Skytrek Mark 11
Submitted: Saturday, Oct 01, 2016 at 08:15
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Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)
Good Morning All
During our recent 10 day stay in the
Flinders Ranges, we were able to do 4 user four wheel drive tracks.
All drives were open only after things dried out and 2 drives we had to wait 6 days for that to happen.
One drive that we were keen to do again was the new Skytrek after the original drive had to be altered after local issues. We had driven the original drive 3 times since the early 1990's and were very keen to see just how the new one would rate.
The new drive is now over 80 kilometres in length, with only the last 12 kilometres real four wheel drive country. My personal thoughts are that you are now paying a premium price of $65 for a drive that is now very over rated, compared to other far superior drives in the area that range in price from $40 to $50 dollars.
Based on what we encountered, if you are after a true four wheel drive that offers far better scenery, far more extreme four wheel driving, then make the Arkapena Four Wheel Drive No 1 on your "Must Do" bucket list followed by a very close second with the Bunbinyunna Drive a very close second and you will not be disappointed.
Overall I personally rate the new Skytek only 5 out of 10, compared to 20 out of 10 for the Arkapena Drive and 19 out of 10 for the Bunbinyunna Drive.
Move over Skytrek, you have had your way far too long and you now need to drop your premium price for a C - drive compared to other superior drives in the area that I rate as AAA drives.
Just my thoughts and interested to hear your thoughts from others that have also driven other better drives in the Flinders.
Cheers
Stephen
Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Saturday, Oct 01, 2016 at 20:40
Saturday, Oct 01, 2016 at 20:40
I had driven the old Skytrek before the drama up there with access to Mt Caernarvon (the Bunkers Range), and wanted to do it again before access was lost to Willow Springs.
Brendon had just, and I mean just graded the new track, and got the ok to get onto most of that while in there, to give them a bit of
feedback.
It was rough, big boulders sticking up everywhere, sticks, rough through the creeks.
He said after we got back from the drive he was going over that again to make all that easier, I said leave it !! Makes for a great drive.
Looking at the pics it has really settled down to easy tracks.
A shame about that, and a shame they couldn't work with SSASA to keep access open for them at Mt C, that was an epic route.
I've heard both sides of that story in detail, and seems to be a lose lose, as I am pretty sure plans to have that Mt C area open again to 4WDs just hasn't eventuated.
Have been back up there since Mt C access finished, with a private group with permission, and driven other tracks on the east side of the Bunkers, it is terrific country, and the old tracks totally maintained, slow and steady stuff :)
AnswerID:
604808
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 09:04
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 09:04
Hi Les
That was the reason why we had driven it 3 times in the past, as the Mount Caenarvon section was just fantastic and the reason why we returned. I asked Brendon what happened, but he said it was a very long story and never heard what actually happened.
Since returning
home, I have since found out that a new mob has access to the Bunkers Reserve as
well as Mt C and is that the track that you did and their fee is $60.00.
The new Skytrek is very tame and if anyone is after a challenge, then the new drive is not the one. What makes Skytrek still so popular is one profession thing........marketing. The Reynolds do a first rate job of promoting their drive and it has paid dividends for them.
The day we did Arkapena, we were the only vehicle on the track and never saw another vehicle until we got back to the bitumen main road. On the other hand, when speaking to another chap back at Rawnsley Caravan Park that did Skytrek the very same day, there were 36 vehicles doing the track the same day.......so it shows just how
well they market the drive. When I mentioned why did he not do the Arkapena Drive, his answer was, what rie is that.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Les - PK Ranger - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 09:25
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 09:25
Good to hear the bunkers eastern drive and Mt C are available again, haven't gone looking for marketing for it up to now, but might go for a Google for interests sake and see if I can find the details.
They need to get the word out, as it is very nice over that side.
They were still in the planning stages of working out best route to grade a new route off Mt C back to the eastern access side last time we were there.
It is SSAASA I meant to type last post, Google brings it up, and the tracks apart from the usual Mt C route over were not maintained, but totally unmaintained.
Autocorrect on the phone can be a pita at times.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham N (SA) - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 10:06
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 10:06
When I went past there at the end of May (working in the area) they were putting a
sign up for the Mt
Carnarvon track. It is on the North side past the Oraparinna
mine and before the second turn off to Wilkawillena
gorge.
FollowupID:
874612
Reply By: Kevin S - Life Member (QLD) - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 14:16
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 14:16
Hi Stephen. You must have been in the
Flinders Ranges at the same time that we were. We couldn't take a trick with the weather so came
home early. Queenslanders don't take very
well to maximum temps in the mid teens and minimums nearing zero.
