Day 27 - Pekina Creek Carrieton

Left Rawnsley around 10 and had morning tea at Hawker and to give Izzy & The Luna a drink and buy some food.

Didn’t have to travel too far today as we had to leave Rawnsley a day earlier than planned so only about 100km. We are booked into a Station stay at Horseshoe Top-End from tomorrow. Only about 35kms from here - it is said to be a mini Wilpena Pound & we can see the eastern rim from our camp.

The first photo is a charcoal sketch done by Hans Heysen in 1930 & todays hills.

The big Akubra was at Craddock & the old church. The last 2 photos are looking at the Horseshoe - beyond which we will spend the next 3 days.

Tonight we are camped alongside Pekina Creek - all on our own…

Faye is still finding birds & rocks to bring home!

Day 26 - Rawnsley Park Station

Didn’t have too bad a night after yesterday’s walk. Faye’s back was most affected but a little better today which was mostly driving.

First up had a look at a rock site just outside the Pound.

Then checked out the tree below which was the subject of a famous photo taken in 1937.

Then onto the Bunyeroo Gorge drive….and morning tea.

The last 2 photos are leading up to the Razorback Lookout.

The Gorge itself wasn’t very dramatic.

On the way back went up Stokes Hill Lookout which overlooks all of Wilpena Pound eastern side.

And some of the other directions…

Then back to the Wilpena Visitors Centre for lunch & a bit of shopping at the IGA shop there.

These photos are of the original Wilpena Station.

Leaving here in the morning and we will stay along the road somewhere as our next booking is from Sunday at another station stay “Horseshoe Top-End” where we are staying 3 nights. That will then complete our “Flinders” episode..

Day 25 - Rawnsley Park Station

Left Angorichina around 10 and onto Blinman for morning tea & do the internet stuff. Only 15km but we took it really slow so not to damage anything on the van.

Then onto Rawnsley Park Station where we have a lovely site.

The last 3 photos show the exterior of Wilpena Pound.

The last 2 photos above taken from our camp site - looking at Rawnsley Bluff on the southern edge of Wilpena Pound.

The first time we visited here decades ago we climbed the outside of the Bluff to look into the Pound. No way could do it now!

After lunch went to Wilpena Pound and we did the walk into the Pound and return which was 6.5km and that just about wrecked us - especially Faye’s back…

The yellow-footed rock wallaby was sitting up posing…

We deserved an ice cream after that effort…

By the time we were returning to Rawnsley Park it was getting dark.

Here for 2 nights. We wanted 3 but only 2 available - some big function this weekend.

Day 24 - Angorichina

More rain last night but it was OK today - just a very occasional small shower. But it has been cold. Max today was 13.

Did a 130km loop drive to Brachina Gorge via Parachilna where we had morning coffee at the Prairie Hotel. Then onto the Brachina Geographical Trail to cross from the Outback Highway to the Flinders Ranges Way and then back via Blinman.

Some water now in most of the crossings. Faye always seems to find some birds…

An interesting drive through this area…

Faye found a yellow-footed rock wallaby. Saw another one but it got away!

Then a trip down the Aroona Valley to the ruins & hut…

The emus ran in front for quite a while.

Then back to Angorichina via Blinman.

Got back at 3.30. This is the area around here…

Tomorrow moving a little south to Rawnsley Park Station.

Day 23 - Angorichina

A nice quiet night with mountains all around us.

Today we started by driving to Blinman for morning tea at the Miners Crib cafe…

Had a bit of a look around & then did a loop drive back to camp via Glass Gorge…

The scenery through the Flinders is stunning - you have only seen a small fraction of our photos.

We were back to camp for lunch and a rest this afternoon. But during the afternoon we had 2 storms come through - the 1st one very severe with torrential rain but all sunny now in late afternoon.

Still here tomorrow - will do a another loop drive.

Day 22 - Angorichina Tourist Village

Left Beltana around 10.30 & only 70kms to tonights camp. No towns but the final 17kms was gravel and we had to take it VERY slow. Road had been graded but still heaps of small corrugations. The van came through it OK - only 1 cupboard hinge came very loose.

