Flinders Ranges Camping: An Ultimate Guide

Fresh air, starry nights and a roaring campfire: here’s everything you need to enjoy the perfect outback camping experience.

The broad horizons, endless vistas and wide-open roads of the Flinders Ranges mean you’ll never feel crowded in this corner of the country. But if you really want to settle into the pace of outback life, there’s no better way than spreading out a tent (or swag) and spending a few nights under the stars.

There are caravan parks with plenty of services dotted all along the ranges from Rawnsley Park to Arkaroola, but you’ll also find stylish glamping tents and remote bush sites among the best Flinders Ranges camping options.

1. Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park camping

Bunyeroo Valley Lookout — Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park is full of jaw-dropping spots to sit and take in the views. (Image: As We Wander)

You could spend a lifetime exploring every nook and cranny in the 95,000-hectare Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park , but it’s worth slowing down every now to observe how the angle of the sunlight dramatically alters the colour of the rocks throughout the day. The 10 campgrounds spread throughout the park are ideal for campers keen to spot some of the local wildlife and take things at a more relaxed pace.

Among the pick of the bunch are Acraman, which is located in a saddle that fills with wildflowers each spring, and Trezona, which provides access to the geological wonders and rock wallaby colonies of Brachina Gorge.

The hike-in Wilcolo Campground is a beautiful spot to spend a few days, while Dingley Dell has limited shade but is just a short walk from the Perawurtina cultural site that is known for its many Adnyamathanha rock carvings.

Cost: Camping from $25 per night
Facilities: Long drop toilets, fire pits
4WD required: It varies – check individual site listings

2. Ikara (Wilpena Pound) camping

an aerial view of the Wilpena Pound — Ikara (Wilpena Pound) is stunning from above. (Image: Emile Ristevski)

With 40 powered sites and 300 unpowered sites scattered beneath groves of majestic river red gums, you’ll have your work cut out choosing the very best spot at Wilpena Pound Caravan Park .

Fortunately, all of them have excellent views of Ikara (Wilpena Pound), and their proximity to the entrance means that you can see the Flinders Ranges’ crown jewel in its best light on a morning or afternoon walk without having to worry about driving home in the dark. Wilpena Pound Resort also offers a range of cultural and scenic tours.

Cost: Powered sites from $50 per night, camping from $31
Facilities: Camp kitchen, amenity blocks, swimming pool, general store, wifi in communal areas
4WD required: No

3. Parachilna Gorge camping

an aerial view of Angorichina Station — The nearby Angorichina Station is nestled within the hills. (Image: Angorichina Station)

Located just to the north of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, this broad gorge scythes through the ranges from east to west. An unsealed road winding between sheer cliffs and around rocky peaks is one of the most accessible scenic drives in the region, and dozens of unmarked sites are spread out beside the road over several kilometres.

Emus, kangaroos, wallabies and an abundance of birdlife combine to make this among the most pleasant campsites in the region, though most of the gorge floor is subject to flooding and it is unsuitable for camping after rain.

There is no phone reception in Parachilna Gorge and campers need to bring their own water, food and firewood; the nearest store (and toilets) can be found at Angorichina Tourist Village, which also has powered and unpowered sites. If you’re looking for Blinman Pools camping, these are the two closest options.

Cost: By donation
Facilities: None
4WD required: No, but a high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended

4. Blinman camping

an empty road in Blinman — Soak up the surrounding landscape in Blinman. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

There is no Blinman Caravan Park, so the closest option is ONYA Eco-Camping Park , three kilometres to the south. The self-sufficient campsites here are much quieter than most caravan parks, and the spacious sites are intentionally spread out so that visitors have plenty of room to take in the surrounding landscape.

An emphasis on protecting the natural landscape means there are no pets allowed, but the friendly owners run a range of activities, including children’s programs during the school holidays, as well as providing access to a community library stocked with books, DVDs and board games.

Cost: $20 per vehicle
Facilities: Shop, community library
4WD required: No

5. Arkaroola camping

an aerial view of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary — Spread across Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary are the 300 hectares of bush campsites. (Image: Tourism Australia; South Australian Tourism Commission)

The tortuous bends, buckles and folds in the deep red rocks around Arkaroola Caravan Park mean that every one of the 50 powered sites is blessed with an iconic outback view, as are the 300 hectares of bush campsites spread along the banks of a dry creekbed.

