'Back of Burra' on October long weekend

[millsy]

Geoff, Not sure if I have picked your route correctly. Did you go through Koomooloo, Old Koomooloo and Canegrass, or did you take the road up further west, up to Sturt Vale, and then cut across to meet the Mail Road at Pine Valley.

I have not done that road. So if that's the one, how was it. Plenty to see?

 

[millsy]

Funny true story about a Japanese glider pilot who outlanded on the strip at Old Koomooloo years ago. When his retrieve crew found him he was still sitting back in his cramped little cockpit, busting for a wee. They asked him why he didn't get out and relieve himself. 'I was too scared. There were these huge kangaroos looking at me over there, under the trees, and I thought they would attack me!'.

The Japanese pilots had heard about Waikerie because that's where the World Gliding Championships were held in '74. The club had built a nice new clubhouse with large bedrooms under the main roof to accomodate the competitors, and a huge industrial kitchen, bar and dining room. So they promoted themselves as a holiday destination and every year they were invaded by the Japanese. They came in big numbers for more than a decade after the championships, but I think it fell away in the ninetees. Its time they held another world's!

Same thing happened when a Japanese pilot landed at the Loxton aerodrome. I wonder whether the Waikerie pilots were spinning a few yarns around the bar of an evening?

 

[WILKAT]

All sounds good on what ever direction you go.Do you know aroundabout,how many ks is the trip going to be?
Do you intend on being set up in daylight hours or later?
Is there water in these parks? Do we have to supply our own?
Also in the 'National Parks Guide SA' for Danggalli Conservation Park,it says that there is showers & toilets.
Also we are going to have our dog Kara,in a boarding kennel for a couple/few nights.
It will make it a bit easier for all of us not having to stop in inappropiate places & camping problems.

 

[geoffsa]

Millsy, we went straight up to Sturt Vale then across to Pine Valley.
The route to the north sounds okay to us, we can meet you near Redbanks turnoff, and then head north past Mongalata (old gold fields), Collinsville, etc.
Certainly more scenic than the more direct route. Especially Dares Hill and the old ruins just north of it.

WILKAT, the showers and toilets are only in the old house if you were to hire it.
There are toilets outside on the verandah, but they were locked last time we were there.
Apart from that there is only the old tree and shovel method.
Water is self sufficient only. One 20L jerry would be ample for the weekend.

 

[millsy]

Hi Geoff. I am still mulling over options of seeing some of the sights between Redbanks and Ketchowla, but am also mindful of the time issue to get to the camp site in the Danggali before dark.

I was wondering whether it might be possible to save half an hour by still going up as far as Braemar homestead, but then cutting east, along the track I see on my map, from Braemar to Sturt Vale homestead. Might be interesting.

You wouldn't have happended to have done that track would you?

If not, I am thinking of maybe heading over to Yunta from Leigh Creek, near the end of the Gawler trip to check it out. If it's OK it would save going up to Lillydale and across the top of the 'rectangle', and then back south again to the Danggali entrance.

 

[geoffsa]

I haven't done that track yet Millsy, we take the one south to Pine Valley, but it should be okay.
It would still get you into the park reasonably early (mid afternoon) I would think.

 

[millsy]

Thanks Geoff. I think I should check it out, just in case. I tried to spot it when I went past Braemar on the reco trip a few weekends ago. If I was looking at the right track, then that's just what it is - a fairly narrow farm track. So, depending on its condition it could be a short cut distance wise, but a 'long cut' time wise. So I will time myself and see how it goes. I will need to talk to the farmer before I head out that way, just as a matter of safety.

 

[shane 45]

I am still in mate should have the paj fixed and tested well before then mate.

 

[millsy]

Good one Shane! What's the go with the Paj. Major problem?

Its about time I answered Wilkat's question about the distance for the trip. So I'll try to Google a map and work it out tonight. Would be handy to know distances in terms of whether we need to refuel at Burra, or maybe we just need to top up at Kapunda on the way through on Friday night. I will need to ring up the Kapunda servo to find out what time they close, and whether they have diesel and LPG.

 

[millsy]

OK here are some maps off the Google to give a reasonably accurate route for the Saturday drive to Danggali, and the choices for Sunday. Google can be a bit difficult, not showing routes that are possible. So I have had to 'jump' the gaps by starting a new map.

There is a choice of routes on Sunday. As I said before, some might want to be home Sunday night, so they can either head for Adelaide from Renmark, or if they want to see a bit of the Sunset country, drive as far as Pheeney's Track, and head out at Meribah.

