16 to 21 June 2016 - Clare, Hawker & the Flinders

I made the return journey from the Adelaide Hills, back through Kapunda, Tarlee & on to the Clare Valley.  Had planned to spend a couple of days, see what the weather was doing and decide whether to head further North to the Flinders or go West and have a quick look at the Gawler Ranges National Park.

This was the third time I had passed through the Clare and I had seen enough of Wineries and beautiful old towns from my recent visits to the Barossa and the Adelaide Hills.  However, there was one exception and that was a return visit to Skillogalee, primarily for the restaurant which is still my favourite in South Australia.  Last visit I had an entree which was seasonal fresh figs, stuffed with goats cheese, wrapped in proscuitto, lightly pan fried and heated through in the oven, which was just SO GOOD.....This time I had an oxtail with polenta starter that was good, but followed by a main with confit duck leg that was truly to die for.  Best I have had anywhere......Well worth a visit if you find yourself in the Clare Valley.  You need to book as the restaurant is small and popular. 

I have to say their wines are also quite special for a small producer, so I had to have another tasting and add a few more bottles to the collection in the groaning caravan for the trip home.

A photo I took the Summer before last of the Skillogalee Winery.

Clare Town Hall (also from 2015) - a pretty town.

After considering the weather reports and looking at road closures in the Flinders National Park, I decided it was still worth a visit further north for a scouting trip, at least before a full Flinders exploration.  I tossed up whether to stay in Hawker or Wilpena Pound in the National Park.  In the end, I decided to take the caravan as far as Hawker and have the flexibility of just the Landcruiser on some of the roads which looked to be difficult if the rains came down.  Turned out to be a good decision as I saw some heavy rain and many of the unsealed roads in the Park were closed to 4WD traffic.

Carrieton - old & new enroute to the Flinders.  A good lunch stop.

Hawker was smaller than I expected but a pleasant country town with a well run, friendly caravan park.  First place I have had some tomatoes bought in the general store weighed on the Australia Post parcel scale.  Interesting combination of store with a small cafe as well. 

Not quite the views & access to walking trails as found at Wilpena Pound, but it worked out well for me as the second day I was in residence it just poured all day and the park steadily filled with drowned campers and very dirty camper vans.

Fortunately I did manage one day touring in the National Park & beyond before the weather turned very bad.  A few photos from that day.

 Inside the Wilpena Pound campground area.

The view from the road into Wilpena campground area.

On the road North to Blinman.

One view of Historic (seem to be a favourite word) Blinman.

The road from Blinman through Paranchilna Gorge.  A great drive in the Landcruiser.

 The Prairie Hotel at Paranchilna, back on the flat on the road North to Leigh Creek & beyond.

The Flinders is a large very interesting area, with much history and great walking trails.  Will need to be revisited on (yet) another trip.  The weather forecast was becoming even more bleak with a nasty front due in a day or two, with possible heavy rain and snow on the Ranges.  Time for PJ to flee South & West.....

On the way I stopped for a coffee and a superb egg and bacon breakfast wrap with sweet chilli sauce at Emily's Bistro in Quorn.  Highly recommended.  I had previously spent a couple of nights in Quorn in 2015 and found it yet another place well worth both a visit and stay.

 Quorn Railway Station (now Info Centre) in the Summer time.  Used to be the main line North to Alice and was a major junction for Australian Rail in our past history.

 The main street of Quorn again from 2015 - plenty of old pubs.....

Off to Port Augusta and the West.