Flinders Ranges

Waking up at midnight, I was greeted by a clear sky filled with a breathtaking display of stars—one of those moments that makes camping truly special. The day began early, with the sun rising at 6:30am and Dan already busy preparing breakfast at the camp. After queuing for a much-needed shower, I felt refreshed and ready for our final day of the tour. Breakfast was a hearty serving of eggs and bacon, which everyone enjoyed. The line for coffee was long, but eventually, we all managed to get our morning fix. ...

We find out that overnight, one of the group was nearly run over while they slept in their swag. A driver came into the campsite late at night, driving way too fast. The tour guide has complained to the tour owner, and tonight we will sleep at Mikkira Station with the koalas, which we’re all very happy about! After the usual breakfast, we got back on the bus and headed to Fishery Bay for surfing. We weren’t that keen, given the recent shark attack just along the coast. Once we arrived, we saw that the water was actually very shallow, and the surf instructor convinced us it was the safest beach in Australia. So the kids and I took the surfing lesson, which was really great. The soft white sand, shallow water, and gentle waves made it really enjoyable. After two hours, we were all exhausted and battered! ...

We start the day with an eco-warrior walk along the coast of port Lincoln. We’re each given a bag to collect rubbish as we walk which the kids really get into. It’s a pleasant walk and Port Lincoln is nice enough, but it’s not the most picturesque place we’ve been to. After the walk, Dan drives us down to Whalers Way, so that we can see the ocean and get a glimpse of the sea lions. We’re greeted with a strong wind and a dramatic view, but we do get to see the sea lions resting on the rocks below. ...

6:00am wake up, and we helped make breakfast. I was on coffee duty and Alex on pancakes. I slept much better last night, but it was still too hot, and I was afraid to unzip the swag too far in case of creepy crawlies. The moon was still insanely bright, so I had to face away from it until it went down at 3:30am! We need to leave by 7:30am as today is a driving day, and we have a long way to go. We pack up the campsite and jump on the coach to Hawker, stopping at the local gas station to see if they have a spare tyre for the bus, which they don’t. ...

Early wake up by 6am with the sun rise. Breakfast of pancakes which Alex made. I had toast with Vegemite! After breakfast, we hiked into the Wilpena Pound, up to Lower Wangara Lookout and back via Hills Homestead. About 12km in total and home in time for a quick dip before lunch. The dip wasn’t quite as relaxing as we’d planned! The pool was infested with wasps and hornets, all drinking water! We managed to have a dip in one corner, the water was very cold, which was refreshing. We didn’t stay long since we didn’t want to push our luck and get stung so far from civilisation. ...

5:30am wake up alarm to go join the tour. The Boshier’s had ordered taxis the night before. We said hi for the first time before getting the taxis to the local bus station. A few minutes later we’re met by the tour bus towing a trailer, and we throw our luggage into the back and find a seat. There are 7 others, some locals, some travellers. We head out of town to pick up one more passenger before driving for 1 hour for some coffee. There are loads of caravan and camping stores around here, and we see quite a few 4x4’s with camping trailers going past. ...