FLINDERS RANGES, SOUTH AUSTRALIA http://www.flindersranges.com/index.htm Each year people ask about the Flinders & we dig out the same info & post it up. AussieTrev even sends out a sheet of info to individuals via PM. So the idea is just to refer people back to this thread. INDEX:--------------------------------------------------------------- Underscored post numbers are linked EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS: Hawker Memorial Hospital.............................08 8648 4007 Quorn & District Memorial Hospital..................(08) 8648 7888 Hawker Police Station.................................Phone (08) 8648 4028 Leigh Creek Police Station...........................Phone (08) 8675 2004 MAPS: Maps..........................................................................Post # 2 & 10 ACCOMODATION: Angorichina Village........................................................Post # 7 & 9 FUEL: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=871560 TRACKS ,TRAILS & POIs : Public Access Routes. P.A.R. 3,4 & 5.................................Post # 17 Brachina & Bunyeroo Gorges............................................Post # 44 Moralana Scenic Drive....................................................Post # 68 Hancock's Lookout.........................................................Post # 87 Arkapena Stn 4WD tracks...............................................Post # 91 Yunta to Hawker...........................................................Post # 104 TOWNS: Blinman.......................................................................Post # 11 Hawker.......................................................................Post # 35 PUBS/FOOD: FLINDERS CLASSIC: 2014 FLINDERS RANGES CLASSIC 2013 Flinders classic Masterbrewer's reports.................................................Post #61 DRTrev's....................................................................Post #62 Links Yunta & Ango August 2013 http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=916463
I'll start with the basics. A good map. HEMA make a good general map with everything you would need to know. I have no affilliation with HEMA maps. SA RAA Maps: http://www.raa.com.au/download.aspx?secid=294&file=documents\townmap_128.pdf http://www.raa.com.au/download.aspx?secid=294&file=documents\townmap_131.pdf I will add more map suggestions here as they come to hand.
As I said up there Pete, a great idea. Two examples during last week were the guys from the UK and from the Hunter who basically just arrived in Blinman and thought that, apart from a beer and a feed, there was nothing else to see/do. I'll work on my Trek Notes for the PARs, drop it into a word doc and post it up. Might even borrow some photographs from previous RR's and include a pictorial. As a suggestion, you might want to think about an index on Post #1, such as Accommodation, Trails/Tracks, etc and then add post numbers to take the reader to various parts of the thread without having to trawl through the whole thing - it's likely to get lengthy.
Never been thru the Flinders and its on my bucket list to do in the next year or two. This thread will be handy for sure. Like the post #1 Index idea too.
ANGORICHINA VILLAGE HEMA Maps Ango as the locals say, is a very bike friendly business. Run by Dave & Caroline, Top Bloke & Sheila, Top place. Located on the Parachilna Gorge Rd, Enter via Parachilna or Blinman Accomodation Mini Mart / food & drink Booze Tyre changing & sales Premium Fuel Workshop Link: Angorichina Village
PBee rightly starts it off with Maps and the Angorichina Tourist Village overview. Dave and Caroline run a great facility with options of cabins, dormitory (for larger numbers) and camping (power/non power). Their shop carries everything including groceries, frozen meat packs, veggies, booze of all sorts, oils, etc. PULP and ULP + Diesel as well as cans and stubbies for $4.50 compared to the Blinman Hotel's $6.20 - $8.20. Dave has a great workshop with the ability to work on bikes if required. They are located in the middle of the Parachilna Gorge which runs east west between Parachilna and Blinman. It is a very scenic part of the Flinders with many creek crossings (very shallow water, if any) on the Parachilna half of the Gorge. Every April/May we run the Flinders Ranges Classic out of this facility and last April (2012) we had 100 riders from all over Australia there. http://www.angorichinavillage.com.au/
This website provides free detailed maps for touring the Flinders plus other info. The maps come in Northern and Southern Flinders guise (plus Outback SA) and although not as detailed as HEMA, they are very useful. http://www.flindersranges.com.au/happy-trails/maps/
Blinman is a great piece of the Flinders, with bitumen now right up to the front door from Wilpena Pound . There is the Wild Lime Cafe, the General Store and the famous historic pub. Blinman is the highest surveyed town in SA. It is easy to reach Arkaroola from here, or take the Parachilna Gorge to Parachilna, or Glass Gorge out north of town which eventually meets up with the Parachilna Gorge. Both Gorges are great bike rides, and roughly 30 kms each. There are B&B's in the town, which are quite expensive, and the pub and general store run some bunk accommodation and the pub has rooms and camping also. The beer is cold and the meals are great. They have just completed a large beer garden over what used to be the swimming pool. There is NO fuel in Blinman, but available at Ango Tourist Village, 15 kms away. http://www.blinmanhotel.com.au/
