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FLINDERS & OUTBACK TREK This follow-up to last year's Interior Trek took place from 1-10 November 2005 and was an opportunity to explore the landscape and possible sites for a desert monastic retreat. There were nine participants with the expert guidance, driving and cooking of Dave Burge assisted by Colin Cook.
Underground accommodation Coober Pedy The first day was a long drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy where we stayed underground at Umoona Mine and Museum. Our plan had been to stay the next night at Copper Hills Station and then go on to Oodnadatta, but rain had closed the Oodnadatta road so the decision was to spend two nights at Coober Pedy.
Copper Hills After a tour of the mine we headed 150km up the Stuart Highway to Copper Hills on the Painted Desert Road. This is a 400ha property in breakaway country with its own billabong and Atco style guest accommodation around a rammed earth homestead.
Serbian Orthodox Church The following day we visited the underground churches - Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox in a surprisingly cold Coober Pedy, plus the Moon Plain with its 360 degree view to the horizon, the Dog Fence and the Breakaways with their vivid colours and stark formation. On the way to William Creek we stopped at Anna Creek Station, at 34,000sq kms the largest in the world - and twice the size of East Timor.
Breakaways The next morning we enjoyed a spa at Coward Springs bore and had lunch with a team mustering camels. After passing Lake Eyre South and a stop at Marree we reached Iga Warta run by the Coulthard family of the Adnyamathanha people where there was a campfire session on local culture.
Coward Springs
Lake Eyre
Checking the waters On Saturday we stopped at Italowie Gorge on the way to Arkaroola where there was the thrill of the Ridgetop Tour, a four hour 4WD drive through spectacular countryside. That night the most popular meal was the mixed grill - kangaroo, emu and camel.
Arkaroola Ridgetop Arkaroola The next morning, we stopped at the Copley Bakery to try its famous Quondong Pie and meet the owner whose story was written up in The Weekend Australian Magazine 12-13 November 2005. On the way to Blinman, and a walk around the old copper mine, a family of emus crossing the road provided some excitement..
Family outing The evening was spent at Willow Springs Station where the manager's residence is now tourist accommodation. From there we visited another property of the same family where the residence is vacant, a situation now not uncommon. Then on to Wilpena for lunch and a view of the well known Wilpena Pound.
Pekina
Dinner at Pekina The evening provided another interesting stop, the former presbytery and church at Pekina. The house has been adapted for group use, along with a dormitory and dining area in a large hall. Here we were joined for dinner by Bishop Eugene Hurley of Port Pirie together with a couple of family and friends of Dave. Then on to Broken Hill via Magnetic Hill and Peterborough and eventually to Fowler's Gap the arid zone research station of the University of New South Wales. Comfortable accommodation was provided in the 'Shearer's Quarters'. There is also dormitory, cottage and retreat hut accommodation. There was time for an exploratory walk before dinner, then an early morning departure for the return to Adelaide
Fowler's Gap The exploration of landscape was interwoven with times of prayer. This took the form of a couple of very simple celebrations of Eucharist, on occasion a short morning or evening prayer based on the Liturgy of the Hours and some times of meditation. Discussion included again the desirability of a desert retreat place and properties visited gave an idea of possibilities for such a project. Michael Kelly with acknowledgment to Phillip Boyle for several of the photos. |
