Flinders Ranges

The Flinders Ranges are world renowed for their geological history and you can also see evidence of Aboriginal habitation and European settlement. The traditional owners, the Adnyamathanha, lived in the Flinders Ranges for tens of thousands of years and the area holds deep cultural significance to them.

Heading into the Flinders Ranges

The Adnyamathanha people describe the formation of the land and their spiritual belifes through their Yura Muda stories.  Over tens of thousands of years the Yura Muda stories have passed from generation to generation interpreting the cave paintings and sacred sites found in the Flinders Ranges. Mythological tracks and songlines explain the formation of the land, plants and animals.

Hot air ballooning Rawnsley Bluff

SA Tourism

Sandstone walls with ancient Aboriginal rock engravings can be found in the Sacred Canyon a short walk along a dry creek bed lined with majestic river red gums. The age of the engravings is unknown and the Adnyamathanha people believe that the engravings were created by ancestral beings during the creation time.

You can learn more about the traditional stories of the Nepabunna and Iga Warta Aboriginal communities by driving the Aboriginal Dreaming Trail.

Wilpena Pound

SA Tourism

Wilpena Pound is a natural ampitheatre and is steeped in local legend. It looks like a comet crater, but in reality the formation of the Flinders Ranges began 800 million years ago when the earth's crust was stretched and thinned creating a deep hollow. Following this the sea flooded in and during the next period huge amounts of rock and debris were deposited. Over time the land changed and gorges and valleys were formed.   You can stay at the Wilpena Pound Resort or a range of camping grounds.

Camping in the Flinders Ranges

SA Tourism

There are 3 National Parks in the Flinders Ranges covering 95,000 hectares:

• Mount Remarkable National Park
• Flinders Ranges National Park
• Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park

In the mid 1800's Wilpena, Arkaba and Aroona were established as sheep stations and the pastoral industry flourished when the Government built a rail line to service mining that had also been established in the area.  Remains of early settlement can still be found in the Ranges.

Yellow footed Rock-wallaby

The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby can be found in Brachina and Wilkawillina gorges. These agile and shy animals were once close to extinction but have been saved by conservation programs. They live in rock crevices and caves and their colours blend into their surroundings so you'll need to be patient and have a keen eye to spot them amongst the rocks.

The Park has abundant wildlife  and more than 100 bird species have been identified.

There are a range of activities you can enjoy in the Flinders Ranges including hot air ballooning, cycling, 4 wheel driving and camping. 

Bunyeroo Valley

SA Tourism

Find out more about the Flinders Ranges from Tourism Australia

13 Day Outback Tour Melbourne to Alice Springs

13 Day Outback Tour Alice Springs to Melbourne