Umberatana Road

We drove into Arkaroola via Umberatana about 20 or 30 years ago, but that was a different age.
Last time through there in 2019 we came in via the Gammons loop road.

The area was in the middle of the drought, so it looked terrible.
No roos, no birds of prey, not even any goats and even the big trees in the creek lines were under stress. Most other vegetation was dead.
https://youtu.be/-L5SX6fxmlc
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

There's even a documented ExplorOz Trek for that road.. https://www.exploroz.com/treks/gammon-ranges-bunyip-chasm

I'm heading up there soon, I'll ignore the sign and report back.

Hi Guys,

Some pastoralists and land owners have become sick and tired of arrogant and irresponsible people leaving gates open, leaving rubbish and toilet waste where they have camped, not to mention campfires left smouldering. These people may be in the minority, but whilst they continue to to be arrogant and irresponsible, they will spoil it for the vast majority of responsible travellers.

“Closing” previously open public roads by locking gates is their only way of stopping this. Whilst not actually legal, there is very little that the authorities can really do. The authorities are unlikely to prosecute the land owner or pastoralist.

Macca.

Judy and I entered this property from a different direction a few years ago with permission from the owner. when we arrived at the homestead to pickup Umberatana rd to Arkaroola, we were given a very frosty reception from the caretaker. After explaining the situation and showing him evidence from the owner, he settled down and spoke to us.
Our permission also stated roughly what time period we would be passing through., with a day either side for unexpected circumstances.
It was very unfortunate that there was and accident on one of their internal roads with a tourist and an employee on a quad bike on the crest of a hill. You can work out who came off 2nd best. The tourist had no permission to enter the property from that direction, and since then he made the statement about shutting and locking all external gates.
All it takes is a bit of courtesy, an most pastoralists will be happy to see tourists.

I cannot lay my hands on my old paper work, but from memory the owner lived towards the Eyre Peninsula on another property. I managed to get there details from another station near by, but it took some time to figure things out