The Ancient Flinders Ranges – One of Australia’s Best Kept Secrets (4 days)

Meet at Moorabbin Airport and depart for the Flinders Ranges.  A brief refuelling stop at Mildura before flying on to the magnificent Flinders Ranges, prior to landing enjoy a scenic flight through the spectacular Wilpena Pound.

Upon landing transfer to Wilpena Pound Resort for lunch, then a walk around the Old Hills Homestead where you can learn about the hardships the Hills family had to face at the turn of the century.  For the energetic, an optional hike up to the Wangarra Hill lookout offering panoramic views of Wilpena Pound.

View the striking river red gum known as the  Cazneaux Tree made famous in the photo called “The Spirit of Endurance” which bought the photographer international recognition and who is the grandfather of Dick Smith.

Then check into a luxury eco-villa at Rawnsley Park Station overlooking the southern side of Wilpena Pound. Watch the blazing sunset from your own private veranda and relax in the tranquillity of the Australian bush.

On day two fly north to Balcanoona and transfer to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the ruggedly spectacular northern Flinders Ranges. Following lunch partake in their signature Ridgetop tour, travelling in specially constructed open-top 4WD vehicle.  Enjoy breathtaking views as the 4WD meanders along the ridge top track culminating at Sillers’s Peak.

Return to the Sanctuary and settle in for the evening.  When the heavens light up, head to the Dodwell Observatory for a tour of the universe from a location that provides some of the best viewing conditions in Australia. Following breakfast on the third day, fly from Arkaroola to Blinman 

Landing at Blinman in the heart of the Flinders Ranges, lunch at the North Blinman Hotel before an afternoon tour through Brachina’s Gorge.  Once used as a pass which bullock teams pulled their loads, the gorge meanders it way through sharp sawtooth ridges of quartzite. Look out for the vulnerable yellow footed rock wallaby that inhabit the area.

Onto Parachilna and home for the night, the historic Prairie Hotel built in 1876, an icon of the Flinders Ranges. The nicely appointed, yet quirky hotel has become famous for its ‘feral food’ that people journey from far and wide to sample.

On the final morning an excursion to the most significant Ediacaran Station fossil site. The site at Jane and Ross Fargher’s Nilpena Station (who also operate the Prairie Hotel) is one of the most important in the world, representing the earliest evidence of complex life on earth. Featured in David Attenborough’s ’Life on Earth‘ the Ediacara fossils preserve entire ecosystems enabling scientists  to understand what life on earth was like in its earliest forms.

Return to the Prairie Hotel for lunch before the drive to Blinman where we reboard our aircraft for the flight back to Melbourne refuelling at Broken Hill on the way.