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Warraweena - Cockatoo Dunbar Loop
Set in the rugged Flinders Ranges on Warraweena Conservation Park this track offers the visitor a good aspect of the flora and fauna of the area with challenging, but safe driving conditions.

This trek is located in the Flinders Ranges region.

Start Finish Distance Min Days Rating
Warraweena Homestead Warraweena Homestead 54.5 1 Trek rating 3 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3 of 5 - Click for details
» Description
» Map
» Preparation
    Fuel Information, Best Time to Visit
    Permits, Supplies/Facilities, General
» Things to See & Do
» Camp Sites & Accommodation
» Environment
» History
» Driving Notes
» Waypoints
» Related Shop Items
  
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1 Plot
Researched By Member - Willem   Latest Update 08 Dec 2006

 Description


Warrioota Gorge and Blinmans Waterhole


The Cockatoo Dunbar Loop gives access to Cockatoo Hut and Cockatoo Campground as well as Dunbar Hut. The huts have verandas, fireplaces, rough camp beds, rainwater tanks and long drop toilets. The loop track meanders along creek beds, through numerous gullies, wash outs, jump-ups and steep downhills. High clearance, dual range, 4wd vehicles only are allowed access to this area, low range gearing is required for 60% of the track. Warraweena offers the visitor good camp sites in spectacular valleys, rugged four wheel driving conditions, and a chance to experience a diverse range of flora and landscapes. Access is restricted by Park Management so that visitors do not encroach upon one another. Bookings are essential.


Spinifex Ring and the Spur

 Map

Reference
iMapPlot Location Map		Legend
iMapPlot Map Legend
iMapPlot Map Image
Zoom Map | Get Map & Waypoints
iMapPlot™ by I.T. Beyond Pty Ltd.

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies

Beltana Roadhouse

Best time to visit

March to November

Permits

$40, however ExplorOz Members and overnight visitors - just $30.

Supplies/Facilities

Leigh Creek and Beltana Roadhouse

General

Contact Warraweena Conservation Park for bookings and general enquiries.

 Things to See & Do

Rugged terrain, diverse flora, fauna and landscape, spectacular vistas. Over 250km of rugged 4WD tracks to suit any skill level, great bushwalking and mountainbiking.

 Camp Sites & Accommodation

Scenic and secluded bush camps and huts with well maintained long drop toilets. You will always have your own campsite at Warraweena. Shearer's quarters and homestead accommodation are available.

 Environment

Warraweena is a private Conservation Park and is a property of Wetlands & Wildlife. It has been completely destocked in 1996. Since then native flora and fauna have recovered remarkably. The valleys of Warraweena are mainly covered by native pines, wattles, eucalypts, Spinifex clubs, Yucca Grass Trees and other tall shrubs with saltbush and grasslands on the flat around Sliding Rock and Old Warraweena. Kangaroos, emus and feral goats may be seen along the route. The property lies within the Adelaide Geosyncline, a belt of ancient folded sedimentary rock stretching far inland from Kangaroo Island, it also includes some of the highest country in the Flinders Ranges.

Yellow footed rock wallabies inhabit the ranges while red kangaroos, euros and emus can be seen along the tracks. There are many skinks and lizards to be seen including the red-barred dragon which features on the logo of Warraweena.

 History

Cockatoo and Dunbar Huts were used as shepherd’s shelters in the early days of sheep grazing on Warraweena Conservation Park. The terrain was most difficult to graze sheep and because of Dingoes the sheep had to be brought in every night. Other huts and camps date back to the mining days. Many of the railway sleepers for the old Ghan Railway line were cut from timber felled in these valleys and along Warrioota Creek.

 Driving Notes

SO=straight on, SP=sign post, TR=turn right, TL=turn left, VR=veer right, VL=veer left, KR=keep right, KL=keep left, T/O=turn off
Section Start: Warraweena Homestead   Section End: Warraweena Homestead
NOTE: This trek note is to be driven in a one way direction following the forward notes.
ForwardInformation 
0 kmWarraweena Homestead 
 Waypoint 13638 
 (1 km)
 
0.98 kmVR 
 Waypoint 13649 
 (3.4 km)
 
4.41 kmKL at gate. 
 Recommend engaging High Range 4wd. 
 (0.2 km)
 
4.64 kmSO 
 Exclusion zone for Slender Bell fruit trees. 
 (1.3 km)
 
5.97 kmSO 
 Locked Gate 
 Waypoint 13650 
 (0.5 km)
 
