Our plan for this holiday, our first extended trip in our new caravan is to follow the mighty Murray River from its source in the Snowy Mountains to the South Australian border where we leave it and head to the outback and explore the fantastic Flinders Ranges.
However our first stopover is Sydney where we catch up with our family to celebrate our daughter Tracy's 30th birthday. From there we then make our way to the Snowy Mountains region near the source of the Murray.
Our first sunrise of the trip after an overnight stop at the heritage-listed memorial bridge along the Brooweena-Woolooga Road.
We join Tracy, Matt, Leanne and Glenn on a cold, rainy day in Manly to celebrate Tracy's 30th.
Tracy - 30th birthday
Celebrating with Tracy - Leanne, Glenn, Kfir, Tracy, Matt, Cher and Ross
Bathurst, the famous Mt Panorama racetrack circuit.
Bathurst, Ben Chiffley's former residence.
Bathurst, Abercrombie House.
Carcoar, the third oldest settlement west of the Blue Mountains.
Carcoar, Stoke Stable Museum
Carcoar, The sandstone High Gothic style Church of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1870.
Golden sunset beyond the Murrumbidgee River.
Campfire comfort at our overnight stop beside the Murrumbidgee at Wantabadgery.River.
Our journey along the Murray River begins at Jingellic, our base for the next couple of days.
Cheryl taking in the scenery on the banks of the Murray River at Jingellic.
Steel pylons are all that remain of a bridge built across the upper reaches of the Murray River in the late 1800s.,
The new bridge downstream of Jingellic was built in the late 1950's.
Man from Snowy Rive territory.
Pipework and a generation station, part of the famous Snowy River Hydro-electric Scheme.
Autum colours of the forest frame the foothills of the Snowy Mountains beyond the reservoir.Afternoon sun lights the silver Snow-gum trees where it breaks through the cloud cover.Afternoon sun lights the silver Snow-gum trees where it breaks through the cloud cover.
Afternoon sun lights the silver Snow-gum trees where it breaks through the cloud cover.
Rutherglen - we visit All Saints Winery.
A lunch fit for a Plowman at Pickled Sisters.
Sunset colours reflected in lake, Rutherglen van park.
We meet up with the Murray River again at the historic river port of Echuca travelling along and weaving back and forth across the river visiting Berri, Overland Corner and Morgan.
A step back in time as we roam the historic wharf precinct, Echuca.
The Echuca Customs House is a significant element of the historic Echuca wharf precinct; it has an important relationship with the other elements in the precinct, including the Echuca Wharf (1867) and adjacent Shackell's Bond Store (1859), which are amongst Echuca's oldest riverfront buildings.
Cheryl is dwarfed by a huge Red Gum log on a timber buggy, also made from redgum timber.
Constructed in 1869 the historic timber wharf saw Echuca become the 2nd largest port in Victoria.
Emmylou makes it's way under road an rail bridges as it steams towards town.
Emmylou, one of the restored paddle boats operating out of the river port. Tourists being their cargo today.
Alexander Arbuthnot, the last paddle steamer to be built as a working boat on the Murray River during the riverboat trade era.
Martins Bend on the Murray River near Berri. A popular boating recreation area with nearby camping faciliteis. facilities
Wildlife abounds - a pair of Tawny Frogmouths perch on a branch.
Loxton, merinos roam the streets of the pioneer village.
Wilabalangaloo Nature Reserve, adjacent a 1km stretch of ochre-coloured sandstone cliffs, contains a significant remnant of native Mallee vegetation and wildlife habitat including the rare Blue-leaved Mallee, Native Jasmine and 9 species of rare birds.
Red, brown and yellow ochre colours of the sandstone cliffs from which the reserve is named.
Murray River from the cliff-top viewing platform.
The Overland Corner Hotel licensed since 1860.
Originally a convenient watering place and camp site for the overlanders and drovers operating between New South Wales and the colony based on Adelaide in the early 1800s.
Despite its isolated location the Sunday crowd roll in.
River Ferry crossing point at Morgan.
Morgan Wharf a popular starting point for River Boats on the Murray River.
Leaving the Murray River behind us we travel through the Clare valley as we make our way to the small town and railhead of Quorn, the terminus of the Pichi Richi Railway and our jumping off point to the Flinders Ranges.
Sevenhill Winery, established by Jesuits in the early 1850's.
Sevenhill, Saint Aloysius Church circa 1851.
Martindale Hall near Mintaro. A Georgian style mansion (appeared in the movie Hanging Rock).
Martindale Hall Stables, luxury equine accommodation.
A beautiful old wrought iron rotunda takes pride of place in the historic town center of Burra.
Original working buildings of Burra Burra or the Monster Mine, which until 1860 the mine was the largest metals mine in Australia.
We pass through Gladstone SA on our way to Quorn.
