Flinders Ranges
South Australia
Flinders Ranges starts approximately 200kms North West of Adelaide. The ranges stretches for over 430kms, starting from Port Pirie right through to Lake Callabonna. The most characteristic landmark in Flinders Ranges is Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre covering almost 80 square kilometers.
Flinders Ranges has several areas that are protected as National Parks. These include the Flinders Ranges National Park near Wilpena Pound and the Mount Remarkable National Park in the Southern part of the ranges near Melrose. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is at the northern end of the ranges, Dutchman's Stern Conservation Park is West of Quorn, and the Mount Brown Conservation Park is South of Quorn.
The Adnyamathanha (meaning hill people or rock people) people were the first humans to inhabit the Flinders Ranges. Artifacts, cave and Aboriginal rock art can be found throughout the area and these indicate they have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years.
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The first European explorers were an exploration party from The Investigator captained by Matthew Flinders in 1802. Pastoral leases were granted in 1851, but there are records of squatters in the Quorn district as early as 1845.
There are many townships throughout Flinders Ranges, with the main ones listed below:
Quorn
Click here to see photos of QuornQuorn, with a population of around 1,000 people, is the picturesque gateway to the Flinders Ranges and is the main service town for the area. It was originally an important railway town when the Great Northern Railways was completed in 1878, and it still retains some of the atmosphere from that period. The Pichi Richi Railway operates out of Quorn, and there are several good walks in the Pichi Rich Pass, including the Waukerie Creek Trail and the Heysen Trail.
Hawker
Click here to see photos of HawkerHawker is about 400 kms North of Adelaide and has a population of around 300 people. It is a popular stopping spot before the travellers hit the Strzelecki Track. There are many heritage buildings in Hawker dating from the 1880's. You can find some Aboriginal rock art south of Hawker, and close by are the Kanyaka ruins. It is a great place to base your holiday as you are in easy reach of places such as Wilpena Pound, the Flinders Ranges National Park, Brachina Gorge and the Morlana Scenic Drive.
Blinman
Click here to see photos of BlinmanBlinman sits at the northern edge of the Flinders Ranges National Park and is a good base for exploring the surrounding area. It was settled in 1859 with the discovery of copper, and the old Blinman Mine is now a popular visitor attraction with tours available above and below ground. Close by you can discover Aboriginal carvings, there are old homestead ruins, walking trails, and the countryside makes for great 4WD journeys.
Flinders Ranges Visitor Centre
3 Seventh Street
Quorn
SA, 5433
Telephone: +61 8 8648 6419
vic@flindersranges.com
Hawker Weather - Average Temperatures and Rainfall
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Avg. Max (°C) | 34.0 | 33.3 | 30.2 | 25.4 | 20.2 | 16.4 | 15.9 | 17.8 | 21.6 | 25.7 | 29.1 | 31.8 |
| Avg. Min (°C) | 17.8 | 17.9 | 14.8 | 10.7 | 7.2 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 6.7 | 9.8 | 13.3 | 15.9 |
| Avg. Rain (mm) | 20.0 | 20.4 | 16.2 | 19.6 | 30.7 | 38.6 | 33.9 | 32.2 | 27.7 | 24.5 | 22.7 | 21.8 |
| Avg. Rain Days | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 |