From the Clare Valley to the Yorke Peninsular- a 2 week motorhome meander

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Mambray Creek to Port Hughes

Again we had heaps of times for stops. First stop for a coffee and stretch was Port Germein. This is another quiet, well maintained town. Unfortunately the weather was a bit feral so we cut short our walk out on the long jetty. (was 1676 metres and the longest in the Southern Hemisphere now it is around 1500 metres). Port Germein, SA - Aussie Towns

Port Pirie was our next stop. Never really on a bucket list but mentioned a lot for mining and the port during the time I was at school. We were again impressed wit how many of the old buildings had been preserved and repurposed. We didn’t follow a strict path, rather we just wandered around enjoyed what was improving weather. Port Pirie, SA - Aussie Towns

Next stop was Port Broughton-another long jetty and what was a very important wheat town-fishing seems to be a big attraction now. Port Broughton, SA - Aussie Towns
We also had a quick stop for photos of Alford Golf Club-I grew up playing on sand greens but I don’t think I have ever played on a course that is as dry as this one currently is. Soon we were in the Wallaroo & Mooonta Bay area-Mrs RB has family connections that date back to early mining times in this area. Our stop for the next 3 nights was at Port Hughes and it’s ties to the copper mining.

Jetty Area at Port Germein

 

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There remains a family home in the Mambray creek vicinity, along with a large concrete water tank that my father and grandfather built.
Post the depression, my grandfather attempted to grow market garden vegetables for the Adelaide market here.
Walking around the dry difficult country, I wondered what kind of desperation would drive an intelligent person to attempt such a feat

 

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Port Pirie

 

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More Port Pirie

 

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My dad grew up in Port Pirie and the family home is still extant, my grandfather was an engine driver on the wharf cranes before the depression.

 

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Port Broughton





Alford Golf Course

 

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Port Hughes Big 4 Breeze Holiday Park. Powered site in the Foreshore section.

Certainly lived up to the advertising of a spectacular outlook although a little more exposed to the wind than the main park area. They had misplaced our booking so we had to move along a few sites for our last night, but this was no hassle. Good big sites, again excellent amenities and not overcrowded. We were less than a 2 minute wander to the village tavern and take-away store, looked over the water and had good walks in either direction. There is a huge public carpark that also adjoins that caters to those going for a fish on the jetty or launching their boat from the excellent ramp- so many spots for boat trailers yet a local advised it becomes overfull during peak times.

Starting Point next to caravan park


Very few beach walkers-not much of a day either







Impressed by how well all the memorials were done

 

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Locals waiting for owners to finish their coffee



Tavern offering of fish & chips and salt & pepper squid

 

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Around Port Hughes.

1st night dinner and drinks at the tavern- good pub food and friendly locals still in shorts & t shirts despite the cold. Somehow the service just missed the mark & some staff didn’t seem like they wanted to be there.
Next morning a walk along South Beach- only saw a couple of other people. Heaps of weed- this continued to be the source of complaint from fishers for the rest of our holiday. As with many places in Aust, Port Hughes is witnessing big changes in real estate. There are new land developments and over 50’s living that contrast with older housing stock. We travel to Moonta for a look around and a catch up with a relative of Mrs RB-plenty of connections with the early miners who also seemed to have wandered off to Broken Hill at various stages. Moonta is a small town with a IGA and a few blocks of other shops, service stations and the ever present bowling club. Again we are impressed by the preservation of the old buildings. Moonta, SA - Aussie Towns
Next morning was a walk towards Harry Point- still very few walkers but beautiful weather with the wind having disappeared. Plenty of effort going into coping with erosion and the natural environment. Then a drive to Wallaroo- a visit to the cemetery (grave of great-grandmother) & then a wander around the town & the jetty area- again a spotless town and a positive vibe. Plenty of preparations happening for the impending Cornish Festival. Wallaroo, SA - Aussie Towns
Next stop Kadina, a bigger settlement. We saw the aftermath of a head on accident on a roundabout ( one vehicle going the wrong way apparently) and enjoyed looking at the town. Local radio was being broadcast through speakers as you walked the street. Even had an Aldi & some fast food outlets. We ate at the Kadina Hotel- a bit of a step back in time but decent food and service. Kadina, SA - Aussie Towns


Moonta

 

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Back at Camp after Moonta Day

 

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Harry Point Walk







The Weed Problem


During the walk there are plenty of signs discussing the impact of man on the environment

 

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Wallaroo
Bit of family history


House of Great Grandmother of Mrs RB

 

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Display in Wallaroo pharmac_ window

 

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Kadina and last night sunset at Port Hughes

 

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Port Hughes to Marion Bay

Even less traffic than our other driving days. First stop Maitland- another nice town that is an inland service centre for the peninsular and has buildings dating from the 1870’s. Maitland, SA - Aussie Towns
Next stop Minlaton-the “barley capital of the world” and home of Harry Butler who was a WW1 ace pilot. The Red Devil monoplane is indeed impressive but difficult to photograph behind glass. Minlaton, SA - Aussie Towns
Hardwicke Bay was a stop for a self made coffee- still mainly a shack settlement for fishers but signs of some new real estate development.
Point Turton is also close by-another fishing retreat with protected waters and also being discovered for permanent living.
Next stop Marion Bay

Maitland




Minlaton


Harry Butler


Red Devil


Newer homes at Hardwicke Bay

 

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Hardwicke Bay



Dead Beat Retreat-fish across the road


Point Turton





Still Dry


Pointed towards Marion Bay

 

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Marion Bay Caravan Park
3 nights with a powered site. A few permanents, some long stayers and ones like us. The bay is a 1 minute walk to cast a line, the amenities block is excellent, well equipped camp kitchen and night time fire pits to encourage some mingling. It is around a 15 minute walk to the pub ( we had been spoilt at previous spots) with the local store next door to the pub. The local store had a very limited range & the pricing certainly wasn’t very sharp. The pub/caravan park share access to a small desal plant.

Marion Bay, SA - Aussie Towns

The rest of the day was around the caravan park and a walk along the water and checking out the tavern-only spot in town to eat out or drink

More weed


Marion Bay wharf


Saw this landed when we walked the wharf

 

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Some of the drinks on tap




Liked the pizza oven


Grilled king george whiting


The crumbed version

 

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Around Marion Bay.

There are many empty homes while we are here- apparently 70% of the homes are rentals. For us the main attraction is access to the Innes National Park. We were well aware of the potential high winds but for most of our stay things were pretty pleasant. The National Park was super impressive- it certainly is a rugged coast but it is well away from the crowds. The main road to and throughtout the park is excellent ( there are some rough corrigated tracks to some spots) and we found the walking tracks we used to be well formed (some using the gypsum), pretty easy walking and plenty of informative signs.

The National Parks rep we met at the park entry was excellent-well informed, friendly and enthusiastic. We probably saw less than a dozen other vehicles all day as we scoured the main attractions from Stenhouse Bay Jetty to Pondalowrie Bay.

https://d35s2bz2fw949f.cloudfront.net/parks/docs/innes-national-park/innes_np_with_walks_information.pdf?mtime=20210315145642&focal=none

This really was a great day that ranks right up there with other days we have spent anywhere. Not sure that our photos (phone and camera) actually capture the expanse of the fantastic natural environment-maybe a drone would be better suited. This is link to National Parks page with some images on the right hand side Dhilba… - National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

 

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Willyama Bay and Rhino Head Area







Looking Back to Marion Bay






Mrs RB just managed to capture the dolphins while they put on a show