After completing our stay on the Yorke Peninsula, we headed north to the Southern Flinders Ranges, staying at the Mambray Creek campsite in Mount Remarkable National Park.
South-West Yorke Peninsula
Our stay at Pondalowie Bay in the Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park was very special. The scenery in this area is spectacular and we were able to have a refreshing ocean swim at Shell Beach. It was great to see birds and wildlife in abundance, especially emus with their juvenile offspring in tow. The flora is so diverse, colourful and beautiful. It’s amazing how some native plants have adapted to tolerate such arid and salty conditions. A visit to the Lower Yorke Seafood company was definitely on the agenda for a feast of fresh ocean fish, prawns and local oysters, washed down with a South Australian Sauvignon Blanc. Life is tough!
The Remarkable Ranges
As you drive towards the campsite, the majestic Remarkable Ranges rise up before you in stark contrast to the flat coastal plain of the Spencer Gulf. Giant river red gums line the banks of the creek, which was largely dry at this time of year. The area was teeming with galahs and corellas, joyously squawking as they gathered at the remaining waterholes in the creek bed. After camping for the night, a short drive took us up to the northern part of the National Park to view Alligator Gorge and Hancocks Lookout which provided a fabulous view across the Remarkable Ranges towards Spencer Gulf. The red rocks of the gorge reminded us of the ancient and arid nature of the landscape, with peppermint gums and sugar gums growing in abundance. During our stay we visited a couple of the small townships located off the main highway, called Wilmington and Crystal Brook, to pick up supplies and grab a coffee. These types of townships are well worth visiting, with interesting shops, local art and great cafes with genuinely friendly service. So much better than the highway roadside options. On our way back to camp, we spotted a wedge-tail eagle and then a goanna, foraging along the roadside. The goanna is a magnificent creature up close, with an elegant pattern on its skin and sharp claws designed for climbing trees.
Up close and personal with a goanna
Some images from Mount Remarkable National Park & Hancocks Lookout
A view of Alligator Gorge in Mount Remarkable NP
A view of the Remarkable Ranges from Hancocks Lookout
Travelling fast
Although we generally want to travel slowly through this great country, there are times when an overnight stop is necessary. Our 2 night stay at Mount Remarkable provided us with the opportunity to test the Offline Domino Camper Trailer in ‘travel mode’ for a night as opposed to ‘camp mode’ where the canvas tent area is lowered. The whole process was so straightforward - we simply opened the back door of the camper trailer and stepped up into bed for the night, closing the door behind us. This is another feature of the Offline Domino Camper Trailer that sets it apart from others and was a key feature in our purchase decision. Being in travel mode enabled us to get an early start the next morning on our journey to the lower Eyre Peninsula as there was very little packing up to do.
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