Wilpena Pound Circuit (continued)

Day two:  Side trip to Edeowie Gorge

Chapman's Wilpena Pound map

The next day, from Cooinda Camp, we followed the signpost and took the track which led northwest towards Edeowie Gorge.  After the walk of about 600m, we passed the rockhole, from which we had collected water the day before.  We continued on for about 1.8km of ups and downs, untill Edeowie Gorge was reached.

Edeowie Gorge Cliffs

Group photo

Roch scramble in the rocky valley

Second day lunch stop

Edeowie Gorge

We returned to Cooinda Camp via the same route.  We then packed up our tents, followed the track and walked out via Tanderra Saddle, where we kept to the right track, heading east about 1.5km, then southeast about 2.5km to get back to Wilpena Campground.  Food, beer, and wine were shared at dinner to celebrate the last night of Peter S. with the group.

 
Daddy's baking gourmet

Wilpena Pound Circuit, Flinders Ranges, SA

Continued on from Elder Range Daypack, 24th August (see blog archive)

Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th:  St Mary Peak – Wilpena Pound circuit (18km) ; the classic Flinders Ranges walk, taking in its highest point (1170m), with stunning views across Wilpena Pound and north to the ABC and Heysen Ranges. 

Location map for Wipena Pound

En route to Wilpena Campground

Chapman's "Bushwalking in Australia", p.136-141

The 5 km walk from Wilpena to Cooinda Camp via Wilpena Pound was easy and flat and we were provided with a pleasant experience of stands of native vegetation including native flowers, native pines, and many river red gums.  

The first two kilometres of the track was on an old forest road and a homestead could be seen at the end of the road.  The walking track started from here and it continued on for about half of km to a junction.  Here, we ignored the Heysen Trail turn off to the left.

Red gums

We arrived at the campsite before noon.  We pitched tents up, ate lunch and went collecting water from a rockhole which is located near Edeowie Track and about 600m away.

Cooinda Camp

After we had returned from the rockhole, we set off again and this time was for tackling St Mary Peak, the highest point in the Flinders Ranges, that was about  260m climb and took about two hours.

Rockhole, our water supply for two days

St Mary Peak from the track

Flowering wattle on the climb

 Sunset St Mary Peak on the return trip

Second day: Side trip to Edeowie Gorge (see Wilpena Pound Circuit continued)