Emu chicks have started to arrive, a beautiful Sturt Dessert Pea is on view along the track into Chambers Gorge, as I type this update from Arkaroola's Pick and Shovel Restuarant we have just experienced one of their worst dust storms for years..

I have recently seen the"Native Hibiscus" in flower but not the "Sturt's Desert Rose" as yet..

Today we witnessed the most colourful Rainbow Bee-eater
(sighting at Bolla Bollana Springs).

Also as I was uploading, a new email came through with a wonderful testimony,
Please take the time to read (it's located at the bottom of the page).

10/08/08 Wattle is has now busrt into flower from Quorn to Wilpena Pound.
Recently I took out a camping tour to Arkaroola into the Northern Flinders Ranges to find that they have missed out on a lot of rain this winter and this northern region is still looking quite dry but daisies are showing a lovely display of yellow in low lying areas.
Bookings are coming in to start filling my diary, so if you are thinking of touring the Flinders at this time of year I advise you to book as early as possible as I've started to encounter "sorry we are full" when I've been booking accommodation.
(below) I have sighted some very healthy and vibrantly colourful "Wild Hops"which are looking excepionaly radiant when in direct line with the setting sun.

The "Salvation Jane" is growing frantically (a few odd plants in flower (above) here and there)

The "Dusty Miller" is currently looking at its elegant best.

The 'Rough grivillea" is well into its flowering period
I captured this spider comb grivillea flower just breaking through to see its first sunlight

and this silver Cassia's golden petals starting to unfold.

The Sheoak has delicate little red flower balls which generally only last until the next heavy rains virtually washes the flower away.
Many species of Acacias are now in full flower

Due to the recent rains we have had a strong regeneration of "Saltbushes" which is great to see.

The Blue Bush is looking rejuvenated with the shiny appearance of new flowers.
I have recently witnessed the "Native Pear" or "Bush Banana" in fruit in the
Flinders Ranges National Park

The tiny flower and fruit of the "Leafless Cherry" can be seen with some magnification.

It is still too early for the stunning yellow flower and red love heart shape outlined centre of the "Butterfly bush" (pic. top right)

The "Pink Mulla Mulla"is allways a welcome sight, more commonly sighted in the Northern Flinders Ranges

"Silvertails" or "Cats Paw" are currently bursting into flower. you can not help but feel the soft texture of this flower.

Also recently photographed in the ranges above Quorn are the "Vanilla Lilly"
and "Smooth Rice Flower"
There is an abundance of "Wild Onion" which is now in flower.

Thank you for visiting.

Regards Paul Keen

Two unforgettable days in Flinders Ranges - Weekend Escape

When I realized I was going on business to Adelaide and having some days off
to see some of South Australia one obvious choice was to schedule two days
in Flinders Ranges. By a chance I came across an information about Wallaby
Tracks Adventures, which was mentioned in my travel guide of Australia. This
turned out to be a fantastic coincidence.

First striking thing was the immediate email answer to my enquiry, what I
could do with two days that I could spare. The Weekend Escape including the
Wilpena Pound day and the South Flinders day is a perfect combination for
anybody having a weekend free in Adelaide. On Friday late afternoon one
travels 300 km north by a regular coach service and in Port Augusta is
picked up by Paul. And so the great adventure begins.

My coach was 45 minutes late but as promised Paul waited "in front of a
white 4WD wearing a hat with feathers". There were absolutely no complaints
about the delay despite the time was truly late. The accommodation in his
house in Quorn is more than enough, a bedroom and a bath as well as
breakfast in the morning is indeed all one needs on such a tour. An extra
thing was a possibility to admire a photo gallery in the house, somehow
indicating the views one was going to see during two coming days. For me it
was a great surprise to learn that Paul himself was keen on photography. If
you are keen on it, too, you will definitely find understanding and a lot of
hints, where and how to catch the best views. Photo stops are also possible.
Me, being a photo freak, I was very often frustrated during guided tours,
when fantastic opportunities for photography were completely ignored by the
guides. This is not a case with Paul!

