Glam Tenting in Wilpena Pound, Sth Australia

[Pushka]

Now, I hear everyone ask - where is Wilpena Pound. And that is exactly the issue. Wilpena Pound and the Flinders Ranges offers spectacular Australian scenery but very few have heard of it. Our Govt needs to promote this place as jewel in Australia but sadly little marketing is done and the place looks like it did in the '70's!

Why did we go there? We needed a few days getaway and MrP decided no planes! Good grief. We earlier discussed Bali - thank heavens we didn't proceed with all the volcanic disruptions.

We booked a month ago. In glam tents. This means air-conditioning, bathroom and proper bed. That works.

So a five hour drive from Adelaide, passing by Clare Valley as we go.

The first day was heavy rain. In this area, this translates to floods. But it did change the temps from high thirties to mid twenties.

We arrived to heavy skies. The tents - pretty cool actually. I convinced myself I was in Africa.




And great view

 

[Pushka]

Arriving around 4pm we realised we had no mobile access, internet, or TV. Gulp. It was going to be a long few days. We had escaped work. We thought.

Entering the dining room we heard the not-so-magic words - "MrP - what are you doing here?" Such a thing happened all the time as the kids were growing up. In a past life MrP met a huge range of people and almost without fail he would bump into someone he knew. And would spend a while chatting. Kids hated it. Seems the trend is continuing.

But all good - I went to school with this person so we deflected the work talk.

They love their chips here. Every meal has a huge pile of chips. I love chips but even I couldn't eat them all. And meals - very expensive pub fare. Anyways the evening passed with lots of chips and wine.

 

[Pushka]

Breakfast was included and prepared in a tent. Of course. But a great breakfast it was.



And perfect view.

 

[Pushka]

Our travels today was a 100k trip to Parachilna Gorge - and also the location of The Prairie Feral pub. This area was just reopening after the flood earlier in the week.
Beautiful scenery and wildlife.
The roads? Largely creekbeds!

Lots of this


And this

 

[love_the_life]

Looks a fab place. I like the theory of camping but cannot do without the mod cons! Glamping I might just manage

 

[Pushka]

 

[TomVexille]

Following with interest.

Especially as this is about the only way I'll ever get blackcat​ in a tent

 

[Pushka]

The Prairie pub is in the middle of nowhere.

It serves feral foods.


MrP enjoyed Camel pate.
I opted for chicken.

 

[love_the_life]

My lord, what a mammoth plate full.

 

[opusman]

Did you have the famous "feral feast" ?

 

[Pushka]

Did you have the famous "feral feast" ?

I would have gagged just looking at the plate.

I mean seriously, eat part of this:

 

[burmans]

My lord, what a mammoth plate full.

Huge meal but at those prices maybe a share plate?

 

[opusman]

I would have gagged just looking at the plate.

I mean seriously, eat part of this:
View attachment 59056

Yum, my mouth is watering just thinking about it

 

[Pushka]

Huge meal but at those prices maybe a shar plate?

Its a weird camera perspective.

 

[Fifa]

Thanks for the pics Pushka.
We lived for four years in nearby Leigh Creek which serviced a brown coal mine.

No glamping for us though - we regularly explored the surrounding area in our little camping trailer.

 

[Deleted member]

So what were the temperature ranges like?
I have heard of wilpena pound. I seem to recall it is / was a cattle station at one point. Formed by a meteorite strike a few million years ago? ( I'm digging deep into the memory bank here and accuracy may be lacking) I'm on black cats side. Glamping is as rough as I go.

This is just the ticket for that opportunity to see the flinders ranges. Mrs GPH ( a born and bred South Oz girl) she grew up in the Barossa and Yorke peninsula. To name a few spots. She is at me to do more outback tourism.
This looks fabulous.

 

[Pushka]

GPH - Temps were around mid twenties to 36 the day we left. The storms that took out Sydney and Ladies Day in Melbourne had just passed through. So a substantial drop in Temps and water! Best time to visit is April - October due to heat in summer. We were here at the start of the off season.

Wilpena Pound itself was formed due to uneven pressure on the sedimentary layers - creating a bowl!
(Not my image)


The station still exists - Rawnsley Park Station. And they had fabulous accommodation at that location - very modern eco villas. Plus a nice restaurant and lots of activities. A bit expensive though in high season. It is located around 30k's south of Wilpena Pound resort.

In a while - late afternoon walk into Wilpena Pound.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks for the pics Pushka.
We lived for four years in nearby Leigh Creek which serviced a brown coal mine.

No glamping for us though - we regularly explored the surrounding area in our little camping trailer.

We did the camping thing too. Near Brachina Gorge. I ate something bad on the trip up. Picture food poisoning and trying to get the zip up on a tent at night time. Made it just in time to stick my head out.

 

[Deleted member]

Thanks pushka. The meteorite thing obviously an urban myth. It is stunning to view from the air though. This may need to go on bucket list.

I seem to recall some significance to local aboriginal people too. ..... Or did I get that wrong as well ?

 

[Major]

Magnificent Australian scenery. Looking forward to more photos