Camping at Mambray Creek

July 2020

We had the chance to take a few days out and get away from it all at Mambray Creek recently. We had driven past and even dropped in once, but had never stayed there before and can highly recommend it.

Mambray Creek Campground is one of the campgrounds in the Mount Remarkable National Park. It is a beautiful area with camping beside the creek (currently running in places) and among huge river red gums in unpowered camping sites.

Walking

There are a number of walks available from this campground or from the nearby day use area, ranging from a 1.6km walk along the creek to a 48km return hike to Mt Remarkable.

Easy Walks

Wirra Water Loop – 1.6km return. An interpretive walk down Mambray Creek. An opportunity to learn about the importance of water in this area.

Mambray Creek Walk – 3km return. Links the campground to the day use area. An easy walk through river red gums and native pine forest

Moderate Hikes (for those with average fitness)

Daveys Gully loop hike – 2.4km. An ideal afternoon hike with a gentle gradient and terrific views over St Vincent Gulf.

Baroota Hike – 6km return. Follow the Mambray Creek Hike down the creek , and then continue on a natural trail to visit the Baroota Ruins, cemetery and Baroota ruins campground.

Sugar Gum Lookout Hike – 8km return. Mostly easy walking along Mambray Creek with a climb at the end to a lookout.

Hidden Gorge Hike – 18km. Popular and varied trail through narrow valleys and gorges which also scales Battery Ridge.

Mambray Creek to Alligator Gorge return – 26km (13km one way). Follows Mambray and Alligator Creeks. For the fit only.

Challenging Treks (for experienced walkers)

Mount Cavern Circuit Trek (currently closed) – 11km return – for magnificent views from the Black Range. A demanding walk to the summit of Mt Cavern and a steep return.

Black Range Trek – 48km return – To the Mt Remarkable Summit via the Black Range and the Warren Bonython Link. This walk needs a topo map and the rangers need to be informed of anyone trying it.

Where we walked

We enjoyed the Davey Gully Loop -following mostly a single track past a good variety of vegetation. It was a lovely walk and afforded great views over the gulf and the campground.

We also enjoyed most of the Sugar Gum Lookout walk. We reluctantly cut out the final 1km of the walk (with the lookout section) due to time constraints. The walk along the creek was mostly flat and easy and very enjoyable with the dappled shade. We had the added bonus of some native orchids sighted on our walk.

Camping

There are over 50 camp sites at Mambray Creek Campground, so there are plenty of options available. You can take two adjoining if you are camping with friends, or take one well apart from the crowd.

Camping sites are booked on-line as per the current National Parks procedure, so you do need to plan ahead to book yourself a site, or take your chances and try to get some mobile signal to check your preferred site is available and book once you arrive. The mobile signal is sketchy for some providers and non- existent for others in the campground itself. Back on the road in you should be able to get some if you are with Telstra or Optus. You can use the on-line map to plan which site you would like to book.

https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/parks/parks/flinders-ranges-outback/mount-remarkable-national-park/mount-remarkable-national-park-mambray-creek-campground-map.pdf

Then go to the parks site to book the site and you can see even more information about availability of sites and size and suitability of them.

There is also another campsite just a little closer to the highway on the same road – the Baroota Ruins Campsite. This has no showers, but there are toilets. About a dozen pleasant unpowered sites are available here.

Other things to do nearby

Mambray Creek is not too far from the main highway. You can visit Port Pirie, Port Augusta or Port Germein easily by travelling along the highway.

Melrose offers walks in the Mount Remarkable area and also permanent orienteering courses. Download a map and go for a walk or a mountain bike ride and find some controls. https://www.sa.orienteering.asn.au/about-orienteering/new-to-orienteering/diy-orienteering

The road through Horrocks Pass to Wilmington is beautiful. Don’t forget to detour to Hancock’s Lookout for great views if you take this road.

The Germein Gorge road (through the ranges to the south a little) is also picturesque.

Alligator Gorge (also part of Mount Remarkable National Park) is accessed by road from Wilmington (Don’t forget to stop for a delicious pie at at Rustikate’s Feedlot in the main street). There are a number of walks to do from here and the scenery is to die for.

If you have a Four Wheel Drive then it is worth taking the Bridle Track down the hills (follow the brown sign out of Melrose 15km along Survey Road and then turn right onto the Bridle track) or drive up from the intersection with Reservoir Road (GPS -32.968611, 138.034477). Be prepared to open and shut five gates along the way.

More posts will follow to give a more intensive view into walking Alligator Gorge loop and driving the Bridle track.