After packing up camp and heading back to Broken Hill for supplies and to reload we head off in the opposite direction to Lake Stewart – a 6 hour journey north. The next 2 sheds are probably the most remote stations we’ll go to. There is no cell phone or internet coverage here. The closest supermarket is Broken Hill! But there is a gas station with a convenience store an hour away in Tibooburra or you can head to Cameron Corner where SA, NSW and QLD meet to fill up with gas and order a meal.
8 h 42 min??? Google must have encountered heaps of kangaroos
A pit stop at Packsaddle half way through the trip…you HAVE to stop at Packsaddle Roadhouse!
The plan was to arrive at Lake Stewart before dark, the reason being that the kangaroo’s come out in the dark and it can get a bit dangerous to drive when you can’t see the animals too well. Of course we didn’t meet that goal and ended up spending the last hour of our trip dodging kangaroos, cows, goats, pigs and even a rabbit!
It was noticeable hotter here when we arrived. Since we didn’t have time to set up camp we took a room in the shearing quarters. The first thing Stafford set up was the air conditioner! The rooms don’t come with air conditioners or fans – you have to bring your own. I wish I had taken a photo of our room set up. We ended up with a big rubbish drum inside our room, under the window for our air conditioner to sit on, and then you fill the gap with whatever else works: cardboard, blankets…whatever!
Lake Stewart Shearing quarters in the morning
It was straight back to shearing the next day in 38 degree weather. We soon realized setting up camp was NOT going to happen! Our tent got hot enough out at Tepco and that was in the mid 30 degree weather. So we’ll be staying in the shearing quarters with our air conditioner this time!
Stafford and Karl shearing
Cousin Lewis and niece Tiare
Tama and Misty on the quad bike
Manahi feeding Mr Tumnus
Off Grid Maori 