Holidays to Outback and Flinders Ranges

Take a scenic drive along dusty red roads, as eagles soar above and emus search the plains for roadside waterholes. Gaze towards the mountain ranges on the horizon, or discover the sheer scale of the beauty before you when you take to the sky for a scenic flight. Prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground? Explore the Outback’s hidden corners on an off-road tour. Step out of the vehicle for a bush walk over St. Mary Peak or past Edeowie Gorge, Glenora Falls and Wilpena Creek. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, you can tackle a mountain bike trail around Wilpena Pound.

Immerse yourself in the world of the First Nation people with personal guided tours. Hear Dreamtime stories around a campfire with a bushtucker feast. Sleep 25-metres below the earth in Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world. Or simply wait for the dark to reveal a carpet of stars in the unpolluted night sky.

Step into the indigenous past of the South Australian Outback, and learn about the cultures, traditions, and sacred lands of the Adnyamathanha people. Hear tales passed from generation to generation, as you’re invited to walk the naturally eroded amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound. Explore early settlements from a First Nation perspective at Old Wilpena Station, and uncover ancient etchings in the sandstone gorge of Sacred Canyon.

You can roast bush bananas and kangaroo meatballs over a fire at the Iga Warta Cultural Centre, as you listen to Dreamtime stories. Or why not test your skills in making boomerangs and clapping sticks? The Adnyamathanha lands stretch from the Northern Flinders south to Port Augusta, and as far east as Broken Hill – and your visit is an incredible opportunity to learn about the area’s original inhabitants from the people themselves.

Passing through the otherworldly Outback region of South Australia, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were navigating the face of Mars. As you truly get off the beaten track and away from the crowds, you’ll be able to hike or drive across some of the most incredible scenery in Australia, if not the world.

Climb the rocky slopes of Mount Ohlssen Bagge for incredible views across the region. Gaze over the diverse landscapes of Painted Hills, where 80 million-year-old monolithic outcrops rise from the desert in a natural palette of reds, browns, deep black, and soft white. See sand hills, brush scrub, and open plains peppered with the vibrant floral colours of parakelia, wattle, and desert daisies. And visit the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, where people live underground to escape the baking heat in an urban landscape unlike any other.

The best time to visit the South Australian Outback and Flinders Ranges is during the Australian winter. The temperatures are lower at this time of year, and the days are best suited to the outdoor activities the region has to offer. April to November offers the best climate and a range of experiences.

Temperatures in January and February can range from 30°C in the Flinders Ranges, to more than 40°C in Coober Pedy – so it’s probably best to avoid this time. Autumn begins in March, and the days cool steadily until July when temperatures are around 12°C in the Flinders Ranges, and 18°C in Coober Pedy. September to November is a particularly popular time for wildlife-lovers, as you can see newborn animals in the wild, before temperatures rise again in summer.