4×4 Magazine Australia — November 2017

settled in 1873 and abandoned in the

1960s. However, it wasn’t until 1982 that

Waukaringa was formally declared to

have ceased to exist.

Back in its heyday, the Waukaringa

Hotel must’ve been a thriving place

with plenty of rooms and big cellars

within the massive building. In 1890,

Waukaringa was claimed to have had a

population of 750 people, and wandering

around the ruins it’s easy to imagine the

locals enjoying an ale at the pub after a

long day in the mines.

A plaque donated by Kevin Kakoschke

(author of Women of Gold and Off the

Barrier Highway) lists all of the hotel’s

licensees over the years, as well as some

interesting Waukaringa Hotel facts.

Another of Kevin’s plaques is located

at the site of the old Waukaringa Post

Office, and it lists all of the town’s

postmasters from 1875 to 1964.

For those who want to spend the

night here, camping is permitted in the

immediate vicinity of the ruins, but it

should be noted that the surrounding

area is private property. There are no

facilities here, so you’ll need to be self-

sufficient and bring your own firewood.

WAUKARINGA TO HAWKER

ABOUT 12km north of Waukaringa

Ruins is a turn-off to the left that heads

northwest towards Baratta Ruin. This

sandy track is quite narrow in places

and winds its way through picturesque

station country. It passes through

working pastoral properties, so you must

ROUTE

Yunta, SA, is located on the
Barrier Hwy, 195km southwest of
Broken Hill and 88km northeast of
Peterborough. Waukaringa Ruins
are 35km north of Yunta, while the
rest of this route only totals around
120km before you’ll find yourself
in the pub at Cradock. Cradock to
Hawker is only around 30km.

WHEN

You can visit the Flinders Ranges
all year ’round, but the best time is
between April and October when
the weather is coolest.

FUEL AND SUPPLIES

The Caltex (08 8650 5013) at Yunta
is open until 10.30pm and the BP
(08 8650 5196) is open 24 hours.
There’s also a BP at Hawker (08
8648 4086). The Hawker Caravan
Park can be booked by calling (08)
8648 4006.

MAPS AND GUIDES

You don’t need too much detail
to successfully navigate this
route, so a good touring atlas
or Hema’s South Australia map
will suffice. Alternatively, use
a Hema Navigator or Hema
Explorer on a mobile device.

CONTACTS

Road conditions: 1300 361 033
Cradock Hotel: (08) 8648 4107

TRAVEL

PLANNER

dirty

duel

Keep an eye out for

bulldust patches, as

some of this route is

used by trucks that

chop up the road.

1344 http://www.4X4australia.com.au

EXPLORE YUNTA TO HAWKER, SA