East Painter Beltana, South Australia, Australia
By BrukungaNungas on 10-Jul-10. Waypoint GC2BHPQ

After completing the Echo Camp Backtrack , we wandered up to Paralana Hot Springs, stopping near this cache on the way .
A nice walk on a warm day [^]. TNLNSL.
There were other places we wanted to see today, so the other 2 caches futher up the gorge will have to wait until another trip .
Thanks BrukungaNungas.

I started 2020 with some improbable caching goals that only lasted until mid February.
Then came Covid-19 and caching began to take a back seat.
But with restrictions easing and socially responsible caching again possible it is time to start filling the calendars again.

Seven cachers set off in Four 4WD vehicles using satellites to search for caches in and around Arkaroola and the Gammon Ranges. [^] The Six day Arkaroola Odyssey had begun.

Day 5: We visit a few mines!
We passed this on the trek to the mine so we would have something to do on the trek back. A quick stop, find and sign to complete the 12 km morning trek.

***Thanks BrukungaNungas for putting out this cache and maintaining it for our enjoyment. ***
Logs prepared and published through GSAK.

We have headed north for some serious 4WD in Arkaroola and the Gammons. Today is Friday and we are on the bull dust ridden road/track/trail/rock filled creek bed at East Painter. Time for walkies. A while since this cache was found. The stroll to this first cache is very easy along the well made road. The cache was located after passing the locked gate. We did not have any trouble here. Thanks for placing a fun cache guys. We do love your work. We signed the logbook. Of course we did that is way we play this game. Cache in pretty good condition for the cache age.

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Easter 2020 was supposed to see South Australia Geocaching hosting the next Easter big MEGA event, GeoVenture 2020 at Millicent. GC82DAN. Due to COVID restrictions the event is now postponed to early October 2021. Check out the event page and our website for new details. We would love to see you at this four day event. Mega event sponsored by Wattle Range Council, Geocaching.com and many other supporters. Lots of caches to find including two classic geo art trails including the famous animated bottle and glass.

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This particular geocache was found using one of the following GPS enabled devices, Garmin GPSr, Montana 680t, Oregon 650 or Dakota 20 and a Samsung S8. Waypoints and paperless geocaching were downloaded via GSAK 9. Log prepared, checked and submitted using GSAK publish logs...

Warning, this hobby can be addictive. It can lead to exercise, meeting new people and finding interesting places you might not have known existed otherwise. Beware: you may have fun.

Found on a fun 4WD trip in this spectacular landscape. Thanks for the cache.

Found during a caching trip to Arkaroola and the Vulkathunna-Gammon Ranges National Park in the northern Flinders Ranges. Really enjoyed the spectacular landscapes, the 4WD tracks, and the walking and rock-climbing in the quest for some challenging caches in a remote region of the State. Thanks for the cache BrukungaNungas!

This week a small group of us headed up from Adelaide to the northern Flinders Ranges to do some exploring and find a few caches. Although a couple of us had spent some time in the area before, it was new country to most of the group.

The main aim was to find the caches in and around Arkaroola and the Vulkathunna-Gammon Ranges National Park. These were mostly Traditionals, but also included a Multi and an Earthcache. There were also three older Traditional caches that had been archived a couple of years ago but were still in place.

We had some fun navigating around the various roads and 4WD tracks and walking and scrambling up and down the hills and creek lines. It certainly is a very spectacular and rugged part of the state.

The weather was pretty good with a few beautiful still, clear and sunny days although there were also a couple of very windy days. The nights were mostly cold though, with temperatures around zero degrees on a couple of nights.

All of the cache containers and logbooks found were in good condition.

This cache was found on Day 5 of the trip. We wandered up the gorge following an old vehicle track. We were surprised to see recent tracks from a quad bike - it was impressive where it had managed to travel! The scenery up the gorge was fantastic. The cache was quickly found in good condition.

Thanks BrukungaNungas for the cache.

A great spot to pitch a tent (or so it seemed to the two,groups camping here). A great stroll down the dry creek bed passing remnants of the past along the way. TFTC

Such a beautiful spot. We rolled up and there were a couple of campers setting up. Even though they knew each other, they were setting up a good 300 metres from each other. Perhaps one of them snored or something. A pleasant spot well worth the effort of a cache.

Found during an epic trip to 3 of SA state's corners - Haddon, Cameron and MacCabe. There was dust, eagles, a flat, video and lots of photography, mud and mostly more dust. An event in Innamincka broke up the dust and quenched the thirst.

Thanks to BrukungaNungas and **clear skies** from TeamAstro. [^] Cache the planet! [:o)]

Replaced cont

found with jacknor. Quick find before walking the 6 kms through the gorge.

found with sir_spectre while we where camping at arkaroola. sir_spectre wanted to go " rock " 4x4 driving around all the trails up here and cache as we passed them. This was a start of a 6.2 km walk one way, as we walked to the mine.

Great little spot hidden away in the gorge. The container is starting to break up, so needs replacing. I didn't have anything with at the time. TFTC

Great place to visit. TFTC

Great views. What a great bit of country to wander through.

