Australian Walk
Lake Hart - walking on
Lake Hart - a lake of
By Frank Goldingham
D
riving along South Australia’s Stuart Highway (the Explorer Way) from Port Augusta to Coober Pedy on the right is a sign that says Lake Hart. It is time to stop, get out and stretch our legs and explore the lake area, right beside the main highway. It’s 29 degrees and it is January, a very hot time of the year in South Insert: The information kiosk. Below left: This vehicle has seen better days. Below right: A freight train heading south.
Australia. We find that this spot is also popular with campervaners, as it offers a free spot to camp in a large car park area. The nearest fuel and food stops are both about 70kms away. Pimba to the south and Glendambo to the north. In between there is nothing except perhaps an aborigine or a wild animal. The information sign is also a spot for getting some shade under the blazing 29 degree sun before we venture down the one kilometre track to the lake edge. Down a gentle rise we find an old
36 Walking New Zealand, issue no 287 - 2022
vehicle rusting away in the desert. The lake looks like a huge mass of water but getting up close it we find it is a huge salt flat. The sand track shows footprints where many have walked recently. The main railway line from Adelaide to Darwin comes between us and the lake, but we find a concrete tunnel under the track. In a few minutes a freight train came roaring along. This is the railway line that the world famous Ghan Train travels along from Adelaide to Darwin. The ground colour changes from brown with white specs the more we
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