Australia is the smallest of the world's continents. It is also the lowest, the flattest and (apart from Antarctica) the driest.

Recent severe weather and abnormally high rainfall in South Australia had resulted in the Flinders Ranges transforming from an arid desert landscape, to being carpeted in grass and wildflowers.

A mate and I couldn’t resist the temptation to go take a look at this rare event, even though this would require at least a 1000K ride to the SA border and most of the dirt roads we had intended to ride being closed due to flooding.

After a 5000K round trip, and encountering some truly diabolical riding weather, we are back home from one of the most magical Adventure rides I have ever done.

Adventure Riding is what you make it. My motto being, “Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an Adventure”. We encountered closed roads, flooded rivers and streams, slippery orange clay and all manner of wildlife including roos, emu, goats, goats, goats and an encounter with a venemous snake, that saw me riding with both feet on the bars and an elevated heart rate.

We rode from Yunta to Arkaroola and criss crossed The Flinders from North to South and East to West, trying to cram in as much of the majestic landscape in the limited time we had.

To be quite honest, words fail me when it comes to trying to describe South Australias’s Flinders Ranges…Best I let the pics do the talking.

As we got closer to The Flinders, and finally on dirt we started to encounter red clay and standing water. I cannot begin to describe how slippery this stuff is



Fortunately some of the recently opened roads had begun to dry out





Along the way we visited some great “outback” pubs and towns




Finally the Ranges came into sight



But still had to be alert for emu!!



This is what we came for..
























Visited some early settlers graves….It was a hard life!!



Finally.... the orange clay got me!!




An iconic station




Washing the wheels before heading home

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Attitude is the difference between an Ordeal and an ADVENTURE

Some stunning scenery , amazing to see the desert turn green . Looks like you had a great time , thanks for sharing.


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Great pictures. Enjoyed that.

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2011 xt660z.
Yoshimura cans ,kev mod,Dna 2, Stahlkoffer panniers,Hepco Becker box,Givi crash bars,Mita e07 tyres.

What a brilliant trip....and great photos of a stunning location. It must be wonderful to see a dirt track stretching out ahead of you into a big blue sky..and looks like the Tenere coped pretty well...you can forgive it a tumble or two on that slippery stuff! . Did you film any of it Seahorse. ..? Steve

I've been watching that weather on the news up here & looked really horrendous. But from your your photo's it all looks fantastic. That clay when it's wet is a pest, not unlike black ice. Great ride Seahorse.

What an adventure trip!
Thanks for sharing. The countryside looks lovely after the rains.
Not easy to pick up a loaded Tenere after a spill. I hate that mud

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2014 XT660Z - Barrett pipe, DNA stage1.5, Barkbuster hand guards and handlebars, Pivot pegs, Teknik suspension, Guard-it engine protector combo, B&B rear rack, Trax topbox.

Hate that mud, too. Red clay is fearsome stuff. Great photos, really great.

I'm lucky enough to live and work relatively close to the Flinders, so am lucky enough to have seen it in all its (after rain) glory. We could see the ranges from the hills where I was working just last week. (I grew up on that property). As you've shown us, the place is truly picturesque. A serious adventure ride mate, well done, I believe!
Good for you.

Inspirational. This is what its all about.

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Fantastic place, have yet to see it in green, looks like you enjoyed it, seahorse what are the wolfman bags you have on your crash bars.

They are called "The Hoops". Fit perfectly on SW-Motech crash bars. I use them to carry spare tubes, tyre levers, hand pump and oil for the chain lubricator.

They also add another layer of protection if you lay the bike down!!...Tough as nails and are easy to get on/off (velcro straps).

I bought mine from AdventureMoto in Sydney.

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Attitude is the difference between an Ordeal and an ADVENTURE