! It looks and sounds totally amazing. Hope you’re having a superb time and enjoying every minute! I totally love the whole ‘blog’ thing, it’s really great knowing what you're up to and where you've been! Continue to have lots of fun. Am looking forward to getting the next update! Lots of love to you both. Amanda (+ Danny!) x x x

[Ian & Kim]

can we come!!!!!
we really envy you guy,s. looking through your pics keeps us sane while we wait for the end of the year so we can get over to oz. hope to meet up for a Tooheys!! xx