Next week we are heading over to the eyre Pen via the Barossa  to visit stepson and family. Thought we would take a different route towhat we normally do. Going from Corowa to Swan Hill to Ouyen then to Pinaroo. Then thought we would go across to Loxton then to Swan Reach across on the ferry and to Barossa which I think the road comes in at Angaston. the question is are the roads from the near Pinaroo turn off right through  to Angaston bitumen and in good condition and is the ferry still operating there. Have done a bit of a look on the net and not too many answers so far. Any help would be appreciated. Cheryl

well cheryl thats an easy one, sorry I didnt answer you sooner all roads in your itinerary are bitumen and the ferry is fully functional, the road (pinnaroo to swan reach is a "b" class highway in good condition) does indeed come in at angaston and all will be clear for a great trip through the barossa for you

Thanks Dave that makes that decision easy. It will be nice to take in some different scenery than the usual way we travel. And cant wait to try a couple of nice reds it comes in handy when the family work at wineries. cheryl

YUUUMMMmmmmm!!!! the Barossa will be lovely and green for you by then, it should be a great drive, check out the butcher at tanunda for his metwurst, best on the planet, the bakery is a must do as well

You could always head to Wallaroo and cross the Gulf on the ferry to Cowell. It's a good 2 hr break from driving and you're on the EP before you know it. I believe it's a bit cheaper now than it was in 08 when I took the car and van over to Yorke Peninsula to visit daughter and grandsons. They've also added a second, larger ferry to cope with the traffic. Now that has to be a good sign. Safe and happy travels. Cheers Chris

Thanks chris and yes we have done that ferry trip a couple of years ago and camped at Cowell. it was expensive to I hope they have put the price down. We cant do it again this time though the tax man is paying us 65c a km because we are going to do a house inspection at Streaky so we have to take a reasonably direct route. we can claim it annually so this wine drinking and oyster eating trip is a business trip technically. But will do the ferry again probably at the end of summer when we have to go to Port Lincoln. Cheryl

the ferry is a costly exercise but not as expensive as the one across to kangaroo island, (which is rumored to be the most expensive ferry in the world) we have done the K.I. thing 4 times now and don't really care about the cost, we love K.I. the price for the wallaroo - cowell ferry(last time we used it) was $130 for the car $32.50 for each adult and a strange one $27.50 per lane meter for the trailer (we didn't tow so I checked on this price I think I would prefer to drive around rather than pay $200 just to save an hour or two, but thats me, we have hungry jacks and cuppas at port Augusta and we drop in at westlands in Whyalla and have cuppas and snacks the time factor doesn't bother us a great deal, the joy is in the trip, not the arrival time, lot of pretty country between here and the west

It cost me more than $300 but I felt a certain loyalty to the project as I did a lot of promotion stories to generate investment in developing the infrastructure and get the ferry up and running. It took quite a few years to get to the point it's at now. I'll probably drive around if I'm towing. I hope to go to Lincoln around Christmas, and then to Edithburgh, before hitting the road again.

according to my little black book $200 is what we paid but we werent towing so I guess thats where the $27.50 per lane metre for your van comes into it,

If you don't mind an early start the Wallaroo/ Cowell ferry is half price for the first trip every day (except over xmas).

I too like a change, after numerous trips from WA to Adelaide I have grown to hate the drive from Pt Augusta to Adelaide.

Last year for a change we turned off to Wilmington then down Main North Rd through Gladstone & Clare.  What a pretty drive.  Going again in October and will go that way again.

Regards

Neil.

cant beat those "b" roads neil, I take them in preference anyday, did you stop at the stone hut bakery for a pasty and a cuppa, wine tastings in clare?????, have a cuppa "goyders line" and listened to the kookaburras, see the black faced sheep just out of wirrabara what time is the first trip""

Ha ha, I DID stop at the Stonehouse Dave and DID have a pasty each.  Yum.

Wow, one should check facts before posting hmmmm!

I just looked at the website for the time of the first ferry trip and found some changes.

Here is a link to the site for prices, times etc.

http://www.seasa.com.au/pages/fares.php

There are some specials there but different to the ones I knew.

Regards

Neil.

we try to get over to wirrabara every other sunday and just do the pasty and cuppa thing, we meet up at the bakery with a couple we know who has retired in stone hut, they have a fantastic spot just back off the road in amongst the gum trees the drive is a bit of a ritual for our lad, the dragon only has every other weekend off so we just get out for a while, we take the pichi richi pass and come down through quorn, lovely drive the last pasty we had I copped a great lump of pepper, had me coughing and gagging for a while, still bloody nice though thanks for the link for sea s.a., may try to get across there in the next couple of months, been a while since we been over to port lincoln

Chris im sure you will be happy to go back to the eyre for a visit I love port Lincoln the caravan park there is great its a wonderful view to wake up to in the morning. I think we are coming back via port Lincoln hubby (rob) getting the urge to a buy a new boat and leave it at Streaky bay. And Neil and Lynne will be popping in to Becks next week. We always go out the main north road when we go over there I used to love going through Freeling after leaving the barossa when they were filming Mcleods Daughters there. Im a big fan of Melrose out that way now nice park and pub. Wont be stopping there this time though I think we are going to stay at the pub at Kimba on the way through so we get to streaky bay early.It will be nice to spend time in good weather over in SA its a little warmer than here. Im going to melbourne on the train at 5am tomorrow my daughter is taking me to the rugby my belated mothers day present and from what i hear i will need as much wet weather gear as possible the forecast is not good. so will be glad to come back and head west next week. cheryl

no worrys neil anytime!!, how bigs the boat cheryl, he may have two deckies!!!

Yes boat must be as big or bigger than any white pointer i encounter thats was my only input for it so i think its going to be 5.3m about the same size as a shark.we are visiting the Quintrex dealer at Lincoln and sorry guys it wont actually be in Streaky bay until after the xmas holidays then it will be stored there which is a good thing it will mean I get to visit more often as Rob loves his fishing. Cheryl