There are several Public Access Routes within the Flinders near Blinman. These are three of them. They run between pastoral properties and the public have use of them for travel. Please respect them as you may be drinking in the pub one night with the owner of one of the adjoining properties who may not appreciate any variance from the rules. Some of us go there regularly. There is a further PAR on the Waraweena property near Beltana. The following site has all the information you need. http://www.southaustralia.com/media/documents/regions/flinders-ranges-4wd-tracks-and-towers-2010.pdf Public Access Routes 3, 4 & 5 out of Blinman (Flinders Ranges SA) All distances are from Mapsource and are approximate. Travel out of Blinman in a north westerly direction towards Glass Gorge. Travel through the gorges and creek crossings for about 14.4 kms until you reach a junction to the right & Moolooloo HS. Turn right. If coming from the western end of Glass Gorge then it's a similar distance from Parachilna Gorge; just turn left at the Moolooloo HS junction instead of right. Travel for 2.5 kms until road to left (you need to look hard) which is an optional trip out to the historic Nuccaleena Mine. This is 14 kms each way of usually very rough dirt/rocks/ruts track. That is P.A.R 3. ] If not visiting Nucaleena, ignore road to left and travel on for a further 3.4 kms to Moolooloo Homestead. Do not turn into the homestead but travel straight on (sign P.A.R.). You are now on P.A.R. 4. Or the Artimore Track. You will experience a variety of surfaces which change often. There are some gates. Please leave them as you find them. Sometimes the track may not be obvious....just follow the way you were heading, especially through creek beds and all will reveal itself. Travel for 7.7 kms and you will arrive at Hannigan Gap. This is easily identified by the wreck of an old car. Great shady spot for a break, check of tyre pressures etc. Just a short ride from Hannigan Gap is a sign indicating Narrina. Heading north from there (on your left) is PAR 5 which is 6 kms each way. This takes you to a lookout from which you can see Patawarta Gap and a great opportunity to appreciate the beauty and enormity of that particular part of the Flinders. ( thanks to Doc, Kipo and Stu for showing us this little track back in 2007). Park yourself on the top of the lookout for a while and then turn it all around and go back to PAR 4 and turn left to continue on the track you were on. That brings you to the Artimore Ruins. Again, another good rest stop. After leaving the ruins you should be travelling in a south easterly direction and just follow the same direction you were heading when you got there. There is a sign (P.A.R.). The track itself lasts for another 11.1 kms until you reach the end of a treed section and find two permapine posts and a sign indicating the end of the PAR. Sometimes the sign has been stolen but you should still see the posts. The gravel road is a bit of a giveaway too!! Now turn right and head in a general south or south west direction for 3.4 kms until reaching an intersection; TURN RIGHT. In fact, after leaving the P.A.R. only take right hand turns, when at every T junction to get back to Blinman, maybe for a cold drink at the hotel. Travel for a further 9.6 kms passing Angorichina HS on your right (at 3.7 kms) and hit the main road. Turn right and you're a stone's throw from the pub. WARNINGS: Tourists use this track too. Be careful, they are generally in 4WD's with bull bars. Be aware of vehicles coming in the opposite direction. Early in the morning and towards dusk it is not unusual to see a lot of wildlife. The roos generally hear us coming but have been known to race alongside us for a while!!!!!!! If you can't see the track ahead, then tread carefully. There are washaways, ruts, holes (read very big holes), rocks (read very big rocks) and hazards all along the way. If you ride within your comfort zone you will be absolutely fine...this is a great place to take a bike. Blinman to Blinman a bike on a reasonable paced ride with a few stops will take about 3 hrs. Someone just out for a faster trip will do it 1.5 hrs easily. 4WD's can get through there but can take 6 hrs or more. It is well worth the trip. Oh, did we mention the rocks?? (rims and tyres!!) Here's a map showing Blinman, Parachilna Gorge, Ango Village (in the middle of Para Gorge), Glass Gorge out of Blinman, and the Moolooloo Homestead relative to PAR's 3,4 & 5...
Yes Nev, we have a history of thieving things from you lot.... Are you thinking of taking it back? Where would you put it? :ddog I just noticed your spelling Nev, is that a Red Headed basketball team?
Mookra in the South Flinders - Lots of good riding down there too. Simmonston Ruins - Seems some shady property developer in the 1800's told everyone a railway was coming through but it never arrived - Probably a Vic! Mt Elm. Steep climb over a long distance, lots of ruts and big rocks. Lot of fun and rewarded with fantastic views at the top!
