Flinders Ranges & Outback

The rugged, weathered peaks and rocky gorges of the Flinders Ranges in Outback South Australia form some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes in the country. It’s a place rich in Aboriginal history and home to a vast array of wildlife. Following the scenic roads, 4WD tracks and walking trails that crisscross this wild countryside will take you on a remarkable adventure.

From the air, Wilpena Pound looks like a crater, a massive bowl almost 100 kilometres (62 miles) wide that stands above the surrounding plains. But the rim is actually made up of the stumps of huge mountains, believed to have been as high as the Himalayas, that have been eroded over millennia.

There’s only one way in: through a gorge 11 kilometres (seven miles) long and eight kilometres (five miles) across. It was called a pound by the early settlers in the 1850s – they thought it looked like a traditional sheep pen. The best way to see the distinctive shape is on a scenic flight from  inside the Pound. It offers a range of accommodation from motel-style rooms to glamping as well as a campground and Aboriginal cultural walks and 4WD tours. You can also trek inside the Pound and climb up over the rim. Source: Tourism Australia