Flinders Ranges Tours That Will Enrich Your Experience

This sprawling mountain range is vast and filled with mystery, but the right tours can help unlock the secrets of an ancient and beguiling landscape.

From a distance, the serrated ridges and deep gullies of the Flinders Ranges are as forbidding as they are impressive. But up close this sunburnt range of rust-coloured mountains is brimming with fascinating stories. Adnyamathanha traditional owners talk of the ancient and powerful forces that sculpted this land, while the resident astronomers at Arkaroola give form to the stars that glitter across some of the clearest night skies you’ll ever see.

Immaculately preserved fossil beds and sheer rock walls that expose millions of years of geological history tell a story older than time. There are countless adventures to be had in the region, but connecting with a local on one of these Flinders Ranges tours can help bring this ancient landscape to life, providing an entirely new perspective on one of Australia’s most enchanting regions.

1. Scenic flight over Ikara (Wilpena Pound)

Scenic Flight over Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges — See Ikara (Wilpena Pound) from a bird’s-eye view. (Image: Emilie Ristevski)

You could easily spend weeks driving through every gorge, creek and canyon that cuts through the majestic Flinders Ranges. Or you can do things the easy way and see them all at once from above.

Join an early morning scenic flight over Ikara (Wilpena Pound) and you can watch the shrubs and spinifex tussocks quickly recede into tiny specks as the entire landscape magically transforms into a three-dimensional dot painting.

A 20-minute flight will take you over the Elder and Heysen Ranges as the first rays of the sun bring a golden glow to Ikara’s perfectly curved walls, while longer tours can bring you all the way to the glittering expanse of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre .

an aerial view of the Kati-Thanda Lake — Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is stunning. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

2. See the dawn of life on Earth in Nilpena Ediacara National Park

a fossil tour inside Nilpena Ediacara National Park — Discover a breathtaking collection of fossils at Nilpena Ediacara National Park. (Image: (Image: Tourism Australia/South Australian Tourism Commission)

Opened in 2023, Nilpena Ediacara is South Australia’s youngest National Park. But those fortunate enough to visit will discover a breathtaking collection of fossils more than twice as old as the first dinosaurs. 550 million years ago, this entire region lay at the bottom of a shallow tropical sea, and the perfectly preserved fossil beds nearby are so significant that they’ve lent their name to the Ediacaran era when complex life first emerged.

The only way to enter the park is on a two-hour guided tour that takes in the 1870s shearer’s quarters and blacksmith’s shop before bringing visitors in to view a giant bed with more than 200 fossils that look like sand dollars, anchors and giant spirals. An array of six interlinked projectors spotlights individual fossils from different angles and shows how they would have moved over the ocean floor, while young visitors in particular will get a thrill from the opportunity to touch these unbelievably ancient specimens.

3. Walk with the Traditional Owners

a group of travelers exploring the rock walls, Wilpena Pound Resort — Wilpena Pound Resort holds a range of tours. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The word ikara means “meeting place" in the language of the Adnyamathanha people, and Ikara (Wilpena Pound) has been an important ceremonial site for tens of thousands of years. Geologists have their version of how this vast natural amphitheatre was formed, but take a walk with the traditional owners and you’ll get a very different perspective and this living, breathing land.

Wilpena Pound Resort holds a daily welcome to country and a range of tours that let you learn the stories of the local flora and fauna, as well as how two fearsome serpents shaped many of the features of the landscape before coiling up to form the impressive rock walls that encircle the pound.

You can also join Adnyamathanha guides as they visit the vibrant paintings at Akurra Adnya (Arkaroo Rock) and the ancient rock carvings of the eerily quiet Sacred Canyon (which is only accessible on an Adnyamathanha-guided tour).

4. Go on a ghost tour with a difference in Blinman

the Blinman Mine Tour, Flinders Ranges — Venture down the narrow tunnels in Blinman. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Though it now has a permanent population of just 20, Blinman was once a thriving frontier town with 1500 residents. And it was the bustling copper mine that brought fortune hunters from as far away as Cornwall. Daily mine tours take you back to the 1860s with a sound and light show that illuminates the narrow tunnels and demonstrates what life would have been like for these hardy miners and their families.

If you’re feeling especially brave, stick around on Friday or Saturday night for a lantern-lit ghost tour that tells the stories of the poor souls who perished in the mine and populates the shafts with Cornish spirits, including the diminutive piskies, mischievous knockers and fearsome buccas.

5. Spot some stars at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

the Arkaroola Night Sky — Go stargazing at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Low humidity and a complete absence of light pollution make Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary one of the best places to go stargazing in the country. In fact, conditions are so good that the property was recently named Australia’s second Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Exploring the fabulously rugged landscape around Arkaroola Village is one of the highlights of any Flinders visit, but once the sun goes down the resident astronomers emerge to guide visitors around the night skies. Guests can choose from several tours that let them gaze up at the heavens from specially designed reclining chairs or venture deep into space at a high-powered observatory that offers a closer view of planets and other celestial bodies.

6. Tackle one of Australia’s Great Walks at Arkaba

Arkaba Conservancy in Flinders Ranges — Arkaba is one of the best places to get a sense of just how full of life this arid region can be. (Image: Isaac Forman)

Since the former sheep station at Arkaba was destocked in 2014, the local flora and fauna have rebounded, and the highly successful rewilding project has made it one of the best places to get a sense of just how full of life this arid region can be. Explore the property by foot on the three-day Arkaba Walk and you’ll trek over weathered peaks, into dramatic ravines and through patches of forest filled with animal and birdlife.

And despite the seeming isolation, each night is spent at a bush camp that epitomises outback luxury with chef-prepared meals enjoyed around a campfire, swags featuring a turndown service and steaming mugs of tea delivered to your private sleeping platform while you admire the sunrise.

7. Relive the golden age of rail on the Pichi Richi Railway

the Pichi Richi Railway, Flinders Ranges — Relive the golden age of rail on the narrow-gauge Pichi Richi Railway. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission/Peter Fisher)

If you think the Flinders Ranges are remote, spare a thought for the pioneers who once faced a weeks-long wagon trip to stock up on supplies in Port Augusta. For them, the arrival of the railway in 1879 was a cause of great celebration, and it was such a success that it was eventually extended all the way to Alice Springs.

Much of the line fell into disuse after the Ghan was rerouted through less flood-prone regions, but you can still relive the golden age of rail on the narrow-gauge Pichi Richi Railway from Port August to Quorn. Lovingly restored Ghan carriages from the 1920s and an elaborately decorated Edwardian railcar known as the Coffee Pot still follow the original route over dry stone walls, heritage iron bridges and steep cuttings as they traverse the Pichi Richi Pass, a picturesque gorge that cuts through the Southern Flinders Ranges.

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

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

7 Flinders Ranges tours that will enrich your experience