A slow start as today should just be a half day excursion.
A wonderful sunrise in the campsite over the ridge, and I take an early morning walk along the nearby creek, while small scale, the rock face gorge is amazing.
Breakie and George and I take a trip into the main homestead to get some more firewood for the next stint.
Around 9:30 we pull out. We back track to Wilpena Pound resort, just to see it. We use the phone signal and shop to do a few necessities.
North again and we turn off the main Flinders Way to Bunyeroo Road. There are a couple of lookouts along here than are have great views. The first lookout is OK, but the second, Razerback is much better.
We carry on until we get the Brachina Gorge Road, we’ve been told to turn left and follow the road till the beginning of the park and then backtrack. I’m so glad we did. Driving along the valley riverbed and through all of these creek crossings of this gorge is amazing. It was worth the drive just for this.
The guys stop for another bunch of Emu’s but these aren’t interested in Nick mating dance…..
A few km later we arrive at the end of the park, there is one of the rock entrance signs so we stage the cars for a photo.
Back thought the gorge, this time with some gopro video. Back past the Bunyroo road and onto the Trezona campground, the one I had thought we might stay at. In the end the lack of facilities and the idea that it probably wouldn’t be as safe to leave our gear behind made me pick Willow Creek Station. It sure was a nice place to have lunch however.
While having lunch it’s clear the flies are getting worse and worse, so we all grab out our fly hat nets. Worth the price of admission now…
A short drive from here is the Ediacaran Golden Spike (635 mil years ago). These Golden spike are placed at boundaries of Geological periods (think Jurassic, Cretaceous etc), apparently there are only 13 such spikes in the world, and this is the only one in the southern hemisphere. Worth a side trip.
We head back towards Willow Springs, but continue on a K or two and drive up to Stokes Hill Lookout. I was going to give it a miss, but I’m glad I didn’t as it’s one of the best views of Wilpena Pound. There is also a model of the pound up here.
I use the little mobile signal to post a couple of blog entries.
We’re not Back to camp till about 3:30. We relax in the afternoon, tomorrow is going to be a big day with a hell of a lot of driving on roads that we’re unsure of the condition of.
When we checked in, the lady at the desk suggested going up to Stokes hill at sunset, we weren’t going to, but as this afternoon was so great we figure why not….and why not indeed, it was sensational.
Back to camp. As we’ve got a early getaway we pack up as much stuff as we can. Dinner and I have a quick shower as I’m not sure when the next one is coming and we end the night around the fire.