Crossing the Australian Outback 2011: Day 6 - 9 Broken Hill to Oodnadatta Track via the Flinders Ranges

After turning south from Cameron Corner with the niggling worry of a damaged CV joint, we reached Broken Hill 2 days later. Broken Hill once boasted the largest Silver & Zinc mine in Australia, and probably the World, enriching Australia for nearly a century.

Broken Hill is a town well worth visiting with its rich mining history, and in recent years, many artists came into the region, enriching its cultures. One notable landmark to see it, the Miners' Memorial recording all the miners who died on job, regardless it was due to accident or own health issues. Over 800 names were on the memorial, and in the last 20 years, only a handful.

Miners Memorial

A 4x4 specialist at Broken Hill advised that the CV clicking sound is not uncommon, and may not mean anything imminently serious, it should be OK for touring, but no serious rock climbing etc for the time being. To get it fixed, would mean days of waiting. So I decided to continue westwards into South Australia, as we have seen much of Broken Hill two years ago. But it looks as if serious sand dune driving into the desert is out of the question.

We bee lined for the Flinders Ranges National Park again, to finish an unfinished business two years ago, ie to scale the 1200m St Mary's Peak, which we ran out of time last time. The first night there, we camped on the pebbles of a riverbed, so we emptied out all the gears in the wagon, and slept inside instead.

We reached St Mary's Peak late in the mid afternoon, so it was slightly disappointing to not able to trek into Wilpena Pound, the long route down. Wilpena Pound is a large basin encircle by mountains famous for their red faces.

That's another reason to go back next ! The mountain faces are as red as ever, and the panoramic views are as spectacular as it has ever been.

Continuing northwards into the Northern Flinders and camped inside Gammon Ranges National Park, I think we owned the National Park that night, did not see another car until the next day. We reached as far North as Paralana Hot Spring, which was a slight disappointment, it is now dry. The journey is the reward!

Inside Gammon Ranges

National Park

So it was time to head west towards the famed Oodnadatta Track, a journey we did in a little Honda Civic two years ago ( not recommended for the faint hearted!). This time to reach the water of Lake Eyre, a feat probably not possible in my life time again. The water that flooded Queensland 6 months ago, are now collected in Lake Eyre, another once a lifetime event.

I hope you like the pics of Flinders Ranges and Gammon Ranges National Park......Enjoy!

You are invited to view David's photo album: 2011 Outback trip ( Flinders Ranges & Gammon Ranges)