The Flinders Ranges National Park

Wilpena Pound and rugged mountain scenery

The Flinders Ranges National Park covers much of the central Flinders Ranges. This area belongs to the top tourist attractions in Outback South Australia.

The park is located approximately 450 km north of Adelaide, between the townships of Hawker and Blinman. Take a small detour and do the Moralana Scenic Drive to reach the heart of the ranges. This is a 28 km connection between the Hawker – Leigh Creek Rd and the Hawker – Wilpena Rd. The beautiful drive is along the valley of Moralana creek and Six Mile creek. The valley lies between the Elder Range and the south-western rampart of Wilpena Pound.

You can easily spend a week or two in the national park and the surrounding areas without getting bored. There is so much to do and see.

• Bushwalking in Australia is very popular, and the Flinders Ranges is the place to go. Wildflowers are abundant in spring, you will love it.
• Explore the rich culture of the Aborigines of the Flinders Ranges.
• Take an adventurous 4x4 tour.
• Explore stunning gorges and ruins

The natural beauty is always around you. To get an overview see this detailed

Flinders Ranges Map (opens new window)

Climate

The Flinders Ranges National Park can be visited all year round, each season has its own charm. You should be aware that summers can be hot, but it is usually a dry and bearable heat. However, this might not be the best season for bushwalking. Spring is famous for the abundance of wildflowers in the national park. Rainfall is usually low, however, when it comes flooding can occur.

Average temperatures:

Spring and autumn: 13-25 degrees C. (55-77 degrees F.)

Winter: 8-18 degrees C. (46-64 degrees F.)

Summer: 26-38 degrees C. (79-100 degrees F.)

Wilpena Pound

Wilpena Pound is the main attraction in the park. The pound is a saucer-shaped structure of mountains with rough and rocky peaks around the rim. It looks like a natural amphitheatre. On the outside, the walls rise steeply up to 500 m, while inside they slope gently away from the peaks. Take a scenic flight from Wilpena pound resort. It is the best way to appreciate this stunning natural monument. Wilpena Pound is a paradise for bushwalking in Australia. St. Mary Peak (1190 m) at the north-western side of the pound is the highest peak.

The only access to the pound is along Wilpena creek, from the resort it’s a 3 km walk to the pound entrance. Wilpena Pound resort is a comfortable place to stay for a few days, see the Flinders Ranges Travel Tips. Unfortunately, while we stayed there, the flooded creek had damaged a bridge, and we couldn't walk into the pound.

Wangarra lookout, the old homestead, Sliding Rock and Mt. Ohlssen Bagge (950 m) are within reasonable walking distances.

Bunyeroo and Brachina Valley

About 10 km north of Wilpena along Blinman Road is the turnoff to the gorges. The road meanders through the lovely Bunyeroo Valley. From Razorback lookout the views over the valley to the surrounding ranges are gorgeous. Once you enter Bunyeroo gorge things can get a bit difficult. The creek meanders around the road, sometimes you're on firm ground, and then the road leads into the creek again. Adventurous!

Brachina Gorge is a delight for geologists. The gorge provides a pathway through the rock sequence which reveals their history – a corridor through time. At the entrance of the gorge is a basic camping spot without any facilities, just stunning nature.

Stokes Hill and Hucks Lookout

These vantage points north of Wilpena Pound are worth a visit.

Hucks lookout offers stunning views of the northeastern rampart of Wilpena Pound.

Stokes Hill (750m), this bare windswept hill is probably the most spectacular vantage point in the Flinders Ranges National Park. To the north the hills fade away and you can picture the vast plains of the outback.

Blinman and Parachilna Gorge

Leaving the national park to the north you arrive in Blinman. At 610m, it is South Australia’s highest town. The copper mine in Blinman was the largest copper producer in the Flinders Ranges. It closed in 1907. A few old buildings remained, the hotel, the Memorial Hall and a couple of miner’s cottages.

Heading west from Blinman is another scenic route to Parachilna through a gorge with the same name. Once you leave the gorge, the hills of the Flinders Ranges fade away. Turning north in Parachilna, you are on your way to the real Outback.

Don't you agree that the Flinders Ranges National Park is a place worth to visit? Perhaps you'd like to watch a DVD? It is just wonderful to see this ancient landscape come to life on your screen. This one is in NTSC format, and there's a version in PAL format available in the DVD section of the Australian bookstore.

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