The Flinders Ranges offers some of the most beautiful natural scenery in outback Australia starting just 250km (3 hours drive) north of Adelaide in South Australia. The area’s natural beauty abounds in this diverse landscape packed with rugged peaks, creeks and gorges that is easily explored. Made up of quartzite and limestone, the ranges are over 800 million years old. Wilpena Pound forms a 17km long x 7km wide impression within the ranges. The Adnyamathanha, who are the local indigenous people have long placed special significance to the area but in more recent history the pound was also a pastoral station. The highest point in the Flinders Ranges, St Mary’s peak, is a spectacular day-return walk but there are plenty of other walking trails available to suite different fitness levels. Wilpena Pound Resort has accommodation as does Rawnsley Park Station, a working sheep station just nearby.
In the Northern Flinders Ranges lies the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary that boasts an area of 610sq kms of rugged peaks, gorges and waterholes. You can take a trip on an open-air 4wd along steep slopes to a breath-taking 360 degree view of the surrounding area with the renowned Ridge Top Tour. There are all types of accommodation here from camping to motel-style rooms which you can use as your base to explore the many walks and 4wd tracks available on the Sanctuary. Depending on when you visit the Flinders Ranges you could get to see an amazing array of wildlife including Echidnas, Western Grey and Red Kangaroos, Lake Eyre dragons and the rare Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. The Wedge-tailed eagles, Australian Ringneck Parrots and Red-capped robins are a few of the great variety of birds in the area plus there are also many varieties of snakes and frogs. In fact just this year a brand new species of frog was discovered in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – the first new species found in South Australia since 1965.
The rich pastoral history of the Flinders Ranges is also easy to explore and experience. Operating between Port Augusta and Quorn, there are heritage train journeys aboard the Afgan Express, which still uses the original Ghan locomotive or on the famous steam train – the Pichi Richi. Dating back to the 1850’s, the ruins of the Kanyaka Homestead are worth visiting to get a sense of the one of the areas old stations – this one, a sheep station, had nearly 70 families living here when it was operational. The towns and particularly the pubs throughout the region are great places to get a sense of both past and present life in the outback. The towns have much to offer visitors like the historic sites along the old Ghan railway, the delicious quandong pies at the famed Bush Bakery at Copely and the renowned Prairie Hotel which offers a menu of native fauna.
Whilst the winter months can be very cold in the Flinders Ranges, the best time to visit is still between April and October (late Autumn to mid Spring). After a wet winter, the Spring wild flowers are a truly impressive sight. With temperatures in the 40’s (Celsius), summer is usually very hot in the area. With so many magnificent sights on offer, no matter when you visit the region, make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to see it all.
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