With its stunning landscapes, world-class wines and laidback, cultured capital, South Australia is a rewarding slice of Australia that should be on your radar. From the striking desert scenery of the outback to the sparkling beaches and abundant wildlife of the coast, this is the perfect place to encounter Australia’s unique landscapes, flora and fauna.

Head to the Flinders Ranges to hike sections of the famous Heysen Trail, encountering some of Australia’s most outstanding outback landscapes as you hike this incredible long-distance trail through a rolling range of majestic peaks and rugged ridges.

Or experience the dramatic landscapes of the Elder Range and Wilpena Pound in style on the Arkaba Walk, one of the eight Great Walks of Australia. Spend your days spotting emus, kangaroos and yellow-footed rock wallabies as you walk against a striking back drop of high ridges, rocky peaks and mysterious gorges; and unwind in our luxury permanent bush camps by night, enjoying fine local wines and produce under an uninterrupted blanket of stars.

Our unique itineraries are designed to get you deep into Australia’s most magnificent wilderness regions. Take a look and start planning your South Australian adventure!

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Find your Flinders Ranges & Outback SA trip

Flinders Ranges & Outback SA highlights

 

Why travel with us

Exceptional Leadership

As our client feedback will attest to, there is no better team of leaders than those at Australian Walking Holidays. Their expertise & knowledge is matched only by their friendly nature and their desire to impart everything they know about the Australian landscape to you.

Small Groups

We think small is good; it limits the environmental impact and allows you to forge life-long friendships with like-minded travellers. Feedback from our clients attests to the appeal of the small group dynamic – our clients say it's this that makes it special.

Exceptional Value

We aim to include as much as possible in the tour price, so that all you need to think about is being in the moment. We include meals & all park fees on our trips. Our inclusions are displayed against each trip in our brochures, on our website and in our trip notes.

Your Comfort

The best available food, warmth and shelter is standard on our active wilderness holidays, with selected character lodgings as well as quality camp craft and equipment. This ensures that you have the most rewarding and memorable experience.

Responsible travel

 

Sustainable Travel

Sustainable travel is at the core of everything we do, which is why have policies in place to ensure destinations retain their natural character and cultural diversity. Environmental values filter through every aspect of the company, from the minimal impact camping procedures through to the interpretation of environment. The aim is to give you big adventures while we maintain a small footprint!

Accommodation

Outback properties

We stay at a variety of delightful outback properties. These range from simple outback homesteads and shearers quarters through to twin share hotel style rooms. All accommodation has been chosen for its location, charm, history and character.

Luxury Camping

On the Arkaba Walk, enjoy luxury outback camping on permanent swag decks. The low timber decks are slightly elevated, and each have a ½ metre corrugated iron screen around three sides, to give privacy – the fourth side is left open to the views over the countryside, while above you is the night sky and a canopy of stars.

Climate

Autumn

Our trekking season opens in April, where travellers can expect warm days averaging 17-27c, and cool evenings that range from 12c at the start of the season, to 5c towards the end of the season. Trekkers should be adequately prepared with warm clothing for the late autumn months. Coming out of the summer months, the landscape is covered with stunning hues of orange, reds and browns. Towards winter there is the possibility of early rains and cooler temperatures, with the chance to see wildlife during the middle parts of the day as the temperatures begin to drop.

Winter

June, July and August are the prime trekking months in the Flinders Ranges, when warm days of around 15c provide ideal walking conditions. During winter there is a higher likelihood of rain, which fill the creeks and waterbeds with fresh water, attracting wildlife to the waterholes. Keep a look out for yellow-footed rock wallabies, flocks of galahs, dingoes, emus, euros and western grey kangaroos, which become much more active during the day. Winter is a beautiful time to capture spectacular sunrises and sunsets, which can colour the sky vivid hues of reds, pinks and yellow. Be sure to bring your winter warm clothes for the early mornings and evenings, as temperatures can drop to 3c.

Spring

The season of wildflowers, spring is undeniably one of the most beautiful times to visit the Flinders Ranges. Thanks to the winter rains, the wildflowers are out in abundance during the springtime months, colouring the landscape in bursts of red, yellow, white and purple patches of wildflowers and native plants. With daily temperatures averaging around 20-25c, days start to heat up and evening temperatures hover around 19-27c. For this reason, we trek in September when the temperatures are still relatively mild, and stop trekking from October, through the hot summer months until March. Visitors during spring may catch sightings of emu chicks and migratory birds such as wedgetail eagle chicks, so keep an eye out if you are a bird lover.

Summer

We do not run any trips during October – March as the late spring and summer months are too hot and unsuitable to trek in.

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