Flinders Ranges, SA
An iconic outback destination known for its rugged landscapes, ancient gorges and rich Aboriginal heritage.
Where To Stay In The Flinders Ranges
Overlooking the southern side of the imposing Wilpena Pound, Rawnsley Park Station is home to accommodation ranging from caravan and camping sites through to luxurious villa options.
Where To Eat & Drink In The Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges covers a vast area, stretching over 430 km from Port Pirie in the south to Mount Hopeless in the north. Given this, where you eat and drink will be heavily influenced by where you’re staying and what you’re visiting.
If you’ve set yourself up at our recommended accommodation at Rawnsley Park Station, the best spot to go for a meal is right at your fingertips - the on site Woolshed Restaurant. They’re focused on local produce and serve Modern Australian cuisine set of course in a historic wooldshed.. Enjoy seasonal dishes featuring local produce, including Rawnsley’s own lamb, paired with wines from the Southern Flinders, Clare Valley, and Barossa regions. Choose a cosy spot by the fire in winter or dine on the deck during warmer weather.
In the town of Quorn you’ll find a few other options. Scruffy Fella is open from 8am to late serving coffee in the mornings, drinks in the evenings and food all day. The Transcontinental Hotel is a classic country pub, serving great counter meals with warm hospitality in a historic building that dates back to the 1870s.
What To Do In The Flinders Ranges
Visiting the Flinders Ranges is all about exploring the epic landscape and taking in some classic Australian outback adventures.
We think one of the best ways to explore this area is via 4WD, and if you’re staying at Rawnsley Park (our recommended accommodation), speak to the team there who will talk you through the various options of tours that they can organise. Alternatively, the team at Flinders Experience Tours offers several options, we love their “Gorges & More” which explores several highlights in the area but only runs for 6 hours. You’ll even have the chance to find the rare Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby during your trip.
This is an area rich in Indigenous history, and the best way to learn more about this is through joining an organised tour. The team at Wadna led by Adnyamathanha man Kristian Coulthard offer various tours, our favourite was the Sacred Canyon tour where we explored rock symbols etched by Kristian’s ancestors and learned more about native plants, their use in medicine, food and more.
This is an incredible region to look at with a birds eye view, and Chinta Air offers tours in their light planes ranging from 20 minutes to 1 hour.
The Essentials In The Flinders Ranges
Once again, this is all going to be dependent on where you’re staying. Close to Rawnsley Park Station you’ll find an IGA just next door to the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre. In the town of Quorn, there’s both an IGA and a Pharmacy.
The Drive To The Flinders Ranges
As always, we give you the rundown on the drive you’ll take from some nearby spots.
From Adelaide - It will take roughly 4.5 hours to cover the 400km from central Adelaide through to the edge of the Flinders Ranges.
From Melbourne - The quickest route from Melbourne isn’t via Adelaide, but rather through SA’s Riverland Region. This will take 1,150km, and we recommend stopping by Renmark for a few nights along the way.
