Wilpena pound access
Submitted: Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 06:30
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vk1dx
We have driven past
Wilpena Pound and I have always wanted to actually drive either into the pound itself or at least to a
lookout so that we can see "into" the pound. Searching doesn't give me any help. I get mixed impressions from the internet. They mention 4WD tracks but they are nowhere near the pound itself.
I can't walk in - period. No legs messing etc and won't post the details.
Can it be done? Either a track in to the valley or at least to a
lookout on the rim?
Phil
Reply By: Gronk - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 06:50
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 06:50
No, there are no tracks to enable you to actually see into the pound.
They may say there is wheelchair access, but it's a long way from the end of the track up into the pound.
I think a flight is your only chance........but
well worth the money.....spectacular.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Michael H9 - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 06:54
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 06:54
As far as I know you can't. There's a shuttle bus that goes part of the way from the resort to the old restored
homestead but it's still a decent walk to the lower
lookout if your legs are no good.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 07:07
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 07:07
That's what I thought.
It's back to driving past it I think. Flying over is an expensive option and you can't even smell or feel the place from a few thousand feet up. Not in our budget. We were thinking of taking a room at the resort next Christmas.
Phil
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 11:15
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 11:15
-
Nah Phil, as said it is a solid hike to the
lookout. I would not do it again these days.
But I am concerned about your visiting the
Flinders Ranges at Christmas. The temperature will likely be
well into the 30's and may be as much as 40 degrees.
Likely no cool breezes and all creeks dry. Not a good time methinks.
September/October is the season for
wildflowers, and of course the season for tourists too! Temperatures in the mid 20's. I may even be there then myself, with friends, for the
wildflowers. Used to often slip-up from
Adelaide at that time.
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 12:48
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 12:48
Hot - Yep and that's why the glamping trip. Not tent and in an airconditioned suite or cabin.
We aren't going as no easy access.
Phil
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Life Member-Doug T NSW - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 10:22
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 10:22
I went there many years ago, the walk to the
lookout , I think St Mary's Peak is a long walk, yes it was
well worth the effort but I don't think I could do it now, I first stopped at Wilpena in 1966 but the visit I went to the
lookout was in the 1970's when living in
Adelaide.
My EK Holden in the the Flinders Ranges 1966
.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Bazooka - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 16:23
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 16:23
Unfortunately you're out of luck there Phil as mentioned already. The inside of the pound is not especially spectacular anyway - apart from a vast expanse of gently sloping
rock. I walked to St Mary's Peak via the pound as
well as up the face from the
campground many moons ago and my recollection is that the view from the peak while spectacular was also marginally disappointing, but it's all relative I guess. Fabulous place the Flinders Ra. You get a great view back to the northern part of the pound (StMarys) driving up the
Bunyeroo Valley if that's within your timeframe.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 16:34
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 16:34
I'm not sure where I walked to, but there was big timber viewing platform there, I found it more than a little disappointing.
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Follow Up By: Bazooka - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 20:40
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 20:40
Just found this Shaker. None of it existed when I was last there. Significantly more trees/bush in the pound now also.
Wangara Lookout
The walks to SMP are much longer and looking at some of the pics I will have to revise my earlier comment about the view from the peak. Obviously the memories had faded but the photo down Aroona Valley is familiar.
St Mary's Peak Walk
Not much help to Phil though.
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Follow Up By: Gronk - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 21:08
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 21:08
I was there a couple of yrs ago and went up to the highest platform just into the pound, and I thought the view was spectacular !! An almost 360 deg vista that a camera cannot really capture !
But then, I don't tire of seeing Ayres
Rock either !!
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Reply By: Zippo - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 17:06
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 17:06
Phil, I also have limited hiking capability while SWMBO is fine. We went through Jeff
Morgan's studio at
Hawker and viewed his absolutely stunning Pound
mural. Later SWMBO did the hike ex the resort, and TBH reckoned the
mural was a better deal.
Jeff Morgan studio, Hawker SA.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 18:58
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 18:58
Saw that display a few years back. Tnx
Phil
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Reply By: Ozi M - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 18:22
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 18:22
I have walked to the timber platform as
well, we went early in the morning to avoid the millions of fly and dozens of people.
After scrambling up the rocky path we stood on the platform to take a photo but we had to change the angle or we would have had the workmans ute in the photo :(
There are service paths throughout the area that you may be able to access if you have a disability, no harm in asking.
Maybe they could have it so that people who need to drive go at 7.00 am or something.
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 18:57
Monday, Mar 06, 2017 at 18:57
That's an idea. Tnx
Phil
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