I had decided to head east for Christmas because my WA family had headed to Italy from where I had just returned. It was going to be a relatively short trip however I wanted to include a trek to the summit of Mt Feathertop as well as further exploration of the southern Flinders Ranges and Eyre Peninsular.
Day 1 - 14/12/2022
Motored along the Great Eastern Highway (GEH) to free camp nearby the Railway Hotel in Southern Cross. There is an expansive levelled area opposite the pub and a toilet in a nearby park. I stopped at Meckering for lunch on the way.
Drove 380km
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| Meckering for lunch |
| Railway Hotel Southern Cross |
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| Camp site |
Day 2 - 15/12/2022
Continued on to a roadside bush camp just short of Madura Pass. The trip east was turning into a cannonball run to get to mum’s place. No time for rubber necking.
Drove 855km
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| Bush camp |
Day 3 - 16/12/2022
Headed to Penong Caravan Park SA, a favourite going either direction across the Nullarbor. Refuelled at Eucla along the way.
Drove 625km
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| Eucla servo |
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| Penong campsite |
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| Penong caravan park |
Day 4 - 17/12/2022
Kept motoring to stay at Port Augusta Caravan Park at Stirling North, another repeat location. Basic but decent value with a discount for cash.
Drove 550km
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| Big Galah at Kimba |
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| Port Augusta Caravan Park |
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| Port Augusta Caravan Park |
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| Pizza night |
Day 5 - 18/12/2022
Next stop was Mount Monster Conservation Park at Keith. There was a short trail walk available here.
Drove 440km
Hiked 5km including 87m ascent
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| Murray River at Tailem Bend |
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| Murray River at Tailem Bend |
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| Campsite at Mt Monster |
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| Abandoned quarry |
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| The summit |
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| Up top |
Hike deets
Day 6 - 19/12/2022
Into Victoria now, camping at Cathcart rest area near Ararat. I had to drive through Melbourne so I stopped well short to avoid scarcity of camping options. One day’s travel remaining.
Drove 315km
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| Campsite |
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| Rest area |
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| Cheers |
Day 7 - 20/12/2022
Arrived in Korumburra, my birthplace, to stay with my mum and spend Christmas with my siblings’ extended families. 3465km
Drove 340km
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| Mum and I |
Day 8 through 13 - 21/12/2022 through 26/12/2022
Family stuff….
Day 14 - 27/12/2022
Took a walk around the old home town of Korumburra. There are some serious hills here. Didn’t bother wearing my Garmin.
Day 15 - 28/12/2022
Family stuff…
Day 16 - 29/12/2022
Walked along the local rail trail eastwards. No Garmin
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| Dear father’s resting place |
Day 17 - 30/12/2022
Family stuff…
Day 18 - 31/12/2022
Walked along the local rail trail westwards. No Garmin
Day 21 - 3/1/2023
Drove to the coast for a squiz at Cape Patterson.
Day 22 & 23
Family stuff…
Day 24 - 6/1/2023
Took a nostalgic walk around the old home town to reacquaint myself after 30+ years. No Garmin
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| High School entrance. So many mature trees |
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| Demolishing the old classroom wing |
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| They were saplings |
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| My second home in summer |
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| I have done countless laps here |
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| Strong Italian presence |
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| Good value camping |
Day 25 - 7/1/2023
Bade my family farewell and headed for the mountains via Dargo High Plains. Camped the night at Italian Flat on the north side of Dargo, heading towards Mt Hotham.
Drove 280km
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| Wonnangatta River |
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| Wonnangatta River |
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| Italian Flat campsite |
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| Lace Monitor |
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| Hiding |
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| Magnificent eucalypt |
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| Italian Flat campground |
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| Dargo River |
Day 26 - 8/1/2023
Drove to Mt Hotham along the Dargo High Plains Rd. This road is very steep in sections. Stopped at the visitor centre to confirm my intent to hike out to Mt Feathertop along razorback track and stay overnight at Federation Hut after parking on the main road at Diamantina Hut.
Returned to Diamantina Hut, parked up and loaded up for my overnight trek and set off. Made it to Federation hut but was feeling quite unwell by then so I set camp early to wait for the morning and ascend the summit of Feathertop.
Drove 80km
Hiked 10.3km including 358m ascent
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| Dargo High Plains Rd |
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| Twenty Five Mile Creek |
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| Up high now. Well higher than any point in WA |
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| Hotham Heights summit |
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| Over the back of Hotham |
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| Feathertop in the distance |
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| Diamantina Hut |
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| Here we go |
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| Federation Hut |
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| As close as I got… |
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| Bugs on my sore feet |
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| Federation Hut |
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| Bivvy set up |
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| Pretty sunset colours |
Hike deets
Day 27 - 9/1/2023
Unfortunately last night was beset with a howling gale demolishing many hiker’s camps. My trusty bivouac fared well however I didn’t. There was no way I was well enough to tackle the last steep kilometre or so to the summit. Sadly the most logical thing to do was to return to the van and reassess my position.