I had booked Skytrek but had to cancel when I woke up feeling crook so we limited ourselves to the
Hawker -
Blinman - Parachilna -
Hawker circuit that had reopened that morning. A couple of days later in company with Graham N and his good Lady we did
Moralana Scenic Drive and then a run down the roads to the west of the the main road south of
Gordon. Great day with great people.
We had wanted to do at least the
Lake Torrens drive on
Merna Mora but were beaten by rain. So we have unfinished business in the
Flinders Ranges but will try it earlier in the year next time. Before winter has a chance to arrive.
Thanks for your info on Skytrek. Sounds just about right for my aging body and vehicle.
Cheers, Kevin
AnswerID:
604827
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 21:54
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 21:54
Hi Kevin
You Banana Benders need to toughen up.......lol
The weather has been totally crazy and as Graham would have told you, the weather should have been in the mid 20's with perfect blue skies.
We stayed 6 days at
Rawnsley Park and 4 days at
Merna Mora. The only track that was not held up with rain was Skytrek, where as the other tracks were only open when they had dried out.
We did Skytrek only one day after it was wet, and there were only a few mud puddles, so no issues. We were able to do three of the four Tracks that
Merna Mora have on offer, and were set to do the last, the Wowee Track, but guess what, it came in wet yet again.
It does not matter how many time we go to the Flinders ( trust me it is dozens of times the years ) it is one location that it is aways just fantastic, and I hope that you intend to come again, and see the area when it is a "Normal" year, and not wet, wet, wet.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
874642
Follow Up By: Kevin S - Life Member (QLD) - Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 11:09
Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 11:09
We have been visiting Flinders for over 50 years Stephen, so it will take more than one wet and cold season to put us off. But most of those visits were pre 4WD. Things are so much more accessible now.
We are seriously planning a return next year before Winter arrives possibly on our way to WA.
Cheers, Kevin
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 12:51
Monday, Oct 03, 2016 at 12:51
Hi Kevin
This weather is just so unreal and when I booked my holidays 3 months ago, we were expecting fine warm days and T shirts, not cold, wet and them a couple of fine nice days again before coming wet again.
We have been visiting the Flinders on a very regular basis, we the bitumen finished at
Hawker and it was dirt from there on, as yes we never had a four wheel then, just Toyota Coralla's, and Celica. Just took your time and got through all the gorges with no drama's at all.
We you come back again, make sure that you get a few great four wheel drive tracks in, and these will
test your low range first gear approach and departures from the many great high point that are on offer. I am trying to make phone contact with Charlie, the Webmaster and
Ranger for the
Bunker Reserve and access to
Mount Caernarvon , a must drive access with the highest accessible point by vehicle at just over 920 metres. When I have full details, I will post them on the
forum, but one point that Charlie said in an email to me was that they need bookings in advance, they only take cash and the track is only open from March until October, with this years last day open being Sunday 9th October.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
874659
Reply By: Member - Odog - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 19:39
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 19:39
We were in the flinders a couple of weeks ago, got rained in at Arkaroola, and were the first to go on the ridge top tour, after the rain. The guys
check the rain gauge at
Sillers Lookout, when we pulled up, had gotten 50mm in the previous 24 hrs or so...
Left Arkaroola, camped at Chambers
Gorge, great spot! Woke to thunder n lightening, quick pack up in the pouring rain, already water coming down the river. Headed for
Blinman, through a few now running creeks, got to the river 20km from
Blinman, that was it.. no chance! Headed back to
Wirrealpa Station, put us us in the shearers kitchen, was a great night.. the
farm hands said they were monitoring chatter on the uhf, someone had a
camp trailer washed away or something in Chambers
Gorge. When it rains in the flinders.. in rains..
Will definitely be back there...
Skytrek was on the list, but had heard it was quite crowded, so didn't worry about it, and with the rain we had been dealing with for the last 5 weeks, played it safe.. cheers Odog
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 22:01
Sunday, Oct 02, 2016 at 22:01
Hi Odog
The rain was sure crazy and you must have got all that rain and thunder when we were at
Rawnsley Park.
We felt so sorry for all the interstate people that headed for the Flinders, thinking it was going to be perfect weather, but inserted it just would not stop raining.
I have now found the place where you can book the
Mount Caernarvon Track, and here is their web site:
Mount Caernarvon Track Details
Great to see that you intend to head back again,as it is a great place, and those ranges are just unreal.
Cheers
Stephen
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