Warren Gorge to Point Lowly (via Flinders Ranges)

Day 19 - Warren Gorge to Point Lowly (via Flinders Ranges)

Warren Gorge, Hawker, Port Augusta

Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Went for walk with Tuka early in the morning. We saw 12 wallabies and one wedge- tailed eagle during the walk. Cool morning (17 deg), in contrast to yesterday afternoon. On the way out saw two yellow-footed rock wallabies by the side of the road. Stayed still long enough to let me photograph them.

Turned onto the dirt road, Simonston Road and then a few kilometres later turned off onto the Buckaringa Scenic Drive. Stopped at the Buckaringa Lookout - good views of the South Flinders Ranges. Saw a shingleback on the road. Stopped and helped him move off the road.

Drove back onto Simonston Road and stopped at Hugh Proby's grave. He died in 1852 while trying save some cattle during floods. The slab on the grave weighs 1.5 tonne and was imported from England by his family. Crossed over Willochra Creek - now a dry creek bed but in a good wet season drains into Lake Torrens about 60km away.

Back onto the Quorn-Hawker Road - sealed road again! About 10km before Hawker we turned off to visit the Yourambulla Caves Aboriginal Painting site. By this time the outside temperature was over 40 degrees so the ten minute walk up to the caves was not pleasant. The paintings were worth the walk though.

Stopped at Hawker and got some diesel (164.9 cents/litres) and bought a milkshake at a cafe ($6.50) and gave Tuka some water. Then drove along Wilpena Road up to the Flinders Range National Park. Stopped along the way and photragraphed the Ranges.

Unable to enter park so decided to the Moralana Scenic Drive which has views to the north of the south-west part of the Wilpena Pound and the Wilpena Pound Range and views to the south of the Elder Range. The road consisted of kilometres of corregations interspersed with creek crossings - but worth it for the views.

During the scenic drive it was over 40 degrees outside and 36 degrees in the van (because of me getting in and out the van for photographs). Therefore after finishing the scenic drive decided to go down to the Eyre Peninsula as it was still very hot and I wanted to give Tuka a swim. Drove through Port Augusta and on to a free camping spot at Port Lowly (north of Whyalla). The first thing Tuka did when we arrived was to go for a swim.

	Campsite at Warren Gorge [Map]		Yellow-footed rock wallabies (kangaroo in background) [Map]
	Isolated farm as seen from the Buckaringa Scenic Drive [Map]		Hugh Proby's Grave [Map]
	Willochra Creek [Map]		Yourambulla Caves Aboriginal Paintings (Site 1) [Map]
	View from the Yourambulla Caves [Map]		Wilpena Pound Range [Map]
	Arkaba Hills and Elder Range [Map]		Wilpena Pound Range [Map]
	Elder Range Range [Map]		Gums, windmill and the Flinders Ranges [Map]

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