well g'day to you, now as far as the flinders go is there any pointers I can give you, it is of course my backyard and I know it like the back of my hand, so if there is any way I can be of assistance let me know

Thanks for that Dave, We've never been there so any information you can give me will be much appreciated.
Guess the first question will be re campsites. Can you recommend some favourite sites from where to access the Ranges? And is a pass required to enter the area?

ah!! now from whence are you venturing from, is the plan of attack from the north or the south,

if from the south where will you be joining the main north road, if you join north of adalaide then take the old main north road to clare (much better drive) stay a night and sample some fantastic wines, venture on through gulnare and gladstone have a cuppa and a scone at laura (great little spot, cj Dennises birthplace I think)

head on until you get to melrose have a gander around melrose (pretty little town have a cuppa in the blacksmiths shop), just north of melrose you will come across an "s" bend that crosses a creek ( "goyders line memorial) spend the night in there (no charge) listen to the kookaburras

travel on until just short of wilmington right opposite the bush camp have a squizz in the gorge, dont take the van

continue on to Quorn, take a look at the steam trains (if it is a weekend) on the southern side of Quorn entrance just over the railway line you will see a sign that says "dutchmans stern conservation park" take that road out to the gorge (cant remember it's name but it is a little further on from the dutchmens stern co park) spend the night amongst the yellow footed rock wallabies and little blue wrens as well as all the birdlife and kangaroos, pick up some firewood from the creeks and have a fire

when you get about halfway through the gorge you will see a rock pool on your right at a "y" junction, take the left turn its a big area so turning is not an issue( it goes to a farm gate 50 mtrs down), pull in there for the night, up to your right (on the rock scree) you will see yellow footed wallabies up till ten in the morning and till it gets dark (this is a great free camp) no amenities but there are a bit further on in the camp proper

when you come out of the gorge turn left and follow the gravel road along (in good nick) take a look at all the ruins as well as "probys" grave read the sad inscription

continue on to hawker, take a gander in the pubs and the old stores, go to the main shop and grab a pasty and a coffee, take it down to the parking bay and sit on the seats under the trees, great way to spend a relaxing hour, watch the spoon drains, they are lethal and the price of fuel

continue on to wilpena pound dont register at the station wait until you go to the pound itself, register in the information shop and pay for a couple of nights of camping in amongst the gorges just north of the information centre, they are numerous and cheap and very very nice, toilets provided but no showers, have a cuppa in the visitor centre and a wander up to "hills homestead" takes about two hours return, take a packed lunch it's great, there are tables and chairs up at the old homestead

if you are going to continue on to leigh creek then take the main gravel road through the gorge and it will lead on to the survey track ( quite good nick we went through with our camper) which will lead you out on to the main highway, turn right on the main highway through parachilna to leigh creek

great trip, now when you get to morgan just over the river to the left (southern side) straight off the ferry immediately at the top of the ramp (opposite side to the c/park) you will find a road that goes past the shacks, 

take that and go through the gate, continue right down to the bend, this is a free camp right by the river, huge carp are regularly caught here and the morning veiws are magnificent 

when you leave morgan head for Burra, plan to spend at least a day here, grab a cornish pasty have a look at the antique shops, river bank homes  and take a look at redruth gaol

when you leave Burra head for Clare then pick up my previous instructions from there

if you are looking for a good camp not far from Burra then go to the Burra creek gorge campsite, this is a good free camp right on the creek, anybody in Burra can direct you to it

I forgot to mention as you leave laura and head for wirrabara you will see a town called "stone hut" dont blink you will miss it, on your right halfway through stone hut is a bakery now that is a must stop, great coffee and scones or pasties and pies all freshly made

if you dont stop at stone hut then be sure and stop at wirrabara, grab a pastie and a coke for lunch and head out to the forest, it's about halfway through the town, great little spot

as for printing it off well you or anybody else doesnt need my permission to do that, only too glad to help



-- Edited by dave06 on Wednesday 25th of March 2009 06:59:55 PM

Dave I will bet my gumboots that May will be fine with maybe a couple of light showers, it's a great time to visit the flinders because it's cooler and there may actually be some grass around if you are really lucky

the downside maybe that the animals dont have to venture down to the bottom of the gorges to get food and drink so they are a little more scarce

however having said that there are heaps of them so spotting the wedgies and kangas and wallabies and all the magnificent birdlife will not be a problem

please dont rush the flinders, spend at least a week here, you will love it

I dont agree with letting off roaders hoon around in the area so all my advice given here is for two wheel drive, most gorges and camps are for a standard vehicle, there are tours and special tracks for off roaders but I dont know much about them so I dont give advice on that side

coming from broken hill the back roads are pretty rugged ( I should know I've done most of them when I was a roo shooter, you dont want to go out there, all gibber country) so it will be bitumen to oodlawirra then take the road to ororroo, from ororroo you could skip straight across to hawker (bitumen now I think) or dawdle a bit and skip across to wilmington (all bitumen) then quorn

once you get on the old main north road at wilmington (take a look at the toy museum, well worth an hour or two) then follow the above advice for a great break

and If I see ya mate, you wont get away

thanks mate and will take your advice as time isnt a problem  and the route u said is along the lines that i had thought i would take  so now mind made up  well my mind does wander lol used to be my hands  o gawd how times have changed