Wilpena

We have decided to stay here in Wilpena for three months.  It is quiet and peaceful and the wildlife is exceptional.  The scenery is stunning and the people are great.

Wilpena Pound Flinders Ranges South Australia

We are in the Wilpena caravan and campground for the next four days. It is situated in the Flinders Ranges National Park and it covers 50 hectares set amongst river red gums, native pines and abundant wildlife. We are  just a short walk from the entrance to Wilpena Pound and we have found it be a perfect base for exploring the area. 

In this natural bush setting, we have encountered  kangaroos and emus grazing while wedge-tail eagles soar overhead.  Last night we went out to look at the stars and found a kangaroo grazing by the front of our Winnebago.  It saw us and then started coming towards us after food, we tried to get it away but it just kept coming.  We went inside and it came up to the door and was looking in the door and trying to get it.  Apparently people feed them and the poor old kangaroos think every human will feed them.  They can become very aggressive towards you if you don't feed them.  The night sky is to die for - black as ink with beautiful stars and no road noise - bliss!!!

Nackara Rest Area, Orroroo and Hawker

We found a lovely little rest area at Nackara and stayed the night.  It was off the road and we shared it with one other couple.  A lovely campfire just topped off the night.

At Orroroo we spent the day looking through the town - a nice little and nice feeling town.  The locals were very friendly and helpful and very proud of their town.  

The place was full of corrugated iron sculptures such as these beautiful horses.

Today we moved on to Hawker located in the Flinders Ranges.   There has been a lot of rain in the last two weeks and there have been lots of road closures.  Today (after checking the road closures and making sure we could get through) we came the back way to Hawker via Carrieton and Cradock.  There was a lot of wildlife (the most we have seen this trip) a fox, emus, wallabies, wedge tail eagles and sheep.

Nyngan, Cobar and Broken Hill

We stayed at the Nyngan Riverside Caravan Park which is uniquely located on the Bogan River, it was an easy walk to town, a haven for skiers, fishermen, birdwatchers and people just looking for a relaxing time on the banks of the Bogan!  It was a large park divided into 2 parts - 1 part was near the river and the other part was further up.

At Cobar we experienced one of the hottest days so far on our trip it got to 45 degrees and the wind was really warm.  Not a lot to see here but the locals were friendly.

We then went to Broken Hill and stayed for 7 days.  The weather was a little cooler thankfully. Broken Hill is an isolated mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales. The world's largest mining company, BHP Billtion has roots in the town.  We enjoyed our time in Broken Hill and it was a great walk into town from the Caravan Park. 

We went to a restaurant on the Lode line called Broken Earth - it was great for the sunset and the food. 

We have been to Broken Hill before and since then there has been a new tourist site called the The Living Desert and Sculptures.  It is nestled amongst the Barrier Ranges and is located 9km from the City of Broken Hill. It is a unique 2400ha reserve which commenced in 1992. The topography, scenery and views within the reserve are breathtaking and are captured throughout the numerous walking trails. These sculptures are all hand done and no power tools were used at all.

Gilgandra, Coonamble and Moree

Gilgandra is a smallish country town of 3000 people on the Castlereagh River in NSW's central west. It is situated at the junction of the Newell, Oxley and Castlereagh Highways, between Dubbo and Coonabarabran, 476 km north-west of Sydney and 280 m above sea-level.  Known as the "Town of Windmills", Gilgandra once had a skyline dotted with windmills. As there was no reticulated town water supply until 1966, most residents supplied their own water needs from individual windmills, drawing water from the sub-artesian basin.
Gilgandra is a service centre to a mixed farming area focused principally on cropping, sheep and cattle, although pigs, poultry, aquaculture, ostriches, emus, deer, olives, buffaloes and a eucalypt plantation all contribute to the local economy. 

Coonamble is a  town about 50 km E of Quambone and 30 km E by N of Narraway State Forest. It is on the Castlereagh Hwy on the Western Plains, 518 km NW of Sydney. It unfortunately is typical of  a lot of remote towns because there are a lot of shops vacant - and in Coonamble the shops close at 4 pm.

 

 Moree  is situated in northwest New South Wales 640 kilometers from Sydney and 480 kilometers from Brisbane. Moree has an enthusiastic supportive friendly caring community with a great lifestyle and many great sporting opportunities.  It is a larger country town with lots of gardens and parks. It is also renowned for its natural spas direct from the Artesian basin.  There are 2 spas one at a constant 41 degrees C and the cooler pool at 38 degrees C.

Warren is a very typical and quiet rural town on the Macquarie River with a population of about 2200 people. It is located on the Oxley Highway, 545 km north-west of Sydney, 80 km west of Gilgandra and 197 metres above sea-level.
The area is dominated by sheep and cotton. In fact the shire council refers to itself as the 'Wool and Cotton Capital'. Merino sheep have long been bred locally and there is an Auscott Cotton Gin just out of town. Other local produce includes wheat, oats, sorghum and maize.  The caravan where we stayed had its own lawn mower sheep - his name is Barney.