Port Augusta

 10 – 13 April 2022

We were unsure about where to go next and were considering Gawler Ranges, then north on the Stuart Highway but there were also some good bird spots on the Oodnadatta Track. We decided to go and spend a few days in Port Augusta while we made up our minds.  On our way from Cradock we stopped for a cuppa in Quorn and realised that the Pichi Richi railway was running and would leave Quorn sometime that morning. The Pichi Richi is a heritage railway journey running between Quorn and Port Augusta. The original line was commenced in 1878 and formed part of the famous Ghan journey. After our somewhat early morning tea we went for a walk around the town and returned to the picnic area in time to see the engine getting up a good head of steam ready to set off. We joined many others taking photos of this seldom-seen sight.

From there we made our way to Port Augusta and found a small park on the foreshore for lunch before checking in at the caravan park. It was very hot, and the forecast was for more hot weather so we were glad to be able to spend some time in the camp kitchen and recreation room.

As always, we visited the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens – three times! The first morning we rose early and were there for 7:30am opening time. We spent some time in each of the two bird hides and also along the tracks where Mick had spied some flowering Xanthoreas. We also checked out the Eremophila gardens in the hope of finding some birds there.

On the second morning we arrived even earlier and found, as Mick had suspected, that the gates were already open, or perhaps they had never been closed. This time we visited one of the bird hides and spent the rest of the time on the tracks. There is a huge network of well-marked and signposted tracks that meander all over the property through various sections highlighting regional plants. It’s a great place to photograph plants, birds, animals, as well as the stunning landscape.

On our final morning in Port Augusta we made one last visit to the Gardens on our way out of town. This time we also treated ourselves to morning tea at the excellent café. We had finally settled on a route that would take us along the Stuart Highway then across to the Oodnadatta Track, and back to the Stuart Highway.