Those that want to keep treking can keep going down the Border track to Pinnaroo, grab some tea at the roadhouse and refuel, and then another 20km down to camp for the night at Pine Hut Soak. Then Monday morning do either the top half the Border Track, the one way section, and then head out to Lameroo and back to Adelaide, or if they have plenty of energy left in their tanks, go all the way down to Bordertown, and then back home up the Dukes Highway. But that might be overdoing it a bit after three days on the road!

So, here are the maps . . . First, Friday night up to Burra Gorge.
That's about 150km from Adelaide GPO, or maybe 200km from Aldinga Beach;

Adelaide SA to Worlds End Gorge Rd - Google Maps


25km into Burra to refuel Saturday morning. Servo opens at 7.30. I know they have LPG. Will need to check if they have diesel. I think they do, but will need to check.

Worlds End Creek SA to Ludgvan St - Google Maps


Then out to Red Banks Conservation Park to meet Geoff and HM Jean. Up past Mongalata to a ford across a creek. Google stops there, but I have crossed that ford two or three times now. Not a problem.
That's about 50km form Burra to the ford.

Burra SA to Mawson Trl - Google Maps


From the ford, out to Collinsville ( a couple of short photo stops along this section ), up to Mallett homestead, I think deserted, across to Ketchowla ( called Pine Creek by mistake on the Google ), then we could try an interesting 'detour' up the Ketchowla road, along a valley, in hilly county. I just saw this track on the map tonight. Looks interesting. Or could just head out into the 'flat country' from Ketchowla. Point F is Braemar homestead. I dropped into Braemar to talk about our trip on the way home from the Gawler Ranges trip. The lady said the track heading east from Braemar is no longer usable. It is a very rough track that has had a non gated fence built across it. So even the farmers can't use it now. She said it would be a lot quicker to just drive up to Lillydale and turn east there anyway.

Point G is a nice wide creek with large gum trees. Could be a good spot to stop for lunch. Point H is the entrance to the Danggali Conservation Park.
That's 222km form the ford to the Dangalli entrance.

Its about another 50km south east to the Hyperno Homestead/campgrounds for Saturday night. So total km for the day, from Burra Gorge, is about 350km. I think we might be arriving pretty late in the afternoon. Might even be a bit after dark.

Mawson Trl to Unknown road - Google Maps


Sunday morning we head out of the Danggali and into the Chowilla park, and the flood plains around the Chowilla creek. A bit of a sticky beak through the Chowilla game reserve to have a look at the creek and check out the camp sites, and down into Renmark to refuel and pick up an ice-cream. ( For me that is code for a FUIC! ).
That would be about 100km, including the wandering around the Chowilla Game Reserve and the Chowilla Creek.

Renmark SA to -33.596033, 141.001625 - Google Maps


The quick way home, if you live 'down south', is about 310km form Renmark.

Renmark SA to Aldinga Beach Rd - Google Maps

Or for those that want more . . . We could head out into the Sunset country, just over the border on the Sturt Highway, about 5km past the Yamba roadhouse. Head down some interesting tracks to visit some old farmhouse ruins, a meteor crater, and another farmhouse in the mallee scrub that has been set up as camp ground, with toilets. I think you can stay in the little farmhouse if you wanted to.

Then some nice soft sandy tracks down the border track to Pinnaroo. Some might want to head for Adelaide when we cross Pheeney's Track, about 20km south of that camp ground at the farmhouse. See the last map for the route home to the southern suburbs from Pheeney's Track, via Meribah.

Or, keep heading down to Pinnaroo. Again, choices to be had. head for home from Pinnaroo, or camp at the lovely Pine Hut Soak, 20km south of Pinnaroo.

Then head back to Adelaide on Monday morning, or try the Border Track. As I said before, half the track, or a bit less, and head out at the Shaugh track, back up to Lameroo, and home, or keep on all the way to Bordertown!
Its about 190km from Renmark to PineHut Soak campgrounds.

Renmark SA to Rosy Pine Rd - Google Maps


This map shows the route home from a bit east of Meribah, that is the first town out of the Sunset country on the end of Pheeney's Track. About 280km.

Unknown road to Aldinga Beach Rd - Google Maps

Hope all this helps with your planning.

 

[millsy]

Hi Wilkat. I just did a bit of adding up to get a couple of answers for the approximate distance you would be travelling.

