Optional Arkaroola Scenic Flights to witness the beauty from a bird’s eye view and extra time at Arkaroola for bird watching, bush walking, painting and photographic journeys.

Enjoy a visit to Nilpena Station and take a fascinating tour of the Ediacaran Fossil Site.

 Arkaroola Tours – Travel from Adelaide to the Prairie Hotel for our first night.

Leave the busy city district of Adelaide behind and let us take you on a tour filled with wonder and secrets of Arkaroola. Located in the Northern Flinders Ranges Arkaroola features rugged mountains, towering granite peaks, magnificent gorges, and mysterious waterholes. Today our journey takes us through Quorn a historic railway town in South Australia. We then continue our travels to Hawker and visit the Wilpena Panorama Gallery. View a stunning 30 meter circular painting of Wilpena Pound and check out rock, mineral and fossil displays.

The iconic Prairie Hotel is our overnight stay at Parachilna tonight, and we arrive late afternoon. Relax and unwind or sit around the wine barrels set out the front of the charming sandstone building and enjoy one of the Prairie’s home-brews, the Fargher Lager beer. Check out the fossil collection, talk to the friendly locals and have a look at their innovative menu with a “Flinders Feral Food” twist. We finish the day with a delicious and unique Prairie Hotel meal. (Day 1 Lunch and Dinner, Prairie Hotel overnight)

Nilpena Fossil Site Tour, journey to Arkaroola and evening observatory tour at Arkaroola.

This morning we travel to Nilpena Station, home to the significant Ediacaran fossil site in the Flinders Ranges. Nilpena is called an international treasure among scientists and evolutionists. Enjoy a guided tour of the actual fossil site, which features fossils that are over 555 million years old and represent the earliest evidence of complex life on earth. Our fascinating tour includes seeing the state-of-the-art interpretation centre in the old Blacksmith shop. Nilpena’s most significant fossil bed the Alice Restaurant Bed has been carefully excavated from the local Fossil Fields and is now on display with audio visual effects bringing the fossils back to life.

After lunch we follow the Vulkathanha Gammon Ranges Road deep into the Northern Flinders Ranges and you can take a first glimpse at the ancient ridges and the remoteness of Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Upon our arrival we settle into our rooms for the next three nights. Arkaroola offers ultimate star gazing opportunities. The region’s high elevation, arid environment and distance to any other town contribute to exceptionally dark skies making it a perfect location to observe what lies beyond earth. Tonight, we watch the various planets and million stars through telescopes at Arkaroola’s own Observatory. (Day 2 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Arkaroola Sanctuary overnight)

Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour, Mawson Spriggina Walk and Arkaroola Sunset Canape Tour

Our tour offers the best opportunities to really explore the uniqueness of Arkaroola. Some call Arkaroola the El Questro of the Flinders Ranges. Today we experience Arkaroola’s world-famous signature tour – the Ridgetop Tour. We travel in specially designed vehicles for an unforgettable encounter with the timeless terrain and unique natural beauty. Witness 360-degree views at the top of the Ridgetop track. Enjoy various lookouts, views of the Mawson Plateau and Yudnamutana Gorge.

After lunch join your guide on the Mawson Spriggina Walk through Mawson Valley and along the Spriggina Ridge rewarding you with unforgettable views. The name was given by geologist and explorer Douglas Mawson. Or spend the afternoon at your own leisure. Venture on a bird watching or photographic journey. Look out for some of the 160 recorded bird species to the area or the various flora and fauna. Or how about you bring your painting brush and drawing tools. Plenty of inspiration, photographic opportunities, and great encounters with wildlife out here. One of the best sunset locations can be found at Arkaroola. We travel through ancient parts of the wild and rugged Flinders Ranges by 4WD before arriving at a spectacular lookout point. We set up our chairs and with some South Australian wine/beer and canapes in hour hands we watch one of nature’s greatest light shows. (Day 3 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Arkaroola Sanctuary overnight)

Full Day Arkaroola 4WD Tour to the eastern part of the ranges.

Arkaroola is such a special and awe-inspiring area that most travellers wished they had one extra day out here. On our Arkaroola Tours we give you exactly what you are looking for. Whether it is the geology, birds, wildlife, views, or remoteness of the area that interest you, today is another day to remember. We take an additional 4WD adventure passing by Echo Camp and waterholes as the track follows the winding gorge carved by the Arkaroola Creek. We explore the eastern side of Arkaroola including the East Painter Gorge and Paralana Hot Springs. It is a fascinating journey and the perfect contrast to the famous Ridgetop Tour. (Day 4 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Arkaroola Sanctuary overnight)

Acacia Ridge Walk, optional scenic flights and departure from Arkaroola mid-afternoon.

This morning enjoy a sleep in or join your guide on the stunning Acacia Ridge Walk. Acacia Ridge consists of Blue Mine Conglomerate formed some 800 to 900 million years ago and offers extensive views over rolling hills and ranges including the old homestead and Arkaroola Village. You can find different species of Acacia growing here along with other plants such as Eremophila, Australian hop bush, Curlee Mallee and Sturt desert pea.

Up on return we have lunch and why not take an optional scenic flight over Arkaroola Sanctuary or Lake Frome. The Arkaroola scenic flight will give you a bird’s eye view of the ancient southern Arkaroola to the granite and quartzite outcrops of Mount Gee, the Mawson Plateau, and the Freeling Heights. This flight is 30 minutes. Or fly for 75 minutes taking you over Arkaroola and east across the flood plains to the whitest salt lake in Australia, Lake Frome. See old sand dunes trapped forever in the Lake’s crusty grasp, a relic of the time when central Australia was once an inland sea. What an amazing time we had at Arkaroola, but it is time to say goodbye. We depart mid-afternoon and travel to Leigh Creek for our overnight stay. (Day 5 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Leigh Creek Outback Resort overnight)

Journey back to Adelaide with stops at Kanyaka, Melrose and the Wirrabara Silo 

Our journey home takes us south to Kanyaka, an old cattle and sheep station established prior to the construction of the transcontinental railway line. Explore the different ruins on this historic property. Back on the sealed road we travel to the North Star Hotel in Melrose for lunch, the oldest licensed hotel in the Flinders Ranges. We are now on the return drive to Adelaide with a stop at the fantastic Wirrabara Silo Art and another comfort stop if required. Packed with amazing memories we drive back to Adelaide and arrive around 5pm. (Day 6 Breakfast, Lunch)