Flinders Ranges Walking Holiday
(Ex Adelaide) South Australia - Sun 29th August 2021

Max Participants:
10
Location:
(Ex Adelaide) South Australia
Date:
Sun 29th August 2021
Start Time:
5:00am
End Time:
5:30pm approx
Duration:
5 days
Meals:
4 Lunches 3 Dinners 4 Breakfasts
Non-Member Cost:
$2300.00 per person based on twin share
Member Cost:
$2250.00 per person based on twin share
Deposit Required:
$300.00
Single Supplement:
From $400.00 per person
Tagged:
hiking walking holiday

A fully guided, pack free 5 day walking tour, 41 kms walking (approx.)


The Flinders Ranges is an amazing and awe-inspiring destination. Its ancient landscape is spectacular and the hiking is incredible. Join Adventurous Women and our partners at Park Trek Walking Holidays on this five-day walking tour, a unique and comfortable outback experience. Explore the largest mountain range in South Australia and walk sections of Heysen and Mawson Trails and see a myriad of wildlife. You will more than likely spot large flocks of emu, wallabies and plenty more. We will take you to many renowned landmarks including Wilpena Pound, Mount Remarkable National Park, Brachina Gorge and Alligator Gorge.


Our 5-day fully accommodated trip includes all transport, meals and two Guides (one from Adventurous Women and one from Park Trek).  We stay at Rawnsley Park and enjoy all the creature comforts after a hard days hiking but have the added benefit of outdoor fires to relax and enjoy the shared company of our group. Enjoy the Flinders Ranges in comfort with us!

Gallery

Walking through creek beds
Wildflowers
Ever changing landscape
Views forever

Location

Please note map locations and route are approximate only

Highlights

● Flinders Ranges National Park

● Wilpena Pound

● The Heysen Trail

● Mount Remarkable National Park

● Alligator Gorge

● Brachina Gorge

● Blinman Pools

● Abundant Flora & Fauna

Itinerary

7.30am departure from The Chifley Hotel, 226 South Terrace, Adelaide CBD with a morning tea stop at a local coffee shop in Port Wakefield

We head further north and stop at Mambray Creek Reserve in Mount Remarkable National Park for our first walk of the tour. It is only a short walk up Daveys Gully but the views across Spencers Gulf and Whyalla are spectacular. Keep a look out for local wildlife including emu, Euros and kookaburras.

After our walk we continue on to our place of stay at Rawnsley Park Station. Here we unpack and relax with nibbles by the campfire followed by a two course-dinner prepared by your guides

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight accommodation at Rawnsley Park (two bedroom cabins). The property is situated just outside of Wilpena Pound and is the perfect base for exploring the area. Each cabin has its own ensuite.

After breakfast and lunch making we head out on the Morolana Scenic Drive, where we enjoy the sights of majestic River Red Gums.

We begin our walk on the famous Heysen Trail for a section that brings us into the Wilpena Pound. Today we enjoy lunch at Blacks Gap with captivating views of the Flinders Ranges. This is one of the very special walks of the Trail, starting with a pretty creek walk through Black Gap, before climbing the Pound Range to Bridle Gap, where a look back provides spectacular views of Elder Range.

We walk to the floor of the Wilpena Pound and stop off at Hills Homestead to gain a better understanding of how challenging life was for the 19th century pioneering farmers. Entering the Flinders Range National Park, it is a pleasant stroll across Wilpena Pound to complete the day.

There is an opportunity this afternoon for any guests who would like to take part in a scenic flight which can be booked onsite and departs from Rawnsley Park.

Nibbles around the campfire followed by a delicious two-course dinner prepared by your guides

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station

After breakfast and lunch making we depart Rawnsley Park for our days walking. Today we some shorter walks that offer great variety and spectacular views of the Flinders Ranges.

We start with an 8km walk of the Yuluna Circuit at Aroona where we discover old pastoral ruins and pass through contrasting rock formations and vegetation. The ruins of the old Aroona Homestead, built in the 1850s, serves as a reminder of the difficult early years of European settlement. The risk of failure through adverse seasons and native hostility to their intrusion was an ever-present factor in the pastoralists survival. This walk affords lovely views of the Heysen and Trezona Ranges.

Our second walk is the 3km Trezona loop walk where we can see some of the earliest life forms on earth in the Trezona formation.

We finish up todays activities by exploring Brachina Gorge which is one of the parks most popular and spectacular attractions. Brachina Gorge meanders its way through sharp saw-tooth ridges of resistant quartzite. This spectacular gorge was once used as a pass through which bullock teams pulled their loads. The ‘Corridors through Time’ Geological Trail has been established through this Gorge which interprets the geological history of the area.

Two-course dinner prepared by your guides at Rawnsley Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station

After breakfast and lunch making we head off. Todays walk is a 12km return journey to the beautiful Blinman Pools. The last pool makes for a great place to stop and relax under the magnificent river red gums or a swim if you’re game! The Blinman Pools, with their pretty waterfalls, have been popular picnic spots since the 1800s. Wildlife abounds as you wind your way through the rocky creek bed to the Pools. There are cascading waterfalls, majestic river red gums and wedge-tailed eagles.

