Flinders Ranges National Park
Head to Flinders Ranges National Park for rugged mountain ranges, spectacular gorges, creeks lined with River Red Gums and abundant wildlife.
This 94,908 hectare park is one of South Australia's most popular tourist destinations. It's world renowned for its geological history, Aboriginal rock art sites, impressive fossil remains, and ruins of early European settlement. It is home to some of South Australia's most fascinating natural attractions including Wilpena Pound.
European heritage includes the old Appealinna copper mine and Wilpena mine, but the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail will take you a little further back, as it traces the geological history of the area for hundreds of millions of years. Located off the Wilpena-Blinman Road, the trail features interpretive maps.
Here, you may be lucky enough to spot a Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby. These beautifully marked creatures were almost pushed to extinction, exploited for their skins. They also faced competition from introduced stock and predation from foxes. Thanks to conservation programs, the Yellow-footed
Rock-wallaby is now regularly seen in Brachina and Wilkawillina gorges, and also Bunyeroo Gorge or around the edge of Wilpena Pound.Relax near tree-lined watercourses and springs, which provide habitat for skinks, geckoes, legless lizards and frogs, including the Streambank Froglet. Now extremely rare, the large Carpet Python rests in tree hollows or on rock ledges, moving on the ground to hunt at night. The collapse of the Carpet Pythons may have been associated with the local extinction.
Bird life is rich and varied in Flinders Ranges National Park too, with more than 100 native bird species recorded.
Take to one of our walking trails, including a section of South Australia's longest - the Heysen Trail. See Old Wilpena Station, Brachina Gorge and Aroona Valley. A series of marked trails and companion brochures are located around the park. The Heysen Trail, which extends for 1200 kilometres from Cape Jervis in the south to Parachilna in the north, is marked with red and white markers and is accessible from Wilpena, Aroona, Trezona, Yanyanna, Parachilna and Black Gap. The Heysen Trail is closed during summer between 1 December and 31 March each year and on days of total fire ban.
Each season has its own charm. Autumn brings warm, mild days and cool nights. Wildlife is more readily seen in winter and the denser air provides sharp detail for photography. Spring brings a carnival of colour, with many flowering plants and birds celebrating another breeding season. Summer months in the Flinders Ranges can get very hot, making long bushwalks on some days quite difficult.
Facilities include a Visitor Information Centre, ranger on site, kiosk, toilets, disabled toilets, camping sites, caravan sites, showers, public phone, picnic area, barbecue facilities, drinking water, accommodation and guided tours. Campfires allowed.
The Department of Environment and Heritage has a website dedicated to Flinders Ranges National Park, where you can read more and gain details of hiking routes.
