20230521 SA Great Wall of China, Arkaroo Rock to Hawker
After an interesting day of exploring we leave Blinman and take the Flinders Range Way towards Hawker, but first there’s a stop to make at a land mark called The China Wall, this is when I wish we had a 4 wheel drive as you can drive so far to the top then walk the rest, but as we don’t we make the most of what we have.
The China Wall is a natural white stone wall which looks like a miniature `Great Wall of China', natural vein of sub-vertical white quartz rising up to 6 metres above the surrounding country in places. Scientists believe the wall was formed when the rock surrounding the much harder and resistant quartz was weathered and eroded away. Aboriginal people have a different account of how this formation came about.
Harold Cazneaux (1878 -1953) was an extraordinary early Australian photographer who felt that every image should be a work of art. He was moved by the grandeur and beauty of the Australian landscape with its constantly changing light, and wished to share his vision.
It’s a bit chilly outside but there’s nothing like watching a sunset over the mountain, just beautiful.
Arriving at the site of Arkaroo Rock and my first thought was, I hop we don’t have to walk up there. The site is a significant Adnyamathanha painting site that depicts aspects of the Yura Muda (stories) for lkara (Wilpena Pound).
We grab some water a hit the track that I’m sure Des isn’t real keen on doing, the track is a bit rugged with some steep steps, I’m sure Des would be much happier if we turned around but he soldiered on.
We finally made it to the rock art, the first we’ve ever seen and I must admit it didn’t really have the impact we thought, Des thought they look just like stick men, which they did but when you realise the significance behind the drawings it gives you a better insight into the history and the sheer awesomeness of what goes back thousands of years.
The paintings are a mixture of charcoal and white and red ochre. They are thought to be over 5,000 years old and a place of great significance to the Adnyamathanha people.
The Traditional Owners of the Flinders Ranges are the Adnyamathanha, or Rock People'. The Adnyamathanha believe that the rocks and hills form the structure or 'skeleton' of Mother Earth.
On our way back down when we take a photo not far from the site with this rounded out boulder.
According to the Yura Muda, powerful Creation serpents known as Akurra created many features of the Flinders Ranges landscape, the bodies of two Akurra form the walls of Ikara.
The aboriginals perception According to the Yura Muda, powerful Creation serpents known as Akurra created many features of the Flinders Ranges landscape, the bodies of two Akurra form the walls of Ikara.
Another adventure ticked off and as far as Des is concerned that’s it, no more long walks, we are getting too bloody old for this, we passed a couple who were excited about visiting the site and I said so was I until we got there, Des said she didn’t look impressed with me but it gave us something to laugh about on our walk back to our van to take the last leg of he day back to Hawker to camp the night.
Wild Flower North Star.
The End
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