Flinders Ranges

The Flinders Ranges are a major mountain range in South Australia, extending roughly north-south through the state. The ranges include rugged folded sedimentary rocks and the highest peak, St Mary Peak, at 1,171 metres.

The central attraction is Wilpena Pound, a large natural amphitheatre and gateway for walking, 4x4 touring and scenic flights. The area around Wilpena contains marked trails, lookouts and accommodation concentrated in and around Ikara‑Flinders Ranges National Park.

The ranges offer long scenic drives and numerous gorges, ridgelines and outcrops for hiking and photography. The landscape includes exposed folded rocks and isolated plateaus; wildlife and birdlife are common in the park and surrounding pastoral lands.

The Flinders Ranges lie on the traditional lands of the Adnyamathanha people, who maintain cultural connections and place names across the range. European exploration and pastoral settlement began in the 19th century; the ranges have since been managed for a mix of conservation, tourism and grazing.

The ranges sit in central northern South Australia, running roughly north-south inland from the Spencer Gulf region. The main visitor hubs such as Wilpena are several hundred kilometres north of Adelaide and are reached by sealed and unsealed roads.

• Best time to visit: Best visited in the cooler months from autumn to spring when daytime temperatures are milder and walking conditions are safer.
• Access and viewpoints: Scenic flights and 4x4 tracks provide access to remote gorges and lookouts; many key walks are concentrated around the Wilpena Pound area.

What to See #

• Wilpena Pound: A large natural amphitheatre and central feature of the Ranges, used as a base for walks, scenic flights and accommodation in the Ikara‑Flinders Ranges National Park.
• St Mary Peak (summit): The highest peak in the range at 1,171 metres, forming the highest point of the Ikara‑Flinders Ranges National Park and a popular day hike for experienced walkers.
• Ikara‑Flinders Ranges National Park: A protected area that covers a significant portion of the central Flinders Ranges and includes walking tracks, lookouts and visitor facilities under joint management with Adnyamathanha traditional owners.
• Ediacaran fossil sites: Scattered outcrops and sites across the Ranges that preserve late Precambrian fossils and trace fossils associated with the Ediacaran biota.