Australia So Much to See
The Bunyeroo Valley Scenic Drive - Flinders Ranges
One of the reasons for us to revisit this area of the Flinders
Ranges was to take the scenic Bunyeroo Valley Drive, which we missed last time. Friends took their caravan through last time
we were here, but we debated towing and continuing on or leaving our caravan at Aroona and doing a loop. We chose the latter
and what a wise choice. The road was very busy, and narrow in places, so passing with a caravan would have been difficult. The parking areas at the lookouts were hard enough to park in as it was with so many tourists. It is a delightful thirty kilometre
scenic drive, and a highlight of our trip.
Before leaving Brachina Gorge Road, we stopped at a strategically placed rest area, with views of the Aroona Valley, flanked by the
Heysen Range and ABC Range to the north, and views to Wilpena Pound with the continuing Heysen Range and ABC Range to the south. The ABC Range extends all the way to Wilpena Pound.
Nearby is a simple cottage constructed for hikers on the Heysen Trail. The Heysen Trail extends for 1,200 kilometres from Cape
Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula, to Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges, traversing coastal areas, native bushland, rugged gorges,
pine forests, vineyards, rich farmland and historic towns.
The Heysen Trail is closed to walkers during the summer months due
to fire risk. This corresponds with the closed burning season of the shires the trail traverses though.
Vistas as we rose and climbed the range were gorgeous, but the weather became increasingly windy.
As we pressed south, the hills became less rugged and were relatively bare. We reached the road which heads north to Blinman
ten kilometres north of Wilpena Pound. The road is now a good and wide sealed road.
Reconstruction of the Yanyanna Horse Yards was undertaken by Friends of the Flinders Ranges and Friends of the Great Victoria Desert,
with assistance of Park staff in May 2012.
