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Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip
  • Our Exploits
  • Janet Hanson
  • Our Exploits
  • Janet Hanson

Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

A 17-day adventure by Our Exploits & Janet Read more
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  • Trip start
    June 11, 2025
    Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    We are Off

    June 11, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 1 °C

    Well the Outback is packed to overflowing and we are off to explore the Flinders Ranges. True to form Canberra turned on a typically foggy winter morning to start our trip. Much to Janet's delight, Ross Solly (her favourite ABC Canberra Radio presenter) regaled us with tales of the failure of the Canberra Light Rail due to the icy conditions on the way out of Canberra.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Boomiarcool (Euston)

    Jun 11–12, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Courtesy of Mr Subaru we had a great run across to our first stop at Boomiarcool on the Murray River. We are staying in a Euston Club cabin right on the river. We had just enough time to check out the mighty Murray River before sunset. It was very scenic and peaceful. Had a great meal at the Club's bistro, Station 46, named in recognition of Edmund Morey who first squatted by the river here in 1846.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Melbourne?

    June 12, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    No we haven't lost our way! As we wend our way towards the Flinders Ranges we made a brief coffee stop in Mildura. Much activity down by the river ; the paddle steamer "Melbourne" was taking on its passengers for the day, the local SES were having a big conflab in the car park and the local birds were enjoying the spoils of the opening of the lock.Read more

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    Historic Burra

    Jun 12–13, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We are overnighting in a quaint Miners Cottage in the historic town of Burra. They mined copper here in 1845 and then again in the 1970s. Lots of historic buildings to explore, we are hoping the weather will be kind in the morning so we can get a "heritage passport" and investigate the old mine site in more detail.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Quorndon?

    Jun 13–17, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We spent the morning exploring more of Burra with our $50 heritage pass. A great idea, the pass gives you access to eleven heritage sites around the town including the Burra Burra Mine, Bon Accord Mine complex and Redruth gaol/Girls reformatory. This afternoon we travelled to Quorn, settled in 1878 and named after the parish of Quorndon in Leicestershire of all places. Great scenery but ex Treasurer Hockey would be aghast at all the wind farms along the way.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    A gap or a stimulant?

    June 14, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    The locals can't decide whether Pichi Richi is a First Nations term meaning "gap" or a stimulant of ash and plant leaves used by them. Nevertheless, the Pichi Richi Railway is great tourist attraction. Janet and I rode the euphemistically named "Afghan Express" today from Port Augusta to Quorn and return. Hardly an Express, we traversed the southern end of the Flinders Ranges at the leisurely pace of 30 km per hour from 1030hr to 1630hr. The scenery was magnificent, we had a couple of rain showers along the way which seemed to add contrast to the landscape. Put it on your bucket list!Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Warrens Gorge, Dutchman, Devils Peak

    June 15, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Today we explored the environs of Quorn. Warrens Gorge, named after Major Warren a friend of Eyre, was the standout. The rock formations in the Gorge were spectacular. We were also hoping to see some yellow footed wallabies but unfortunately they didn't get the memo so we came up short. Devils Peak which is just out of town was equally impressive though neither of us could quite see the devil resemblance. We had visions of climbing right to the top but at the three quarter mark decided that our insurer would take a dim view if we dropped our camera gear clambering up the almost vertical slopes. Discretion being the better part of valour in this instance. Dutchman's Stern also just out of town was a bit of of a disappointment, once again we struggled to see the resemblance!Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    In the Hawker Country

    June 16, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Those of you who are familiar with the artist Hans Heysen's "In the Hawker Country" will undoubtedly recognise today's scenery. We spent today poking around Hawker which is approximately 60km north of Quorn. Fantastic scenery including the Elders Ranges which are thought to have been the inspiration for Heysen's iconic work. The standout for us though was the less well-known Jarvis Lookout, an 'easy' walk apparently. It was a bit of a climb, but nothing like Devil's Peak yesterday. We disturbed a couple of the resident goats and entertained a wedge tailed eagle who was looking for lunch, but the view was simply stunning. Tomorrow we head further north to Blinman to check out an old mine.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Blinman - no available route!

    Jun 17–20, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Today we moved our base from Quorn to Skytrek Willow Springs. We went via Blinman, despite Mr Subaru's strident objection that there was no available route! Rude letter to Subaru Australia to follow. Blinman was a very astute one legged shepherd who took out a mining permit on the site in the 1870s on the suspicion that there was copper in the rock formations. We took the tour of the old mine; what a tough life the Cornish miners must have had. We also ran into a young UK woman who is cycling around South Australia (having just completed the Mawson Trail on her Trek) and has visions of riding from here to Alice Springs! We checked out the Great Wall of China on the way to Willow Springs, and after checking in, took in a great sunset from the nearby Stokes Hill Lookout. We are looking forward to exploring the environs of Willow Springs and Wilpena Pound on the morrow. Janet also has visions of doing some Milky Way photography tonight while the skies are perfectly clear.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Iridomyrmex?