An historic brick grain store on a property near Melrose.
The towns historic Railway Station, still in use as the terminus for the Pichi Richi Railway tourist train.
Cheryl waits patiently for the arrival of the Pichi Richi tourist train.
Rusting rollingstock in front of the track departure signals. To the right is a cast iron water tank (a replica of the original installed 1879. In the background is the 1879 Running Shed.
This 5 ton crane stands in front of the Goods Shed, no longer required to load wagons.
The Stationmaster greets the arrival of the Pichi Richi train .
Pitchi Richi Railway train at Quorn station.
The "Fat Conductor" observes as tourists stream from the coaches.
The Dutchman's Stern, a mountain outside of Quorn.
The Heysen Trail runs from Parachilna Gorge, in the Flinders Ranges via the Adelaide Hills to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula and is approximately 1,200 km in length.
Warren Gorge near Quorn.
Sunset greets our arrival to Hawker.
Rawnsley Park Station, located close to Wilpena Pound is our base camp for the next couple of days in the Flinders Ranges and surrounding region.
Our exploration is largely by 4WD and walking trails and and culminates in a spectacular scenic flight over Wilpena Pound, Chace and ABC Ranges.Â
Setup at our campsite with a view of Rawnsley Bluff, Wilpena Pound.
Sunset paints the distant ranges in a soft pink hue.
The Red Terrace rock face and Rawnsley Bluff highlighted by the last rays of the day.
Enjoying happy hour with a toast to our first day in the Flinders Rangers.
Looking towards the bluff, Wilpena Pound from the Rawnsley Lookout.
A Wedge Tail Eagle observes our passage.
Heading to Blinman we came across this geological feature known locally as "The Great Wall of China", because of the eroded ridge line having the appearance of a wall.
Blinman Mine - Cheryl emerges from the Adit. (Cornish for tunnel)
One of the few historical Colonial Buildings remaining, the Memorial Hall circa 1896.
Heading towards Brachina Gorge
Brachina Lookout.
A hot-air balloon approaches Rawnsley Park Station on an early morning Flight.
A rock wallaby grazes in the dawn light.
Hiking along the Clems Corner Trail
Lichen covered rock on the south-facing rockface of the Clems Corner Trail
Posing at Clems Corner
The view from Clems Corner
Colours of the Flinders - the various rock layers of the Elder Ranges in combination with light and shadow produce a palate typical of the region.
Old Cueing Yards along the Moralana Drive and stop to check them out.
Dust rises from the bare earth, a harsh reminder of the drought as hand-feeding the herd is underway.
One of the park entrances with the Heysen Ranges in the background.
Checking out Aroona Hut
The scenery is spectacular as we drive through Flinders Ranges National Park.
Aroona Homestead ruins.
Aroona Homestead Ruins.
Spectacular colours of the ranges as the sun sets on our last night at Rawnsley Park Station.
All smiles for an early morning start to our flight over Wilpena Pound.
A view of the north eastern escarpment of Wilpena Pound.
ABC and Heysen Ranges extend beyond Wilpena Pound - Ikara-Flinders Ranges
A birds eye view over Wilpena Pound looking from the South-east.
A closer look at the Wilpena Pound interior.
The undulating interior of Wilpena Pound rises upward where it abruptly drops over jagged rock faced escarpments.
Edeowie Gorge on the western end of the pound.
A view of the Northern escarpment of Wilpena Pound from the western side. ABC Range on the left of the frame.
In control..... Don looks confident in the co-pilot's seat.
Lorraine enjoys the flight from the rear of the plane.
After our flight we hit the road to visit the Arkaroola Wilderness Reserve.
We stop for lunch on our drive to Arkaroola in a shady but dry creek bed.
Don and Lorraine capturing memories.
From this raised vantage point Lake Frome is just a white strip on the horizon.
Our arrival in Arkaroola unfortunately coincided with the arrival of a couple of days of inclement weather, cold and wet which fortunately cleared up to allow us to explore around the village and do their legendry Ridgetop Tour and experience the rugged beauty of this wilderness area.
Entering Arkaroola Village a rock sculpture depicts Aboriginal tribesmen.
A Wedge Tail Eagle watches.
"Arkhenge" - a rock collection representative of the areas geology.
Despite the recent rain the water level of a nearby creek is dangerously low.
Cheryl contemplates the day ahead while I explore around us.
Spectacular flower spikes of a grass tree contrast the ochre walls of a rock cave in the background.
Rugged wilderness as far as the eye can see as we commence our journey.
A blue haze, typical of the Australian bush lies beyond the track ahead.
Arkaroola Village, appears as a mere speck in the landscape below.
.......and still the track weaves and climbs its way through the mountains.
A seed pod from a Kapok tree hangs tantalizingly close to the track.