6.48 kmSO (Recommend engaging Low Range 4WD) 
 (3.6 km)
 
10.11 kmSO
T intersection drive straight ahead to Cockatoo Hut		 
 Waypoint 13651 
 (2.1 km)
 
12.17 kmSO 
 Native Pine Forest/Cockatoo Hut. Water tank and long drop toilet. 
 Waypoint 13652 
 (0.5 km)
 
12.67 kmCockatoo Bush Camp Site 
 (0.5 km)
 
13.17 kmCockatoo Hut 
 (2.1 km)
 
15.23 kmCockatoo Dunbar intersection 
 (1.6 km)
 
16.84 kmKL out of creek 
 (0.5 km)
 
17.29 kmVL to Pinery Bore 
 (0.7 km)
 
18.01 kmPinery Bore camping area 
 (0.7 km)
 
18.73 kmTL Dunbar Track 
 View She-oak exclusion zone higher up the hill. 
 (2.6 km)
 
21.32 kmYellow Well. An old goat trap overgrown with reeds. 
 (1.8 km)
 
23.13 kmBlinman's copper diggings. Rough undulating track. 
 Waypoint 13653 
 (1.3 km)
 
24.4 kmMiners hut ruin 
 (0.2 km)
 
24.58 kmSO
Optional Route - TL to Suicide Track. Experienced Drivers only and strictly downhill only, low range first gear. Do not attempt to drive up this track.		 
 Waypoint 13654 
 (0.2 km)
 
24.78 kmDunbar Lookout 
 (1 km)
 
25.79 kmTL to Dunbar Hut and Warrioota Gorge. Follow the sign to Dunbar Hut and Warioota Gorge
(Optional - Drive down steep spur to valley below).

 
 (1 km)
 
26.83 kmDunbar Hut, water hut and long drop toilet 
 Waypoint 13655 
 (1.5 km)
 
28.3 kmDrive up the valley and turn right in to Warrioota Creek 
 (1 km)
 
29.31 kmDrive up creek.
TL in to Warrioota Gorge at Blinman's Camp		 
 Waypoint 13656 
 (2.5 km)
 
31.81 kmDrive up Warrioota Gorge and view the spectacular landforms. 
 (2.5 km)
 
34.31 kmBacktrack to Blinman's Camp 
 (0.2 km)
 
34.47 kmDrive to track end and twenty minute return walk to Blinmans Waterhole 
 Waypoint 13657 
 (3.7 km)
 
38.15 kmBacktrack past Dunbar Hut to drum at intersection.
KL at sign (DO NOT drive to your right, up The Spur). Recommend engaging High Range 4WD		 
 (0.6 km)
 
38.77 kmView old copper workings on right. 
 (0.3 km)
 
39.03 kmFollow track along undulating foothills of Mount Stuart with deep gullies to traverse 
 (6.9 km)
 
45.97 kmTR to Mt Stuart Lookout 
 (0.3 km)
 
46.31 kmYou can see Lake Torrens from this vantage point 
 (0.3 km)
 
46.65 kmRejoin foothills track 
 (3.4 km)
 
50.1 kmRejoin outward bound Cockatoo Dunbar access track via locked gate 
 Waypoint 13658 
 (3.4 km)
 
53.53 kmRejoin Homestead-Mt Hack Track. KL 
 Waypoint 13649 
 (1 km)
 
54.51 kmWarraweena Homestead 
 Waypoint 13638 
  
 

 Waypoints

Download these Waypoints to your mapping software.
WaypointDescriptionTypeLongitude
WGS84		Latitude
WGS84
13649 Veer right Junction,Intersection,Turn Off138.639493ºE30.775000ºS
13650 Locked gate Point of Interest138.617733ºE30.805400ºS
13651 T intersection Junction,Intersection,Turn Off138.650053ºE30.822360ºS
13652 Cockatoo Hut Point of Interest138.665733ºE30.817560ºS
13653 Blinman’s copper diggings Point of Interest138.613573ºE30.843160ºS
13654 Turn off to Suicide Track Junction,Intersection,Turn Off138.601733ºE30.848600ºS
13655 Dunbar Hut Point of Interest, , Water Supply, Toilet138.602053ºE30.856920ºS
13656 Drive up creek Junction,Intersection,Turn Off138.627653ºE30.855960ºS
13657 Walk to Blinmans Waterhole Walk Track138.620613ºE30.865240ºS
13658 Cockatoo Dunbar track Junction,Intersection,Turn Off138.614533ºE30.794840ºS

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