Minnipa SA

In years to come, today will be a story we retell with humour. But for now.. not so much.

It was already 43 degrees at 10am as we departed our beautiful waterfront site in Whyalla to voluntarily drive straight into an inland heatwave. We’re clearly insane!

Our intended itinerary was to spend an off-grid night at Pildappa Rock, but given the conditions we pivoted and pulled up at the nearby Minnnipa Hotel where electricity, air conditioning and a cool-ish pub exist, all luxuries we suddenly feel deeply entitled to.

On route we stopped at Kimba marking halfway across Australia. We all posed for the obligatory photo before taking refuge from the heat in the roadhouse, where we enjoyed a lunch break that was longer than necessary but entirely justified.

Back on the highway, the car informed us it was now 47 degrees outside, information no one needed but everyone believed 🥵

After arriving in Minnipa (apparently famous for its ‘concrete crappa’) and setting up behind the pub we took a short drive out to Tharkulda Rock (pronounced ‘charcoal dah’), as recommended by a local who, in hindsight, was disproportionately proud of it. We were politely underwhelmed.

Hence we promptly returned to the pub where, upon discovering it receives only two TV channels, neither of which featured the cricket, even I conceded the best available option was listening to the cricket on the radio, in the air-conditioned car, parked under a big shady tree 🤦🏽‍♀️

This afternoon we braved the heat to check out the region’s premier attraction and the reason we’re in this place at all, Pildappa Rock - think a mini Uluru meets Wave Rock, but with fewer people and more flies. Some people claim it’s better than the big ones - they’re delusional. It was somewhat interesting… right up until trouble struck. Dan and Helen got a flat tyre, which wouldn’t be so bad except that the spare is only half size and entirely unsuitable for towing 😳

With tyre preservation the clear priority, we limped back to the Minnipa Hotel where we’re now stuck formulating a plan involving repairs, replacements and getting the hell out of here! We’re crossing our fingers the mechanic at Wudinna is on duty tomorrow and able to assist🤞🏼

But every cloud has a silver lining — Josh won $500 on the pokies while waiting for dinner 😂 Dinner’s on luck tonight! 🍀Read more