Skytrek vs Wallabies on again

G'day Warrie, we paid $40 in 04 & certainly enjoyed the drive, but I wouldnt pay
$110, but I'm a miserable old fart...:)))). But I suppose if they get 6 a day they will
take as much as 16 paying $40, but I doubt many will fork out over $100...oldbaz.

I really feel for the owners of Willow Springs Station who have developed the iconic trek into what it is. Their primary business will still be viable I trust and Willow Springs is still a great place to base oneself to check out the local natural features, without doing Skytrek.

Boo on the bloody Wallabie Association. Just a bunch of "do not much gooders" with their own self interests in mind,

The prices quoted will kill the Skytrek experience.
Just as well We've experienced it some years ago.

There are other (cheaper) alternatives in the Flinders for folk to experience without the high cost.
Without the extra "income", maybe the extortionists on the neighbouring property will run out of finance and fadeaway.

Might have to join the Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby Preservation Association Inc just to camp and drive in the area !!, interesting note from their website

""As the current operators have advised they will not agree to the renewal terms, the Association intends seeking expressions of interest from other tourist operators for exclusive or non-exclusive operation of the tour after March 2012""

.......non profit association Hmm

Cheers

I believe the owners at Willow Springs have developed a new track on their property, our 4wd club went there 2 weeks ago and drove both tracks, old one and the new one.
May pay to give them a call or send an email.

We are planning to go there this year and if $110 is the price then we will pay it. It will be a once in a life time activity so what's a few more $$$$. It is only some of the best things in life that are free.
Cheers,
Kevin

Hi Warrie

We have driven it 3 times, the first 2 were $40 per car, and then again a few years ago when it was $60 per car.

Fiona and I said as great as it was, we would not pay any dearer, and if the $110 come into effect, it will kill Brendon and Carmels business, no questions asked.

Perhaps that is what the Wallaby Association wants??

In that way they can on one hand say that they still approve of four wheel drives doing the track, yet deep down know that it will be the final straw that breaks the Reynolds back.


Cheers



Stephen

Hi Warrie,
My neighbours drove Skytrek last week as they had heard it was closing but not once did Brenton mentioned any thing about the closure (probably too nice a gentleman to involve others).
To me it seems that there is a fair bit of politicking going on behind the scenes, the Yellow foot rock wallaby association or sporting shooters association certainly appear to have some alternative tour group or guide in mind to take over once they can establish another road into there funded by bumping up the fees to the Reynolds, I may be wrong.
One of the interesting things that happened out there was a tourist from a tour group fell from Skull Rock and the next thing there is a sign saying don't enter as it is a breeding ground for Yellow foot Rock Wallaby, I've been there many a time and there was a Barytes mine near there and have never seen a wallaby in that area not to say there isn't any.

Cheers
Graham

We were on of the last groups to do the old Skytrek and the first group to do the new track...... it is a shame to old track is going to be no more.

There is a lot of politics going on between both sides and the cost for using the part of Skytrek on the "Wallaby Associations" side of the fence was ridiculous..... if they want to bring donations and awareness to the plight of the wallaby's they are going about it the wrong way.

I think it is called greed and there may be alternative motifs involved.

You have to remember there are 2 business models and 2 parties involved both looking out for their own best interests.

As for a fee of $110..... I think that's quite reasonable, where else can you go and take the whole family for 8 hours of enjoyment..... the footy for 2 hours blow $140+.... the movies try $100+ for less then a few hours.... we went to the speedway the other night and for 2 people we blew about $80 included was the $22 each entry fee.

People forget the real costs of running recreational businesses with insurance and maintenance it's not cheap.

Skytrek is like Explore Oz and some other forums.... it's a business that has to make a good return for for the investors and you have 2 options... pay the fee and enjoy and use it or become bored and sit around, do nothing and whine...... then ask your self why did they close down.

If they and I mean most places who open up their properties for us recreational users don't make money then they will close down that part of their business and go back to farming leaving us who want to go somewhere where there is not or has not been 1000's of other tourists before no where to go..... we could all sit around a caravan park fighting for our own space around the pool drinking piss.

Hell if places like this do close down then the only option is to go the highly regulated mundane safety concious attractions and sit in a line to look at something with the 1000's of other tourists.

I know what I would sooner do!

The Yellowfooted Rock Wallaby Preservation Association has always based its lease fees on the number of vehicles that passed over the track per annum. They have car counters in place, so the numbers are accurate and the fee is based on $8 to $10 per vehicle. The lease fee only goes up when the number of vehicles increases.

On many occasions there have been vehicles found on the Conservation Reserve that were trespassing and not going over Skytrek via Willow Springs and on a few occasions, shooters that were shooting at kangaroos on the Reserve that came in from Willow Springs. Perhaps if the owners of Willow Springs were worried about the cost, they should have controlled this situation. Gates being left unlocked and locks removed isn’t the way, but some seem to think that’s ok.