Driving to the Flinders Ranges
No Comments »17th April, 2006; Category: Camping, Caravanning, Flinders Ranges, General, South Australia
One of our favourite places in South Australia is Aroona Valley in the heart of the Flinders Ranges in northern South Australia. We have camped there on a number of occasions, the first time was during our honeymoon many years ago.
Access
Aroona Valley is about five to six hours by road north of Adelaide. Except for the last section, the highway is now all sealed. When I first travelled there in the late 1960s about the last 100 kilometres was dirt road – and not in a very good condition either. It certainly was an adventure in those days, but I had to go there because my first teaching job was at nearby Parachilna Rural School.
One can take several routes from Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges.
- The main highway through Port Wakefield, Port Pirie, Port Augusta then Quorn and Hawker is the longest.
- Through Gawler, Clare Valley, Wilmington, Quorn then Hawker is the most picturesque but can be rather slow in parts because there are many interesting places to stop on the way.
- Another picturesque route is Gawler, Clare, Riverton, Burra, Peterborough, Orroroo then Hawker.
- The most direct route is Gawler, Clare, Jamestown, Orroroo and then Hawker.
From Hawker one has several choices to get to Aroona Valley and other parts of the ranges:
- Many people base themselves at Hawker, leaving their caravan there and driving through the various tracks north of there.
- Others take the route to Wilpena Pound and base themselves in the shady camping ground there.
- Yet others go only as far as the lovely caravan and camping ground at Rawnsley Park on the southern edge of Wilpena Pound.
- The other route is due north from Hawker towards Parachilna, turning off at the Brachina Gorge dirt track heading in towards the ranges.
Oh no, writing about such interesting and beautiful places makes me want to pack and leave immediately. This would make up for the disappointment of the last trip there a few years ago. We took our caravan to Rawnsley Park Caravan Park for ten days. On the way I was aware of having a sore throat. I then spent much of the next ten days coughing, wheezing, sniffing, sneezing and generally feeling miserable.
I spent some of the time huddled up in bed. This wasn’t as bad as it seems. I had a ten million dollar view of the ranges through the caravan window.
All Creatures Great and Small
No Comments »15th April, 2006; Category: Animals, Birds, General, Murray River, Photos, South Australia, Zoos
When we go to visit friends or family in other parts of the state or interstate we have sometimes asked the question, “What’s interesting to see around here?” Most people haven’t a clue about their own town and district. They don’t think like a tourist in their own place on Earth.
I’m fairly familiar with my own district but it came as a delight to read about it in today’s paper. There was an excellent travel article about the district where I live in today’s Adelaide “The Advertiser” newspaper.
Many of the features mentioned in the article are within a few minutes drive from my home in Murray Bridge South Australia.
To read the full article “All Creatures Great and Small” click here.
It sounded so interesting I must get out and revisit some of these places.
Winds of Change in Nepal?
The following report was published in today’s South Australian newspaper “The Advertiser.”
King renews poll pledge
NEPAL’S embattled King Gyanendra vowed overnight to hold elections in his Himalayan kingdom but gave no firm dates and did not to go beyond previous promises to resolve a raging campaign against his rule.
Political parties leading the movement against the king were quick to reject his offer, suggesting the monarch’s message – broadcast at the stroke of midnight at the start of the Nepali Hindu New Year – was unlikely to defuse violent protests that have killed four people in the past week and wounded hundreds.
“It is our wish that in order to re-energise multi-party democracy there should not be any delay in reactivating all representative bodies through elections,” the king’s message said.
“May the efforts at ensuring sustainable peace and meaningful democracy in the interests of the nation and the people bear fruit during the new year.”
The message was largely a repeat of earlier promises to hold elections by April 2007.
For the full story in “The Advertiser” click here.
My hope for Nepal
I certainly hope that the winds of change are beginning to blow in Nepal. This beautiful country does not deserve to be swept up in more political turmoil. The people can ill afford a civil war. They have been on the brink of a complete breakdown of law and order now for so long, and so many people have died.
I visited Nepal in January of this year. For my experiences there go to the Archives section and read my blog.
Unrest in Nepal
It saddens me to hear or read about in the news of the current political turmoil in Nepal. There have been numerous protests, riots and even deaths in recent days. Country wide curfews have been put in place and these are severely damaging the economy of a country struggling to develop. The trouble is particularly damaging to the tourism industry which has been an integral part of its economy.
My Experiences in Nepal
I spent nearly four weeks in Nepal in January of this year. I was staggered by the amazing beauty of the country. Tourism has become the life blood of this emerging nation. It can ill afford such turmoil. I would dearly love to return to visit other parts of Nepal, but the current trouble discourages me from going. Other tourists must feel the same.
To read about my recent trip to Nepal, including trekking the Everest region of the Himalayas, go to the archives section of this blog.
The Limestone Coast South Australia
I wonder if you are like me. I read about a place or see a television programme about a tourist destination and I want to go there. Sometimes it is because I have never been there and it looks so inviting and so beautiful or interesting.
The Limestone Coast of SE South Australia
Sometimes it is because I have been there already and the story brings back very pleasant memories. That happened this morning when I was reading the travel section of The Advertiser, the daily morning paper in South Australia. The article covered the area known here as the Limestone Coast. The south east part of South Australia is dominated by limestone, hence the name.
Great Holiday
A few years ago my wife and I had a wonderfully relaxing holiday in this part of our state. We stayed in a cabin in one of the caravan parks of the town of Robe. From our cabin we had a beautiful view out over the bay and along the beach. This beach is one of the few that you are able to drive on. It is also perfect for walking on, or just plain sitting there watching the waves gently roll in on to the sand. There are times in the lives of each one of us where one just has to sit on a beach – and do nothing – except watch the waves come in.
Birding
The birding around Robe and along the Limestone Coast is quite good too. We went for several drives along the coast south from Robe, calling in several Conservation and National Parks along the way. All of them are good birdwatching spots. There are also some good camping and picnic areas as well. Even near to the town itself there are several places for great birding.