2012 Around Australia: Day 49 - 51 2nd April

Day 49 Monday 2^nd April 2012

I think this is the earliest that we have been on the road since this trip started. We were up and out by 8:30 but I guess it has something to do with the changes to daylight savings. We decided to head straight for Port Augusta as we needed to do a dump, fill with gas; the essentials, before hitting the highway to the Flinders Rangers proper. We were heading directly to Wilpena Pound; Oscar has heard some remarkable reports on these resort/campgrounds and the sites around that area.
We did not have long to travel so took our time stopping off in Hawker to look at the Wilpena Panorama painted by Jeff Morgan. I guess if you never get to climb St Mary’s Peak, which we never did get to do; too many flies and too damn hot, but at least by looking at this painting you get the overall picture of what you can expect to see.

We arrived at Wilpena approximately 2:00pm and setup camp. We found a nice place next to the amenities and were almost totally setup when a ranger came by and told us we were not allowed to camp there because if rain came through as it does on occasion just suddenly; we would be washed away as it forms a creek right outside our front door. Well we knew the weather had no intentions of raining anytime soon so we asked if he could close his eyes for a couple of days. He agreed and left us be. We completed setup. Oscar went for a shower after as he was hot and bothered mostly by the flies.

We went and had a look at the visitors centre and then to the pub for the usual. Came home made a light dinner and went to bed.

Some of the Wilpena Panorama Painting

His other Paintings

Main Street in Hawker has 4 pubs and not much else
- Oops didn't stop in at any of them

New Home setup

Day 50 Tuesday 3^rd April 2012

We have decided that as we are not sure where to from here over the next week or so we would do the drive around to Trezona, Parachilna and Blinman to see what other campgrounds were in the area so we could plan our move on from here. So after shower and breakfast we headed off. The drive up to the turnoff to Brachina Gorge and for a fair way along was pretty uneventful but when we finally got to the creeks that started snaking its way across the road or was it the other way round. Creek became road and road became creek. The surroundings became absolutely beautiful. The only thing missing was the water in the creeks. It was missing the music of water burbling over rock.

The ranges were very spectacular and I would say to all Australians you have got to get out to your country and see what you have been blessed with. It is yours, you have it on your doorstep, why wouldn’t you go out there and just enjoy it. I have made a mental note that I would love to find out when the rainy season is so I can return to listen to the music of the water over the rocks. I think I will be in heaven; oh and maybe there won’t be so many damn flies.

We eventually made our way out of the gorge and onto the Highway to Parachilna. Well blow me down; “A Taste of the Outback” it states. At least it did have a pub. They have containers which they call Overflow Accommodation. A very unique town!!!!

We then crossed back over the rangers through Parachilna Gorge which was not nearly as spectacular as Brachina and onto Blinman. Blinman was a small town but it was a town in comparison to Parachilna. We stopped off at the pub here as well and spoke to a young 18 year old German girl who has been travelling Australia alone for the last 6 months. She found a job in Blinman as a bar lady through Gumtree and is moving on to New Zealand for a month before returning home to Germany.

We drove back to camp and decided that all the campgrounds that we had checked out during our drive through the Flinders Rangers did not warrant us moving on to another campsite within this region. We would just stay at Wilpena until Thursday; do our walks and then move onto Gamma Rangers. Had an early night watched Blood Diamonds the movie and went to bed.

Road towards Brachina Gorge

Vania getting some "River Crossing" practice

Where road and river co-exist as one

I cannot tell you how many "WOWS" this gorge got

She is doing her Dad Proud

This is it

Houdini in the Outback

Oscar catching a Wedgetail Eagle Take off at the side of the road

Day 51 Wednesday 4^th April 2012

Left Camp at 8:30 to do a walk to Warunga Lookout, which was a 7.4km return walk. This took us via the Hills homestead. It was a lovely walk and nowhere near as challenging as the walks to Narrow Gorge and Hidden Gorge. The lookout was not as spectacular as I had hoped but did give you an idea of what the pound was about; and I am extremely happy that we went and saw the Wilpena Panorama.

On our return at 11:30 I decided I needed to have a shower as I wanted to wash hair, heavens knows when we are going to have amenities such as these again once we move on from here further into the outback. I also needed to do the laundry so we had clean clothes, towels etc. to last for a while.

After the house work was complete we headed off back to Rawnsley Station which is a campground 20km’s before Wilpena. We filled up with fuel here as it is $1.71per litre as opposed to $1.78per litre in Wilpena. Went to the pub and then back to camp. Oscar has decided to do some essential van stuff like dump and refill with water before we head off tomorrow. I on the other hand have decided to get up to date with the blog and to see if I can post and I am not sure if we will have any signal once we leave tomorrow.

So until the next episode keep Safe, Happy and Healthy.