Flinders must do's?

What vehicle, trailer/camper/tent? How much time for Arkaroola, Flinders?

Hi gbc

The biggest thing will be time. If you have not been to the Flinders before, you will need weeks to fully explore the countless places to visit, and even then you still will not see it all.

I personally prefer the lower Flinders, which has far more drivable tracks and more tracks to explore....just my personal view.

Seeing you will be in the area shorty, your first priority must be Farina....just unreal and the underground bakery will be in full swing for the best fresh bread and pastries and two good four wheel drive tracks to do.

If you are into real four wheel driving, there are countless great tracks to tackle that will test your four wheel driving skills. There are two very good caravan parks in the Wilpena area, Rawnsley Park and Wilpena Pound. Both are great and will cater for all your needs.

Enjoy a very special part of South Australia that we never tire of visiting.



Cheers



Stephen

Arkaroola can be sampled in 3 days. If you can, the ridgetop tour will give you a life-long memory. Their vehicle, and about $120 pp, but well worth it.
Other self drive tracks are great to get amongst the area, with a lot of history, both ancient and modern to experience.
Plenty of wildlife and birdlife.
The Flinders?
Well Stephen has covered the subject. The reality is extraordinary.

Bob

Hi
I suggest you consider the National Parks campsites in the Flinders and the Gammon Ranges (Chambers Gorge comes to mind). We stayed at three different ones in 2014. They provide very basic facilities but are quiet, spacious and wonderfully unlike caravan parks.
Megan

We visited the Flinders early December 2016. Thoroughly recommend Rawnsley Park. Great caravan park with an outstanding camp kitchen. Willow Springs and its SkyTrek drive is definitely worth a visit. The caravan park at Willow Springs has a great camp kitchen but is not as well developed as Rawnsley Park, however the SkyTrek drive will test you and your vehicle.
The RidgeTop Tour at Arkaroola is also good but I heard that it only goes half way due to road damage. Check before you visit. The caravan park at Arkaroola is a real disappointment however.
Brachina Gorge is interesting and is worth travelling in both directions. The main disappointment with the Gorge is that the signage needs some attention.Moralana Drive is also worth a drive especially the eastern section.
Sacred Canyon is somewhat over rated. Long drive for little of interest at the end. On the other hand Wilpena Homestead was very interesting as was the Aroona Ruins Historic Site.

Great time of year to visit..................NO FLIES AND NICE AND GREEN....WARM DAYS AND COLD NIGHTS!!!
http://www.warraweena.com/
Warraweena, Prospectors Camp Site (unpowered). Alongside a huge river bed with huge gums and private. Great 4wd tracks from easy to medium. Historic tracks as well. Ask for Stoney when booking. You may have to carry extra fuel in to do all the tracks then double back to Leigh Creek to refuel. Beltana roadhouse is now closed.
http://www.beltana.org.au/history
On the way in Beltana is an old historical town well worth seeing.
Blinman guided mine tour 40min from Wilpena. Today they can mine in 4weeks what took them 40 years back in the day
Skytreck is ok but be prepared for an 6-8hr drive to do the track if you really want to appreciate the sites and views.
Theres a few old cemeteries on between Leigh Creek and Hawker well worth checking out, including a few out the back tracks of Hawker........over the hills but not to far away.
A must visit is Sarah's place 5mins up from Sky Trek. Well preserved ruins from the 1800's.........Farmers vs Miners............excellent history write ups on each ruin.

The hardest 4wd track is in the south.........http://www.bendlebyranges.com.au/4wd-tracks/
Billy Goat Track....mostly 4/10 for difficulty with one 6/10.
2nd most difficult track is at Warraweena
3rd is Rawnsley Park 2nd half of track
http://www.rawnsleypark.com.au/experiences/4wd-self-drive-tours/
4th is Skytreck
http://www.skytrekwillowsprings.com.au/self-drive-skytrek.html
5th is Merna Mora Station
http://www.mernamora.com.au/tracks.htm
Each track has their magical views.
If you're in Hawker.........Try Quandong Milk Chocolate.....expensive but mmmmmm.
Have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't forget the walk up St Mary's Peak for fantastic views over Wilpena Pound and beyond. Returning via the track inside the Pound will take you past the Old Hills Homestead.

Thankyou all. I spent all day installing a diesel heater into the trailer. I have no doubt we will appreciate it.

Coming or going if you are going to do Currawinya and the Darling River run make sure you spend at least a couple of days at kilcowera Station Stay which will allow you to do one of their self drive tours and to see lake Wyara from the western side which you can't do when camping in the National Park. Very comfortable camp grounds at Kilcowera and excellent hosts in Toni & Greg. Log onto the Kilcowera web site and check it out, they are also a Member of ExplorOz.

We travelled the route from Wilpena up to Arkaroola, to Mt Hopeless and onto the Strzelecki, Merty Merty, Camerons Corner and Noccundra Waterhole only a couple of weeks ago. The roads were in good condition but in some patches had been chopped up badly by folk driving through before recent rains had dried out. Should be fine now unless they've had more rain.

One thing to look out for is the SA National Parks mob have introduced online bookings for camping in parks camps. This takes full effect in all parks on 1 July. If camping at Cullyamurra on the Cooper you must book before you leave internet land and know what dates you will be there. Or alternatively drive all the way in to Innamincka and pay there at the Tavern. This affects Weetootla Gorge near Arkaroola as well as Innamincka and all the campsites near Wilpena.

It may have been mentioned, but didn't notice it.
PARs (public access routes) in SA are usually very interesting route or detour options.

http://www.rawnsleypark.com.au/assets/PDFs/5178-4wd-A4-web-FINAL.pdf

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/sa_arid_lands/land/rangelands-public-access-routes-fact.pdf

http://www.4wdsa.asn.au/?page=pars