In an example of the AJC's committee's tireless and self sacrificial efforts in seeking out new thrills for the rank and file club members, the "Ratbag Element" Sub-Committee recently completed a reconnaissance sortie to the
Aussie BBQ Tours property at Barmera on behalf of the Events Coordinator.
Tony Whateley of Aussie BBQ Tours has previously been running guided 4WD tours of the family property at Loveday, and contacted the Club with news of self-drive 4WD tours and camping.
Just 2½ hours from Adelaide, and offering a variety of driving conditions, it was decided to be worth investigating.
After an early Saturday morning departure from Adelaide and a top-up in Barmera, we met up with Tony and Toby, who led us down to the main gate to the property in a dual-cab traytop ute.
After providing a set of trip notes for a tour he'd set out for us, Tony sent us off along the track, meeting up with us from time to time to point out some of the features of the
The most notable thing about the 4WDing on the property is the variety of terrain you encounter within a relatively short distance. Tony claims that the only thing he can't offer is rainforest, and you quickly come to appreciate what he means.
The drive consisted of a tour of the property along a selection of the existing tracks that criss-cross the property. The northern (and topographically elevated) part of the property we crossed first comprised winding sandy bush tracks, providing plenty of exercise on the steering
wheel, with the overhanging branches and adjacent boughs ensuring we were aware of the width and height of the car at all times! Nothing at all difficult, but a fun drive nevertheless.
Leaving the lightly wooded northern area, we arrived at the edge of the upper plateau, from where a number of tracks led down the slopes to the shores of the Spectacles Lakes (dry at present). These tracks varied from smooth 2WD tracks to heavily rutted cobble and dirt 'staircases' that looked enough to challenge most standard 4WDs.
Down on the lower flats, we traversed clay pans (clearly likely to present a slick surface and a challenge in the wet) and dry creek crossings (some of them surprisingly steep, hey Big_(airtime)_T) before entering an extensive area of fine brown sand dunes. The dunes were deceptively soft, requiring more momentum that initially thought to crest them, especially without the benefit of the 400 cubic inch V8 diesel powering Tony's 4X4 to
The track Tony had set for us finished at the camping area, located right on the riverfront. The broad expanse of the River Murray set this campsite apart from all others we've visited in the last few years, and the man-made
waterslide down the steep bank suggested that Tony knows how to amuse his guests.
Facilities were few (just a long-drop dunny) but the serenity of the river outlook … just magnificent.
Worth noting at this point, too, that Tony takes environmental and conservation issues seriously, and we discussed at some length his thoughts on future improvements and how to balance access for 4WDing and camping with conservation issues.
After a bit of a yarn with Tony, it was back into the Jeeps to look at a few more spots of interest from a driving perspective, including some more dunes, and then a quick tackling of those uphill climbs.
While the moderate climb didn't pose a problem for the Wranglers, but would certainly entertain most Jeepers beginning to develop their off-road skills, it is without shame we admit that the toughest of the three climbs
defeated the Wranglers on the day. The combination of the loose dry cobbly soil, the steep slope, and the depth of the uneven ruts overcame the traction provided even with swaybar disconnected, and with a drive home still to be completed that day, a faster uphill run was considered too
Not to say that we won't be keen to try again next trip however. No doubt the few club Jeeps equipped with air-lockers will be happy to know that we've found a hill climb that might actually require their use for a successful controlled crawl ascent. And if that proves too easy ... well,
Tony has another hill that so far only he's made it up, but it's a no-go area for SWB 4X4s - you'll see why when you get there.
All in all, Aussie BBQ Tours definitely got the thumbs up.
Close enough to Adelaide for a weekend camping visit, or for a day drive, and offering a wide range of driving conditions and some genuinely challenging terrain, this is bound to become a popular 4WD Club destination.
Add to this a scenic camping ground and Tony's great
hospitality and enthusiasm for 4WDing and generally having fun, and you have all the ingredients for a great weekend escape.
Tony can also put together catering packages … could it get any better?
The Adelaide Jeep Club is proposing a first trip to the property in July or August …it should be a ripper, so stay tuned for details, and get in early if you want a place.
Aussie BBQ Tours
Loveday, South Australia, 5345
Tony Whateley
Mobile: 0418839787
www.aussiebbqtours.com
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