Over the course of the school holidays, the Explore Adelaide team had the pleasure of visiting the stunning Flinders Ranges. With beautiful views, second to none, there's no surprise its a popular destination to visit for people all over Australia. While we were there we stayed at the Wilpena Pound Resort, right in the midst of all this natural beauty.
The Flinders Ranges have a plethora of things to see and do, so why not stay somewhere at the centre of it all?
Location
Situated 450 kilometres north of Adelaide, this amazing destination is a bit too far for a day trip from the city, but is the perfect place for a family holiday. The Wilpena Pound Resort is located just 50 kilometres away from Hawker, right on the edge of Wilpena Pound.
If bushwalking is something you love, you'll be conveniently located amongst some of the best walking tracks in the Flinders Ranges.
Just take note that within the resort, and in surrounding areas, that Telstra is the only provider you will be able to get phone reception from. Prepaid Telstra SIM cards are available for purchase at the Wilpena Pound general store within the resort if needed.
The Accommodation
One of the best things about the Wilpena Pound Resort is the variety in accommodation types. If you're looking for a brilliant camp site, there are a range of both powered and un-powered sites for your tents and caravans. If you don't have a tent, or your looking for something a little more sheltered, there are a large number of hotel rooms available to book as well.
When you're looking for something a little bit more special, the safari tents are the way to go. Designed to be the perfect glamping experience, these tents aren't much of a tent at all. They're the ideal balance of camping and luxury. Glamping packages can also be booked that include breakfast, dinner and scenic flights with Air Wilpena.
Resort Facilities
The resort has many facilities available, to both hotel guests and campers. There is a restaurant and bistro if you're looking for a tasty meal, as well as options for breakfast included with your room rates. Breakfast was certainly our favourite meal of the day, with a huge range of delicious options to choose from.
If you're looking for something to take back to your campsite for dinner, or simply some supplies, the general store has you covered. The shop is located within the resort, and is stocked up with drinks, grocery items, alcohol, hot food items, basic camping supplies, and of course, souvenirs. Petrol facilities are also available at the general store to make it easier for visitors to explore the surrounding areas in their own vehicles.
Next to the shop the Wilpena Pound visitors centre. The visitors centre is used for checking into campsites, and getting information about Wilpena Pound, and the Flinders Ranges. Tours and scenic flights through Air Wilpena can be booked at the visitors centre as well.
If you're keen on a swim, a pool is available for use by all Wilpena Pound Resort guests, regardless of whether you're camping or staying in a room. The pool is located in front of the reception and restaurant area.
Culture
The traditional owners of the Flinders Ranges region are the Adnyamathanha people. If you'd like to learn more about them during your stay, you can listen in on the Welcome to Country talks that happen nightly at the resort, or book into the Yura Udnyu - Our Culture, Your Culture tour. There's a lot to learn, and its something the whole family will love to engage in.
If you head to Sacred Canyon you can see engravings in the rock made by the Adnyamathanha from thousands of years ago. While you are welcome to take photographs, it is essential you do not touch the carvings. Touching them can degrade them, and is an offense because they are historical pieces of the culture.
It is also requested that when doing the St Mary Peak walk, that you respect the wishes of the Adnyamathanha people and do not cross the signs to get to the peak of the mountain.
Wildlife
The closer you get to the Flinders Ranges, the more native wildlife you see. The Flinders Ranges is home to a variety of snakes and lizards, Wedge-Tailed Eagles, Emus, Quolls, Grey Kangaroos, Red Kangaroos, Echidnas, Kookaburras, and Yellow-footed rock-wallabies. Being able to see these native species in their natural habitats is such an amazing sight. The kids will love being surrounded by these special creatures, and there's so much for kids to learn about them.
It is recommended that you take care on walking tracks, or driving on the roads. As there is such a large amount of wildlife around there is an increased risk of striking something with your car. In particular emus and kangaroos tend to travel across roads quite quickly, and without much warning.
If you come across wildlife while walking along a trail, make sure to give it sufficient space and do not try to touch it or feed it. Animals can become aggressive if they're fed by people, and their habitats shouldn't be interfered with or disrupted.
What is There to Do?
There are so many things around the resort, or just a small drive away. Surrounded by some of the best walking tracks around, Wilpena Pound Resort is certainly the place to go if you're an avid bushwalker.
Whether you're looking for something short and flat, or you're ready to hike up a mountain, there's something here for everyone. Hikers are encouraged to stay on the trails, wear suitable clothes and shoes, and to carry water.
We highly recommend the St Mary Peak walk and the hike up Mount Ohlssen-Bagge. The views over Wilpena Pound from Mount Ohlssen-Bagge
If you're looking for a bit of extra fun, you can book into 4 Wheel Drive tours, scenic flights, and cultural tours at the visitors centre. These extras range in price and length, so make sure to check the Wilpena Pound Resort website, or discuss it at the visitors centre on arrival. Mountain bikes are also available for hire if you wish to ride around and discover things yourself.
There's so much to see in the Flinders Ranges. Some places we recommend that are close to the resort are Arkaroo Rock, Sacred Canyon, Bunyeroo Gorge, Brachina Gorge, Aroona Ruins, Razorback Lookout, and Stokes Hill Lookout.
Air Wilpena
Air Wilpena have a variety of scenic flight options available, and operate from within the Wilpena Pound Resort. Flights range from 20 minutes to 1 hour for scenic flights around Wilpena Pound. If you'd like to go a bit further out, flights around Lake Eyre are also available, and last from about 4 to 6 hours depending on your flight choices. Adult tickets start from $169* for a 20 minute flight, and a child's ticket starts at $129. Be sure to check the Wilpena Pound Resort website for current flight costs, and options.
If you're hoping to see parts of Wilpena Pound you cant see from the ground, then booking a scenic flight through Air Wilpena is certainly the way to go.
National Park Information
Wilpena Pound Resort is located within the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. This national park requires a vehicle entry pass for your vehicle to enter. Park passes can be purchased through the resort during the booking process, or straight off the National Parks SA website. Park passes are available in both single pass or annual pass, allowing you the option to enjoy a range of national parks all year long.
If you're coming to the park for the walking trails, make sure to check the national parks website before your trip to check for track closures. At certain points in the year certain tracks may be closed, or have restrictions on them for conservation reasons or pest control.
No dogs are allowed within the national park, with the exception of assistance dogs. This is for the protection of local wildlife.
If you know of any other amazing South Australian treasures we should visit, let us know! We love seeing as much as we can of our beautiful state. You can contact us by leaving a comment here, sending us a message through our website or through social media.
Wilpena Pound Resort - Explore Adelaide
