Locations: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

Region: Flinders Ranges

Dates: Tuesday 12 March – Saturday 16 March 2024

Temperatures: 22 – 46 Degrees, hot and sunny.

Tuesday 12th March 22-36 degrees

My sister Kay and her husband Jon met in Arkaroola in the 1970’s. Jon was a ranger and Kay worked at the Wilderness Sanctuary. They recently celebrated 50 years of marriage with family last December in WA and the family presented them with a gift voucher so that they could return to Arkaroola and reminisce those early years.

Rob and I planned to travel into the outback of SA so we had organised to meet them in Arkaroola for 4 days. From Copley it’s 125 km of gravel road for us with the van and Kay and Jon are driving from their home in Morgan, SA on the Murray River, about 7hours away.

My ear has improved a little so I’m hopeful the antibiotics have done their job. Day 5 and last day today.

The gravel road is wide and well cared for so the drive is relatively straight forward. The scenery is stunning, stark and raw. Beautiful in its extremes and it feels like a real privilege to be here. We see a lot wedge-tailed eagles; very hard to photograph, but always a pleasure to see them, in their element.

We arrive, check in and go set down. Once organised we drive back to reception and Kay and Jon have arrived. We organise to meet for dinner, while Jon catches up with the owner of the resort, a fellow he knows from his time here then we take swim to cool off, it’s a hot afternoon in the 40’s!

After dinner we go see the rock wallabies feeding.

Wednesday 13 March, 21 – 37 degrees

It’s a beautiful sunrise after a warm night and after breakfast we meet up with Jon and Kay. 4WDing is not my favourite thing but it is Jon’s so we decide to drive the Mt Jacob back track. Kay and I want to catch up do it the girls in the Isuzu with me driving 😬 and the boys in the Landrover with Jon in the lead.

I know the pictures won’t show the roughness, steep angles, height, ruts and rocks on the drive but I managed it all, didn’t lose my nerve and felt like I had conquered something at the end of the day!

After a hectic morning, we relax in the heat then cook a roast dinner to share with Kay and Jon.

Thursday 14 March, 23 – 38 degrees

After another warm night and we are out 4WDing again. Jon wants to tackle the Echo backtrack (classed as extreme) and after some discussion Rob and I agreed to give it a go. We don’t get far though before we decide to bail at a very steep climb with washouts and agree to go around the longer way and meet at Paralana Springs.

Kay tells me later we wouldn’t have liked it so I’m glad we opted out.

The drive we took with Rob driving was challenging enough via Arkaroola Creek and Claude’s pass. Stunningly beautiful but very rough and hot! 46 degrees near Paralana. We did 70km’s over about 4 hours so the going was very slow.

Friday 15 March, 24-38 degrees

Unfortunately my ear has stopped improving so I decide to drive back to Hawker to pick up the remaining antibiotics that were left out of my order, these were the duo forte part; stronger drugs of the doctors order so I’m hopeful this will knock the infection for good. Kay opts to come with me and so we leave Rob and Jon planning another drive.

The drive into Hawker is eventful with lots of animals. We see emus, goats, horses and even a Wedge tailed eagle lifting off from roadkill.

Best day ever from that perspective. It’s cool in Hawker too, 26 degrees which is welcome. After collecting the antibiotics, we have lunch at the Flinders providore before heading back, just under 600kms round trip!

Jon and Rob did a couple of drives, one out to an old copper mine and they had had a good day too.

These are some of the tracks we drove over the 3 days.

After dinner we spend some more time watching the beautiful rock wallabies.

Saturday 16 March, 22 – 37 degrees

Leaving Arkaroola today so we say goodbye to Kay and Jon and beautiful Arkaroola and drive back through Copley, stopping at Quandong Cafe as it’s open today and we share a huge pie!

On the way we have an encounter with a lizard whom we slowed for and he ended up under the car! Had to get the broom out to make him move but he was unscathed.

We also saw another Wedgie on the highway back towards Hawker, again on roadkill. We slow and I manage to get a few pictures as they liftoff and fly to a nearby tree

After a quick refuel it’s on to Hawker, then left on RM Williams way toward Peterborough and Clare.

My ear is still blocked and the headaches continue but it’s a cooler 37 degrees top today.

We stop at the RM Williams way camp 13km out from Ororroo. 460Km’s today.

It’s been a wonderfully hectic week. Always great to see my big sister ❤️ and the great big outback too.

Next onto Clare Valley and the Barossa. Stay safe, be kind and love one another xx