flinders rangers in Jan...?

[Deltacharliepapa]

so, i was thinking of going for a drive up to the flinders rangers this coming jan. work is shut down for a week, and ive never seen the desert. im thinking take two day up from melbourne, check out the ranges, maybe an over nighter at lake eyre, then back into the ranges, then two days back to melb.

do you think it would be a little hot up there for v8 d1?

any one done it? worth the drive? or is any one doing it? love to travel en mass.

cheers.

dave

[mikehzz]

Wilpena was pretty well packed solid over xmas a few years ago. It was hot but ok. I wouldn't go out to Lake Eyre in summer, that's a different kettle of fish.

[jsp]

There is always people around and its a great place, all the locals up there were saying its going to be a real hot one this summer just 3 weeks ago.


I don't know that I would go past Lyndhurst without a really well maintained car in January, it could be stinking hot 40-45 every day or it could be really nice :)

Its a fair bit of driving to do in 4 or 5 days though from Melbourne? I could spend months up there! a few hurried days wouldn't do it justice.

[bee utey]

Driving a D1 V8 up there at warp speed (to fit it all in) in that heat is unlikely to be kind to you or the vehicle. Save up your holidays and do it in winter instead.

[Jondavball]

Any trip to the Flinders is worth although its a long drive from Melbourne. That said I took the family in the Defender last September and we are in Canberra.

If you go I highly recommend visiting Nuccaleena (old copper mining town), a drink at the Blinman Pub and a drive through Hannigans Gap (past Moololoo Station) to Artimore.

As Mike mentioned Wilpena Pound will be packed but there are plenty of areas a little further north that you can spend a coupleof nights without seeing a sole.

It is likely to be very hot.

[Eevo]

will be hot, 40+ most days.
i dont recomend.
dont even think about walking st marys peak in that heat

[mick88]

Well worth thinking it over as all is good while you are in a modern motor vehicle with the air conditioner going!
However any mishaps can result in disasterous consequences.
Think back to the Page Family Tragedy of December 1964!
I know it is almost fifty years ago, but the harsh conditions of the outback haven't changed, so once things take a turn for the worse the result can be tragic.

http://www.simpsondesert.fl.net.au/perish/


Cheers, Mick.

[Chops]

Its a fair bit of driving to do in 4 or 5 days though from Melbourne? I could spend months up there! a few hurried days wouldn't do it justice.

It wont do it justice,,, but by crikey, it'll get you wanting to do a lot more,,, :D
(and we only went as high as Melrose,,,, :eek:)

[digger]

Melrose (and WILMINGTON my home town) are only the foothill of the flinders and just a trip up and around there would be a good start...

Save the big trip for an accompanied trip not at the height of summer. Time it to catch a picnic race meeting (william creek, marree, oodnadatta are always good) or the camel cup (marree)..

If you have a history 'bent' then there is a massive amount of history just on the road between marree and oodnadatta... huge amounts. (oodna track).

As said before, if you do go, make sure someone knows your schedule and that they can call for help if you need it. Take an EPIRB (they work everywhere!!) but only use in an emergency.

DO NOT leave the car, its easier to find than a person on foot.

There is some great country to cover... and really even living in the flinders and later living in the desert, just when you think youve seen and been everywhere you find out you really don't know anything much at all... its great! :)

[jazzaD1]

I was in the northern and central flinders (based in Arkaroola and Angorichina) for 10 days in july as part of a uni geology field trip, I can't wait to go back, and plan to next winter hopefully, summer will be way too hot

[Deltacharliepapa]

ok. advice is in. ill wait till next winter i reckon.

thanks heaps for all the great advice, ill be looking a lot of those places up on the map.

maybe start planning now.

so the question that remains is, where is good to spend a week in summer?
murray river? otways? grampions? im pretty new to camping as an adult, was all ways taken care of by the folks when i was a boy.

ive been to walhalla and bruntons bridge, but im guessing that will be packed with dirt bikes and hoons, and have been thru lerderderg a few times, but that gets smaller every time i go in.

once again any advice is very much appreciated.

thanks all.

dave.

[bee utey]

so the question that remains is, where is good to spend a week in summer?

