It is the most stunning area of South Australia. The stark, rugged scenery of the Flinders Ranges is excellent for bushwalks, wildlife or just appreciating the colours and beauty of nature.

A dry area, it’s got lots of barren salt lakes and dry ridges but blooms with wildflowers in spring. Summers are hot so winters are great and the best time time to visit. There are aboriginal sites that you can visit and look at cave paintings at Yourambulla and Arkaroo or rock carvings at Sacred Canyon and Chambers Gorge. This is the place where you can take the Heysen Trail, the 1200 km bushwalk. But make sure you're up to it and are properly equipped.

The Flinders Ranges National Park is the area's best attraction. There is a large natural basin known as Wilpena Pound; 80 sq km wide, its accessed via a narrow gap through which Wilpena Creek exits the Pound.

The Wilpena Wall on the outside of the basin rises to 500 metres. Inside the Park, there is loads of wildlife, hill kangaroos, red and gray kangaroos, birds, wallabies and all kinds of animals one has only heard of. Brachina Gorge, Sacred Canyon, Brachina Gorge Geological Trail are all fascinating sites, both in terms of scenic beauty and historical worth. Organised tours include a scenic flight from Wilpena and half/full day trips to see the country side.

Bushwalking is great - for a look at aboriginal art, go to the Arkaroo Rock walk, 10 km south of Wilpena. The good walks are St. Mary’s Peak, Tanderra Saddle, Lake Torrens and Edeowie Gorge.

Let the Visitors Centre at the entrance of the Park know that you're going and don't walk for more than 3 hours.Try not to go alone and carry lots of drinking water and sun protection.

Other places that can be checked out are Blinman, once a copper mining centre, now a quaint hamlet and Arkaroola, with the huge Arkaroola-Mt. Painter Wildlife Sanctuary sprawling across rugged country.

Getting there: Airlines fly every day from Adelaide to Port Augusta and Leigh Creek. From Adelaide to Port Augusta and Wilpena Pound, you can take a bus. The roads are great for cars but during the rainy season they can be closed, so check up before you go, especially from Wilpena Pound onwards as the road is only gravel. You can cover many interesting areas. Otherwise cycling, walking around and bussing are the other options.

The main information centre is at the Wadlata Outback Centre in Port Augusta, the major information source for Flinders Range.

Accommodation: There are lots of hotels, motels, caravan parks, cottages and farms for rent in the Flinders Ranges area; the nearest budget accommodation for rent is 20 km south of Wilpena. Campers will need to bring along their own gear, and can bush camp inside the park. Resort accommodation with all modern amenities is available at Wilpena Pound itself and options include motel style units.