It’s not unusual to see kangaroos and emus wandering between the tents, and the abundance of walks, drives and tours in the region could keep you busy for a week. Because this is a remote, self-sufficient property, there are no dump facilities and campers should bring as much drinking water as possible.

Self-sufficient campers can also use a range of campsites in nearby Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park .

Cost: Powered sites from $25 per night, camping from $16
Facilities: Camp kitchen, amenity blocks, swimming pool, general store, restaurant, communal fireplace, wifi in communal areas
4WD required: No

6. Flinders Ranges glamping

the bed inside the Ikara Safari tent — The safari-style tents make for a cosy abode close to nature. (Image: Anthology Travel)

If you want to feel close to nature but still need a few creature comforts, check into one of the 15 Ikara Safari Tents near the Wilpena Pound Campground and you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Put the kettle on and fend off the chill of cool outback nights as you sit around the fire pit and gaze up at the Milky Way, safe in the knowledge that a good night’s sleep awaits in a roomy suite with an ensuite and reverse cycle air-conditioning. The king beds can be split into two singles, while the supersized family tents can fit up to four guests.

On a station just outside Hawker, Flinders Bush Retreats has a single glamping tent with a small kitchenette, composting toilet and wool blankets to keep you warm at night, plus a welcome bottle of sparkling to make the stars shine extra bright.

7. Rawnsley Park camping

Camping Rawnsley Park Station — Camping at Rawnsley Park Station is an awe-inspiring experience. (Image: South Australia Tourism Commission)

Located directly beneath the imposing ramparts of Ikara (Wilpena Pound), Rawnsley Park Caravan Park puts you in the heart of the action and makes an excellent base from which to explore the central Flinders Ranges.

More than 50 powered and unpowered sites are scattered among the native pines and river red gums surrounding the main facilities, while the more secluded bush camping sites allow you to escape the crowds and take in magnificent sunsets and sunrises in solitude.

Cost: Powered sites from $43 per night, camping from $30
Facilities: Camp kitchen, amenity blocks, swimming pool, shop, restaurant, paid pet-minding service
4WD required: No

Things to know before camping in the Flinders Ranges

When planning a Flinders Ranges camping trip, it’s important to remember that this is a remote region and many areas do not have mobile phone service. Inform someone of your plans and expected return date before setting out, and always carry several days’ worth of extra food and water.

driving through Razorback Lookout, Flinders Ranges — Be prepared for all scenarios while camping in the Flinders Ranges. (Image: Thomas Quan)

Many gorges are prone to flash flooding, and dirt roads can be impassable after rains, so always keep an eye on the weather.

There is a total fire ban between 16 October and 15 April, and the season may be extended if conditions necessitate it.

Pets are not permitted in Ikara-Flinders Ranges or Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park.

For more inspiration and itinerary tips, read our travel guide to the Flinders Ranges.

Video credit: Visit Victoria/Tourism Australia

The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

There are no kangaroos back in Chicago: they’re all here in the Grampians/Gariwerd . In the heart of the Grampians National Park’s main gateway town, Halls Gap, pods of eastern greys are eating grass beside my parked rental car beneath the stars. Next morning, when I see the backyard of my rented villa on the edge of town for the first time, there are kangaroos feeding beside a slow-moving creek, lined with river red gums.

Five hundred metres up the road, 50 or so of them are eating by the side of the road in a paddock. I pull over to watch and spot three emus. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos fly overhead towards the tall green mountains just beyond town.

‘Kee-ow, keee-oww’… their calls fuse with the maniacal cackle of a kookaburra (or 10). Gawd, how I’ve missed the sound of them. Far above, a wedge-tailed eagle watches, and there you go: the ‘great birds of Australia’ trifecta, all half a kay from the town limits.

