Day 13 to 15

Wilpenia Pound “Resort”

Day 13

We drove from Brachina Gorge to Wilpenia and set up camp closer to the Pound itself with facilities like showers, laundry and a swimming pool. On the drive over the Hucks Lookout was spectacular.  You are likely to get frost bite from the pool but it was refreshing to be in it.

Day 14

St Mary’s Peak Hike, 1171m high

We split into Team A (Mum and JW) and Team B (Pa JG and LAD). Team A goal’s was the Peak, a 14km hike with long strenuous climbs and rewarding views of surroundings. Amazing flora with lots of wild flowers in bloom and a few different reptiles to see, but the climb to the top was not without difficulty and complaint. A great sense of achievement and definitely ticked off the “bucket list”.  The view from the top was 360 degrees and we could even see Lake Torrens to the West.

Team B walked 6km around the outside of the Pound and went over bridges and climbed on overhanging branches. They spotted kangaroos, played the echo game and standing statues.

Day 15

Hills Homestead Walk 6km

This was a beautiful walk along a dry creek bed until we came to a pond from the natural spring at Wilpenia. We spotted rufous whistler, white browed fantail and striated thornbill. There were rocks to climb for the younger members of the crew. Next the walk continued past a large rock and bridge over the river where a blue tongue lizard was seen and followed across the bridge.  The Hiils Homestead dates back to early 1800s where they tried to farm the Pound. Overstocking and drought caused the end to some of this expansion from the south and eventually became a park in 1920s. The homestead was originally pug and pine but now boasts pressed metal ceilings and architraves and 2 fireplaces.  The National Parks Service have maintained these well with new metal roofs and a water tank attached.

Starting the walk up to the lookout, we came across a father emu with 5 stripy chicks and a lace monitor!!! It was very impressive to see these within a couple of metres and up close. There were 2 lookouts, one at .1km up the Pound and a second .5km up where you could look into the Pound.  Walking home required more games and singing.  There was a lot of energy when jumping over the hurdles which were the bright safety cones on the cracks in the road.  The only surviving small animal was a dunnart which made homes in the fallen over trees.  In 1980s there was a bush fire followed by a flood and many of the Red River Gum Trees were knocked over creating a great habitat for these animals.

A final reward was a large shingle back lizard was in the scrub close to home. Another swim to refresh was undertaken and yummy dinner make by all. A very enjoyable day.

Day 12

Day trip to Koolamon Springs, Aroona and Trezona Campground 42km approx. 2 hours From Brackina Gorge mum rode and the others drove we went to Koolamon Springs and we had a snack and went to look at the river. I don’t know why but we found a place that some kids had made 30 centimetre high walls with river stones. We built it up to make one metre. We put the floor in and a table and four seats, so someone had to miss out.

Next we went to Aroona where there was “pine and pug” house. We walk up to the lookout where there was the ruins of the original Hayward house. We met a man that was finishing the Heysen Trail – he had walked 500 km in one month.

We drove to Trezona Campground where we met two interesting people who were volunteering as hosts. They had crossed the Nulabor on push bikes.

We went back to Brackina Gorge where we saw about 10 Yellow Footed Rock Walabies at dusk.=

   Day 10

88km = 4 hours with a 1 hour lunch stop

>> Day 10 we left Hawker at12:30pm and arrived at the Flinders Rangers at

Brachia Gorge camp site and 4:00pm. We stop for lunch at Arkaroo and mummy walked to the Aboriginal rock paintings and we walked a quarter of the way and then we mucked about. Brachia is very red and JW found a bike track that had been made by the rain and water.

Written by Josh Dyer

Day 7

Day 7 we woke up, well JGD and LAD did and woke everyone else up but anyway it was raining and it was wet. We had packed up the day before so nothing was wet and it didn’t take long to get ready to go. Because of this we left at 9:30am. The first 3 kms along the dirt road, which now was mud, was slow and the caravan got very muddy. It took us an hour and a half to get to Broken Hills. PH and I scrubbed the caravan clean when we arrived. PH, LAD and I played a game of soccer after that and the score was 6-2 my way. We when back into town to go to the train museum where you can look inside the train and carriages. In a shed there were old medical vehicles and little workers cars to go along the rail way line.

Day 5 and 6

Approximately 306km and 5.5hours and Rest Day

Spotting kangaroos, more goats, sheep and an Australian Ringneck Parrot, we packed up and headed towards Menindee.  We fuelled up at Emmdale and had a nice cappuccino and ice blocks, steeling ourselves for the long journey ahead (The truckie we met there drives from Brisbane to Adelaide in 2 days with Cobar as the half way point!!).  After following the Barrier Highway towards Wilcannia, we headed down the dirt road to Menindee approximately 150kms.  There were over 40 emus beside the road, running gracefully away from the noise of our “truckosarus”.  Amazing to see “wild” emus.

After lunch, where Pa managed to manage to solve the power problem, we looked for a camp beside the lake.  Lake Pamamaroo was slowing filling with water from the Darling River and we found a beautiful spot beside the lake under fluttering gum trees.  Some trees had fallen over due to the soft sand and the new branches were growing at right angles to the original branches. A great spot for a cubby.  The sun set over the lake and I gave it a 10/10 for beauty.

K1 organised a fire and luckily there were nice hot coals for BBQing our dinner as the gas bottle had lost its ring.

Another day beside the lake was spent mucking about, playing in the sand and bike riding.

LD

Day 4

421.3Km, 7hour with 2hours stop at Nyngan

We left the Big 4 at 10:00am and went shopping again before leaving but someone forgot (note Grace) their jacket so we had to go back. After all that we left at 10:45am. We drove and drove until we got to Nyngan where we had lunch and went to look at the train museum. At the museum there was lots of old things including a 1920s racing helmet. We hopped back into the car and drove to Cobar and saw the Big Beer Can. We kept on driving to Bulla Park Rest Stop.  Very orange dirt was under toe.