On leaving Alice Springs it was interesting to see about 25 aircraft standing idle at the airport, in storage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Surprisingly entering South Australia was effortless, with no checkpoint to worry about. We spent a night at Marryat Rest Area then drove to Cadney Park, a roadhouse and basic caravan park 150 km north of Coober Pedy, where we left the caravan while we visited the Painted Desert. This involved taking a 90 km rough road to Arckaringa Station to see the amazing red, yellow, white and grey sand and rocks in the Arckaringa Hills.

At Coober Pedy we decided to stay overnight at Riba’s caravan park, about 5 km out of town, where we were able to put the caravan in one of several large shade-covered sites. During a 32 degrees afternoon that was welcome. After sightseeing and shopping in Coober Pedy we did an underground opal mine tour at the caravan site and really enjoyed 2 hours with a small group and the park owner, who is also a miner.

On leaving Coober Pedy we decided that, as the weather was still quite warm, we would drive all the way to Port Augusta, 530 km. That’s further than we usually drive with the caravan but the road is good so it’s not difficult. The next morning we took the much shorter 30 km drive to Spear Creek caravan park. This bush park is on a working sheep station at the foot of the southern Flinders Ranges, nestled amongst large 400 year old river red gums. There are about 40 powered, non-powered and bush camp sites along the banks of the usually dry Spear Creek. It’s a great place to stay and we will certainly return one day for a few days – this time we stayed only one night because there was rain forecast over the next couple of days and the clay ground could become very sticky/slippery.

A friend had told us that if we are in this area we should visit the bakery at Stone Hut and stay at the Laura caravan park. Thanks Burgo; they are both worth a visit. The bakery sells great pies, pasties and cakes and the Community owned park at Laura is a delightful park right in the town. The manager brings freshly baked scones with jam and cream to each site late in the afternoon; after 11 years of caravanning that’s a first.

The forecast rain did come overnight although not as much as was expected. We are still not in a hurry to get home so today we will go Cadell on the River Murray, where we will stay at a Caudo Wines which is owned by friends. It will be the first time we have been there and we are looking forward to seeing our friends and camping beside the river.

Keep safe everyone.