The Flinders Ranges

The tour starts at 4.00pm on Sunday 17 March, at the Oaks Plaza Pier Suites, Glenelg.

The tour ends after breakfast on Friday 29 March, at the Majestic Roof Garden Hotel, Adelaide.

Check into your ocean view room and enjoy a stroll around the historic suburb of Glenelg, the first mainland settlement in South Australia with many beautiful seaside mansions within walking distance of our hotel. Meet your tour leader at 4.00pm for an introductory talk on the region, before enjoying a welcome drink and dinner. Overnight Glenelg (D)

Before leaving Glenelg we stop at the Old Gum Tree where in December of 1836, the British Governor delivered the proclamation announcing the establishment of the colony of South Australia. We drive through Kapunda, site of the first commercial copper mine in the region and stop for lunch and a tour of the historic house and garden of Anlaby House. Founded in 1839, Anlaby is one of the oldest stations in SA and remains a working merino sheep property with a heritage-listed garden. On route to the Clare Valley we also visit Martindale Hall, an extravagant Georgian-style country mansion constructed in 1879 by a wealthy pastoralist and featured in the 1975 film, Picnic at Hanging Rock. In the late afternoon we arrive at our heritage accommodation at Bungaree Station, a working sheep farm on 80,000 acres of land, which is exclusively ours for the next two nights. It once resembled a small village, with its own Church, Station Store, Blacksmith Shop and even the District Council Chambers, alongside its beautiful sandstone Homestead. We tour the property’s heritage buildings before enjoying a roast dinner with Clare Valley wines. Overnight Bungaree Station (B, L, D)

This morning we take the Riesling Trail, riding bikes approximately 4.5 kilometres on the flat pathway along the old railway line to Sevenhill Cellars, the oldest winery in the Clare Valley. The bus will follow for those who don’t wish to cycle. Sevenhill was established by Jesuits who escaped persecution in Europe in 1851. In their new home they produced sacramental wine, a tradition that continues today. We take a walking tour of the winery’s significant sites, including the underground cellar, old-vine vineyards, St Ignatius of Loyola Shrine and the crypt and church of St Aloysius. We return to Bungaree, with time to unwind in the beautiful grounds before dinner. Overnight Bungaree Station (B, L, D)

Departing the Clare Valley today, we witness the landscape change from verdant bushland and vineyards to the rocky outcrops and red soil of the Flinders Ranges. We’ll take a break along the way to inspect the ruins at Kanyaka Station. Established as a cattle station in 1852, it became one of the largest in the district with 70 families working and living here until massive losses through the effects of drought caused the station to be abandoned, leaving only the stone buildings standing desolate and empty. We stop for lunch at Hawker before heading to Iga Warta, an establishment run by the Coulthard family who are Adnyamathanha People and offer cultural experiences and interpretations on their traditional land. We stay here for the afternoon and enjoy dinner and a traditional campfire singsong before driving on to Arkaroola Wilderness Resort, our lodgings for the next three nights. Overnight Arkaroola (B, L, D)

Known mainly for his exploration work in Antarctica, Douglas Mawson was a lecturer in minerology and petrology at the University of Adelaide. He worked extensively on the geology around the Flinders Ranges, identifying the first major radioactive ore body in Australia. Our walk this morning follows in his footsteps through the Mawson Valley, where one of his students, Reg Spriggs, discovered ancient animal fossils that are over 600 million years old. This afternoon we take the resort’s specially designed open-top 4WD vehicles and navigate the steep slopes and rugged terrain to the Ridgetop Track for a 360-degree panorama over the red granite ranges to Lake Frome and the desert beyond. This evening, weather permitting, we join the resort’s Astronomy Tour. Overnight Arkaroola (B, D)

We begin the day with an early morning walk along Acacia Ridge to admire the landscape and geology of Arkaroola country which is so different from the southerly Flinders. If it has rained recently, we will see the Mulga tree in flower along the length of the walk. After free time for lunch in the resort we drive out to Barrarana Gorge for magnificent views and we hope to spot native birds and other wildlife, including the endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby. Dinner is at the resort again tonight. Overnight Arkaroola (B, D)