Started this in the late afternoon. This was just the start of one of the most beautiful gorges that i have ever been to. More about the walk in the other two caches along this gorge. TFTC!!!

[size=3][maroon][green]Outback Tour on L-Plates[/red]

We did not bring the very long ladder, but fortunately, the torches! Nor did we exercis our rock-climbing skills to explore the upper level of the mine. A great hint, thanks alone for that - therefore, a favorite! Wow, over four years the last geocachers have passed this way - and we wonder, how long it would be if we hide a cache within the mine, to get it fond! I reckon, the FTF would be pretty fast, but then, it might show an eternal gap. So, our backpacks were equipped with containers, and guess, where we might have lost one!

We would probably never have come here, to east painter gorge, omitting the gorgeous gorges and the pleasant walk. The Blue Desert Drive brought us to the entrance near the windmill - RockSandra on L-plates, noteworthy, where we had a picnic in the shade of the trees. Eventually on the hike, we passed the cache, which was quickly found and signed, before the sinusoidal pathway started. Coords in my Etrex, it wasn't that far, probably 4km, or 3km, but zigzag was the way. Investigating, whether it would be feasible to go the cacher's way, i.e. the straight line, but as we did not know the area, we better followed the creek. Plenty of opportunities to take a pict. And nice to see the revegetation of the former road - one should leave it like this: walk-in only sanctuary! The mine, as said, entrance spotted from the coords. We knew what side to look, as we studied maps and asked the locals, Doug and Marg in Arkaroola Village. Typically, weakened roos would search the caves, for dying, and here was ione, almost towards the end, maybe caught in wire. The way back looked faster, also sun was going down. We've shortcut one of the river loops over the coral reef, and guess, we've lost another cache. Just as an exercise, if the walk alone was not refreshing enough, then have a little climb nd get your blood pumping again! The Arkaroo, who loves the mountains and the waters, feels much better up and down! Sun was set already, when we reached the Blue Desert Drive again, where we opened a can of soup and started cooking dinner. It was completely dark, when we left, well, not completely - there was a bright full moon - as we have expected. Rocksandra improving driving skills and hours on her L-plates, I could enjoy the landscape and say 'stop' to take a picture. Pictures of Arkaroola under bright moonlight. I had my tripod, and exposure times were up to 30secs. This stop and go elongated the drive, but wort it!

After tomorrow, we moved our tents to Yudnamutana (pronunciation: Yannamatta), while passing Nooldoonooldoona waterhole. There we met an interesting elder couple, who told the story. Over 50 years ago, the Bloke has worked in that mine of East Painter, digging for Uranium. They took the road, which is now washed away, and also ventured further into Arkaroola area. It must have been fantastic, when they took people along Yannamatta creek, pointing up to the summit above the gorge, and telling 'we'll drive up there - which is Siller's lookout. Today, no private cars, according to Margg Sprigg - if some cars need to go for whatever reason, they are quarantined from seeds in Arkaroola village. All cleand and compressed-air blown underneath, for $50 bugs. This way, no weeds inside the center of the sanctuary! Makes sense! Such a lovely and unique area. Since two years ago, they have an act in parliament, that there will be no ming, ever! How good - well, at the time, I've signed the petition as well!

So much said, one more phrase to BrukungaNungas: TFTCM!
[/red]Caching Team:
* The Arkaroo
* RockSandra

Travel Bugs visiting:
* Arkaroo's Treasure (TB38AN6)
* Blue Desert Drive (TB3ZQ7E)
* Tough Nut (TB6Q74W)

Road was closed. So we had a bit further to walk
Seen some sturt pea on the way.
Left a soldier
TFTC

A not so quick find while headed out to Parlana Hot Springs.

The cache was found quickly enough once at GZ but the trip out here took what seemed like forever.
The 'road' had been washed away in places and the grader had only just scratched over the surface in its repair attempts.
It made for a slow trip but this just meant that more time was available to look at the scenery going past, while I wasn't concentrating on the road that is.

Once as near to GZ as I was comfortable getting we saw one of the Arkaroola tour vehicles parked up and I will assume that they lead a walking trip down the gorge as there were numerous footprints heading the same way as I was going.

The missus stayed back in the car while I walked down the gorge and found the cache before heading back out to the car and continuing on our way.

I have taken a few waypoints for future finders and hope that they will help somewhat.

Turn Here
S 30 15.578
E 139 25.437

Park Here
S 30 15.372
E 139 25.317

Old Windmill. Head towards this to pick up the track into GZ.
S 30 15.138
E 139 25.139

Locked Gate. Theres no hope of driving in as far as this gate but its ocked anyway.
S 30 15.029
E 139 24.999


TFTC

Found on the return after a walk up the gorge a few kilometres. A top location . Unfortunatly did not have time to go all the way through to the mine, maybe next time. The track in was fairly rough but got as far as the windmill in the Outback without trouble.

Published

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the info....still learning!
I've updated our home coordinates as requested.

We visit this area around 3 times per year & at least every 6 months.

Cheers
Tony