Skytrek - Closed

[SteveM Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close SteveM]

Re: Skytrek - Closed

But it was a good trip Nick Did you show the pictures where you found EVERY muddy hole on the Birdsville Track? :mrgreen:

I've been to both Warraweena and Willow Springs / Skytrek but its been a while. Even at $75 the notes you get (if you follow them and stop at each of the indicated stops) and the view from Mt Caernavon is worth it in my opinion.

Warraweena is great also, but a different drive.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Skytrek - Closed

But it was a good trip Nick Did you show the pictures where you found EVERY muddy hole on the Birdsville Track? :mrgreen:

Yeah I think I did Steve. In another thread somewhere.

It was a good trip despite being stuck for 20 something hours at the ferry crossing. Some interesting people there. And I had a bloody good breakfast at Lyndhurst the following morning while Annaliese had a hotdog and chicken nuggets.

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I am planning to spend a few days at Bendleby in Easter 2012 and would like to take a daytrip out to Flinders and drive through Brachina and Bunyeroo Gorges as recommended above. Is this achievable as a day trip from Bendleby and what route should I take to cover both gorges? From the map, Bunyeroo Gorge runs north-south, Brachina Gorge runs east-west.

Is it best to go from Wilpena Pound end, head north through Bunyeroo and then turn right through Brachina? Am I missing anything at the left side, or should I go left for a bit and then u-turn back?

Is it better to start going through Brachina in the east to west direction, and then turn left and go south through Bunyeroo?

[JeffH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JeffH]

I just did this drive a couple of days ago. I was starting at Rawsnley Park, so I headed North past Wilpena and did Brachina Gorge track from the East as far as the Brachina Lookout, then turned around and did the Bunyeroo Gorge track from the North to south. As far as I could tell there wasn't really anything to see beyond (west of) the Brachina Lookout as this seems to be where the track starts to flatten out as it exits the ranges, hence why I didn't bother doing the whole track.
As far as time goes, there's really only a couple of hours of driving in the tracks, there's nothing difficult or technical about them. It will just depend if you want to stop to do any of the walks, lookouts or read the signs. I didn't stop much as the weather was pretty ordinary.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

hm... i might have to make a day trip up to arkapena, or the gorges sometime.

[alternative Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alternative]

I am planning to spend a few days at Bendleby in Easter 2012 and would like to take a daytrip out to Flinders and drive through Brachina and Bunyeroo Gorges as recommended above. Is this achievable as a day trip from Bendleby and what route should I take to cover both gorges?

Amts, im only a few months late with the reply but there is 2 solid days driving in Bendleby/Hungry ranges alone or 4-5 hours per day over 3 days depending on the kids boredom and the amount of stops to take in the views.
If you are only there for a few days you should probably tackle some Flinders tracks at another time. We have stayed at Bendleby 3 times now and its not a cheap trip anymore when you pay for 4wding and extra for the squids.

[Summit Seeker Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Summit Seeker]

Shame about skytrek, yet to do it, I think it will be a "do it once" sort of thing now at those rates.


Here is some other track/par info.
FLINDERS 4x4 TRACKS

[CaptAndy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close CaptAndy]

$75 is over the top now, considering the fuel you pay for & if theres a problem your own insurance has to cover it.
SkyTrek was on my list, but at 75 bucks I will explore using the cash for diesel instead.

[Nik120 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik120]

Another good alternative in the area is Arkaroola http://www.arkaroola.com.au/ which I think was about a 140km drive east from Leigh Creek. In addition to some of their tours like the Ridgetop Tour, they have some self guided tours as well, a few different levels of accommodation, fuel, workshop, internet access and a good bistro at night. I hope to get back there again.

[alternative Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alternative]

Has anyone done the Skytrek drive since it changed last month ? Better, worse or not worth the $65 all up. We have always intended to do it but never got around to it, heading there this weekend and plan to do it this time.

http://www.skytrekwillowsprings.com....edia120323.pdf

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

WOuld be nice to know what has changed as Skytrek was on the list to do when we are over there in Septmeber on our way to the GTG. Having never been there the reference to marker 25 means nothing to me what so ever.

[alternative Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alternative]

I believe that Mt Caernarvon was the highest point accessable with a vehicle in the Flinders, going on what ive read it is no longer included.... so it doesnt seem worth the $65 for whats left.

No doubt i will do it anyway and will definately post back my findings.

[alternative Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alternative]

Well..... thats 5 hours of my life i will never get back. We got to point 25, could see the Bunkers and where we used to be able to go, swung a right and weaved though a flat paddock for 30km in 12 inches of bull dust.

Its basically fraud calling that "skytrek", the highest point is lower that Stokes lookout on the next hill which we drove up to after we finished because i was so disgusted that i didnt want to stop for lunch at Willow Springs. The last 5-10km is driving on access roads over some rolling hills, i would compare it to Saunders Gorge in SA but at least Saunders has one hill worthy of a 4wd.

If it wasnt for hidden rocks in the bulldust and rocks strewn over the some of the trails, it could be easily done in a standard AWD. If i could have driven out of it at the halfway mark i would have packed it in and spent the day somewhere else.

The $65 wasted was nothing compared to the day we lost doing it and the wear and tear on the car driving over tracks i can only discribe as shocking ! Hopefully they can get their differences sorted and negotiate getting the old track back.....

I left the appropriate message in the visitors book and let the owners know what i thought when i handed the key back.

Bull dust tracks on the "new" section.


This is where the existing track ends, its only an approximate line i have drawn on the map but you should get the picture.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

that really seems a bit shit. sorry to hear, mate.

[alternative Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alternative]

Its all good Wooley, im a bit embarrassed for the Willow Springs owners actually trying to pass that off as a "Skytrek" and taking peoples money.

Believe it or not they are still getting people leaving favourable remarks in the visitors book, with a few dissappointed ones in there too mind you.