Monday 14 July 2013 - Exploring Arkaroola and Travel Arkaroola to Leigh Creek SA

Monday 14 July 2013 - Exploring Arkaroola and Travel Arkaroola to Leigh Creek SA

Set out in the morning to explore around Arkaroola.  Investigated an old gold mine “Lively’s Find” with remains of his bush house and barn, and also remnants of an old copper mine.  

Went on to Welcome Pound and to Stubbs’ Waterhole with good 4WDriving tracks where we walked through an amazing gorge with waterholes and cliffs containing large boulders thrown there by glacier action. 

This park is just full of amazing geological treasures – Ali eat your heart out!

Reluctantly we said goodbye to Arkaroola after lunch and headed west through the Gammon Ranges to Leigh Creek, a coal mining town and the only place to buy food and fuel for miles.

We noticed that before we had gone very far the land changed from rugged and arid mountains to gentler slopes covered in green scrub, enough to feed first sheep and then cattle. 

Although unsurfaced the road was well graded and without corrugations so the trip only took 2 hours.

Leigh Creek camping ground is fantastic $20 for a powered site, spotlessly clean with the most comfy camp kitchen (including armchairs, real crockery, BBQ, TV and heater) – Mel is very warm tonight.  It makes a huge contrast from camping in a rocky creek bed for the last 3 nights!