Camping in the Flinders Ranges and Outback

The Flinders Ranges run more than 430 km from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna, starting about 200 km north of Adelaide, and past them the outback carries on up the Stuart Highway to Coober Pedy. It is big, dry, red country, and the best trips start by deciding how far you want to drive.

Where is the best place to camp in the Flinders Ranges and Outback?

In the southern Flinders, a few hours from Adelaide, Mount Remarkable National Park has the Mambray Creek campground, with caravan parks in Melrose, Wilmington and Quorn. Further north, Wilpena Pound is 429 km from Adelaide, and Wilpena Pound Resort Campground sits right at the visitor centre, with bush camps across Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. For the full outback trip, Coober Pedy is 846 km north of Adelaide, roughly halfway to Alice Springs, with parks such as BIG4 Stuart Range Outback Resort.

What is there to do in the Flinders Ranges and Outback with kids?

Wilpena Pound, or Ikara, is a sickle-shaped natural amphitheatre of about 80 square kilometres, and the park around it has Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges to explore. The Pichi Richi Railway runs to Quorn on selected dates from March to November, and around Wilmington the toy museum and Sansouci Puppet Museum are near the caravan parks. Out at Marree, where the Oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks meet, Afghan cameleers built Australia's first mosque. Coober Pedy supplies most of the world's gem-quality opal, and the Umoona Opal Mine & Museum and Faye's Underground Home are both underground.

• Marree Railway Museum – Museums and history, Marree. Closest campground: Marree Caravan and Campers Park, under 1 km
• Umoona Opal Mine & Museum – Museums and history, Coober Pedy. Closest campground: Oasis Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Jamestown Railway Station Museum-National Trust – Museums and history, Jamestown. Closest campground: Jamestown Country Retreat Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Town Carriage Museum – Museums and history, Peterborough. Closest campground: Peterborough Caravan Park, 1 km
• Wilmington Toy Museum – Museums and history, Wilmington. Closest campground: Beautiful Valley Caravan Park, 2 km
• Jamestown Local History Centre-National Trust – Museums and history, Jamestown. Closest campground: Jamestown Country Retreat Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Oodnadatta Railway Station Museum – Museums and history, Oodnadatta. Closest campground: Oodnadatta Tourist Park, under 1 km
• The Cave (Faye's First Underground Home) – Museums and history, Coober Pedy. Closest campground: Oasis Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Woomera History Museum – Museums and history, Woomera. Closest campground: Woomera Travellers Village, under 1 km
• Iron Knob Tourist Centre and Museum – Museums and history, Iron Knob. Closest campground: Knobbies Caravan and Camping Area, under 1 km
• Faye's Underground Home – Museums and history, Coober Pedy. Closest campground: Oasis Tourist Park, 1 km
• Peterborough Motorcycle & Antique Museum – Museums and history, Peterborough. Closest campground: Peterborough Caravan Park, 1 km
• Sansouci Puppet Museum & Gallery – Museums and history, Wilmington. Closest campground: Beautiful Valley Caravan Park, 1 km
• Dawes Brothers Geological Museum – Museums and history, Wilmington. Closest campground: Beautiful Valley Caravan Park, 2 km
• Port Pirie Railway Station Museum – Museums and history, Port Pirie. Closest campground: Port Pirie Beach Caravan Park, 2 km
• Yarta Purtli Art Gallery – Museums and history, Port Augusta. Closest campground: Discovery Parks Port Augusta, 2 km
• Old Survey Art Gallery – Museums and history, Bangor. Closest campground: Port Germein South Rest Area 1, 15 km
• Kimba and Gawler Ranges Historical Museum – Museums and history, Kimba. Closest campground: Lake Gilles Conservation Park, 20 km
• Jamestown Swimming Pool – Swimming, Jamestown. Closest campground: Jamestown Country Retreat Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Ryan Mitchell Swim Centre – Swimming, Port Augusta. Closest campground: Port Augusta Motorhome Park, under 1 km
• Leigh Creek Swimming Pool – Swimming, Leigh Creek. Closest campground: Leigh Creek Caravan Park, 1 km
• Booleroo Centre Memorial Swimming Pool – Swimming, Booleroo Centre. Closest campground: Melrose Caravan Park, 16 km
• Spalding Swimming Pool – Swimming, Spalding. Closest campground: Yacka Caravan Park, 17 km
• Kimba Swimming Centre – Swimming, Kimba. Closest campground: Lake Gilles Conservation Park, 21 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in the Flinders Ranges and Outback?

At Wilpena, the Hill's Homestead Walk is the easiest way into the Pound, 6.6 km return from the visitor centre, and the Living with Land Walk is an easy 3.2 km loop from Old Wilpena Station. At Mount Remarkable, the Ali Lookout Walk and Gorge Lookout Walk are each around 20 minutes return, and the Wirra Water Loop is 1.6 km.

• Hill's Homestead Walk – Walk, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Closest campground: Wilpena Pound Resort Campground, 3 km
• Kolah Mirica Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Kolah Hut Camping Area, 1 km
• Living with Land Walk – Walk, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Closest campground: Wilpena Pound Resort Campground, 2 km
• Red Hill Lookout Hike – Walk, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Closest campground: Trezona Campground, 7 km
• Lake Hart Rest Area and Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Lake Hart Lookout, under 1 km
• Island Lagoon Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Salt Creek Lookout, under 1 km
• Twin Gums Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Acraman Camp Ground, under 1 km
• The Big Winch – Lookout. Closest campground: Oasis Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Water Tower Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Discovery Parks Port Augusta, under 1 km
• Clems Corner – Lookout. Closest campground: Rawnsley Park Station, under 1 km

When is the best time to go camping in the Flinders Ranges and Outback?

