Walking in the Flinders Ranges is one of the truly unique travelling experiences this country has to offer. Together with our walking partners at Park Trek we visit the many renowned landmarks including Wilpena Pound, the Heysen Trail, Mount Remarkable National Park and Alligator Gorge.
This 7-day fully accommodated trip includes all transport and delicious meals and has us staying in some excellent locations, with all of the amenities on hand after a day’s trekking. If you’ve longed to get to the Flinders Ranges but wanted to do so in comfort, then this is the trip for you.
Located just over 350kms north of Adelaide, the Flinders Ranges includes several well-known national parks and walking trails. Both the Heysen Trail and Mawson Trail span several hundred kilometres and provide a multitude of sights and attractions for walkers.
You’ll see plenty of native flora and fauna in their natural habitats, from Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies in Brachina Gorge to the Sturt’s Desert Pea (the floral emblem of South Australia) growing freely throughout the bushland.
We head further north and stop at Mambray Creek Reserve in Mount Remarkable National Park for our first walk of the tour. It is only a short walk up Davey’s Gully but the views across Spencers Gulf and Whyalla are spectacular. Keep a look out for local wildlife including emu, Euros and kookaburras.
After our walk we continue on to our place of stay at Rawnsley Park Station. Here we unpack and relax with nibbles by the campfire followed by a two course-dinner prepared by your guides
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight accommodation at Rawnsley Park (two bedroom cabins). The property is situated just outside of Wilpena Pound and is the perfect base for exploring the area. Each cabin has its own ensuite.
We begin our walk on the famous Heysen Trail for a section that brings us into the Wilpena Pound. Today we enjoy lunch at Blacks Gap with captivating views of the Flinders Ranges. This is one of the very special walks of the Trail, starting with a pretty creek walk through Black Gap, before climbing the Pound Range to Bridle Gap, where a look back provides spectacular views of Elder Range.
We walk to the floor of the Wilpena Pound and stop off at Hills Homestead to gain a better understanding of how challenging life was for the 19th century pioneering farmers. Entering the Flinders Range National Park, it is a pleasant stroll across Wilpena Pound to complete the day.
Nibbles around the campfire followed by a delicious two-course dinner prepared by your guides
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station
There are also great views of St Mary’s Peak – the summit of the Flinders Ranges highest mountain at 1171m. The peak itself is a major focus point of the Adyamanthanha dreaming and for this reason it is respected as a special site and not climbed to the top.
This walk is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of the central Flinders Ranges. The trail climbs gently through lovely Callitris Pine forest and as the elevation changes so too does the vegetation and the ever expanding views out over the Flinders Ranges.
Dinner at the Woolshed Restaurant, Rawnsley Park (own expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station
We start with an 8km walk of the Volcanic Circuit at Aroona where we discover old pastoral ruins and pass through contrasting rock formations and vegetation. The ruins of the old Aroona Homestead, built in the 1850’s, serves as a reminder of the difficult early years of European settlement. The risk of failure through adverse seasons and native hostility to their intrusion was an ever-present factor in the pastoralists survival. This walk affords lovely views of the Heysen and Trezona Ranges.
Our second walk is the 3km Trezona loop walk where we can see some of the earliest life forms on earth in the Trezona formation.
We finish up today’s activities by exploring Brachina Gorge which is one of the park’s most popular and spectacular attractions. Brachina Gorge meanders its way through sharp sawtooth ridges of resistant quartzite. This spectacular gorge was once used as a pass through which bullock teams pulled their loads. The ‘Corridors through Time’ Geological Trail has been established through this Gorge which interprets the geological history of the area.
Two-course dinner prepared by your guides at Rawnsley Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station
In some places on the trail, sheer cliffs rise almost straight up from the creekbed, providing a spectacular backdrop. The two spring-fed creeks keep the first pool filled with water all year round. The second pool is low in summer, but after big rains it can fill up to 3 metres. At these times, the cool green waters stretch about 20-30 metres across.
We finish our walk mid afternoon and then take a short drive through Parachilna Gorge, past the trailhead of the Heysen Trail.
We have the option to spend some time in the outback town of Blinman before heading back to Rawnsley Park
Two-course dinner prepared by your guides at Rawnsley Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Rawnsley Park
Today’s walk is to lovely Dutchmans Stern in the southern Flinders Ranges which winds through a beautiful forest and ends at an excellent lookout with views all the way over the Spencer Gulf. We have lunch out on the track at one of the loveliest environments in the Flinders Ranges.
The hike meanders though sugar gums scattered along the Dutchmans Stern ridge top rewards with magnificent views across to Wilpena Pound, the remains of some of the oldest ranges in the world. The area was once a sheep grazing property so you may come across the old homestead, farm sheds, shearer’s quarters and shearing shed. The rugged landscape features rough, red cliff faces, deep gorges, open plains and winding creeks lined with river red gums. A wonderfully diverse range of plants includes the rare Quorn wattle and a plethora of bird species including laughing kookaburras, yellow-faced honey eaters, scarlet robins and majestic wedge-tailed eagles.
Following our walk we have an afternoon tea stop in Quorn and we then head south to our place of stay for the last night of the tour at Majestic Oasis Apartments.
Dinner at local hotel (at own expense)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Majestic Oasis Apartments
Each apartment is fully self contained with a king bed (or twin beds) and offers private kitchen and laundry facilities, large screen TV, cable and DVD player, and a seating area.
Immerse yourself in the dramatic beauty of high ochre ridges, deep gorges and watercourses lined with river red gums. Alligator Gorge is one of the premier natural attractions in the Southern Flinders Ranges. This spectacular gorge, cut through ancient quartzite by the Alligator Creek.
We head off and stop for lunch in Melrose (at own expense) before heading south to arrive in Adelaide (via the airport) at around 5.30pm.
** For guests flying out of Adelaide – please book your flights after 7.00pm
Meals: Breakfast
For guests flying out of Adelaide – please book your flights after 7.00pm
This tour by it's very nature is not designed for the 5 Star Traveller. It is for the girl who has an 'adventurous spirit' and is looking for a unique and rewarding 'experience' (Once in a Lifetime)!
You need to be able to adopt a "Go With The Flow" attitude if things don't always go to plan...this will help you relax, appreciate the experience and therefore get the best out of your holiday.
You will also need to be mobile without assistance and a have a reasonable level of fitness - some of the walks require moderate distances over uneven surfaces at times.
Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:
No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.
Update 19th September 2019 - ** Due to PayPal changing their policy to now retain fees even when we issue a refund we will be forced to pass this along. This means both partial and full refunds will be less the full fee charged by PayPal