This bearded dragon refused to leave its warm place on the road forcing our driver to stop and relocate it from danger.
Exposed rock outcrops thrust skywards above the vegetation.
A spectacularly rugged wilderness landscape.
Finally our long awaited destination lies ahead of us.
The final steep, narrow track climb up to the precarious lookout point at the ridgetop.
The Cartographic Plinth at Sillers Lookout orientates us to the outside world.
We're all smiles high above the world.
The amazing landscape encountered along our journey becomes breathtakingly spectacular from this vantage point.
Simply spectacular views in all directions.
The shadows lengthen creating a moody vista over the rugged terrain as we make our way home.
A rising moon emerges above mountains to the east as the sun sets in the west.
Near vertical rock strata point toward a full moon,
Ruins of an old railway bridge over Hookina Creek near the abandoned town of Hookina outside of Hawker.
Ruins of the abandoned Hookina settlement.
Our campsite is in the background of the decaying ruins of an old homestead, Hookina..
The crumbling ruins of an old stone homestead at sunset, Hookina
Looking through the ruins towards the Flinders Ranges, Hookina.
The historic Hawker Railway Station now a Restaurant and Gallery..
An old crane stands in front of the Goods Shed at the rear of the historic Railway Station, Hawker.
Cheryl is dwarfed by this giant red gum outside Orroroo, thought to be over 500 years old and with a girth of 10.9 metres.
Street Sculpture of draught horse team pulling a Forbes three furrow stump jump plough, Orroroo.
Peterborough Railway Station now a rail museum.
Locomotive PMR 720.
Restored modes of rail transport at the museum.
Mannahill, all that remains of one of the easternmost settlements in South Australia. At the 2016 census, Mannahill had no people living within its boundaries.
The Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial is an icon for Broken Hill and the mining industry.
The Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial remembers more than 800 deaths since mining commenced in Broken Hill in 1883.
One if the iconic sculptures at sunset, located within the Living Desert Reserve west of Broken Hill.
One if the iconic sculptures at sunset, located within the Living Desert Reserve west of Broken Hill.
Leaving Broken Hill behind us we head to Wilcannia, here we track alongside the legendry Darling River making our way back towards Queensland. Along the way we pass through Tilpa, Louth and Lightning Ridge.
The Darling River is just a narrow brown ribbon under the bridge to Tilpa.
Cheryl checks out the shortest Heritage Walk in Australia.
Tilpa Hotel where we drop in for a 'coldie' to quench our thirst.
Cheers to a great trip at the Tilpa Hotel. Our arrival doubled the population.
Happy-hour camped overnight on the roadside between Tilpa and Louth.
We arrive early next morning in Louth to find Shindy's Inn closed.
The "Shining Cross". A Celtic Cross on the grave of Mary Mathews which supposedly glows at sunset
On tour to see the sights of Lightning Ridge.
Even here you pass through the obligatory Gift/Souvenir Shop.
We enter hand hewn tunnels left by the miners as we commence a tour of the Chambers of the Black Hand.
Cheryl beside one of the many hand carved reliefs.
Australia's Coat of Arms and other things interwoven..
An amazing galvanised iron church - only in Lightning Ridge.
Mining in operation - the ingenious invention lifts ore from the mine shaft and loads a truck.
One of several "Folly" homes built by the colourful locals - this one appears inspired by a medieval castle and Mexican ranch house.
Quirky humour wherever you look.
Stanley the Emu was once a VW beetle.
Signs, signs everywhere signs......some are even helpful.
Another original but unfinished masterpiece - Beer.Can.House.
A window into the Beer Can House..
A healing circle maze of rocks.
Our first place we encounter back inside the Queensland border is the little town of Hebel where time at the pub has stood still. From here we head for home along the way we drop into St George, Mitchell and stay a couple of nights at Boondooma.
Hebel Hotel - Hitching rails In front of the pub make it feel like time has stood still, leaving behind tales of bushrangers, Cobb and Co, and dance halls.
Colourful artwork by Lightning Ridge's famous artist, John Murray adorns the front of the pub.
John Myrray's Emus peer from windows.
Nindigully Pub - the sign entices us in.
Nindigully Pub a popular camping spot.
The quirky interior even has an Akubra hat collection.......
........... and antique XXXX advertising.
Cobb & Co memorabilia adorns the dining area.
Nindigully waterhole.
We leave Nindigully disappointed we that missed the free beer.
Camped on the banks of the Balonne River near St George.
Sunset reflections in the still waters of the Balonne.
A fine display of emu egg carving in St George.
Cheryl enjoying the healing benefits of Mitchell's hot artesian waters.
Enjoying one more happy hour campfire.
The wildlife is is unperturbed by our presence as it strolls through the camping area.
Sunset silhouettes.
Boondooma Dam camped beside the lake.
An Egret makes use of the pontoon to hunt fish.
