Nuccaleena

With many thanks to the Mitsubishi 4WD Club volunteers, we now have  new shower and toilet facilities at our Third Water Campsite. We are already receiving bookings for 2012, so don’t forget to book in early to avoid disappointment!! Follow the link to see pictures of Third Water Campsite.   

Head over to Peter MacDonald’s blog ‘The Sentiimental Bloke’ to see the spectacular pictures he captured of the train derailment.

In the News

5 course Degustation Menu / Alernate Drop

$60 per person

For more information, please follow this link…The Outback Loop

Below has been taken directly from the DENR website.

Lake Eyre National Park – current status 2011

As of 27 April 2011

This year will be bigger than 2009 and 2010, and should be the best year since the lake last filled in 1974-76.  The rain events in areas of the Lake Eyre catchment from the remnants of Cyclone Yasi in February, plus significant follow-up rains in March has resulted in good flows in most rivers and creeks.

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Follow this link to view the story on the newly opened Blinman Mine Tour which aired on Channel 9 ‘Postcards’ today.

If you don’t want to download the video, follow this link to the Postcards website to read an excerpt from the show.

Bookings for the Mine Tour: (08) 8648 4782

Heritage Blinman Mine Tour Poster 2011

I don’t usually display guest comments as their own post, but this one was just lovely!

“Hi,
I just wanted to let everyone know what a fantastic weekend we had at Moolooloo!
Lisa and Keith are the perfect hosts!
While the whole Flinders Ranges is magnificent, I’d have to say Moolooloo is the most amazing location in the region (particularly at the moment, as it’s green and lush and has water flowing). Who would have thought in March the countryside would be looking so good!
The property is bursting with history and the family have put together a fantastic information booklet which outlines all the interesting stuff about the property (I’m a bit of a history buff).
The shearing quarters are set up really well – perfect for a large group get together, the Blinman Hut is gorgeous and would be perfect for a romantic get away with a difference, or as a group camping base.
We were lucky enough to take the children to Ferguson’s Gap, where they could have a swim in the spectacular rock ponds. I’ve done a lot of travelling and seen lots of water holes in the Northern Territory, and this is up there with the best of them. Can’t believe the Slade family has this spectacular feature in their backyard!
We got to see the “gaurdian of the gap” (a face which protrudes from the rock facade at Hannigan’s Gap), which was amazing.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to see Walter Gills grave (big disappointment!), but it had started to rain and the children were saturated on the back of the ute. I think Keith was getting worried that we’d get rained in. lol.
If you are thinking of a relaxing, or action packed weekend, I’d be heading to Moolooloo. We had such a fantastic time and we’ll be heading back again soon.”

Kendall Jackson

We are really getting a bit clever now and have installed up to date availability calendars on the www.moolooloo.com website.  Hopefully this will help you plan your upcoming trip to the Flinders with an added element of certainty (regarding dates at least!).

There are separate calendars for Blinman Hut and the Shearer’s Quarters. You will find them on the home page and on the Blinman Hut and Shearer’s Quarters information pages.

After surviving 3 weeks of 40+ degrees, the after affect of cyclone Yasi was 160mls of rain at Moolooloo over 4 days.  By Sunday we were rugged up in jumpers and trackies! Crazy weather conditions. Here are a few snaps for your enjoyment. Shearing had to be put back a week, but can’t really complain as it’s lovely to have water running in the creeks again!

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Get out to your local newsagent and get yourself a copy of this months RM Williams Outback Magazine (Issue 75, Feb/Mar 2011).

In it is a lovely article, ‘Wide Range’, by Liz Harfull about Ian and Di Fargher of Angorichina Station, East of Blinman. You may also spot some other Blinman locals amongst the glossy snaps!

A link to an excerpt of the article can be found here, but make sure you go out and grab a copy for yourself as the photos are definitely worth a look.

Below is a link to a flyer promoting the upcoming Port Augusta Family Fun Day

a great initiative by the Port Augusta City Council and the community to raise money for flood victims.

Sunday 6th February 2011

From 12 noon

At Gladstone Square, Port Augusta

Everyone is welcome to attend. 

Port Augusta Family Fun Day Flood Appeal

A very big THANKYOU goes out to the Mitsubishi 4WD club for the enormous amount of work they have done at Moolooloo again this year.  Along with spraying wheel cactus and stabilising a wall in an old building, they erected 3 new verandah’s on the Shearer’s Quarters (see pictures below).  They are a lovely group of people and we are very proud to have them on Moolooloo.

* UPDATE: I recently had the opportunity to do the mine tour with the local School of the Air children who were in Blinman for their Host School Days. It is a truly  fantastic experience that I would thorougly recommend to anyone visiting the area. The children loved it too. We asked the friendly guides plenty of questions and we learnt heaps of stuff. The kids really got into the spirit wearing their miners hats and carrying battery packs and lights. The sound show was an eery reminder of days gone by, while we listened we couldn’t help but think of  the conditions the miners worked in, it just blew us all away!  The mine experience has been extremely popular since it opened and has seen well over 500 people through it in only a few short months. 

Please follow this link:  http://www.mininghistory.asn.au/latest-news/

Stay tuned for more news of the opening next year. Mine will be closed at the end of October so work can be completed. It will re-open in 2011.

It’s had great reveiws so make sure you put it on your ‘to do’ list for next year!

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary latest newsletter can be found here.

An Excerpt From the Ark:

“Exploration Lease EL 4355, held by Marathon Resources, expires today, 10/10/2010. Advocates for the protection of Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary were hopeful that 10/10/10 might herald a new era for the iconic sanctuary. Statutory protection for Arkaroola’s spectacular and bio diverse landscapes from mineral exploration and mining, would have been a visionary ̍Act ̍ in this, the International Year of Biodiversity.”

Just letting everyone know that the Blinman Gymkhana has been postponed due to overnight rain.  It is expected that it will be held on one of the upcoming 4 weekends. Stay tuned for updates.

*UPDATE:  Blinman Gymkhana will be held this Saturday, 23rd of October, 2010.

Just a quick note to let people know that Maggies Rendezvous Cafe and BlackSmiths Chatter are now currently providing  meals on Sunday evenings in Orroroo!