At a Glance
The Flinders Ranges Outback 5-day walking tour is a unique and authentic Australian bush experience. There is nowhere quite like the Flinders Ranges for combining spectacular wildlife-spotting, bush-walking and immersing in nature. Set against the Elder Range and Wilpena Pound in South Australia, this walking safari is an unmissable Aussie adventure.
The Flinders Ranges stands as an ancient natural monument crafted by millions of years of geological activity. This incredible outback region offers some of Australia's most spectacular scenery. The Flinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia and lies about 200km north of Adelaide. On this 5-day walking tour, you’ll visit many renowned landmarks including Wilpena Pound, the Heysen Trail, Brachina Gorge and Alligator Gorge. From the air, Wilpena Pound looks like a crater, an enormous bowl almost ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Guided walks each day with experienced guides. Two field guides, who will drive, cook and care for you.
- Return transport from Adelaide. We use a comfortable 12 seater mini coach with a trailer attached for luggage.
- 4 nights accommodation on a twin share basis (single supplement available at additional expense).
- We always have the kettle ready to boil, plenty of tea, coffee, Milo and biscuits.
- 3 dinners, 4 lunches, 4 breakfasts. Plus trail mix, nibbles, fresh fruit.
- Magnificent walking and sightseeing
- Small group of 10 or less
Itinerary
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Walking distance: 3 km approx. 1 hours walking (easy grade). Depart Adelaide at 7:30am from the centrally located Chifley Hotel on South Terrace. By mid-morning you arrive at Point Wakefield and stop at a local coffee shop for morning tea. You head further north and stop at Mambray Creek Reserve in Mount Remarkable National Park for your first walk of the tour. It is only a short 3 km walk up Davey's Gully but the views across Spencers Gulf and Whyalla are spectacular. Keep a look out for local wildlife including emu, Euros and kookaburras. After your walk, you continue on to your place of stay at Rawnsley Park Station. Here you unpack and relax and nibbles are served by the campfire followed by a two-course dinner prepared by your guides. |
Rawnsley Park
Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: 12 km, approx. 6 hours walking including breaks (moderate to hard grade). After breakfast and lunch making you head out on the Morolana Scenic Drive, where you enjoy the sights of majestic River Red Gums. You begin your walk on the famous Heysen Trail for a section that brings you into the Wilpena Pound. Today you enjoy lunch at Blacks Gap with captivating views of the Flinders Ranges. This is one of the very special walks of the Trail, starting with a pretty creek walk through Black Gap, before climbing the Pound Range to Bridle Gap, where a look back provides spectacular views of Elder Range. You walk to the floor of the Wilpena Pound and stop off at Hills Homestead to gain a better understanding of how challenging life was for the 19th century pioneering farmers. Entering the Flinders Range National Park, it is a pleasant stroll across Wilpena Pound to complete the day. There is an opportunity this afternoon for any guests who would like to take part in a scenic flight which can be booked onsite and departs from Rawnsley Park. Nibbles around the campfire are served by your guides followed by a delicious two-course dinner prepared by your guides. |
Rawnsley ParkBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: 12 km approx. 5 hours combined walking across 2 walks (moderate to hard grade). After breakfast and lunch making you depart Rawnsley Park for our day's walking. Today you have some shorter walks that offer great variety and spectacular views of the Flinders Ranges. You start with an 8 km walk of the Yuluna Circuit at Aroona where you discover old pastoral ruins and pass through contrasting rock formations and vegetation. The ruins of the old Aroona Homestead, built in the 1850s, serves as a reminder of the difficult early years of European settlement. The risk of failure through adverse seasons and native hostility to their intrusion was an ever-present factor in the pastoralists survival. This walk affords lovely views of the Heysen and Trezona Ranges. Your second walk is the 3 km Trezona loop walk where you can see some of the earliest life forms on earth in the Trezona formation. You finish up today's activities by exploring Brachina Gorge which is one of the park's most popular and spectacular attractions. Brachina Gorge meanders its way through sharp sawtooth ridges of resistant quartzite. This spectacular gorge was once used as a pass through which bullock teams pulled their loads. The 'Corridors through Time' Geological Trail has been established through this Gorge which interprets the geological history of the area. Two-course dinner prepared by your field guides at Rawnsley Park. |