The cooler months. Summers usually pass 38°C, and Coober Pedy has seen more than 48°C, so plan walks for autumn, winter and spring. Rain is light and falls mostly in winter.

Do you need to book campsites in the Flinders Ranges and Outback?

Yes. Camping in Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Mount Remarkable national parks must be booked and paid before you arrive, online through SA Parks, up to 12 months ahead for Ikara-Flinders. Walk-in sites close in the fire danger season, and the outback tracks can close after rain, so check SA Parks alerts and the DIT outback roads page before you set off. Phone coverage in Ikara-Flinders is patchy, so carry plenty of water and tell someone your plans.

Are there powered sites in the Flinders Ranges and Outback?

Yes. 10 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Wilpena Pound Resort Campground, Gladstone Caravan Park and Marree Caravan and Campers Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Wilpena Pound from Adelaide?

Wilpena Pound is 429 km north of Adelaide. Mount Remarkable National Park is about 238 km, Port Augusta about 310 km, Marree 589 km and Coober Pedy 846 km.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Flinders Ranges" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Wilpena Pound" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Marree, South Australia" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Coober Pedy" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Mount Remarkable National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), National Parks and Wildlife Service SA, "Mount Remarkable National Park", Department for Environment and Water SA, Ikara-Flinders Ranges camping guide and Department for Infrastructure and Transport SA, outback roads.

Map of campgrounds in the Flinders Ranges and Outback

65 campgrounds

• Wilpena Pound Resort Campground — Willow Springs, SA. caravan sites, drinking water, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wheelchair accessible, wifi
• Gladstone Caravan Park — Gladstone, SA. camp kitchen, caravan sites, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Knobbies Caravan and Camping Area — Iron Knob, SA. caravan sites, dump point, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Marree Caravan and Campers Park — Marree, SA. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Melrose Campground — Melrose, SA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Melrose Caravan Park — Melrose, SA. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Oasis Tourist Park — Coober Pedy, SA. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites
• Port Pirie Beach Caravan Park — Solomontown, SA. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, tent sites
• Yacka Caravan Park — Yacka, SA. dump point, powered sites, showers, toilets
• Port Germein Caravan Park — Port Germein, SA. powered sites, showers, toilets
• Stony Creek Bush Camp Caravan Park — Wilmington, SA. toilets, wheelchair accessible, wifi
• Kolah Hut Camping Area — Gawler Ranges, SA. caravan sites, tent sites
• Lake Gilles Conservation Park — Lake Gilles, SA. caravan sites, tent sites
• Laura Community Caravan Park — Laura, SA. dump point, powered sites
• Peterborough Caravan Park — Peterborough, SA. drinking water, powered sites
• Ranges View Rest Area — Kootaberra, SA. drinking water, toilets
• Monalena Lagoon Rest Area — Oakden Hills, SA. drinking water
• Woomera Travellers Village — Woomera, SA. powered sites
• Acraman Camp Ground — Willow Springs, SA
• Agnes Creek Rest Area — Tieyon, SA
• Baroota Ruins Campground — Mambray Creek, SA
• Beautiful Valley Caravan Park — Wilmington, SA
• Big 4: Hawker Caravan Park — Hawker, SA
• BIG4 Stuart Range Outback Resort — Coober Pedy, SA
• Bookaloo Rest Area — Yarrah, SA
• Clayton Wetlands Campsite — Clayton Station, SA
• Copley Caravan Park — Copley, SA
• Crystal Brook Caravan Park — Crystal Brook, SA
• Discovery Parks Port Augusta — Port Augusta West, SA
• Drovers Run Tourist Park — Marree, SA
• Farina Station Camground — Farina, SA
• Glendambo North Rest Area — Parakylia, SA
• Glendambo Outback Resort and Tourist Centre — Glendambo, SA
• Glendambo South Rest Area — Wirraminna, SA
• Hawker Caravan Park — Hawker, SA
• Ingomar Rest Area — Anna Creek, SA
• Island Lagoon Lookout — Arcoona, SA
• Jamestown Country Retreat Caravan Park — Jamestown, SA
• Lake Hart Lookout — Wirraminna, SA
• Leigh Creeek Hotel Caravan Park — Copley, SA
• Leigh Creek Caravan Park — Leigh Creek, SA
• Mambray Creek campground — Mambray Creek, SA
• Mambray Creek Rest Area — Mambray Creek, SA
• Marla South Rest Area — Tieyon, SA
• Marla Travellers Rest Caravan Park — Marla, SA
• Marryat Creek North Rest Area — Tieyon, SA
• Marryat Creek Rest Area — Ayers Range South, SA
• Maslin Rest Area — Oakden Hills, SA
• Mulga Well North Rest Area — Parakylia, SA
• North Tent Hill Rest Area — Pandurra, SA
• Oodnadatta Tourist Park — Oodnadatta, SA
• Pootnoura Rest Area — Mount Willoughby, SA
• Port Augusta Caravan Park Cabins — Stirling North, SA
• Port Augusta Motorhome Park — Port Augusta, SA
• Port Germein South Rest Area 1 — Port Germein, SA
• Pretty Point Camp Ground — Kondoolka, SA
• Quorn Caravan Park — Quorn, SA
• Rangeview Caravan & Cabin Park — Napperby, SA
• Rawnsley Park Station — Flinders Ranges, SA
• Salt Creek Lookout — Arcoona, SA
• Shoreline Caravan Park — Port Augusta West, SA
• The Twins Rest Area — Wilgena, SA
• Trezona Campground — Willow Springs, SA
• Waltumba Campground — Yardea, SA
• Yongala Recreational Park — Yongala, SA

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.