Happy Easter !
We decided today that we should see the rest of the park. Probably not a good day as everyone else will be doing the loop drive before they head back after the Easter break. The real bunnies were out playing around the camp this morning and we celebrated with a dark chocolate Lindt bunny who managed to travel from Clare unharmed. His ears went down well with a cup of coffee last night.
We drove down from the Aroona Valley where we are camped at Koolaman Camp Ground to Bunyeroo to do a Geological walk and then continued anti-clockwise down to Wilpena Pound and then down to Sacred Canyon and up to a look out near Willow Springs, past Oraparinna and then back to camp. We travelled 133 kms in all taking the full day to do it.
We discovered that we had picked the best location to camp by accident and the least crowded. Our camp is scenic and protected. We were surprised by the lack of vegetation in the southern part of the park. We were not surprised that Wilpena Pound car park was like Pacific Fair at Christmas.
We left camp early and were down at Bunyeroo Gorge by 8.20am and started our walk. It took us 1.5 hrs to walk the 4 kms to the end of the walk and we did a fast hike back in 1 hr, well as fast as you can go over heaps of rocks. 8km return hike in all. There were 16 geological pointers along the way. Guess who left their camera back at camp – so there is a mixture of photos from my phone and Glen’s camera.
Basically in that short distance you have so many changes in rock formations – this really indicates how unique in the world the Flinders Ranges are.
The information is actually really good, it is like doing geology 1
Our old friends the Stromatolites – well it was a sea floor a very long time ago. Apparently to find them in rocks is very unusual.
In the creek we found all of the colours of Kaffia Court. The colour scheme was inspired by the outback colours all those years ago. Yullara, Innaminicka, The Olgas – and even the greys, or as my dear Mum called it “The Galah” house.
Looking up from the creek bed – views of the gorge
At the end of the walk – we are now out of the gorge and have reached the last marker. The rocks are much easier walking and a lot smaller.
Time to get those legs moving, and scurry back to the car – waiting for us is a hot cup of coffee and a biscuit -
We started to come across more walkers starting up the creek on our way back. When we got back to the car park it was full. We were the only ones there when we started the walk, so it paid to be first off the mark.
We left Bunyeroo and started on the scenic drive, only to encounter a lot of traffic coming the other way, all the Wilpena Pound campers thinking that they are driving Mt Panorama. Too fast, on the wrong side of the road most of the time – hey, yes this is a two way road. The only comfort was that, we were in a much bigger vehicle with a large bull bar on the front which seemed to scare most of them. They quickly pulled over to their side of the road. There was a win in store for us for their crazy driving. Further up the road, we found a full 10 litre container of diesel which had fallen out of probably a ute. It was on the down side of a hill (relatively smooth road) – you would have to wonder how fast they were going to have it bounce out of a vehicle. We were happy, more fuel for us. It was amazing that the container did not split or have a leak.
Mt Panorama (only kidding) some think it is.
We called into Wilpena Pound – very busy – so many cars. We got a hard copy brochure of the park walks, had lunch beside the car and headed down to Sacred Canyon.
There are some basic rock carved art in the canyon. Nothing extraordinary. We did see a more recent addition to the collection – a Easter bunny drawing added.
The problem is that people also draw at the site which is not right, whether you appreciate its significance or not, scribbling, carving just destroys the site for everyone.
The best rock carving we have seen was at the Choke near Innamincka – we came across it by accident on a cross country hike – it is not a sign posted or advertised site.
This is a water carved cave. The water came down this angled race into this large circular rock area. The climb up the race was easy and led further up to a pebble base creek.
Inside Sacred Canyon.
I am inside this gum tree – which is still alive – I can’t even reach the open sides of the gum.
Our next stop is Hucks Lookout – for a external view of Wilpena Pound.
and further up the road we visited another look out.
Wilpena Pound with a model of the pound in the front.
Below is another of the shepherd huts (outstations) from Aroona Homestead in the valley where we are camped.
The huts were usually located 5 miles (8km) apart. Fredrick Haywood who established Aroona was only here for about 11 years before returning to England a wealthy man. Aroona Homestead was in ruin by 1880.
We headed back to camp, glad that we had accidently picked a great spot and grateful that we had not decided to camp in the southern section of the park.
The Flinders is just spectacular. It has it all – Scenery – Rocks – History – Great Walks. Glen is in his element, as it has been his dream to come here for a very long time and he is loving every minute of it.
Easter Monday 6th April 2015 – Camp Koolaman – overcast, threatening rain, then strong breezes with sun.
We decided to stay off the roads today and let the Easter campers pack up and head home. Today is camp work again, washing and cleaning & tidying up. How quickly the laundry builds up. We have a supply of water near camp, so out came the washing machine and with the breeze and sun, everything was dry quickly. Time to catch up the blog AND charge my laptop. I took it with us when we went to Wilpena Pound only to find it was out of battery and unable to upload any blog write up. Overnight temperatures have been around 13c, and mid 20’s during the day, so we are enjoying a favourable autumn. The day time temperatures are ideal for doing the walks.
No comments:
Post a Comment