Flinders Ranges

We got as far as Baroota Rodeo Park for the night and slept there. Next morning we headed to the Flinders Ranges NP and settled in at the Wilpena Pound Resort. From our campsite we walked to the Hills Homestead, through the middle of the pound and then on to Wangara Lookout for a nice view.

The start of the walk to Hills Homestead

Hills Homestead

 Wangaroo Lookout

The next day we set out to St Mary Peak, the highest mountain in SA. Unfortunately we missed the turn for the direct route and instead took the outer loop route to the Peak which was a longer track.

This is where we discussed whether to go all the way to the top (the peak at the top middle of the photo) or just to the saddle. The young French guy in the foreground ran to the top in an hour!! So we decided the saddle was a good enough achievement for us. That was 18km round trip to the saddle of the highest peak in SA!

 Magnificent views from the saddle.

It was steep coming down because we returned via the shorter "direct" route.

 The view from our campsite in the NP

A Port Lincoln Ringneck

 The next day we drove to various gorges in the north of the park – starting with Bunyeroo Gorge,

 then Brachina East Gorge where we walked the first kilometre of so of the gorge walk.

past the Great Wall of China.

and then Parachilna Gorge.

There's a Black Fronted Dotterel, just a little down from the middle of the photo.

Blinman is an attractive old town with a few little shops, one of which had a quandong pie that was delicious.

We considered whether we would venture up to the Gammon Ranges but from the information we had, it appears that its mainly for 4WD enthusiasts (although we will travel a 4WD to get to somewhere special, its not something we do just for the fun of a rough road) and astronomy enthusiasts ....so maybe another time.

We had to drive through Clare (ha ha) so we just had to do some more wine tasting. The Clare Valley wineries are mostly along the highway that runs through the town and all the ones we visited were welcoming and friendly and had lovely wine. So we brought lots of souvenirs home!