After reaching the van it was clear that I wasn’t well so the best avenue was to rest up for a while and head down to Bright to seek medical assistance at the bush hospital if required. I made camp at Wandiligong Caravan Park.
Drove 60km
Hiked 10km including 379m ascent
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| So near yet so far |
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| On my way back |
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| Uphill battle |
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| Slithery companion |
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| Campsite at Wandiligong |
Day 28 - 10/1/2023
Things went quickly downhill and I ended up presenting at the hospital ED after which I spent the entire day undergoing tests and prodding and poking. I ended up diagnosed with pericarditis (inflammation around the heart). I suspect this was brought on by me catching Covid (after avoiding it for two years) and me continuing to drive through it.
A local saviour friend from pre Elon Twitter came to take me back to camp at 2100 after discharge. Thanks so much Jan.
Day 29 & 30 - 11&12/1/2023
Rest and recuperation at Wandiligong camp.
Day 31 - 13/1/2023
Met up with Jan and we went for a short but strenuous local walk. Not really a good idea. Anyway I was waiting for a doctor’s appointment to get the all clear to travel home (3500km).
She prescribed hard core anti-inflammatories and I was on my way. I wasn’t in the most confident state of mind but I just wanted to get ‘home’ to see my GP. Back to camp and prepare to depart tomorrow.
Hiked 7.1km including 240m ascent
Hike deets
Day 32 - 14/1/2023
Headed off to stop at Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre. Not much to report as I was using all my energy to drive.
Drove 570km
Day 33 - 15/1/2023
Drove to Palmer Cricket Ground camping in SA. Still not as well as I might be.
Drove 315km
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| Trying out my induction hob |
Day 34 - 16/1/2023
Stayed a second night in attempt to rest a bit more before contemplating the southern Flinders Ranges.
Day 35 - 17/1/2023
Decamped and drove through the Adelaide Hills to reach Gawler then on to Wirrabara via the Germein Gorge Rd. Camped at the local caravan park which has en-suite style bathrooms. Very nice.
Drove 310km
Day 36 - 18/1/2023
Played golf on the local bush course. Unfortunately it hadn’t been mowed for ages so it ended up too difficult to find the ball. I bailed early on as it wasn’t much fun and the rain was setting in.
Day 37 - 19/1/2023
Took a drive to nearby Melrose to climb Mt Remarkable in the southern Flinders Ranges. I took it easy and was coping quite well with the exertion thankfully.
Back to Wirrabara for the night.
Drove 60km
Hiked 15.6km including 648m ascent
Hike deets going up
Going down
Day 38 - 20/1/2023
I found another local walk trail up to and along a ridge so I improvised a bit and turned it into a loop.
Drove 30km
Hiked 9.8km including 546m ascent
Hike deets
Day 39 - 21/1/2023
Upped stumps and headed to Whyalla for lunch and a look. Ended up at Louth Bay Campground.
Drove 420km
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| Mt Remarkable |
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| Whyalla steelworks |
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| Whyalla marina |
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| Loading jetty |
Day 40 - 22/1/2023
Got up early to play nine holes of golf at the nearby bush course then made my way to Coffin Bay for a squiz. Ended up camping at Cummings near Lake Hamilton. A majestic location indeed.
Drove 155km
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| Coffin Bay |
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| Marble Range |
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| Cummings Kiana |
Day 41 - 23/1/2023
Flew the drone for some pics then broke camp and headed to Locks Beach for a stairway fitness test. It was much harder work than it should have been. I still hadn’t recovered which was a bit concerning so I decided to get back home as soon as I could, within reason. Found a campsite along the Nullarbor.
Drove 625km
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| Eyre Peninsular headland |
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| Lake Hamilton |
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| Locks Beach |
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| Nullarbor campsite |
Day 42 - 24/1/2023
Another big one. I just wanted to get back to my GP, and had booked in by now. I took advantage of ‘gaining time’ by crossing the border and continued on. Found a secluded location at Fraser Range WA. It was a really hot night and I was struggling a bit.
Drove 840km
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| Nullarbor |
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| Not so null arbor |
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| Fraser Range campsite |
Day 43 - 25/1/2023
Hightailed it home to get to my doctor’s appointment. Wasn’t feeling altogether well but was psychologically relieved to be on familiar medical turf.
Drove 770km
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A bit of a whirlwind trip but had some good moments and memorable hikes despite the health issues. I failed to reach the summit of Feathertop however to try could have been a grave miscalculation.
Drove 8025km in 43 days
Hiked 57.8km including 2258m ascent
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