We depart Arkaroola today, stopping to explore Red Gorge, an area with a spectacular array of rock engravings. On the walk to the art sites – approximately three kilometres each way – we are accompanied by one of the Traditional Owners who will interpret the rock art for us. In the afternoon we arrive at the recently renovated Prairie Outback Lodge, a private haven within the Prairie Hotel at remote Parachilna, where we enjoy a welcome drink overlooking the rugged ranges while the sun sets over the red plains. We taste beer from the onsite brewery and enjoy a regional dining experience featuring the option of indigenous and feral species – emu pate, kangaroo schnitzel with bush tomato or camel sausage rolls, amongst more traditional fare. Overnight Parachilna (B, L, D)

The morning is spent in the hills of Nilpena on the west­ern fringes of the Flinders Ranges, exploring an ancient seafloor where strange early lifeforms are perfectly preserved in fine grained sandstone, some over half a billion years old. This represents the most important site on the planet for the Ediacaran period from 635 to 541 million years ago and the rise of early animal life. Our host at the Prairie Hotel joins us on the trip to Nilpena Ediacara National Park, on the grounds of the former Nilpena Pastoral Station which he used to own. We hear the story of their discovery from the point of view of a pastoralist as well as the Ediacara Fossil Experience at the former blacksmith shop, where curated lighting and high-tech audio-visual technology allow us to examine these fossils up close. We depart the site for lunch at Beltana township, a State Heritage listed town with a population of 35 and an active community of 65 who have fought hard to not let their town die out – like many towns in the north of South Australia. As you enjoy lunch in the town hall, you may see emus wander past or euros grazing on the salt bushes, almost in the centre of town. Dinner tonight is back at the Prairie Lodge. Overnight Parachilna (B, L, D)

Leaving Parachilna we drive through Parachilna Gorge, one of the most scenic in South Australia. Our Indigenous guide will point out interesting sites in the gorge before we stop for lunch at the Wadna Art Gallery. Our lunch will include damper, quandong jam and bush billy tea. In the afternoon we take a tour of Blinman mine which was named after the shepherd who discovered copper here. The mine was operational from 1862-1907 and is closely related to the development of towns in the Flinders Ranges. Heading south we will pass the ‘Great Wall of China’ – a rocky ridge line resembling the original – and make a brief stop at Dingley Dell to see some evidence of early occupation. We check into Wilpena Pound resort in the early evening and have a bistro dinner. Overnight Wilpena Pound (B, L, D)

Our morning begins with an organised scenic flight over Wilpena Pound to truly appreciate this natural wonder. We then walk into Brachina Gorge passing through 130 million years of history providing insights into past climate and the evolution of early life forms in the region. The gorge is home to many species of birds and reptiles and is an important refuge for the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby and was used by the early settlers as a pass for bullock teams transporting their loads across the country. In the evening (weather permitting) we meet for a sunset tour with views of Wilpena Pound and the Ikara Flinders Ranges with bubbles and nibbles. Overnight Wilpena Pound (B, L, D)

The ancient sedimentary rock that makes up Wilpena Pound forms a natural amphitheatre known to the Adnyamathanha people as Ikara, meaning ‘meeting place’. This morning we explore the Pound on foot, including a walk that follows the course of Wilpena Creek through red-gum woodland into the Pound (to discover the origin of its name) and to inspect this dramatic geological formation. The afternoon is at leisure in the resort to enjoy any of the other walks and activities on offer. Overnight Wilpena Pound (B, D)

We make an early start for the journey back to Adelaide. Our route takes us past the sleepy little town of Wirrabara to view the fabulous Silo Art by Australian artist Sam Bates. The artwork depicts the area’s natural beauty and rich history in the forest industry. In the evening we gather for a farewell dinner in one of Adelaide’s fine restaurants. Overnight Adelaide (B, D)

The tour concludes after breakfast in the hotel. (B)

The hotels on this tour have been chosen for what they can add to the tour, and their history and/or location, Therefore, they do not always offer traditional 4-star standard. At Bungaree Station, the historic buildings have some shared bathrooms (between two rooms) and at the 12 room Prairie Outback Lodge the size of rooms varies greatly. We will endeavour to distribute the rooms as fairly as possible throughout.

• Glenelg, Oaks Plaza Pier Suites (1 night)

• Clare Valley, Bungaree Station (2 nights)

• Arkaroola, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (3 nights)

• Parachilna, Prairie Outback Lodge (2 nights)

• Wilpena Pound, Wilpena Resort (3 nights)

• Adelaide, Majestic Roof Garden (1 night)