Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 at 20:05
At
Oodnadatta the old railway station museum is worth a look, you organise it at the pub.
The Painted desert is just the other side of
Oodnadatta, and you can
camp out there at Arkaringa Station. (I think that's the name) Anyway, just follow the signs.
The
Pink Roadhouse people have lined the track with a heap of handmade interperative signs on 44 gallon drum lids, and they are full of great info. Stop and read them all, you'll learn some good stuff and get directions to
places of interest.
Algebukna Bridge is just off the track and worth the time to stop and takes pics.
About 20 kms off the track is the Old
Peake telegraph Staion. We spent couple of hours there taking photos. Rough access track, but we dragged the CT there no probs.
I believe thay have spa rooms at
William Creek Pub, you might be ready for a bit of a pamper by then, otherwise there's
camping behind the pub, or over the road. the pub's good fun. we took a flight over
the Painted Hills with Wright Air, If you want to spend the dough it's a memorable experience, truly beautiful. If there's
water in Lake Ayre Wright Air might take you over it.
We didn't have time to explore the
Birdsville Track, camped at Mungeranie Hotel, hospitibale enough. It was the day before the
Birdsville races and the crowd was a little blokey for our party. Probably a nice spot to spend the evening at other times.
On the way back down from
Birdsville to
Adelaide call into
Coward Springs, a lovely
camping spot, but
no access for CT's. Still you can have a dip in the hot spring.
80 Kms south of Maree
camp at
Farina, an old abandoned town. The station owners have made it a nice
camping area, there's hot
water and the owners will drop a railway sleeper at your campspot for your campfire. The sunsets were fantastic.
Head across to
Arkaroola, if the sky is clear an observatory tour is fantastic I never thought stargazing would be so interesting.
Wilpena Pound and surrounds is wonderful. Great
camping area, you can
camp in urban closeness, or find a spot away from the mob. Plenty of wildlife to keep you company while you gaze into the embers.
Sounds like a lot, but if you plan your kms you should be able to do it all nicely in 8 days. Even with a day off for wine tasting in
Clare Valley.
Getting closer to civilisation,
Clare Valley make some of Australia's best reds. (IMHO) One winery to make a point of staopping at is Seven Hills, they make an exceptionally nice altar wine, in fact I believe
the brothers make most, if not all the altar by the catholic church in austrailia.
You've given me itchy feet .. gotta get back out there one day soon.
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