If you head home from Renmark, down through Karoonda, Tailem Bend, . . . as the map shows, it would be a total of about 960km from Aldinga to Aldinga.

If you come down to Pheeney's track, and head out there, through Meribah, its about 1030km.

I'll let you do the sums on any other options, such as continuing on to Pinnaroo etc.

Sorry for the very late answers to your questions!

Hope is all well with you and yours, and the petrol dollars are building up in the 'bikkie jar'. Looks like you might need about $300 for fuel for the weekend. I am basing that on 1000km at about 5km/litre ( towing the camper) and say $1.50 per litre for petrol. Are you running petrol?

 

[shane 45]

Nothing major just the cvs need repacing and a service just have to save the pennys for it to be done.

 

[millsy]

Right. Good luck with that. Sounds like a few hundred dollars worth unfortunately.

Still about 10 weeks, so hopefully you get some steady working weeks between now and then mate.

 

[millsy]

Well the October Weekend, Friday 1st October to Monday 4th, is getting fairly close now, and I was wondering if people are still interested in doing this trip? It's been quite a while since the trip was first proposed, and since people first showed their enthusiasm with responding to go. But things change, as usual.

So have we still got a few people interested, or any 'new blood' for that matter?

I have been gnashing my teeth about the route to take to Danggali, as you are probably aware. I am thinking of another option that might solve the problem. The problem being that it is not much fun trying to fit too much in to one day's driving, in terms of distance to travel and time available. Its nice to actually arrive at camp at the end of the day with a bit of time to set up, and have a chat with fellow trekkers without feeling rushed. As well as organize tea of course.

So here is another idea. There are some nice tracks, and great views, through Mongolata and up to Collinsville Sheep Station. They include some interesting historic sites, such as the restored hut/home of Hubert Wilkins - South Australia's great polar explorer from about 100 years ago.

To make sure we get to Danggali well before dark, including the 40km or so drive down through the park to the camp grounds, we could drive the more direct route, as Geoffsa has done before. This way we get to see the beauty of the park in daylight as we wind our way down to the camp without rushing. We might even have time to do a few tracks, or go for a bushwalk near the camp ground before sunset.

I will be in the middle of my school holidays at that time, so if anyone is free and willing, we could drive up to Burra Gorge on Friday morning, unhitch and secure any campers at the Gorge, and then go for a trip around those tracks up to Collinsville in the afternoon, on the Friday.

If anybody wants to do those tracks but cannot make it on the Friday, I would be more than willing to do a day trip, or weekender, around the same route at another time that suits.

 

[Dunerunner]

Hi Millsy

We could come down to Burra Gorge for an overnighter on Friday morning to meet up with you mob and say g'day and go for a drive in the arvo. Have been to Dangali and Chowilla but this time around have dog in tow so its a no go area AFAIK. Have done some of the backtracks in the Burra area so may be able to give some pointers

Cheers

Willem

 

[millsy]

Sounds great! Thanks for that. There are some nice looking hills and tracks around Burra, especially to the north east there. Thanks for the offer, and look forward to meeting you both.

And also look forward to hearing a few more good camp fire stories from your treks around the bush! Must remember to pack some firewood for the Friday night!

 

[shane 45]

We are still coming if I can get the car fixed before then just depends on how much work I get between now and then

 

[millsy]

Hope something substantial comes up soon mate. Is it to do with the wet weather I suppose?

 

[geoffsa]

Millsy,

Unfortunately we won't be able to do this trip now, as I've been offered some work which will take me away from home for a while. So much for retirement, but the money is good.

Would have loved to do that area again, but not able to this time.

Hope you all enjoy good weather and good times on this trip.

Geoff.

 

[millsy]

Sorry we won't have the pleasure of your company this time. Yep, hoping for good weather that's for sure. September/October is always a 'box of chocolates' as they say. Very changeable. Looking forward to meeting your mates the Dunerunners.

Well done on the new job Geoff! You have had a good break from the work force now, so hopefully you are keen to do something a bit new after the old job. You're not going back to the same place/office I hope!? And a few extra retirement dollars will always be handy! I am trying to work out all these issues at the moment myself - full time/part time work for the next year or two, or three? - when exactly to retire ( hopefully before the heart attack!), how much I need in the bank, tax issues, long service leave - take it or cash it in, . . . The list goes on and on! Might be easier to just keep working and playing with the fourby on the weekends!