Round Journey: approximately 4 hours driving time.
Take the road back to Clare and then head north past the Race Course. Take the road to the left where it forks, and a superb 1 to 1.5 hour drive will see you visiting the towns of Yacka, Georgetown, Gladstone, Laura (drop in at Limberlost antiques and collectables 5kms north of town), Stone Hut (the bakery is superb), Wirrabara, Murray Town and Melrose.
If the Flinders Ranges are your overnight destination, keep heading north and, via Wilmington, an hour‘s drive through a changing countryside will see you in Quorn, on your way to Hawker, Wilpena, Parachilna, Blinman and beyond.
If you are returning to the delights of Mintaro however, from Melrose head back south to Murray Town. Just south of the town, take the well signposted road to Port Germein via Germein Gorge. The drive is exceptional and is only a half hour in duration! Stop at the historic ruins of the Bangor Hotel and read about the early bullockies who carried the Southern Flinders grain crops to the sea (Port Germein) through the gorge. Port Germein once boasted the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Sadly, storms have taken their toll over the years and the jetty is now significantly shortened. Have a look around this once busy sea port that saw the world’s great windjammers anchored offshore.
Then it’s down the highway, past the City of Port Pirie (or visit if you wish) and in 10 minutes you take the turnoff to the left to the lovely mid north town of Crystal Brook. Again, this town’s bakery is a must visit! An hour’s leisurely drive will find you back in Clare and then “home” to Mintaro for the night. With a couple of hours devoted to “out of the car” sightseeing and bakery visiting, you will do this round trip in 6 hours only!