    June 18, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    For a while there we thought that we were going to come up short on the yellow footed rock wallabies (Petrogale xanthopus) at Wilpena Pound. We traipsed all over (more than 8km) but apart from abundant Iridomyrmex (meat ants) and the odd roo we were unable to find any sign of them. While reluctant to admit defeat we headed for the car park only to stumble on a pair just near the trail head! Perhaps we should have started there in the first place. Wilpena Pound itself exceeded our expectations, an amazing natural phenomenon. Tomorrow's dilemma is whether to go via the Parachilna or Brachina gorge.Read more

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    Parachilna Won

    June 19, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    After consulting with the locals, we decided to retrace our steps to Blinman and cross to the Outback Highway via Parachilna Gorge rather than risk the reportedly rocky creek bed road to Brachina Gorge. Our Subaru Outback AWD was thought to be better suited to the terrain there. Parachilna Gorge itself was very impressive, lots of sheer rock faces. Very dry though, certainly still drought conditions at this end of the Flinders Ranges. We checked out the pub at Parachilna which has a reputation for fine native tucker but didn't end up partaking in the fare on offer. Tomorrow we reluctantly leave the Flinders and start heading for Adelaide on our homeward leg to Canberra. We'll be overnighting on a farmstay at Wirrabara en route to our next digs at seaside Glenelg.Read more

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    But where are the Alligators?

    June 20, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    As foreshadowed, today we pointed the Subaru south from Willow Springs towards Adelaide. Along the way we stopped off at Alligator Gorge in the Mount Remarkable National Park. We were a bit concerned as we approached the National Park along the entry road as it was still showing the aftermath of a fairly extensive bushfire that devastated the area in Feb 2025. Despite the obvious damage on the way in, the Gorge itself was almost untouched and lived up to expectations with extensive vibrant, coloured walls. We then detoured to Port Pirie to resupply the Yeti and headed for our overnight accommodation at Ruby Cottage on the biodynamic Taralee Orchard. It proved to be an excellent choice, situated in a very peaceful and relaxing spot alongside the Wirrabara Forest Reserve. Heading off to the seaside in the morning.Read more

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    What a contrast.

    Jun 21–24, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We started our Saturday in Wirrabara on a biodynamic Orchard and ended our day at Glenelg Beach in Adelaide. What a contrast. We stayed in the aptly named Ruby Cottage on the edge of Taralee Orchard run by Paul and his daughter Renae. They have had a tough couple of years and the current drought isn't helping. See this link https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/heywire-winner-r… Full credit to them though, they have persisted against the odds and created a very peaceful environment. Well worth a visit if you are ever in the vicinity. Stocked with quite a few packs of dried fruits from the orchard, we headed south after morning tea at the local Wirrabara bakery (with a side of SiloArt). With guidance from Janet, who has spent quite a few days previously cycling around the Clare Valley, we travelled on to Adelaide with a brief stop at the Seven Hills Winery so Janet could resupply the cellar! We arrived at our Glenelg Beach accommodation just in time to take in an iconic Adelaide sunset. The next couple of days will be spent catching up with friends and relatives.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    House on the Rock

    Jun 23–25, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Today we headed out of Adelaide towards Mt Gambier. We detoured via Coonalpyn to see if we could find the "House on the Rock" where Gary's maternal Grandfather (Percy Angel) and his 13 siblings grew up. Surprise, surprise after bailing up a couple of local farmers we were able to actually find the remains of the house literally on the side of a rock along Kangaroo Flat Road. One of the young farmers had a keen interest in the Angels and their history so we have arranged to send him an extract from the history written by Janet Angel (dec), the wife of one of Percy's brother's sons. Of course we had to go past the local silos to take in their art offerings. We are staying in a quaint cottage in Mt Gambier for the next couple of days whilst we take in the local sights. Hopefully the weather will be kind and the severe wind warnings won't eventuate!Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Museum or cave?

    June 24, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    What do you do when the rain is horizontal in Mount Gambier? A museum or a limestone cave perhaps. Well we did both today because the rain was literally horizontal for much of the day. We visited Millicent's History Museum this morning after a harrowing drive across to Millicent in pouring rain dodging the logging trucks which were still doing 110 km per hour despite the rain! The Museum had an eclectic mix of exhibits including horse drawn vehicles, women's fashion through the ages and a fascinating exhibit documenting how the Limestone Coast's marshlands were drained. After lunch we explored the Tantanoola Caves, a small but impressive limestone cave. It was then on to Mt Gambier to check out Blue Lake and the Umpherstone Gardens constructed in a sink hole. Tomorrow we will wend our way along Victoria's Shipwreck Coast to Ocean Grove for the evening.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    Brrr, Wild and Woolly Weather

    Jun 25–27, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 9 °C

    Brrr, our good fortune with the weather has well and truly run out. We revisited the Blue Lake again this morning before we headed out, but the wind was just as strong as yesterday arvo. The run across from Mount Gambier to Ocean Grove today was memorable for the very windy and squally weather that followed us the whole way. The dams weren't full but the rain was definitely starting to run off and collect in the lower parts of paddocks. We stopped for lunch in Warrnambool and joined many locals who were sightseeing the white caps at the Warrnambool Breakwater in Lady Bay. We are catching up with ex-Army colleague John Macleod & his wife Debbie tomorrow and will then finally point the Outback towards Canberra on Friday.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    What a difference a day makes.

    Jun 26–27, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We woke this morning in Ocean Grove to a much calmer day than yesterday. We met up with John and Debbie Macleod mid morning and were given a great tour of the Queenscliff area. We spent 12 months here in 1992 when Janet was posted to Army Staff College. Boy have things changed since then, lots of new housing developments and urban infill. We had a great lunch at the Queenscliff/Sorrento Ferry Terminal - great view of Port Phillip Bay and delicious food. Tomorrow we head back to Blaxland Crescent, hopefully the weather will be kind to us and the cold snap in Canberra will be over.Read more

  • Our Ikara-Flinders Ranges Trip

    That's All Folks!

    June 27, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

    We are safely back home in Canberra after a smooth trip up the Hume. Thanks to all those who followed along; trust our observations along the way were of interest. We certainly had a great time. Mind you the Subaru Outback will need a thorough clean! Cheers.Read more

    Trip end
    June 27, 2025
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