Port Augusta SA. May 21 2018

Leaving Nuriootpa, we turned off the main highway almost immediately and headed north toward Clare, and it may have been a master-stroke: as soon as we had made the turn the 2-way radio came alive with news of an overturned truck and the highway blocked in both directions further toward Adelaide.

These backroads aren't a bad way to cut a few kilometres off the trip, they are a bit narrow and rough in places, but that only forces you to go a bit slower, which of course gives you a chance to have a look around as well. We ended up in Crystal Brook in time for a break, then headed out onto the main highway to finish the last leg up into Port Augusta itself.

We filled in the afternoon with a look around the Arid Lands Botanic Garden, which it is not at its best at this time of the year, at least these Sun-panel flowers were out in full bloom!

Arid Lands Botanic Garden

It's almost obligatory to have a walk around the old wharf precinct where they used to bring the great big clipper ships like The City of Adelaide and the Cutty Sark. They brought the railway right up to boat-side to load an unload, and the tracks remain, providing some tempting photo opportunities.

Railway& sleeper mosaic. Port Augusta SA

Just chillin'. Port Augusta SA

Wharf. Port Augusta SA

One thing we hadn't seen in our previous visits, was the Flinders Lookout, which is an old town-supply water tank that they converted into a lookout. The stairs are a bit daunting, being mostly open metal grates and rusty weld joints. I admit to holding onto both hand rails on the way up and down.

Flinders Lookout / water tank. Port Augusta SA

First you cut a hole in the bottom and build some stairs...
Flinders Lookout / water tank. Port Augusta SA

The view south toward the ocean
Flinders Lookout / water tank. Port Augusta SA

Downtown Port Augusta
Flinders Lookout / water tank. Port Augusta SA

Inside the water tank, at least they cut one square out for us happy snappers
Flinders Lookout / water tank. Port Augusta SA