Alpanna Station


Alpana Station, Blinman.
Next morning we were on the road again to the old Copper Mining town of Blinman to spend two night at Alpana Station. Blinman is some 65 kms from Wilpena  so it was an easy drive and we had enough time to go into Blinman and enjoy the Bakery which is well worth the visit. Dallas had a Late’ and Custard Tart whilst I had their great Cornish Pastie. Soon we were at Alpana and checked in by Sally Henery, wife of David Henery who is a 5th generation of the Irish decendant and founder of Alpana, a fine merino wool producing station on over 60,000 hectares of land. Their accommodation and onsite van and trailer camping area is well worth the visit. On day one we did the self 4WD to Sunset Hilltop and were surprised by the beautiful vista looking back to Wilpena and the surrounding gorges and Mountains including Mt Samuel to the North.
Next day we decided to do the self 4WD out to the Alpana Station replica Shepherds Hut. The drive took some time through pretty rugged terrain crossing many dried river beds and passing many euro wallabies and roos. When we arrived at the hut, the track opened into a massive amphi-theatre  with River Red Gums and the Wilpena areas endemic Cyprus Pine on the banks of the Alpana river. The hut is beautiful, can accommodate 6 plus adults and is well set up with a cool safe, bunks, kitchen outside fire pit and bar b q area. It would be a great spot for a lovely week away from the madding crowds.
Our lovely but short stay had come to an end and it was time to drive out to Parachilna on the main road up to Leigh Creek.
We strongly recommend this Station Farm stay for others visiting in the area. It is a beautiful setting and a real working station steeped in the history of early Merino sheep farming and evidence of the trials and tribulations of persevering the elements for success. Thanks so much for a lovely but too short stay Sally, David and family.
My sketch of the replica Shepherds Hut at Alpana

Alpana Station taken from Sunset Hilltop

The cheeky pink and grey cockatoo flies over Alpana

A poem saying goodbye to Grandad

Looking back to Willpena from Hucks lookout on the way to Alpana.

A Blinman miners cottage


The river bed near the camp area at Alpana

Sunset in the Camp area at Alpana

Wallaby's grazing in the morning sun at Sunset Hilltop

Those cheeky cockatoos again

The replica shepherds hut at Alpana

Inside the hut

Sleeping quarters in the hut

a good old fashioned food safe.

The hut has a great verandah all around

Another shot of the hut

A view from Sunset Hilltop showing Mt Samuel
and grazing wallaby's



Comments

  1. UnknownJune 28, 2018 at 4:59 PM

    glad you enjoyed your stay at Alpana Peter and Dallas and thanks for the look at your blog and amazing photos! Hope to see you again some day but in the meantime enjoy your travels! Sally & David Henery. PS that pretty little flower you spotted at Sacred Canyon is a lillie and only grows after some winter rain.

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