Wilpena Pound Resort, Flinders Ranges

Wilpena Road, Via Hawker, SA, 5434

The Flinders Ranges National Park encompasses some of the most spectacular scenery in South Australia, made famous by the paintings of Sir Hans Heysen. The Park is world-renowned for its geological history and includes impressive fossil remains.

Aboriginal people have lived in the Flinders Ranges for tens of thousands of years. For many groups, most notably the Adnyamathanha, the Ranges are still of enormous significance today.

European occupation of the Flinders Ranges in the mid-nineteenth century brought widespread environmental modifications. Despite these changes, the Park supports examples of natural and semi-arid ecosystems, and includes many plants and animals of conservation significance. The most notable of these is probably the yellow-footed rock wallaby which can be found in rocky gorges within the Park.

Wilpena Pound Resort is located in the Flinders Ranges South Australia (429 kilometres north of Adelaide). It is accessible by sealed roads from the South.

Regular air services operate to Port Augusta (160km away). Other small private airstrips are also available by arrangement only.Transfers can be organised with the resort prior to arrival.

The Indian Pacific and Ghan rail services also operate through Port Augusta on a regular basis.

Getting there from Adelaide

Wilpena Pound Resort is situated 429 kilometres north of Adelaide. The most scenic route to Wilpena Pound is via the Clare Valley, Gladstone, Melrose, Wilmington, Quorn and Hawker. The drive should take between 4.5 and 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive straight up Highway 1 to Port Augusta, and then drive through Quorn and Hawker. Once again, this drive will take between 4.5 and 5 hours.

You may wish to stay overnight in the Clare Valley on the way up to Wilpena Pound Resort or on your return journey. If so, Clare to Spalding, Jamestown, Orroroo, Carrieton, Craddock and Hawker provides a most direct route - approximately 3 hours from Clare itself.

Getting there from Broken Hill

Broken Hill has special appeal as a stopover for travellers from NSW and Victoria. Its mining history and art are unsurpassed. Wilpena Pound Resort is about 5 hours drive from the Silver City. The sealed Barrier Highway is the most direct route through Peterborough, Orroroo and Hawker. You can leave the highway at Yunta and travel cross-country, however, planning for this trip is advised.

Getting there from Renmark

From Renmark, travel via Morgan to Burra through South Australia's famous merino breeding area, Hallett, to Peterborough, Orroroo and Hawker.

Getting there from the Outback

Many Outback adventurers come to Wilpena Pound Resort via Birdsville in Queensland or via Cameron's Corner at the junction of the borders of Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales. The Outback loop map available from the Visitor Information Centre is a good planning guide.

Good trip and vehicle preparation are recommended whether you choose to travel the Birdsville or Strzlelecki Track.