19 – 21 April 2022. 2148km.
Bunganditj > Ngarrindjeri > Kaurna country
In transit over two days, leaving friends and now on our own, our entry to SA has been awe inspiring. Vast, vast country, gazing out the car window a feast for the senses. Sunsetting across grassy plains, unexpected stop for cow herd highway crossing, on night one we arrived in Robe, racing against the loss of light to setup. Indulging in hot showers, giant jumping pillow (trampoline) and campground facilities. Next morning a quick walk to adjacent Dunn Lake and Outlet beach for stick dancing and sand chopping before hitting the road once more. Up the road in Kingston, bakery treats, fuel refill and the GIANT LOBSTER! Flashbacks of taking toddler Poppy there on a documentary mission to Reedy Creek some years prior.
This next leg of the drive… WOW. South Australia’s Coorong, the road hugging the banks of this series of saline lakes, Murray River meets the coast. Flocks of pelicans in formation. Rich, abundant and bountiful Ngarindjerri country as far as the eye could see for kilometres upon kilometres. What a treat. Onwards we go, now through the Adelaide Hills, wine country, winding roads, quaint towns, lush vegetation. Ambitions to make it to Port Hughes north of Adelaide dashed by distance exhaustion, a quick stop in to Adelaide to replace Alex’s phone, and never fear, a closer stop located – free campsite at Port Parham! A tiny mud crabbing town in the Adelaide Plains, a tinier campground. Caravans tetrised in, friendly neighbours, sunset stunning, west facing, low tide, shallow beach, so much seagrass, like a water bed underfoot. Pasta leftovers, happy campers.
Final big transit day, headed for the Flinders Ranges, an hour up the road from Parham, Lake Bumbunga took us by surprise. Pink salt, a sculpted eel monster, jump out for a look. Walking on crust, optical illusions, hand stands on the giant eel, the monster of neighbouring town Lochiel. Lake Bumbunga once supplied 80% of Australia’s salt. All this driving across plains and through agricultural lands, a reminder of how much of this continent is farmed – also for solar and wind, huge, renewable farms another car window feast.
SA Border Crossing > Robe > Kingston SE
Parham – 1st Free Campsite a winner!
Lake Bumbunga – salt lake
