A guide will accompany you each day as you walk in different parts of the Flinders Ranges. On some of the more more challenging walks two guides will accompany the group, to offer mores options.
Some of the walks include steep, rocky and challenging sections; but, with a moderate level of fitness, each walk is enjoyable! We highly recommend that you do some training beforehand.
Each day we will drive to different parts of the Flinders Ranges to start our walk. Some walks are circuit walks and others are in one direction. You are always welcome to take a day off walking. We will try to help you find suitable alternative activities if you desire.
The itinerary may alter depending on local conditions and weather.
Day 1: Adelaide to Melrose + Alligator Gorge walk
2 km
With an 8am pick up in central Adelaide, we’ll head north to the very start of the Flinders Ranges.
Our first stop is Crystal Brook for morning tea then on to Mt. Remarkable National Park via Melrose, where we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch we’ll head out to the beautiful Alligator Gorge for a short easy walk through the vivid red sandstone gorge.
Our accommodation is back in Melrose for the night and we’ll enjoy dinner at the North Star Hotel.
Note, as we walk on the first afternoon, please wear your hiking clothes on the bus and bring your day pack ready to go.
Day 2: Dutchman's Stern
10.5 km
After breakfast we make our way north to our walk at Dutchman’s Stern, near Quorn.
The walk today is a steep but steady incline through sugar gum forest to the top, where you will be rewarded with 360° views over the sweeping plains, Quorn and Lake Torrens in the distance. The path then makes its way through drooping she-oak woodlands back down towards the start of the walk. Along the way we cross paths with the famous long-distance Heysen Trail.
After our walk we head to Quorn, an old railway town, to have a quick wonder around and stock up on anything extra you may need. From here we make our way in to the heart of the Flinders Ranges.
Tonight we will be able to really make ourselves feel at home at our accommodation, Rawnsley Park Station, as we will be staying for 4 nights.
Day 3: Black Gap to Wilpena Pound
12 km
This morning we will drive to Black Gap to commence our walk towards Bridle Gap and the natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound, following a part of the Heysen Trail.
The walk up to Bridle Gap can be quite steep and rocky in sections, but the views at the top are worth it. From Bridle Gap it’s a gentle walk down in to the valley floor of Wilpena Pound through a variety of mallee, native pine and heath. These habitats provide excellent opportunities for keen naturalists to observe interesting local birds, including wrens, robins, parrots and raptors.
Day 4: Bunyeroo-Wilcolo Circuit and Bunyeroo Gorge
14 km
Enjoy the views along the Bunyeroo Valley Scenic Drive as we make our way toward today’s walks. Our first walk is the Bunyeroo Wilcolo Circuit walk. It’s a fairly easy walk with more gentle hills than other parts of the Flinders Ranges, offering a nice contrast to the steep and rocky terrain of yesterday.
We’ll enjoy unbeatable views of the ABC Range and the Wilpena Pound Range from the halfway point lookout and some nice spots to rest along Bunyeroo Creek.
After a picnic lunch we will have some time to explore the geological wonders of Bunyeroo Gorge.
Day 5: Tanderra Saddle (St Mary’s Peak)
15 km
It’s a short drive to Wilpena Pound and the start of our walk today where we will commence one of the more challenging walks of the week.
St. Mary’s Peak stands proudly above the Pound below and is central to the Adnyamathanha creation story. Aboriginal people of the Flinders Ranges ask visitors not to climb to the summit of the peak and thus we will climb as far as Tanderra Saddle with stunning views of the surrounding ranges and plains.
We will have both guides on today’s walk to ensure the enjoyment and safety of everyone.
In the afternoon you may opt to do a scenic flight over the majestic ranges that we’ve been discovering on foot these last few days.
Day 6: Aroona to Parachilna Gorge
18 km
After packing up we will make our way to the northern parts of the Flinders Ranges National Park.
The walk today will once again follow part of the Heysen Trail. We’ll pass through a variety of terrain as we make our way through cypress pine forests and mulga country. As we follow the ABC and Heysen Range we leave the National Park behind us and make our way to Parachilna Gorge, where the famous Heysen Trail also comes to an end.
After the walk we’ll make our way to the Prairie in Parachilna (or sometimes the Blinman Hotel, depending on availability) for our final night’s stay and a hearty hotel dinner.
Day 7: Return to Adelaide via the Clare Valley
Today we will make our way back to Adelaide via the picturesque Clare Valley where we’ll pick up some lunch (own expense) before heading out to one of the local wineries. Here you can taste some wine or discover some of the vineyard by foot.
We expect to arrive back in Adelaide at around 4.30pm.
Accommodation is allocated on a double or twin share basis. If you are a solo traveller we will room you with another solo traveller of the same sex. Limited single supplements are available at an additional charge. Please ask for details and availability if interested.
We stay in three locations for the duration of the tour – Melrose, Rawnsley Park Station and Parachilna (depending on availability can also be Blinman).
In Melrose we stay one night at the Melrose Holiday Units. Each self contained unit has two bedrooms and a bathroom and sleeps three or four people. We will come together in one of the units for breakfast.
For four nights we will base ourselves at the Rawnsley Park Station in two or three bedroom self contained cabins. Each cabin has a kitchenette and bathroom. We will come together in one of the cabins for breakfasts and evening meals.
Our final evening will be spent at the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna, where we will stay in a number of cabins and some twin share hotel rooms. Each cabin/room has an ensuite bathroom. We will have dinner in the hotel restaurant and breakfast will be provided by us on the morning of departure in the camp kitchen.