The next day started quite early with a ride in the direction of Wilpena
Pound. It was very quickly obvious that Paul not only knows his land but
that he loves its undisputed beauty, history and nature wealth expressed in
its fauna and flora. During several walks he was eager to explain every
single item we came across, starting from rock formations, through all the
beast and bird species, through trees and bushes, ending with the tiniest
flowers that were about to bloom in these early spring days. One is given a
full explanation of what to expect and what you see on the way. The only
thing Paul cannot do, is to guarantee the weather. At least it seemed so
early on the first day. Wilpena Pound was shrouded in clouds, the only way
to admire its beauty was to look at the postcards available in general
stores on the way or in the visitor centre in Wilpena. Despite the weather
we proceeded and as the day progressed it looked as if Paul could also
influence the weather. It was constantly improving with less and less clouds
and more and more sunny breaks slowly unveiling higher parts of mountains we
were passing by going through Bunyeroo Valley and Brachina Gorge. Even the
yellow-footed rock wallabies finally decided to show themselves as if Paul
also had powers to persuade even them. These arguably most beautiful
marsupials are a pure delight to watch, hopping among rocks and grazing the
green grass. Still, the last hour of the daylight was most spectacular and
it really paid for all the day. The end of the Wilpena day meets you in the
car going back to Quorn along the west side of Wilpena Pound. In this very
hour the clouds loosened and a gap was formed just over the horizon. This
created a light performance I have never seen in my life. The smoke dark
walls of Wilpena were gradually illuminated from the bottom by the setting
sun and so were the clouds already high enough not to cover the mountains.
Needless to say, the memory card in my camera was filling up very quickly.

The day, so gloomy at the beginning, was rounded up by a fantastic supper
prepared by Paul himself, with a delicious kangaroo steak and a glass of a
very good wine.

The second and regrettably the last day of the tour started again early. Due
to the cloudy weather conditions in the Mt. Arden region Paul was so kind
to change the schedule for me to use the best of the landscapes, though it
meant to him some 100 km of extra driving. So we first went to Mt.
Remarkable National Park to walk into the Alligator Gorge. Even if you are
scared of reptiles you do not need to worry. The name has nothing to do with
the fauna but rather with the shape of the gorge when seen from above. The
gorge itself may not be the deepest one in the world but its tiny creeks and
red hued walls, sometimes seeming to be built artificially of bricks, form
an exciting combination. Red rocks, green grass, picturesque gum trees,
sometimes popping up directly from the rock face, cater for yet another
unforgettable experience.

The weather was improving again during the day as we headed back north for a
4WD drive of Mt. Arden. Though it sounded little adventurous it was indeed a
crowning of the tour. A fascinating ride with spectacular sights to Lake
Torrens and beyond in the west, Wilpena Pound in the north, Spencer Bay in
the south and over the ranges of Flinders into the wild in the east was a
delight to the eyes and a burden to my camera memory card. What stroke me
most was the fact that we were on the private property to which Paul has an
unlimited access. Australia may not be the most densely populated country in
the world but still in the places of interest you may meet some other
visitors. But in Mt. Arden we were completely alone, the only company were
numerous kangaroos, euros, goats and eagles. Nature pure!

The ride back south to Port Augusta to catch the coach service to Adelaide
was also fascinating with landscapes all around. And it was quick enough to
spare some time for the lookout just north of Port Augusta enabling to
admire the wilderness and beauty of Flinders Ranges looming behind the
waters of Spencer Bay northernmost tip.

When I sat down in a coach going back to Adelaide I had some last minutes of
daylight to admire one last time the Flinders Ranges again illuminated by
the setting sun. Even with this Paul helped suggesting to sit on the left
hand side of the coach. When it became dark I was observing the stars trying
to locate the Southern Cross and while doing this - to recollect all the
details of these two amazing days and to realize how lucky I was to go to
Flinders Ranges with Paul. It quickly became clear to me that without him I
would not see half of what I have seen and would not get 10% of knowledge of
Flinders Ranges I learned from him.

Do I recommend Wallaby Tracks Adventures? Unconditionally! It is the best
choice you can do if you have just a couple of days to admire the beauty of
South Australia.

Thank you Paul for being around!

Przemyslaw Litewka
Poznan, Poland