Wilpena Pound, Flinders Rangers

We have driven out of the Flinders Rangers and back into phone coverage, after 6 nights camping firstly at Wilpena Pound and then in the National Park at Koolaman which is a bush camp. The red gorges and dry creek beds are quite a contrast from last week in Clare.

The rock formations are some of the oldest in the world 650+ million years, and we managed three separate hikes including a 20km walk around the pound, which took us seven hours and had some very steep scrambles.


Top of Wilpena Pound 

Wilpena was camping luxury as there were hot showers in the amenities block and a pool for cooling off  after our walk... there was also a bar!.. Things were a little more basic at Koolaman, just the campsite by a dry creek, our camper van and a pit toilet. However the wild flowers were out in abundance and we have seen plenty of emu, kangaroo's and even a few feral goats.



Koolaman Hike

 Whilst at Koolaman we explored the old ruins of homesteads long gone, and sat on the same ridges over looking the Flinders that Hans Heysen painted. We also managed a very very early morning hike and saw 5 yellow footed rock wallabies,which are an endangered species....  it was worth the 10km.....

 We stopped for lunch today at the Prairie Hotel Parachilna, and who should be there but our old friend Leo Sayer, who'd done a show there the night before... some coincidence as last fortnight we saw him perform at the Masters closing ceremony Adelaide.

Leigh Creek tonight stocking up on provisions before we head out again.  Next stop Iga Warta......at least I think that is what Kevin said?



Adelaide to Clare Valley



Sevenhills cellars


We've spent the week in the village of Leasingham, in the Clare Valley surrounded by 50 or so wineries, including the SevenHill winery which was the first in the Clare and was founded by Jesuit priests... communion wine was their first drop.
Lunch on Thursday in the old cottage restaurant at Skillagalee winery overlooking the gardens was a highlight. We've managed 2 wineries a day for four days, so we have 'samples' from Pike, Paulette, Knapstein & Annie's Lane to take on the rest of the trip.


To have a break from drinking wine, we spent a day in the historic town of Burra, which had the first copper mine in SA and made a few early settlers from the 1840's very very rich... not so much fun for the workers though.

Pump house



water wheel worker



After our time in the region we now know what good Riesling should taste like. Tomorrow is moving camp day and we are driving the 300km's to Wilpena Pound for the start of our Flinders Rangers camping and hiking.

Heard there is a pool there and with 35C days we'll need the swim...




From Sydney to Adelaide

The adventure began on the October long weekend, with the land rover being hitched to the camper trailer and heading off to spend the week playing Masters Netball and Basketball in Adelaide. First night was camping by the murrumbidgee river, along with some very large mosquitoes. We then spent 3 nights by the Pink Lakes outside Pinaroo on the VIC/SA boarder, relaxing and getting ready or the week ahead.

Adelaide Masters was a huge week,  2 games of Netball a day for me, and 2 games of basketbell a day for Kevin.... and that was only the days, each night there were team dinners, parties and dancing. Victory was at hand with a silver medal in the netball and a gold in the basketball.

Now it's off to the clare Valley for R&R.