Coorong beach/Coorong National park. You can't get trapped by bushfires when there's stuff all to burn. This is one of the best summer camping areas accessible by 4WD that I can think of. Access just north of Kingston (SE) or further up near Salt Creek.

Exploring the Coorong (http://www.thecoorong.com/exploring.html)

Little known fact: If you dig a 4 foot deep temporary well in the flats behind the foredune you'll get plentiful crystal clear, sand filtered, deliciously cool rain water. It's a magical area.:)

[Deltacharliepapa]

Coorong beach/Coorong National park. You can't get trapped by bushfires when there's stuff all to burn. This is one of the best summer camping areas accessible by 4WD that I can think of. Access just north of Kingston (SE) or further up near Salt Creek.

Exploring the Coorong (http://www.thecoorong.com/exploring.html)

Little known fact: If you dig a 4 foot deep temporary well in the flats behind the foredune you'll get plentiful crystal clear, sand filtered, deliciously cool rain water. It's a magical area.:)

awesome, thank you. will have a look.

dave.

[ramblingboy42]

ummm....people are saying winter.....nooooo, this time of year is Flinders time....how about miles of Sturt Peas, balmy weather, cool clear starry nights, possible beautiful flowing streams and the spring wildlife.....I think a couple of other knowledgeables would back me up here.....I love the bush so much anytime is good for me, I absolutely love the scorching heat.....but the Flinders is special in sept/oct....

[Deltacharliepapa]

Coorong beach/Coorong National park. You can't get trapped by bushfires when there's stuff all to burn. This is one of the best summer camping areas accessible by 4WD that I can think of. Access just north of Kingston (SE) or further up near Salt Creek.

Exploring the Coorong (http://www.thecoorong.com/exploring.html)

Little known fact: If you dig a 4 foot deep temporary well in the flats behind the foredune you'll get plentiful crystal clear, sand filtered, deliciously cool rain water. It's a magical area.:)

thanks heaps Bee utey! had a good look around on the net and you tube, looks amazing!

will def organise a trip up there. ill be heading up boxing day i reckon.

thanks again.

dave.

[bee utey]

thanks heaps Bee utey! had a good look around on the net and you tube, looks amazing!

will def organise a trip up there. ill be heading up boxing day i reckon.

thanks again.

dave.

I spent much of 20 years of my life trekking down to the Coorong 3-4 times a year so I may be a bit biased as to the scenery!

A couple of notes:

Make sure you have current tide times charts for the area. Best driving is of course at low tide. During long summer fine weather periods the beach levels out and firms up beautifully. Storms will chop up the beach and leave only a narrow track along the base of the foredune.

The beach changes significantly as you move north. Down near Kingston a 2wd will travel easily on the beach. The further north you go the softer it gets, although there should be plenty of traffic to help out if you get stuck. Carry a compressor and don't be afraid to let the tyres down for traction.

For a bit of historical film, google "storm boy" a film from 1976.

[DieselDan]

ummm....people are saying winter.....nooooo, this time of year is Flinders time....how about miles of Sturt Peas, balmy weather, cool clear starry nights, possible beautiful flowing streams and the spring wildlife.....I think a couple of other knowledgeables would back me up here.....I love the bush so much anytime is good for me, I absolutely love the scorching heat.....but the Flinders is special in sept/oct....

Yep I'd agree with this. Myself and swmbo drove from Sturt NP across to the Flinders a few weeks ago and it was gorgeous. Loved seeing all the Sturt desert peas.
There was a bit of a heatwave for a few days though. Climbing Mt Ollsen Bagge as the temp rose to 30 even early in the morning was hard going!

[Deltacharliepapa]

haha, just googled what SWMBO meant.... :lol2:

[mick88]

I was in the northern and central flinders (based in Arkaroola and Angorichina) for 10 days in july as part of a uni geology field trip, I can't wait to go back, and plan to next winter hopefully, summer will be way too hot

Beautiful country.
Arkaroola itself tells you how hard the countryside is!
They turned a from running stock to running tourists!
My mates family owned the neighbouring station Yankaninna for several decades. Tough country! Dig a hole for a fence post with gelignite.


Cheers, Mick.