Rawnsley ParkBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: 12 km approx. 6.5 hours walking including breaks and swim (moderate to hard grade). After breakfast and lunch making you head off. Today's walk is a 15 km return journey to the beautiful Blinman Pools. The last pool makes for a great place to stop and relax under the magnificent river red gums or a swim if you're game. The Blinman Pools, with their pretty waterfalls, have been popular picnic spots since the 1800s. Wildlife abounds as you wind your way through the rocky creek bed to the Pools. There are cascading waterfalls, majestic river red gums and wedge-tailed eagles. In some places on the trail, sheer cliffs rise almost straight up from the creekbed, providing a spectacular backdrop. The two spring-fed creeks keep the first pool filled with water all year round. The second pool is low in summer, but after big rains it can fill up to 3 metres. At these times, the cool green waters stretch about 20-30 metres across. You finish your walk mid afternoon and then take a short drive through Parachilna Gorge, past the trailhead of the Heysen Trail. You have the option to spend some time in the outback town of Blinman before heading back to Rawnsley Park. |
Rawnsley ParkBreakfast, Lunch, (Dinner at your own expense) |
Walking distance: 2 km, approx. 1.5 hours walking (easy grade). After breakfast and lunch making you head off. Today your walk encompasses a gem of the Flinders Ranges - Alligator Gorge back in the Mount Remarkable National Park. This walk has some of the most visually stunning scenery you'll come across in the region. Immerse yourself in the dramatic beauty of high ochre ridges, deep gorges and watercourses lined with river red gums. Alligator Gorge is one of the premier natural attractions in the Southern Flinders Ranges. This spectacular gorge, cut through ancient quartzite by the Alligator Creek. For guest flying out of Adelaide, please book flights from 7:00pm. |
NoneBreakfast, LunchAccommodation
Dates & Prices
Please contact us for group bookings or private departures.
More Info
- The departure point is Adelaide SA
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Adelaide
Day 1: Approximately 3 km, approx. 1 hour
Day 2: Approximately 12 km, approx. 6 hours
Day 3: Approximately 12 km, approx. 5 hours
Day 4: Approximately 12 km, approx. 6.5 hours
Day 5: Approximately 2 km, approx. 1.5 hours
Total: Approximately 41 km
The climate in the Southern Outback is generally dry and sunny year round.
AUTUMN (Mar - May)
This season provides warm days with cooler evenings. Day temperatures will average between 15 – 20°C with the later part of the season being cooler. The evening temperatures will be much cooler and warm clothing will be required. As the days cool, wildlife becomes more active during the middle parts of the day.
WINTER (Jun - Aug)
Walking in winter is particularly beautiful in the Flinders with cold nights and days that are warm with some spectacular sunrises and sunsets. This season provides ideal walking weather with daily temperatures of around 15°C and occasionally as high as 25°C. The evenings and early mornings will be very cold and winter clothing will be required. During July/August temperatures can drop to below 0°C at night. A roaring camp fire and warming glasses of red wine will be enjoyed each night and after winter rains, with surface water in the creeks, wildlife will be far-reaching with lots of food available and very active throughout the day. Emus will generally begin laying from August onwards.
SPRING (Sep - Nov)
Spring in the Flinders Ranges is undeniably spectacular! It is a great time to spot emu chicks as they begin hatching and the outback brown and orange colours are bright with red, yellow, white and purple with native plants and wildflowers. Migratory birds will generally begin to appear and wedgetail eagle chicks will hatch between August and September, fledging by November. The abundance of and timing of the wildflowers depends entirely on rainfall throughout the year. Day temperatures can average between 20°C-25°C with the later part of the season getting warmer. The evening temperatures will be cooler in the early part of the season so a warm layer of clothing will be required.
SUMMER (Dec - Feb)
The walking tour is not operate during the hot, summer months, although you can still book a stay at Arkaba Homestead which is open year round and enjoy shorter walks as part of guided activities that are included in the tariff.
(Data sourced from Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Units = °C)
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
