Flinders Ranges via Mungo National Park & Broken Hill

havachat

havachat

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Jan 23, 2013
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Location
near Healesville Victoria Australia
Car Year
2002
Car Model
Forester SG
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1.447 low range 4.44 diffs
Flinders Ranges via Mungo National Park & Broken Hill

Havachat is going on tour !
Heading off in mid August for 4 weeks. Trying to plan where to go and places to see. Will be towing my camper trailer. Hoping to be able to stay on a couple of the cattle stations in the Flinders Ranges that provide for campers.
Would like to get up to Farina before turning back.
Suggestions most welcome :)
 
The route up the darling through Pooncarie and Menindee (great spots to camp on the river there) to Broken Hill is an easy dirt road and more interesting than the Silver City Hwy. Mungo I found 'meh', there really wasn't much to see or do, and its not particularly attractive country, but its on the way (you can go up the back way, head North from Balranald and follow your nose).

Mutawintji on the other hand, is magical. Make sure you spend a couple of days there, take a few walks and a tour (which you have to do to get to much of the art).

Make sure you hit the gem museum (I think it is) in Broken Hill. Very interesting minerals of all sorts.

Penrose Park in Silverton is a nice spot to pull up for a night -- with a few oddball locals thrown in (and the mad max museum nearby).

If you want something a little off of the ordinary Flinders route - try Warraweena Station via Beltana.
 
Once you get to broken hill, i recommend the museum at silverton in the former jail. Extremely interesting exhibits.
Greensuby
 
duncanm said:
The route up the darling through Pooncarie and Menindee (great spots to camp on the river there)
Click to expand...

I read on another Forum that you do not stop in Menindee unless it is an emergency, the local population are not too friendly towards outsiders, even those stopping for just fuel etc.

Balranald is my old hometown, I left there near on 50 years ago.
When I was a kid my family used to go up to Menindee once a year to fish for Darling Cod. :cool:
 
Menindee the town - no idea, but I wouldn't be surprised, much like Wilcannia and others. I tend to judge such things by how empty &/or boarded up the main street is; sad.

Troublemakers tend to be inherently lazy and hang around the nearest welfare drop and source of grog.

Lake Menindee and the Darling campsites were fine a few years back. All I saw were other people looking for some peace and quiet.
 
I have done this exact trip about 3 years ago... Spent a couple nights at Mungo before driving the dirt roads up to Menindee and spending another couple nights by the Darling River.

I thought everyone in that country town was lovely and had no problems at all. We got good advice at the information centre, we filled-up, had a pub meal at the local establishment without any issues. Of course you attract the looks when you walk in the door at the pub, but that is to be expected I would say...

Make sure you spend some time around Lake Pamamaroo at dusk, it's magical.

From there we drove to Broken Hill and Silverton and then finally to Wilpena Pound. We spent a few nights there and then had to make our way back to Melbourne...

Here's the report: https://www.offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=5486

Cheers,
Pedro.
 
Absolutely magical country the NSW and SA outback. My family did this same trip many moons ago (1989 :eek:) but I still have great memories of this adventure. We went at the same time of year as well. There had been a lot of rain before we got to the dirt roads but it sure made them interesting to traverse. Back then they turned to clay. By the time we got to Lyndhurst in SA our vehicles weighted a few tonne extra from the mud.

Anyway, all the places that Duncanm has suggested I agree with. Menindee Lakes is well worth a look as long as there is plenty of water in them. We camped there for a week. It was great. Not sure if it still there but we also stayed at Fort Grey camping area on our way to Camerons Corner. Strezlecki track is a one of those great Aussie drives that is a must to. But beware we stopped for dinner under an old Peppercorn tree along the track but were only there for 5 minutes as we soon discovered there were objects hanging from tree branches like dolls heads, bones and other stuff. We got the hell out of there real fast.

I'm not sure how easy it is to get to these days but Blinman is an interesting little town. There wasn't much there back then but the locals where friendly and there was some very interesting tracks to explore around the town. Wilpena Pound definitely check out, amazing history in that place. The Gammon Ranges are well worth checking out as well. There are many tracks that will take you up the middle of dry river beds and you get to see so many of natures wonders.

Hope you have a great trip.
 
Been busy Googling and making phone calls!
Menindee Lakes is now on the route as is Silverton. Thanks guys!!
About 900km from home to Broken Hill so few stops on the way will be welcome.

Spent a few dollars on a new set of Yoko ATS tyres for both the Foz and the camper trailer, upgraded my solar regulator to a mppt, fitted an auxiliary speaker to the UHF radio. Bought fully synth gear oil for the diff and gear box, just got to change it.

Keen to get to Marree / Birdsville Track now !!
 
The Flinders Ranges is one of my favourite destinations, been way too long since I've been there :(

Quorn is a nice little town, home to the Picci Ricci Railway

Wilpena Pound looks like a crater but is a series of folds in the crust. If you have a day to spend there, walk around to the St Mary's Peak lookout. Be careful, the last bit is (or at least was) a pretty skinny track with a steep drop off. Amazing views are totally worth it!!

Brachina Gorge is another must do easy drive. Spectacular gorge that has been laid on its side, so as you drive through it you are going through rock layers from different geoloical periods, essentially traveling through time!! There are fossils to see plus if you keep your eyes open you should see some Yellow-Footed Rock Wallabies, locally extinct in most other areas.

Brachina Gorge 01
Brachina Gorge 02

Further north, the Echo Camp Backtrack out of Parachilna is spectacular but a difficult drive.

Echo Camp 01-1
 
Thanks Nachaluva, some good advice and suggestions.
By chance I had a "high country" horseman, Bill call in to see me tonight. Bill does some jobs around my place every now and then.
I didn't realise he had been through the Flinders Ranges. Bill is going to give me some ideas too!
I have to say I am always envious of Bill, when he heads off on horse back with his pack horse to the most amazing destinations in the Victorian high country. Bill has a Forester SG which he is very passionate of as well his trusty Land Cruiser tray.
 
No problems with Menindee. Friendly people run the servo and takeaway in town and we never felt unwelcome at the National Park or camping at the lakes. Wilcannia also has a good side, make sure you drop into Miss Barretts Cafe for a coffee and a sandwich and have a chat to the friendly owner - John is his name if my memory is working....
 
That's awesome.

I have also seen some footage from Morocco that shows Atlas mountains terrain resembling Arizona.
 
duncanm said:
Mutawintji on the other hand, is magical. Make sure you spend a couple of days there, take a few walks and a tour (which you have to do to get to much of the art).

Penrose Park in Silverton is a nice spot to pull up for a night -- with a few oddball locals thrown in (and the mad max museum nearby).
Click to expand...

^ this is good advice. Mutawinji is like a sample of Central Australia located in NSW. Fantastic spot. Make sure you book the tour to the Mutawinji Historic site.

https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/mutawintji-historic-site

Would also recommend:

  • Mt Chambers Gorge
      • Arkaroola
      • Iga Warta community: top place to stay and do side tours

You'll find it pretty easy getting to Farina
 
Sounds like a terrific trip, HC. Wish I were following along behind ... ;).
 
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