Just in case you didn’t know what a blade from a wind turbine looked like … Snowtown.
The beautiful river red gums grow in the creek bed. A very pretty walk.
The very beautiful River Red Gums that grow in the riverbed of Mambray Creek. They know where to find the deep-down underground water.
The river red gums are pretty amazing trees.
I get the impression that cypress pines, which are indigenous to this area, are taking over a lot faster than the river red gums.
The path to the ruins of the Baroota Homestead.
Steve examining the ruins of the Baroota homestead. I guess there were many happy times in front of this fire, before the many sad ones that led to its demise.
The cemetery was very poignant. Baroota Station
An Adelaide rosella (yes, that is it’s official name). Beautiful.
No, please don’t get up. We’re just passing through. Mt Remarkable.
The railway station at Quorn. Once used for the Ghan, now the Pitchi Ritchi Railway has tourist trains leaving here a couple of times a week.
The lookout on the Warren Gorge walk.
Steve taking a break at the Smoko Lookout on the Warren Gorge loop walk. This is the ‘other’ side of the range from the gorge where we could now see that the road north, in the background, looks pretty good.
The ruins of Kanyaka Station.
Kanyaka Homestead. It would have once been an impressive place to live, in its day.
Looking across the paved verandah and the (now covered) cellar and food storeroom. Priscilla in the background. Kanyaka Homestead
The toilet, though there were also two in the homestead, and the stables. Kanyaka Station
The Wilpena Ranges, part of the Flinders National Park, as seen from the Moralana Scenic Drive. Yes, a few corrugations, but not for long and they were minor.
Simmonston – the town that never was. This beautiful location was promoted as a thriving town-to-be when they presumed the railway would pass this way. Lots were sold and a pub and general store were being built when the decision was made to site the railway on the other side of the range … vale Simmonston.
The Elder Ranges are behind us. Taken on our Moralana Scenic Drive.
That’s us, posed in this magnificent countryside. Moralana Scenic Drive.
This photo shows a small section of the Moralana Scenic Drive, but not the magnificent mountain ranges on both sides of the road.
Yes we did hike up this very steep hill to take a photo of Priscilla, and the Flinders Ranges. Moralana Scenic Drive
A couple of the many emus we saw on the Moralana Drive. We were on the lookout for these guys as we drove – one pair ran across the road just in front of us.
Sunset at our free camp just north of Hawker.
Relics of a bygone era. Outside the Hawker Railway Station
The Old Ghan railway station at Hawker. Note the lawn edging – sleepers from the original railway line.
The old Ghan railway station at Hawker.
The railway station at Hawker is now a restaurant and art gallery. Not open when we visited, unfortunately.
Wilpena Ranges, as seen from a lookout on the way in.
Part of the Wilpena Ranges, Flinders National Park. Seen from a lookout on our way in.
The Wilpena Ranges, on the drive to enter the park.
At last, we enter Wilpena.
Panorama of Wilpena Pound. From here it’s easy to see the enclosing mountain range with the flat plain in the middle.
This lovely photograph shows the inside ‘plain’ of the Pound, surrounded by the ranges.
Looking into the Pound from Wangarra Lookout.
Lovely views from the lookout at Wangarra. Wilpena Pound.
At the Wangarra Lookout, overlooking Wilpena Pound.
On the walk to Wangarra Lookout.
Beside those sheer red rock walls we’ve been seeing. Walking into Wilpena Pound.
River red gums. Wilpena Pound.
The river red gums, interspersed with cypress pines. These are growing along the Wilpena Creek, inside the Pound.
The majestic river red gum.
Walking towards the entry into the Pound.
A ‘small’ tribute to the original inhabitants of this area. Wilpena Pound.
Following are 7 photos of the Australian Ringneck Parrot, Port Lincoln variety. I couldn’t decide which ones to delete so kept them all. The ones we saw in Port Lincoln National Park had the jet black heads. These ones aren’t quite as dark, and I guess it’s the female that has the green head.
Hills Homestead. A cottage constructed in the late 1800s for the Hill family who grew wheat in the Pound before swapping to cattle and sheep when flooding washed away their roads and bridges to transport the harvest out.
The walk to St Mary’s Peak. This part was the easy bit! The grass trees are just coming into flower.
St Mary’s Peak in the background – onward we go!
Walking through the cypress pines on the way to St Mary’s Peak.
As the track went upward, the condition of it got much tougher. On the way to St Mary’s Peak.
Striking scenery, but this is indicative of the ‘track’ we followed to St Mary’s Peak.
Thanks Steve – good to know where we’re going. St Mary’s Peak.
The view of the Pound from Tanderra Saddle.
Lunch break at Tanderra Saddle. St Mary’s Peak in the background.
After a VERY tough climb we’re at Tanderra Saddle with St Mary’s Peak behind us.
Standing at Tanderra Saddle looking to the outside of the Pound.
OK, got it!
Views on the Bunyeroo Scenic Drive
The Bunyeroo Scenic Drive winds off into the distance.
Bunyeroo Scenic Drive
Ok, I can see where we’re headed. Bunyeroo Scenic Drive
Coffee break along the Bunyeroo Scenic Drive.
Driving through the bottom of the gorges there was occasionally water across the road as we’d cross the creek. Such a pretty drive. Bunyeroo Scenic Drive
This Hut was constructed by simply cutting down cyprus pines, tying them together and surrounding it with chicken wire. Many gaps between the logs – doesn’t look too homely for winter.
Beautiful walking on the Yuluna Hike. Aroona
These stunning red cliffs are part of Flinders Ranges. As seen on the Yuluna Hike.
Dry creek bed on the Yuluna Hike.
The path, like a bridle path, took us alongside the dry creek bed. Yuluna Hike.
This is the countryside that inspired artist Hans Heysen who depicted this type of scenery in his works (none with me it in though!). Yuluna Hike
Yuluna Hike scenery.
Yuluna Hike scenery.
Some company we had on the Yuluna Hike.
The Golden silk orb weaver spider. Lots of these around the Ranges.
Exploring Bunyeroo Gorge – a stop on the Scenic Drive
The path here is narrow and shaley on the cliff edge above the creek. The beautiful views continued as we climbed upwards. Yuluna Hike.
The Golden silk orb weaver spider. Lots of these around the Ranges.
Some company we had on the Yuluna Hike.
The view from our motorhome at Aroona Campsite, Northern Flinders Ranges.
The beautiful ranges surrounding our campsite, Aroona.
Campsite, Aroona Ruins. Had the place to ourselves.
At Aroona campsite. Lovely spot
We’ve had many beautiful campsites on this trip, but this has to be among the most beautiful. Aroona Ruins.
Countryside surrounding our campsite, Aroona
A glorious sunset over the range from our campsite at Aroona Ruins.
The yellow-footed rock wallaby. Some 25 years ago this was an endangered species. It’s still not out of danger but due to intensive culling of feral (foxes, rabbits, cats) and protection from humans the species is recovering. Brachina Gorge.
Stopped for some looking around, on the Brachina Gorge road.
The colours are beautiful. Brachina Gorge.
Heading down Brachina Gorge.
At Brachina Gorge Lookout.