About

The ranges consist of a series of folded and faulted sediments that were deposited in a large basin around 540 million years ago. The most notable formation of the Flinders Ranges is Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre of around 80sq km in area. This was once used as a sheep grazing area and formed a natural confinement to which there was only one entrance.

Wilpena Pound is part of the Flinders Ranges National Park and should be high on the list of must do places to visit. There is a well managed caravan and camping park here and lots of wildlife to observe, from large lazy kangaroos snoozing under a shady tree to the small and agile rock wallabies.

There is a walking trail that takes you into the Pound, where you can climb up to a lookout and observe the landscape from an elevated perspective. You can also visit the historical cottage that the settlers established in the 19th century, as their homestead in the Pound.

AT the northern end of the Flinders, adjacent to the Gammon Range is Arkaroola, a private sanctuary established by Reg Sprigg, a geologist and biologist who purchased a former sheep station to set up his conservation park. These days it is a bustling tourist destination where people travel to enjoy the outback, gaze through telescopes at the stars and experience camping in the wilderness. The resort is still run by the family of Reg Sprigg.

In the southern end of the Flinders is the township of Quorn, home of the Pichi Richi Railway, a historic steam rail system that is kept operating as a working museum. It runs from Port Augusta to Quorn during the tourist season, providing a unique day out for visitors to the area.