Water at Mt Remarkable NP?

[Silknfeathers]

Almost always find water in the small creek running into Alligator Creek at Hidden Camp, and again in the "Loop Pool" in Mambray Creek (about 8k up from Mambray Creek Campground. However, I am told it is so dry at the moment there will definitely be no water (I have been told this before and still found water).

Anybody know the current situation?

Cheers,

Mark

[whitefang]

Came home from there yesterday. Almost no water in Alligator Gorge or Hidden Gorge. Only some very small pools.

[peregrinator]

I can't comment specifically on Mt Remarkable NP, but I've just returned from many other locations in the Flinders and Gammon Ranges and whitefang's observation doesn't surprise me. Waterholes are either very low or have no water. There are scores of dead kangaroos around. One very emaciated one was so desparate it chose to drink despite my close presence. BYO H2O.

[Dan_H]

Hi,

I'm planning a trip to Mambray Creek (from interstate) in May 2021, and I'm hoping someone can advise on the current water situation there? I can tell it is LIKELY to be dry - I'm looking for recent eyewitness accounts please.

Specific locations of interest include Mambray Creek, Longhill Camp, Hidden Gorge, Kingfisher camp, the Narrows, Battery Ridge and Ficks Track.

Thank you
Dan

[Bubbalouie]

Hi Dan,

How'd you go in the end?

Planning a trip myself in 3-4 weeks time, knowing the water situation would be super helpful.

Cheers

Ryan

[wander]

I would have said the creeks will have water based on previous visits over a long period of time. I have set a 24 hours Rogaine in this Park.

The camp sites up the hill have tanks which Parks make sure have enough water in them, and other one has a dam but I think a tank was going to be subbed in to replace the dam as a source.

More info here including contact email / phone for the park. Email them your specific queries and you will normally have answer in 24 hours.

https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/mount-remarkable-national-park

[wander]

mount-remarkable-national-park-map.pdf

(695.23 KiB) Downloaded 542 times

[wander]

There will be water where detailed on this map linked above.

Looking into the remote camps like Stringers Camp I found this. So you will need to contact the Park by phone anyhow to book sites such as these. You will be able to confirm water at camp questions then.

Walk-in camping (closed during fire danger season)

Suitable for: tents

Facilities: none

There is 11 walk-in campsites available for hikers in the park. These campsites are not accessible by vehicles and are closed during bushfire danger season (usually November to April). These campgrounds can not be booked online. Please contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Yorke and Mid North Office on (+61 8841 3400 to organise your stay.

[Bubbalouie]

Many thanks, this is super helpful

[Bubbalouie]

Weather showed it had been raining prior to my arrival... as did mud on the ground.

All the tanks along Battery Ridge had water, though one had a few floaty green bits, easily filtered.

Heading down Fricks track and back towards the car park there were rock pools with standing water, a little dark, but plenty of life in it (tadpoles etc). The rest of the creek beds were dry if there wasn't rock pools.

Tanks from Kingfisher Flat to Mambray Creek visitor park all had water (I forgot to check one, but they are so close that if one doesn't have water a few km walk will sort you out).

[wander]

Nice feedback report, thanks.

Typically the creeks all through the Flinders drain out within 24 to 48 hours of rain, so your observation of pools only after ran is the normal.

Only a very few are spring feed enough to continue running.

[lisa000]

I was wondering if anyone could provide advice on my enquiry?

We are (2 people) hoping to do a 2-night trip in late June this year as detailed below
- Day 1: leave from Mambray Creek campground, then stay at Longhill campsite via Mambray Creek track and Kingfisher track
- Day 2: Walk the Narrows, Alligator Gorge Ring Route hike, Battery Ridge track, and Fricks track to stay at Kingfisher Flat campsite
- Day 3: Head to Hidden campsite and walk the Hidden Gorge hike, returning to Mambray Creek campground

I spoke to the Mt Remarkable National Park to book these campsites and was told we have to carry all the water required for the entire trip as they can't check the water level of tanks for walkers.

We have done multi-day hiking trips elsewhere but have never been to Mt Remarkable National Park yet.
I can see it hasn't rained much in the area this month or last month.
Do people carry the water needed for the entire trip for the multi-day hiking in the park?

Would you be able to share your experience on these?
- how much water you carried
- how much you were relying on other water sources (tanks, rock pools or creek) and the location where you found the water
- the month when you had your trip

Many thanks in advance!

[Boomer]

We were there this weekend (18/19 May). There was water in the tanks on the Battery and near Sugar Gum lookout, the others probably have water also, it was pretty dry otherwise. We did 2 days and carried 3.5 - 4 litres each - no reliance on other water sources. We did a shorter walk than you are planning though as we only did the hidden gorge loop.

Told the same thing regarding carrying all the water required, in the end we had too much water but better than the alternative I guess. I would expect by late June water won't be an issue (gotta have some rain by then right!!).

Just keep an eye on the rainfall, if there are some days of rain then you will have multiple opportunities to fill up at the rainwater tanks.

[wander]

It has been crazy dry in SA.
Keep an eye on the Port Pirie Observations (and cross check with Port Augusta) for a good idea of the likely Mt Remarkable area rain fall. Mt Remarkable will typically get a little more than PP and PA but there's no hard rule about it.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJDW0506.shtml

6.4mm so far in May and 2.2 in April 2024 at Port Pirie suggests the tanks will be empty.

There is typically very limited water across the park and when it rains the runoff rate is 99%, so the creeks run when it rains and that's about it. There a couple of very manky dams in the valley. You might find a creek water hole with water but unless you are very familiar with the area best not relied upon.

The best of the tracks are along the tops of ridges or are climbs hence the reliance on tanks.

Self and partner set and installed a 24 hour rogaine in this Park so we have poked about pretty much most of it including a lot of off track locations.

[lisa000]

Thanks Boomer and Wander for your insight! Your advice definitely helped us plan our trip. We came back from the trip and it was a great outdoor experience.

I might write some details here for anyone who is planning walks in the future.
We both carried 4.5 litres of water each on Day 1 and used a total of 3 litres of rainwater together from the Kingfisher Flat campsite rainwater tank on our last day (we both had leftover water).
We were lucky with the water situation as it did rain a few times before our trip. Rainwater was available from Kingfisher Flat (2 small rainwater tanks) and Fricks. Alligator Gorge carpark had tap water access with a sign of 'no drinking water'. Blue Gum Flat picnic area toilet was blocked and hence it could be a possible reason we couldn't see a rainwater tank. All the dams we saw were either completely dry or had some unclear shallow water. Found dark still water in rock pools not too often along the trails also.

Hope it helps anyone trying to find the situation with water.

[Yvie]

Thanks for the info on water Lisa! I am planning to take a very similar path next year.
Can I ask how you found the section after alligator gorge. ie battery ridge track and fricks? I noticed it’s not a highlighted track on Mt Remarkable’s map of walks. Was it… ‘unremarkable’?