Flinders Ranges - Day 2

Day 2: Monday 27 August

After getting up and organising our bags we ate breakfast and then made our lunch wraps.

We were on the road by 7:30am, heading for our walk drop. We diverted to have a look at the ruins of Kanyaka Homestead and outbuildings as well as its cemetery. It must have been impressive in its day. Today the shell of its walls is a testament to its previous glory.

Kanyaka Homestead ruins

 We had a brief stop in Hawker for fuel and a cigarette lighter then on to our drop off point, Black Gap, just off the Moralana Scenic Drive, in the middle of absolutely nowhere but a point on the Heysen Trail.

The initial part of the walk was along a creek bed and then we climbed up into the saddle of Bridle Gap on the rim of Wilpena Pound. The plan was to have lunch at Bridle Gap but we found our spot occupied by a group of students on a self initiative (or whatever they are called) hike. We found a nearby spot, enjoyed the views and our wraps followed by a fresh cup of tea … hence the cigarette lighter!

Continuing on after our lunch break brought us out onto the edge of Wilpena Pound. The hike up and then down had the odd challenging moments where we ended up scrambling up and down the path.

Views across Wilpena Pound from the lookout

 The walk across the Pound was very pleasant. There were numerous kangaroos, emus and other birds. At the Hills homestead we went up to the lookout. There turned out to be a lower and upper one. Andrea had never been to the upper but, as some of us were on our way up to it, she followed us … a first for her. The view across the Pound was wonderful and we had a sight of the Elder Ranges peeping over the rim of the Pound. It was definitely worth the climb to the upper lookout.

The group consistently broke into two. Paul, Trevor and I were consistently in the first group with Andrea. Later we were joined by Terrie. The breakaway group were permitted to walk ahead towards the Wilpena Visitors Centre along a broad track which took us alongside a creek. At points the creek was clogged with huge trees which had been washed down in floods. The geology was awesome, too.

After a coffee, loo trip and some fruit it was on the bus heading for Willow Springs Station, our home for the next three nights. Willow Springs is a 283 sq. km pastoral lease and we are staying in their shearers quarters.

On the drive to Willow Springs we stopped to look at a tree made famous by photographer Harold Cazneaux. The tree shows the tenacity of the tree to survive against all the odds.

Harold Cazneaux 1937 photograph of the tree titled ‘Spirit of Endurance’ won international acclaim. The tree is an important local landmark in the Flinders Ranges, photographed and painted by many visitors.

The tree

What an incredible array of wildlife we saw: an echidna (walking across the road), lots of roos and emus plus all the different birds. Glorious.

Wes and Andrea provided a delightful meal washed down with communal wine.