Exchanging city chaos for country calm

kangaroos near Halls Gap, Grampians National Park — The park is renowned for its significant diversity of native fauna species. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

I’ve come to the Grampians to disconnect, but the bush offers a connection of its own. This isn’t just any bush, mind you. The Grampians National Park is iconic for many reasons, mostly for its striking sandstone mountains – five ridges run north to south, with abrupt, orange slopes which tumble right into Halls Gap – and for the fact there’s 20,000 years of traditional rock art. Across these mountains there are more than 200 recorded sites to see, created by the Djab Wurrung, Jardwadjali and Gunditjmara peoples. It’s just like our outback… but three hours from Melbourne.

I’ve come here for a chance at renewal after the chaos of my life in America’s third-largest city, Chicago, where I live for now, at the whim of a relative’s cancer journey. Flying into Melbourne’s airport, it only takes an hour’s drive to feel far away from any concept of suburbia. When I arrive in Halls Gap two hours later, the restaurant I’m eating at clears out entirely by 7:45pm; Chicago already feels a lifetime ago.

The trails and treasures of the Grampians

sunrise at Grampians National Park /Gariwerd — Grampians National Park /Gariwerd covers almost 2000 square kilometres. (Image: Ben Savage)

Though the national park covers almost 2000 square kilometres, its best-known landmarks are remarkably easy to access. From my carpark here, among the cockatoos and kangaroos on the fringe of Halls Gap, it only takes 60 seconds’ driving time before I’m winding my way up a steep road through rainforest, deep into the mountains.

Then it’s five minutes more to a carpark that serves as a trailhead for a hike to one of the park’s best vantage points, The Pinnacles . I walk for an hour or so, reacquainting myself with the smells and the sounds of the Aussie bush, before I reach it: a sheer cliff’s edge lookout 500 metres up above Halls Gap.

walking through a cave, Hollow Mountain — Overlooking the vast Grampians landscape from Hollow Mountain. (Image: Robert Blackburn)

There are hikes and there are lookouts and waterfalls all across this part of the park near town. Some are a short stroll from a carpark; others involve long, arduous hikes through forest. The longest is the Grampians Peaks Trail , Victoria’s newest and longest iconic walk, which runs 160 kilometres – the entire length of Grampians National Park.

Local activities operator Absolute Outdoors shows me glimpses of the trail. The company’s owner, Adrian Manikas, says it’s the best walk he’s done in Australia. He says he’s worked in national parks across the world, but this was the one he wanted to bring his children up in.

“There’s something about the Grampians,” he says, as he leads me up a path to where there’s wooden platforms for tents, beside a hut looking straight out across western Victoria from a kilometre up in the sky (these are part of the guided hiking options for the trail). “There are things out here that you won’t see anywhere else in Australia.” Last summer, 80 per cent of the park was damaged by bushfire, but Manikas shows me its regrowth, and tells me of the manic effort put in by volunteers from town – with firefighters from all over Australia – to help save Halls Gap.

wildflowers in Grampians National Park — Spot wildflowers. (Image: Visit Victoria)

We drive back down to Halls Gap at dusk to abseil down a mountain under the stars, a few minutes’ walk off the main road into town. We have headlamps, but a full moon is enough to light my way down. It takes blind faith to walk backwards down a mountain into a black void, though the upside is I can’t see the extent of my descent.

Grampians National Park at sunset. (Image: Wine Australian)

The stargazing is ruined by the moon, of course, but you should see how its glow lights up the orange of the sandstone, like in a theme park. When I’m done, I stand on a rocky plateau drinking hot chocolate and listening to the Aussie animals who prefer nighttime. I can see the streets of Halls Gap off in the distance on this Friday night. The restaurants may stay open until 8pm tonight.

What else is on offer in The Grampians?

a boat travelling along the Wimmera River inDimboola — Travelling along the Wimmera River in Dimboola. (Image: Chris McConville)

You’ll find all sorts of adventures out here – from rock climbing to canoeing to hiking – but there’s more to the Grampians than a couple of thousand square kilometres of trees and mountains. Halls Gap may be known to most people, but what of Pomonal, and Dimboola, and Horsham? Here in the shadow of those big sandstone mountains there are towns and communities most of us don’t know to visit.