In some places on the trail, sheer cliffs rise almost straight up from the creek bed, providing a spectacular backdrop. The two spring-fed creeks keep the first pool filled with water all year round. The second pool is low in summer, but after big rains it can fill up to 3 metres. At these times, the cool green waters stretch about 20-30 metres across.

We finish our walk mid afternoon and then take a short drive through Parachilna Gorge, past the trail-head of the Heysen Trail.

We have the option to spend some time in the outback town of Blinman before heading back to Rawnsley Park

Tonight we all enjoy dinner together at the Rawnsley Park onsite restaurant (guest own expense)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Rawnsley Park Station

After breakfast and lunch making we head off on what is our last day of tour. Today our walk encompasses a gem of the Flinders Ranges – Alligator Gorge back in the Mount Remarkable National Park. This walk has some of the most visually stunning scenery you’ll come across in the region.

Immerse yourself in the dramatic beauty of high ochre ridges, deep gorges and watercourses lined with river red gums. Alligator Gorge is one of the premier natural attractions in the Southern Flinders Ranges. This spectacular gorge, cut through ancient quartzite by the Alligator Creek.

After our walk, we head off, stopping en-route for lunch in Melrose (guest own expense) before heading south to arrive in Adelaide (via airport) at around 5.30pm.

For guests flying out of Adelaide – please book flights from 7.00pm.

Meals: Breakfast

Includes

Two friendly knowledgeable guides, who will drive, cook and care for you.

Return transport from Adelaide. We use a comfortable 12 seater mini coach with a trailer attached for luggage.

Meals as per the itinerary, plus trail mix, nibbles, fresh fruit, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits / cake.

4 nights accommodation on a twin share basis (single supplement available at additional expense).

All national park entry fees

4 Lunches

3 Dinners

4 Breakfasts

Excludes

Flights to/from Adelaide

Personal Travel Insurance

Single Supplement (Available on application for additional cost of $300)

Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

Items of a personal nature

Accommodation

Accommodation is at Rawnsley Park. The property is situated just outside Wilpena Pound and is the perfect base for exploring the area. Here we stay in comfortable two-bedroom cabins for four nights of the tour. These cabins have two bedrooms with the one shared bathroom between the two rooms, and a shared living area.

You can choose a single supplement if you would prefer not to share a bedroom, this means you would have one bedroom in the two bedroom cabin and are likely to be sharing the cabin (and bathroom) with one or two other guests. A single supplement is available at the time of booking. If you want to have a room to yourself (in a shared cabin, with a shared bathroom and kitchen) the total single supplement amount payable is $300 for the four nights.

What To Bring/Wear

- Clothing for the duration of the trip

- A comfortable pair of walking shoes (runners or flat-soled shoes will not suffice except as something you can wear after a days activity)

- Toiletries and any personal medication.

- Walking poles (if you are comfortable with using these).

- Other items relevant to specific trips will be detailed in trip notes sent to you prior to travel.

Note: Full details of what to bring will be provided booking and payment of a deposit.

More Information

Preparing for your walk:


If you are joining an Adventurous Women/Park Trek combined tour there are a few things to note. Most healthy adults can participate in our walking holidays. If you can walk upwards of 15 kilometres or more in a day, carrying a lightweight day pack, you will find our tours totally achievable. While we typically walk on well forged walking tracks, the quality and degree of difficulty can vary greatly. You may find some tracks rocky and lumpy underfoot, soft and sandy, or muddy and slippery. Sometimes there is the need to negotiate obstacles such as fallen trees, sections of scree or steep steps. Ensure you come along with, not only the right footwear, rain gear and clothing, but also the right frame of mind! 

 

Track Grading:

Grade 1 - No bush walking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Walks no greater than 5km.

Grade 2 - No bush walking experience required. The track is a hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km.

Grade 3 - Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bush walking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20km.

Grade 4 - Bush walking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.

Grade 5 - Very experienced bush walkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20km.


For guests flying out of Adelaide, please book your flights after 7.00pm

Cancellation & Refunds

In the event that you cancel your booking, the following charges apply as per the Terms & Conditions of Park Trek (our walking partners for this holiday).

Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women, with the following conditions:

60 days plus prior to trip departure – you will forfeit your tour deposit. 
59 to 15 days prior to trip departure – you will forfeit your deposit and be refunded 25% of the balance of your tour cost. 
Within 14 days of the trip departure –  you will forfeit 100% of the total tour cost.
No refund is available once the tour has commenced.

 

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR GUESTS IF IMPACTED BY COVID-19

If Park Trek or Adventurous Women is unable to run the tour due to COVID travel restrictions (ie: domestic border closures or quarantine periods between states) or if guests can't travel due to COVID travel restrictions, guests can either choose to:

1. Have their deposit refunded

2. Transfer across to another Adventurous Women/Park Trek combined Tour that suits

 



Update 19th September 2019 - ** Due to PayPal changing their policy to now retain fees even when we issue a refund we will be forced to pass this along. This means both partial and full refunds will be less the full fee charged by PayPal


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