Page 12 - YV 4x4 Mag Summer 2019 .pub

Flinders Ranges Trip

21st September, 2018

Martina & Chop Faught
Barry & Jenni Tanner

We headed off on 21st September and met up at the Calder Park BP, Chop and Martina sus-
pected some fridge issues and took a moment to do a quick check before heading further north -
the news was not good and a new fridge was purchased. Barry and Jenni travelled on and we
planned to meet up at Mildura. However in Bendigo getting lunch Chop did another quick check
and it looked as though a battery was playing up, Repco checked it, and well, it was DEAD...very
very DEAD. So a new battery to go with the new fridge....which then it turned out the only issue
was the battery, so we carried around an extra fridge the entire trip!

Due to the delays we stayed at a caravan park, had a pub meal and were then refreshed and
ready for another long days driving in the morning.

We headed out and made our way over to Renmark, stocked up on a few last minute items and
then kept heading north to Hawker. We found a little place called Willow Waters just outside of
Hawker, and for a $10 fee per vehicle had a spot along a dried up river bed.

We spent the next 2.5 days exploring Wilpena Pound, various lookouts, ruins and scenic drives.
The views are stunning and so vast that you cannot really capture the essence in just one photo.
It really was ancient beauty.

The property also had a 4wd track, which although only being 14km long took 2 hours as we were
continually investigating the ruins, and mines and stunning landscape that was on offer.

We then headed further North to Parachilna, and enjoyed some fabulous Gelato made with local
ingredients (wattleseed, lemon myrtle & Quandong). We then headed over to Beltana and stayed
at a mate's place where we were able to use water from his tanks and have a shower with the ve-
hicles (power shower) very refreshing!

The town was certainly a highlight for us all, and really puts into perspective the tough life that the
people of that era were leading.

The next morning
we headed out to
the Sliding Rock
mines on
Waraweena sta-
tion, they were
fantastic and some
great photos were
taken. Barry and
Jenni had some
lunch and then
headed back to
Willow Waters
before making their
way home for the
weekend due to
prior commitments.

Approaching the Flinders Ranges...

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