My back yard

As a South Australian and keen camper and four wheel driver I spend a lot of time in the Flinders Ranges. It lies some 5 or so hours north of Adelaide on bitumen roads and is also accessible by light plane if you're brave enough. For me, I like to drive. I tow my camper trailer behind my 4x4 and have the benefit of setting up pretty much anywhere. I've always preferred setting up a base-camp and hiking or four wheeling out from there. and there's some amazing spots for a week-long base camp. You're assured of being totally secluded and could go for days without seeing another person. Perfect!

Bunyroo Gorge road. Usually open to 2 wheel drive vehicles but often closed to anything but a 4x4.

The Flinders is home to such features as Brachina Gorge, Parachilna Gorge, the Historic town of Blinman, Chambers Gorge and of course Wilpena Pound one of the areas most popular tourist attractions. One can find rock formations hundreds and thousands of years old, Aboriginal rock art and cave paintings, native flora perfectly adapted to the semi-arid environment like sugar gum, cypress-pine, mallee and black oak and in moister areas grevillea's, guinea flowers, liliaceae and ferns. In the right season the wild flower display is spectacular. [September/October].

Cacti flowers.

There's also fauna like red and western grey kangaroos, yellow-footed rock wallaby, emu's, wedge tail eagles, parrots and galah's together with goannas, snakes, dragon lizards, skinks, geckos and more. Care must be taken on the roads when driving to minimise animal strikes however you'll see plenty of unfortunate animals who fell foul of a vehicle. Hitting a kangaroo in a vehicle doing 100kph will pretty-much destroy a car and render a 4x4 with bull bar inoperative.

I got pretty close up to this little guy on the 3.5 hour hike up Mt Olssen Bagge elev. 923m

Below are some pictures I have taken over the last 12 months or so over a couple of trips to the area.

Yucca plants

Hiking up to the viewing area over Wilpena Pound

Ancient sea bed sand petrified into rock. This whole area was once a vast sea.

Watching the sunset near Rawnsley Park Station and the colours playing on the rock formations.

Aboriginal rock rock art paintings. This site is now closed to the public.

A little water still running in Parachilna Gorge

A little echidna. This one took a shining to me. I think it's quite rare to get close to this shy creature normally.

A typical Flinders Ranges road. Don't be fooled there's loads of 4x4 tracks to challenge the most experienced driver such as the Billy Goat Ridge track in the Bendleby Ranges.

Look out for these guys too. There's over a million camels in the Australian outback. A legacy from the past when the first explorers used them to carry equipment.

The entrance to Chambers Gorge. One of the best rock art sites still open to the public.

My rig and camper trailer. And my better half. My Ranger has had extensive modification's even over what you see here. Bull bar, lights, UVP, recovery points, side steps, OME lift, auxiliary battery, fridge, Pioneer platform, awning, UHF, brake controller, wind booster and so on... I'll post more about them one day.

My girl off for a hike. Me lagging behind as usual.

Gateway to the far north of South Australia. Ignore these signs at your peril.

I hope you have enjoyed my images and introduction to the Flinders Ranges. If you get the chance make sure you get over here and check it out as you'll not be disappointed. Getting out into the great outdoors is one of the great joys in life. Poking the fire with a stick, star gazing at night and counting shooting stars is a perfect way to end a day of hiking, four wheeling and exploring.

Thank you for reading.

G