Julija Posted on 01 April 2025

Top 7 Flinders Ranges escapes

Words Hema Maps Editorial Pics Matt Williams

The ancient landscape of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, is packed full of hidden escapes. Keep reading to discover our seven favourites.

Driving in the stunning Flinders Ranges, South Australia

Nestled within beautiful South Australia is the Flinders Ranges — the state’s largest mountain range created from years of geological activity — which extend for a whopping 430 kilometres. To be exact, they start 200km north of Adelaide, stretching from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. The gem of the area is Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, covering 95,000 hectares, and the most notable native wildlife are yellow-footed rock wallabies, which are a treat to sight.

Now, with SA being our driest state, the Flinders Ranges is known for its jagged beauty, and among that real Aussie country feeling are several destinations which are sure to impress.

Without further ado, here are our seven favourites which we recommend you visit at least once!

Arkaroola

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is located in the rugged North Flinders Ranges. With the challenging self-drive Echo Camp Backtrack or the simpler Nooldoonooldoona Waterhole (try saying that after a few cold ones!) and Track West, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Arkaroola at your own pace.

The rugged beauty of the Flinders Ranges

The spectacular 4WD Ridgetop Tour with its 360-degree view at the pinnacle is undertaken in the back of an open-top four-wheel drive as a guided tour, whilst the Astronomy Tour provides an opportunity to view the outer reaches of our universe from one of the three professionally equipped observatories.

Arkaroola offers a range of accommodation options to suit everyone including motel rooms, self-contained cottages, caravan or remote bush camping sites.

Contact: 08 8648 4848

Bendleby Ranges

When two neighbouring properties decided to combine their backyards, they created 15,000ha of striking countryside built for adventure. Offering challenging 4WD tracks, cardio-sapping mountain bike trails and scenic bushwalks, this destination has it all. Plus, the panoramic views from atop a couple of the mountain ranges are just mind-blowing, especially if you’re there for a sunrise or sunset.

An epic outback sunset

There is a range of accommodation options perfectly suited to those who love camping, whether it be in the main campsite or remote bush campsites, or those who prefer a little more comfort, either in the shearer’s quarters or one of the renovated cottages.

Contact: 08 8658 9064

Wilpena Pound

Wilpena Pound is the pinnacle of the Flinders; this natural amphitheatre is popular with walkers with the hike to St Mary Peak / Ngarri Mudlanha the most challenging. There are also a number of short and easier walks around the Pound. You can even enjoy a scenic flight and truly appreciate the grandeur of Wilpena Pound from the air. You can also join an Aboriginal cultural tour or tackle a section of the Mawson Trail on a mountain bike.

Driving through the iconic Flinders Ranges, SA

Accommodation options at Wilpena Pound Resort include motel rooms, safari tents and powered and unpowered sites suitable for all sorts of recreational vehicles.

Contact: 08 8648 0048

Willow Springs

One of the most popular and thrilling drives of the Flinders is Skytrek Willow Springs Station. This seven-hour self-drive track of extreme beauty takes you through rugged valleys, across grandiose river Red Gum lined creek beds climaxing at Upalinna Lookout that offers spectacular views of the Chase Range, Bunkers Range and Wilpena Pound. You can also join a guided tour with an approved tour operator.

Hema convoy travelling on the Skytrek Track

There’s a wide range of accommodation options at Willow Springs from self-contained huts, the massive shearer’s quarters to secluded bush campsites.

Contact: 08 8648 0016

Mount Remarkable National Park

Situated near Wilmington in the South Flinders Ranges, Mount Remarkable National Park is popular with bushwalkers, offering everything from the long-distance Heysen Trail to the more relaxed walks at Alligator Gorge and Mambray Creek. The Willowie Forest has several mountain biking trails of varying lengths that while rated as easy, are still great adventures.

The Hema convoy on our 40th anniversary expedition

Bush camping is available at Mambray Creek and Baroota Ruins or at caravan parks located in the nearby towns of Wilmington or Melrose.

Contact: 08 8634 7068

Prairie Hotel & Outback Lodge

The Prairie Hotel at Parachilna not only provides funky accommodation options but the restaurant is famous for its roadkill menu. The ‘FMG’ (Feral Mixed Grill) of kangaroo fillet, emu fillet mignon, camel sausage, roast potato and red wine has just been listed in the Top 100 Gourmet Experiences in Australia. It’s the perfect location to enjoy a rustic Aussie meal!

Accommodation options are from a range of lodge packages that include a tour of a significant fossil site on Nilpena Station.

Contact: 1800 331 473

Warraweena Station Conservation Park

Situated in the centre of the North Flinders Ranges, this small conservation park punches well above its size with a range of 4WD, mountain bike and walking trails. Your four-wheel drive vehicle will need high clearance and low range capabilities as the tracks are rough and rugged, including stony creek beds, jump-ups and up steep inclines where you are rewarded with panoramic views across the ranges.

Driving through the rugged outback

Accommodation choices include bush camping, the shearer’s quarters, bush huts or the homestead.

Contact: 0457 165 504

Let us help you plan your upcoming trip …

We at Hema Maps adore the Flinders Ranges … so much so that we had our anniversary trip celebrating 40 years of exploration right there in August last year. We know the region well and have created several helpful products for exploring the area.

Hema Maps etched into history