Wilpena Pound

DandS · Senior Member

Wilpena Pound

DandS · Senior Member

Cruising Granny wrote:
What was loud about the Pound? Sorry about the poetry.
I thought it would be quiet and peaceful up there.
I've driven past there quite a bit on my way escorting oversized loads to Lyndhurst, but one day I'll get in to Parachilna Gorge and the Pound.

It was packed solid, (we had booked about 6 weeks earlier) Noise and more noise. On a couple of afternoons and night, what would happen is. Heaps of kids on bikes hanging around their camp hassling mum & dad for something to eat, after dinner more noise from the kids and then the adults getting on the booze, then they got loud, then the kids finally go to bed and then they were yelling at their parents to shut up. "dad, shut up we cant sleep" Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Round 11 at night was a bit over the top.

Daryl

-- Edited by DandS on Thursday 16th of February 2012 10:07:26 PM

dropbear68 · Senior Member

Anyone stayed around Wilpena Pound in the Flinder Ranges lately? gods country out there but havent been there in over 20 years. Like to know what its like these days for camping etc

Cruising Granny · Guru

What was loud about the Pound? Sorry about the poetry.
I thought it would be quiet and peaceful up there.
I've driven past there quite a bit on my way escorting oversized loads to Lyndhurst, but one day I'll get in to Parachilna Gorge and the Pound.

lizard · Veteran Member

We stayed at Willow Springs too , loved it

Cruising Granny · Guru

Gee that's handy to know. So it would be better to pick a quieter time.
I find when families are on the camping thing the adults get on the p..ss, and the kids run amok. As long as they're not hassling mum and dad all's right with their world. To hell with everyone else.
I try to avoid places where families go feral on long weekends and school holiday camps. They really can be a pest.
I camped at Warren's Gorge near Quorn-Hawker. There's a natural spring in there, good enough to drink. There are toilets but no showers, although that may have changed since I camped there a long time ago.
It really is a beautiful camping spot, even if there are others in the gorge.

jimricho · Guru

I've stayed at Rawnsley Park. They have powered sites there but if you don't need power they have many natural bush sites.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

We stayed at the Flinders Ranges Caravan Park at Hawker which is in the area. It was clean, quiet and comfortable. We did day drives from there & toured the area easily.

The caravan park was good but DON'T 'SPEED' IN IT. I got soundly told off for doing about 7km in the park where I should have been doing 5km by a lady who, I think, must have been a school prefect in her younger days & still relishes that little bit of authority.

There are some lovely drives in the area including the dirt road drives around the pound.

Cheers

Jon

beiffe · Guru

My vote is for Willow Springs only another 17Ks and all black stuff till you get to the gate.

Camp in their small park or out in the bush either 2 wheel drive or 4x4. Some of the camp sites are right out in the bush and you will have exclusive use to the area around you.

Be nice and you might get a ride around checking the water tanks etc. Brendon will give a running commentary as there is much to see and some of the sites you will only see whilst with Brendon or if you have been there many times and you become accepted to respect some of the sites to be seen.

Also the family will tell you places in the area that are not TOURIST stuff that you might like to see. There are areas in the immediate area that have to be seen to be believed. Not sure if they are still available but see if you can see the wool wash, the phantoms cave, great wall of china, sun set from the top of the sky trek trip, the old shepherds huts made from slate that still around but hidden from general public the chip carvings plus palces where films have been shot and also just spectacular scenery and rock formations as well as flora and fauna in a natural state.

Also you might like to spend some time and do some chores around the station to both help the family and also to get a better insight into the life on the land. Many jobs on the station need an extra hand and you might be surprised the bonuses available after a little genuine help.

Also if booking ask if they need anything brought out because they only get supplies when they are delivered and it cost an arm and a leg to get their basic supplies. Often they have to wait quite some time for deliveries where you might be going past where the parts are.

There are also other stations in the area that Brendon can recommend you to where you can continue on. If you do the right thing or blend in well the people in the bush share their knowledge and recommend you to areas that normally you don't have access to. If you have some skills then the options really open up.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

here's some info for Willow Springs

http://www.skytrekwillowsprings.com.au/

it's a great 4x4 trip, but read the media release on the main page, looks like they are having to re route the 4x4 track.

We did the 4x4 trip a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

DandS · Senior Member

Willow Springs: I have to say that their camp kitchen is one of the cleanest and well maintained kitchens we have come across.

Daryl

dropbear68 · Senior Member

I love Hawker and Quorn always wanted to retire there, I did a hike through the Ranges years ago justg see some mighty wedge tailed eagles soaring around in a canyon, that alone was worth the hike in the heat, bueatiful place, as times go on these places are becoming more and more popular where as once they werent, wont stop me from spending some time there, thanks for the replies troops good to know you all get about

PeterS · Senior Member

I was up there a while ago and it was before before the drought really broke, Rawnsley Pk is a really nice but on the main road just nth of hawker there is a very neat CP that is very reasonabe price. Its all gravel but very well looked after and you can have dogs. The one in Hawker dosnt allow dogs and I dont thin Rawnsley does either.

Cruising Granny · Guru

If you get to go north of the ranges you can camp at Lyndhurst.
I've spent quite a bit of time out that way in recent months, but I haven't seen the interior of the ranges yet. The colours and light are magic. The thunderstorms cause spectacular lighting, shadows and flash floods.
It really is a great place and no matter where you see photos or paintings, the colours identify the location.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Theres camping inside the NP as well. We camped at Arunna campground a few years back and it was just beautiful.
20 years ago Wilpena pound was just a fairly basic campground and was still very busy and noisy. The noise is worse now with bigger generators etc, and even busier.
Willow Springs was really nice too.