Tour from AUD: Price available upon request
This is your chance to leave everything behind and immerse yourself in the dramatic beauty of the Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park, which is known for its stunning scenery, fascinating geological history, rich cultural diversity and array of native wildlife.
Expert guides will lead you across this ancient landscape, through rugged mountain ranges, towering cliffs, spectacular gorges and stony sheltered creeks. You’ll hike sections of the famous Heysen Trail and visit many renowned landmarks including Wilpena Pound, Mount Remarkable National Park, Brachina Gorge and Alligator Gorge.
Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to spot a myriad of native Australian wildlife species including flocks of emus, kangaroos, wallabies, reptiles and plenty of birdlife including the brightly coloured mallee ringneck parrot and wedge-tailed eagle. Your evenings will be spent staying at Rawnsley Park; a working sheep station where you can enjoy all of the creature comforts after a hard day’s hike, but with the added benefit of outdoor fires to relax around and star-gaze with like-minded travellers.
We know travel is better when you can give back as much as you get. That’s why we have designed our trips around contributing, supporting and participating in local projects and community initiatives that have a positive social and environmental impact.
Each of our tours provide a unique way to get up close and personal with the destination and incorporate a fundraising target or donation into the travel costs, which enables travellers to connect, give back and travel with purpose.
If you are a charity, corporate or a private group interested in the Flinders Ranges trek, please email us at info@soulfulconcepts.com.
Accommodation: Terrace Hotel Adelaide
After our walk we will have lunch, and continue on to our place of stay at Rawnsley Park Station. We unpack and relax, and nibbles are served by the campfire followed by a two-course dinner prepared by your guides.
Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Trekking distance: 2.5kms approx. 1 hour walking (easy)
After breakfast we travel along the Moralana Scenic Drive, where we pass through magnificent River Red Gum woodland, the habitat of many kangaroos, euros and emus, all with the spectacular Ikara–Flinders Ranges as a backdrop.
We walk along the Heysen Trail and share stories with our team about why we signed up for the adventure and how we fundraised and campaigned for everyone affected by MS. Starting with a pretty creek walk through Black Gap, before climbing a section of the Wilpena Pound Wall to Bridle Gap. Spectacular views of the Elder Range are revealed to the south as we proceed.
We walk along the floor of the Wilpena Pound and pause for lunch at Hills Homestead to gain a better understanding of how challenging life was for the 19th century pioneering farmers. From here it is a pleasant stroll to the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre. There is an opportunity this afternoon for a scenic flight* from Rawnsley Park.
Nibbles back at Rawnsley Park are served by your guides followed by a delicious two-course dinner.
*The scenic flight are at an additional cost
Firstly, we travel through the 'corridor of time' geological trail, along Brachina Gorge Road which assists in identifying the geological history of the region.
Next, we embark on the 3km Trezona loop walk where we will see some of the earliest life forms in the Trezona formation. We then move on to the Yuluna Circuit at Aroona, where we discover old pastoral ruins and pass through contrasting rock formations and vegetation. The ruins of the old Aroona Homestead, built in the 1850’s, serve as a reminder of the difficult early years of European settlement. This walk affords lovely views of the Heysen and Trezona Ranges.
We 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.
Nibbles are served at Rawnsley Park by your guides followed by a delicious two-course dinner.
Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Trekking distance: 10 kms approx. 5 hours combined walking over 2 walks incl breaks (easy to moderate)
Today’s walk is a return journey to the beautiful Blinman Pools. The pool makes for a great place to stop and relax under the magnificent river red gums or have a swim. These pools are bordered by majestic river red gums, and have been popular picnic spots since the 1800s. In some places on the trail, sheer cliffs rise almost straight up from the creek bed, providing a spectacular backdrop. The two spring-fed creeks keep the pools filled with water all year round.
We finish our walk mid- afternoon and then take a short drive through Parachilna Gorge, to the trailhead of the Heysen Trail, where we have afternoon tea. Nibbles will be served before dining out at the onsite Woolshed restaurant.
Dinner at Rawnsley Park’s onsite restaurant (at own expense).
Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Trekking distance: 10 kms approx. 4.5 hours walking including breaks and swim (easy to moderate)
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 Ikara–Flinders Ranges, with Alligator Creek cutting through ancient ABC quartzite.
Our lunch stop is in Melrose (at your own expense) before continuing south to arrive in Adelaide around 5.00 pm – please book flights from 7.00pm. We can spend our time over lunch celebrating our achievements of the last few days and the impact our fundraising will have to help save Australian hearts.
Meals: breakfast
Trekking distance: 3 km approx. 1.5 hours
*Please speak with the Soulful travel team if you would like to extend your stay in Adelaide.
* Travellers are responsible for valid visas throughout the duration of the trip
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