Wilpena Pound and Bunnyroo and Brachina Gorges
It was very cold overnight and we had to resort to firing up the reverse cycle air conditioning in the early hours of the morning, as neither of us were sleeping well. We are not quite used to how cold it gets overnight here, but if we use the heating available, it is very comfortable. Our Jillaroo’s Hut is very comfortable. Here are a few shots of the interior.
As I am normally up at 6.30 am, I thought I would try my luck to post the blog (the text was written but I needed to add the photos). I wandered up to the communications centre (also known as the camp kitchen), and as no one else is silly enough to get up at this time of the morning, I had a great internet connection and within 30 minutes, the blog post was published.
The local birds were keen to visit our hut at breakfast time, as soon as someone appeared outside the door.
Back in our cabin the options available from our briefing from the reception at Skytrek Willow Springs has been a bit overwhelming.. The best overall advice we were given is encompassed in the map below.
Other info regarding Willow Springs was also great.
Today’s plan is to go back to Wilpena, armed with the small amount of information we gained yesterday, but with a determination to walk to Wilpena Pound and to the lookouts, despite the lack of a shuttle bus, which must deter some. Without the shuttle bus, the return walk to the top lookout is 8 km return, with the shuttle bus it is 4 km.
Along the way we stop at a Hucks Lookout to see more stunning images of the Flinders Ranges
Back at the trailhead, we set out on the Hills Homestead walk at around 10 am.
For us, it was well worth the walk to the Hill’s Homestead, and up to the top lookout.
It is not just the scenery here that is compelling, but also the fact that people (seeking a new opportunity) would try to grow wheat in Wilpena Pound is amazing. The soil was fertile, the rainfall plentiful, crops were amazing but logistics of getting crop to market were difficult.
It was also thought to be a wonderful place hold grazing stock, as there was only one way in and one way out, through sliding rock gorge. The pioneers of course, they didn’t have the computer modeling which is so essential to our current knowledge (guess) of what the next weather pattern may bring. It seems that even in the 1860’s climate an enormous drought ’s shattered their dream. Can’t have been man induced climate change then, just bad luck. I am sure the history lessons at school do not tell stories like this.
Whilst the walk was 8 km and took nearly 3 hours it was very enjoyable. It is amazing country, and the conditions can change rapidly after a bit of rainfall.
The Hill’s Family homestead looks like it has a bit of a reno. The original hut was replaced by this stone building in the early 1900’s.
Once you reach the homestead, there is an option to take a somewhat steep climb to the Wangara Lookouts. The first lookout gives you a good view of the pound, but the second lookout is well worth the extra 400m climb to get a view not only of the pound, but also the entrance through sliding rock gorge through which everything in and out had to travel.
Overall we were glad we did the walk, saw a lot of wild life, heard more feral goats and enjoyed a sandwich and a cold drink back at the visitors centre whilst we contemplated our afternoon activities. We had already walked about 9 km, so the afternoon plan is based on driving.
The plan is to drive through the Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorges. We are told this will take about half a day, so it should fill our day out nicely. (see Blinman Region map at the beginning of this post)
The Bunyeroo Gorge turnoff is on our way back to Willow Springs, and it is a reasonable unsealed road that takes us to some great views of the Flinders Ranges.
It then goes down into the valley and follows a creek bed in the Bunyeroo Gorge, also a reasonable dirt road.
Out of the Bunnyeroo Gorge we meet the road to Brachina Gorge and turn left to head off on what is a bit of an expedition into the complex geology of this region. It is also no longer a 2WD friendly road, but we did see a Mercedes and Volvo AWD taking it on. The road is rocky, sometimes narrow and a few water crossings that we saw one car shy away from. You are basically driving along the creek bed . It is rugged in parts, we saw quite a lot of wildlife and I wouldn’t take my normal city car there.
It was slow going and as time moved on and the afternoon advanced we decided to head home as more and more wildlife were appearing around the roadside.
We have been told we should go to Stokes Hill Lookout to observe the sunset, but today we thought we would just go and have a look at the view, which has a great vista over Wlillows Creek station where we are staying, but we have had enough today so headed home.
Maybe we will come back tomorrow to see the sunset.
It is only a few kilometres down the road before we turn back into Willows Springs property
A nice steak on the BBQ enjoyed alongside a Pigges Peake Shiraz was a fitting end to a great day out.
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