And who knew that the Grampians is home to Victoria’s most underrated wine region ? My disconnection this morning comes not in a forest, but in the tasting rooms and winery restaurants of the district. Like Pomonal Estate, barely 10 minutes’ drive east of Halls Gap, where UK-born chef Dean Sibthorp prepares a locally caught barramundi with lentil, pumpkin and finger lime in a restaurant beside the vines at the base of the Grampians. Husband-and-wife team Pep and Adam Atchison tell me stories as they pour their prize wines (shiraz is the hero in these parts).

dining at Pomonal Estate — Dine in a restaurant beside vines at Pomonal Estate. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Three minutes’ drive back down the road, long-time mates Hadyn Black and Darcy Naunton run an eclectic cellar door out of a corrugated iron shed, near downtown Pomonal. The Christmas before last, half the houses in Pomonal burnt down in a bushfire, but these locals are a resilient lot.

The fires also didn’t stop the construction of the first art centre in Australia dedicated to environmental art in a nature-based precinct a little further down the road (that’s Wama – the National Centre for Environmental Arts), which opened in July. And some of the world’s oldest and rarest grape vines have survived 160 years at Best’s Wines, outside the heritage town of Great Western. There’s plantings here from the year 1868, and there’s wines stored in century-old barrels within 150-year-old tunnels beneath the tasting room. On the other side of town, Seppelt Wines’ roots go back to 1865. They’re both only a 30-minute drive from Halls Gap.

Salingers of Great Western — Great Western is a charming heritage town. (Image: Griffin Simm)

There’s more to explore yet; I drive through tiny historic towns that barely make the map. Still part of the Grampians, they’re as pretty as the mountains behind them: full of late 19th-century/early 20th-century post offices, government offices and bank buildings, converted now to all manner of bric-a-brac stores and cafes.

The Imaginarium is one, in quirky Dimboola, where I sleep in the manager’s residence of an old National Australia Bank after a gourmet dinner at the local golf club, run by noted chef and teacher, Cat Clarke – a pioneer of modern Indigenous Australian cooking. Just south, I spend an entire afternoon at a winery, Norton Estate Wines, set on rolling calico-coloured hills that make me think of Tuscany, chit-chatting with owners Chris and Sam Spence.

Being here takes me back two decades, when I lived here for a time. It had all seemed as foreign as if I’d driven to another planet back then (from Sydney/Warrane), but there seemed something inherently and immediately good about this place, like I’d lived here before.

And it’s the Australian small-town familiarity of the Grampians that offers me connection back to my own country. Even in the better-known Halls Gap, Liz from Kerrie’s Creations knows I like my lattes with soy milk and one sugar. And while I never do get the name of the lady at the local Ampol station, I sure know a lot about her life.

Kookaburras on a tree — Kookaburras are one of some 230 bird species. (Image: Darren Donlen)

You can be a local here in a day; how good is that? In Chicago, I don’t even know who my neighbour is. Though each day at dusk – when the kangaroos gather outside my villa, and the kookaburras and the black cockatoos shout out loud before settling in to sleep – I prefer the quieter connection I get out there in the bush, beneath these orange mountains.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

Sleep beside the wildlife on the edge of Halls Gap at Serenity .

Playing there

abseiling down Hollow Mountain — Hollow Mountain is a popular abseiling site.

Go abseiling under the stars or join a guided hike with Absolute Outdoors . Visit Wama , Australia’s first environmental art centre. Check out Dimboola’s eccentric Imaginarium .

Eating there

steak, naan bread and beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap serves a great steak on naan bread.

Eat world-class cuisine at Pomonal Estate . Dine and stay at much-revered icon Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld. The ‘steak on naan’ at Halls Gap brewhouse Paper Scissors Rock , can’t be beat.

Dunkeld Arboretum in Grampians National Park — The serene Dunkeld Arboretum.

For Halls Gap’s best breakfasts head to Livefast Cafe . Sip local wines at Great Western’s historic wineries, Best’s Wines , Seppelt Wines and Norton Estate Wines .

two glasses of beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap — Sink a cold one at Paper Scissors Rock.

The ultimate guide to camping in the Flinders Ranges