Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pichi Richi Railway (
Click here
)
has trains between Port Augusta and Quorn (two hours)
every Saturday.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Southern Ranges Towns
Port Pirie
(population 13,200) is a big lead- and zinc-smelting town on the edge of the
Southern Flinders. The Nyrstar smelter dominates the skyline, but the town itself has
some pretty old buildings along Ellen St, and is a good spot to stock up on supplies be-
fore heading north. The
Port Pirie Regional Tourism & Arts Centre
(
08-8633 8700,
1800 000 424;
www.piriehasitall.com.au
;
3 Mary Elie St;
9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat &
Sun)
has local info.
You enter the Southern Ranges proper near
Laura
(population 550), emerging from the
wheat fields like Superman's Smallville (all civic pride and 1950s prosperity). There's
not a lot to do here, but the long, geranium-adorned main street has a supermarket, chem-
ist, bakery, bank, post office…even a shoe shop!
The oldest town in the Flinders (1853) is
Melrose
(population 200), snug in the elbow
of the 960m Mt Remarkable. It has the perfect mix of well-preserved architecture, a
cracking-good pub, quality accommodation and parks with
actual grass
. Don't miss the
decaying multistorey ruins of
Jacka's Brewery
(1878) on Mount St, which once em-
ployed 40 staff.
Online, see
www.southernflindersranges.com.au
.
4
Sleeping & Eating
North Star Hotel
PUB $$$
( 08-8666 2110;
www.northstarhotel.com.au
;
43 Nott St, Melrose; d $110-225, trucks $160;
)
As welcome as summer rain, the North Star Hotel in Melrose is a fabulous 1854 pub
renovated in city-meets-woolshed style. Sit under the hessian-sack ceiling and spinning
fans for a fresh menu (mains $16 to $30, serving noon to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm), great
coffee and cold beer. Accommodation ranges from rooms in Bundaleer Cottage next
door (sleeps 16) to plush suites above the pub and surprisingly cool metal-clad cabins
built on two old trucks out the back.
Melrose Caravan Park
CARAVAN PARK $
