Flinders Ranges Attractions
South Australia
Pichi Richi Railway
Pichi Richi Railway is an operating museum with regular heritage train journeys operating on the oldest remaining section of the narrow-gauge old Ghan railway.
The Pichi Richi Railway is located at Quorn, and trains depart from both Quorn and Port Augusta.
You can also do a self guided tour through the Quorn Railway Station Yard Heritage Walk.
Quorn
Telephone: 1800 440 101
www.prr.org.au
Kanyaka Station Ruins
Kanyaka Staton, founded in 1851, was a large pastoral lease sheep station and at its peak covered 94,500 hectares (240,000 acres). In good seasons it would house up to 70 workers and their families. However after a series of droughts and floods, the station was eventually broken up into smaller holdings, and the homestead was eventually abandoned in 1888.
Approximately 1.5kms further past the homestead ruins are the woolshed and shearers quarters ruins where in 1864 approximately 40,000 sheep were shorn. Continue to follow the dirt road around by the creek to see them. The road is generally in good condition and can be accessed by a 2WD vehicle.
Hugh Proby had the first lease on this property, and his grave can be found on the Arden Vale road near Quorn.
Kanyaka Ruins are about 10kms South of Hawker.
Arkaroo Rock
Arkaroo Rock is located about 43kms North of Hawker off the main Wilpena road. Allow yourself 1-2 hours to complete the walk where there are many paintings dating back as old as 5,000 years.
If you are driving from Hawker, the turn off to Arkaroo Rock is past Rawnsley Park Station. The turnoff is sign posted and its on the left had side of the road.
Moralana Scenic Drive
Moralana Scenic Drive is a 28km route following the Moralana Valley, which lies between the south western wall of Wilpena Pound and the Elder Range. It is one of the best drives through the Flinders Ranges where you will see scenery such as the southern wall of Wilpena Pound, Black Gap Lookout, Red Range, Elder Range plus more. You can enter the drive 24kms North of Hawker on the Wilpena Road, or 42kms North of Hawker on the Leigh Creek Road.
Usually the drive can be completed in a conventional car, and the best time to do the drive is in the afternoon on a sunny day. Start from the Leigh Creek Road and head east towards Wipena Road as the sun will be behind you and you will be rewarded with the most stunning reds on the rocks.
Old Wilpena Station
Old Wilpena Station lies within Wilpena Pound park a few kilometres from the Wilpena Pound Resort. Established in 1851, it was an important pioneering pastoral run and was worked for 135 years. The site is open every day of the year from 8am to 5pm, and offers self-guided and guided tours.
Wilpena Pound
Wilpena Pound Bushwalking
There are many walks through Wilpena Pound, from easy hour long walks looking at native plants, to a full day hike up to St Mary Peak, the highest point in the Flinders Ranges, or even multi-day treks. Most of the walks leave from the visitor information centre and they can point you in the right direction.
Wilpena Pound
Chambers Gorge
Chambers Gorge is about 64kms North-East of Blinman on the way to Arkaroola. From the carpark there is an 8.3km walk, but it is worth the effort to see the aboriginal carvings.
Blinman
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary
The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is a 610sq km wildlife sanctuary in the Northern end of Flinders Ranges. The wilderness sanctuary is mecca for bushwalkers and four wheel drivers, with rugged mountains, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary has won many tourism awards, and has now entered the coveted Hall of Fame for Ecotourism.
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary has many activities available, from bushwalking to mountain biking, bird watching and geological interests. There are also organised tours from guided 4WD tours to a waterhole tour along the Arkaroola Creek, which is designed to give you the best chance of seeing native birds and animals.
There is a large range of accommodation styles available, from motel style accommodation, to self contained cottages, bunkhouses, shearers quarters, and caravan and camping sites.
Arkaroola
Telephone: +61 8 8648 4848
www.arkaroola.com.au