20230519 SA Hawker to Wilpena Pound

Travelling back over Flinders Range Way we arrived in Hawkers starving and with the pub right opposite us we checked it out and surprisingly they were really reasonably priced so that’s us for lunch. I walked the grounds and read up on a bit of the towns history, as I do, and Hawker is no different from the other towns we’ve been to, slacked it history that goes back to the settlers and how hard their life was in the 1800’s, and Hawker is one of those towns that survived. Hawker is described as “The Hub of the Flinders Range” Due to the location of the town but after a few years of drought a number of wheat farms were wiped out so its tourism that drives through the town on there way to the Flinders Range that keeps them going today.

The Hawker Hotel was built in 1882 when it was known as the Royal Hotel, it was one of two hotels erected in Hawker.

In 1883 Hawker began to thrive with the inn flux of forty three farming families, fifteen commercial businesses, carpenters, wheelwrights, masons, blacksmiths, railway workers, teamsters, carriers, a trooper and labourers.

Horse and bullock teams with wagons stacked high with bales of wool were common in the Hawker area from 1851 as new leases to establish pastoral properties

Part of the historic Hawker Railway Station complex incudes the overhead water tank which held 25,000 gallons or 115,000 litres.

After lunch we left for Wilpena looking for a camp for the night and about 15 minutes up the road we found the perfect spot, Nooltana Creek Rise Rest Area and we had it all to ourselves.

Elder Range Look Out where we camped the night hopping to see a Wedged Tail Eagle that roam this area looking for road kill or an unsuspecting rabbit.🦅 

This area is known for siting the Bird of Prey so I sat outside having my afternoon ale with my camera hopping one might swoop down for a feed but all I got was a bit pissy, not really. I did however see a Eagle pigging out on a fresh juicy roo on the edge of the road only I wasn’t quick enough with my camera, so they are here.

Our sunset over our camp along the Flinders Range, it’s a tad chilly but what a view.

Kanyaka Station was a cattle and sheep station in the Flinders Ranges 

20230420 After our little Debacles yesterday, we’re are back on track for Wilpena Pound, the road is long and straight with many dips at the creeks, that are all very dry but is still quite beautiful. I don’t think I would like to be here in the flood as there is only one way in and out and you would never get through those dips in the road.

We arrived in Wilpena Pound and and paid the camp fee that can change from one day to the next, depending on their mood. We were keen for a walk but thought we had better have lunch before taking the easy walk to Hills Homestead.

This huge stump still stands after being burnt out, not that Des is a good example of huge but it’s a great spot if you need a pee.😉

On thing I will say about S.A the trees are huge and even the burnt out trees continue to thrive in this rugged terrain.

I didn’t achieve anything, I just climbed a rock for a photo.

Sliding Rock

This is the remanence from the last flood that’s built up around the creek blocking it off, there is no picking up any wood because animals live in there, but it’s ok to let it wash down and destroy homes and knock out bridges, that’s okay, but it is a National Park.

We arrived at the homestead, thank god said Des, it turned out a 6.6 km return walk and that’s not including if you climb to the lookout which Des flatly refused to do.

The Hills family lived here in a pug and pine shepherd's hut that was built in 1888 while they cleared land for farming  wheat, they obviously didn’t know much about growing weight in those days, especially in this rugged country. 

Yurlu’s Journey:Aboriginal people tell how giant semi human creatures that were created at the beginning of the world were responsible for all the reeks, hills, gorges and mountains in Australia. Of these, one of the most beautiful parts of the Flinders Ranges is kara, Wilpena Pound and the most valuable is the Leigh Creek coalfield. 

The lower lookout is 300 metres beyond Hills Homestead, and the Upper Lookout is another 300 metres further uphill so I took the challenger and made it to the first outlook, that will do me.

One of the many rocks formations you will see as we stroll along the track.

These trees are not only beautiful but they’re tough, the roots grab onto  rock cliffs and continue to grow for ever.

Australian Ringneck Hybrid and they were everywhere in the park, their just so pretty.

After cooking dinner at the camp kitchen we went in search of the Resort that we were told about, well after taking the long way their because this park has no lights or signs to show the way we came upon it. There were some guys sitting around a fire in the resort who asked us to join them, we chatting with them a bit and finished our beer’s before returning home taking the shortcut that lead straight to our van.

Well that Wilpena Pound and the Flinders Range ticked off our bucket list.

Cheers 🥂