We are here for 3 nights - have power & water but no TV or mobile phone reception so we will have to talk to each other!! (We do talk to each other & Faye reprimanded me for that comment…)

Todays trip was through Parachilna Gorge & the photos show just varied the Flinders Ranges are. Faye was very busy with the camera!

Will do day trips the next 2 days so will upload the blog as we go through Blinman.

Day 21 - Beltana

As it is Father's Day Ken received lots of messages/calls/video…they were all appreciated as we miss all the family at times like this. First up was from USA whilst Ken was still in bed!

Today we went for a drive - first up to Leigh Creek which was originally a company mining town but the coal mine closed in 2015. Talking to a local girl she said that when the company sold all the houses etc many people bought them very cheaply & she owns her flat. Said that there are people living in most of the houses but the population is a shadow of what it was & much of the town centre is vacant other than supermarket & a new cafe called Sassy Emu run by 2 guys which started 5 months ago. The Ranger from yesterday told us about it. All silver service!

Then a few kms further on to Copley & had lunch at the Bush Bakery & Cafe Quandong.

On the way back went into Aroona Dam which was very picturesque.

It was built as a water supply for Leigh Creek & the coal mine.However, is now only for recreation.

Coming back to Beltana we took the old 4WD road which was a much shorter distance and came through Puttapa Pass. Most of it was OK but 4WD was definitely needed in some sections.

Back at Beltana we visited the Royal Victoria again & Faye bought her next birthday present (ear rings with fossil) and they had a special on ice cream with quandongs so had to try some & quandong drink.

The old telephone was installed yesterday as it represents the time of the start of the hotel.

Tomorrow we are moving to Angorichina Tourist Village - not a big distance but about 20kms on gravel road.

Day 20 - Beltana

An extremely windy night & continued today with dust flying.

We were going to walk around the town but drove instead. Lots of old buildings…

The last one is the old railway station when The Ghan ran through here.

The centre ones are the school & police station. The buildings that have been maintained are all now private residences.

Many others that we wont bore you with. It is said that it is a town that refuses to die. There have even been some new houses built.

To finish our tour of the town we visited the Royal Victoria Hotel which was built in 1879. It closed in 1957 and a retired couple bought it & spent 2 1/2 years restoring it & reopened the hotel last year on limited hours & some basic food.

We had lunch there before going 20kms to Nilpena Ediacara National Park which is a new park & only opened in 2023. It is 60,000ha & was estalished because of the significance of fossils found there. You gave to go on a guided tour in their bus. They say it is of world wide significance & is being listed as a World Heritage area. Overseas University's come here every year to work. There are 36 remote security cameras to watch all possible entrances to the park. We only went on the short tour which didn’t visit the actual fossil sites. However, they have relocated a huge fossil bed into the restored Blacksmith shop & have a remarkable video about the fossils & where to find them on the bed. Weren’t allowed to take photos during that.

The above photos are of the nearby woolshed where they plan to transfer more fossil beds in the future.

The fossils are all sea creatures & over 100 different ones. They say this land was an ancient sea but we think Noah’s flood had something to do with it.

Back to the van by 4 & then showers etc.

Still here tomorrow.

Day 19 - Beltana

We had a great 3 days at Wonoka but last night was very windy. Left at 9.30 & went back to Hawker as we needed to top up our water (& empty toilet) as well as give Izzy a drink. Also refill one of our gas cylinders. Back to the General Store for morning tea - the best coffee!

Left around 12 & onto Parachilna…

Had a look around…

The rail was active here until 2016 when the SA Govt closed the Port Augusta power station & Leigh Creek coal mine so no more coal by train.

The hotel here is very famous -

We had considered waiting until Monday to have a meal as we will be coming past here again but it is closed on Mondays. So had lunch today. Couldn’t eat it all!

Then onto Beltana where we are staying 3 nights.

About 8 campers tonight. Already showered - plenty of hot water so longer shower than possible in the van.

Tomorrow we are going on a paid tour of a National Park which is about 20km from here.