Flinders Range NP to Broken Hill - Day 214

Trip Start Jan 31, 2008
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148
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Trip End Ongoing


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Where I stayed
In my car somewhere
(Broken Hill hotels)

Flag of Australia  , New South Wales,
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Stopped off in Port Augusta this morning to buy some supplies before driving 160km inland to the Flinders Range National Park and the "Wilpena Pound". The pound is a fertile and enclosed area of land surrounded by the Flinders mountain range which circles this pocket of land like a large perimeter fence. It resembles an ancient volcanic crater like the Ngorongoro in Tanzania or even a big meteorite crater. Not too sure what geological forces created this beautiful and protective landscape.

I parked up at the national park visitors centre and decided to hike to the Wangara lookout which is only a 8km return trip. Today is very overcast and blowing a gale, really chilly too, only yesterday I was in the desolate lands around Coober Pedy in the Northern Territory where the temperature was in the high thirties. A complete contrast to green rolling pastoral lands and lush mountain sides of the Flinders range Wilpena Pound 1
Wilpena Pound 1
 .

The hike took me through Gum tree forests before ascending one side of the range for excellent full panoramic views of Wilpena Pound. Within this mountain perimeter fence are patches of Gum trees and open grasslands, I can understand why early settlers farmed here, lush grazing and a natural fence of mountains to keep the stock in.

Some crazy fluctuations in temperature today. 22 degrees last night and then the temperature dropped to 8 degrees by mid-afternoon today. On the drive out of the Flinders range the heavens opened with horizontal rain and fantastic full arched rainbows across the sky.

After leaving the range I crossed into New South Wales and parked up around 35km west of Broken Hill. Another state and another time zone, forward by half an hour this time.

Severe weather warnings have been issued for this area tonight. Thunder storms, heavy rain, hail and gale force winds. Could be a fun evening in the car. I'll let you know if a survive the night.
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