The National Trust Way to The Outback
11 day tour departing Adelaide November and returning to Adelaide
$4,350 (twin share) - $5,300 (single supplement)
The most comprehensive tour of the Flinders Ranges travels this part of South Australia from end to end, from the beautiful undulating country which announce the ranges from the south, to the Strzlecki Track where the northern end of the Range evaporates into the plains of the northern desert. The tour reaches out to the giant salt lakes - Lake Frome to the east and to Lake Torrens to the west. With time to visit the spectacular gorges and relax under the gum trees made famous by Hans Heysen and, if you wish, to fly over places like Wilpena Pound. 430km long and up to 150km wide – this tour covers every part of this beautiful South Australian region.
The Flinders Ranges Photo Gallery
Click on any photo to enlarge image.
About the Journey
For many the words “Flinders Range” mean “Wilpena Pound”. But whereas Wilpena Pound is a unique geological feature within the Flinders, the Pound is of relatively small size at 136 square kilometres against the 30,000 square kilometres of the entire Flinders Range. The Flinders do need more than a couple of days if you really want to discover this most beautiful part of inland South Australia. On this journey you will have an opportunity to see Wilpena Pound (even from the air if you wish), you will also see these mountains from the place where Matthew Flinders first set European eyes them in 1802. You will travel through the picturesque small towns and fertile farmlands of the Southern Flinders, and find how the Range tapers away to those vast plains to the north which defeated the explorer Edward John Eyre in 1842. Take time for ‘smoko’ while a billy boils somewhere in the gorges – beneath those ghost gums made famous by the artist Hans Heysen. Climb in a strong vehicle to the highest ridges in the Northern Flinders and see Lake Frome away to the east. View the changing purple and red of mountain escarpments at the start and end of each day. From lonely graves in a vast plain near to Mount Eyre to the copper mine at Blinman abandoned nearly 100 years ago - there is so much history in these ever-changing hills. After you spend 10 days in the Flinders the memories will be indelible.
Some of the highlights
There is no more beautiful way into the Flinders than the early morning drive down that country road through Telowie Gorge. The size and beauty of this mountain range will be seen from a boat on Spencer Gulf – just as Matthew Flinders saw it 200 years ago. We will live inside the Ranges for 9 days – a time when these mountains will open up all of their beauty for you to behold. If you want to take the opportunity you will be able to fly over these mountains. Walk into Wilpena Pound, drive to the top of the eastern escarpment beyond Arkaroola and see Lake Frome away in the distance. See the Ranges far away to the south, at that place where Edward John Eyre abandoned his journey north from Adelaide in 1841. And at least once we travel 100km down the western side of the Flinders to view the changing purple, maroon and blue colours of the late afternoon against the escarpments.