Merna Mora Station

4 – 5 September 2023

We had planned to have a big drive from Whyalla to get us close to the Birdsville Track but the sleepless night we had both endured had us rethinking our plan. We left Whyalla and refuelled in Port Augusta before continuing on to Quorn for morning tea and then Hawker for lunch. We had a look at our options, and noting that the strong winds would be around for another day, we decided to look for somewhere where we could get a powered site as cooking outside on gas in strong winds in near on impossible. We settled on Merna Mora Station, partly because we had never been there before, and partly because it wasn’t too far away.

We phoned the station while we were in Hawker, then drove the 43 kilometres along The Flinders Ranges Way. Merna Mora is just one of many station stays in the Flinders Ranges and is well set up for visitors.

Once we had settled onto our site we noticed the neighbours – another couple we had met at Mount Ive. It certainly is a small world. They had told us they were going to Rawnsley Park – another station stay – but couldn’t get in until later in the week so had chosen Merna Mora to spend the time waiting.

We spent a quiet afternoon and evening at camp, and went for a short walk up the hill to a lookout point just on dusk. The views around Ikara-Flinders Ranges are something to be seen. It’s a really beautiful landscape.

In the morning we went for a walk to the dry creek bed looking for birds but there wasn’t much around. We packed up and headed off hoping to be on the Birdsville Track later in the day.

Ikara - Flinders Ranges National Park - Brachina Gorge, Teamsters Campground

 8 - 9 November 2021

We had scoped out some campgrounds on a drive up to Blinman on Friday, and chose Teamsters as the most suitable. It has large sites, toilets and a great view of Brachina Gorge.

We arrived in time for a late morning tea, and walk down into the gorge. The weather wasn't great, with cloudy skies, but no rain, and little wind. We enjoyed our peaceful surroundings, with only the occasional car passing along the road nearby. It looked like we might be the only ones there, but a family arrived late in afternoon. Mick spent some time out with the camera while I read in the shade - just a perfect afternoon.

After a fairly cold night, the sky cleared and the sun came out. As the rocky gorge became lighter we were able to spot some Yellow-footed rock wallabies sunning themselves at the entrances to a couple of the many caves that we could see along the gorge wall.

We didn't need to rush off so made pancakes for breakfast and enjoyed an extra cup of tea as the day warmed up. We left around 10am and headed for Hawker where we aired up the tyres, bought a coffee and attended to some phone calls. From there it was on the Quorn for a picnic lunch and then to Port Augusta.