The Flinders Ranges – worth every kilometre
Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello joins Explore SA each Wednesday to share his holiday inspirations and latest tips on exploring South Australia with friends and family.
Each week Cosi will suggest a selection of beautiful landscapes to visit, events to get involved in and fantastic activities to enjoy.
It is one of South Australia’s furthest regions to visit, and that of course is the reason not as many Adelaide folk end up going there, yet the Flinders Ranges is worth every kilometre travelled. For those who do not like travelling more than a few hours, you may find it easier to visit Fleurieu Peninsula or Barossa, yet I find the drive to be one of my favourite things about heading to the Flinders Ranges.
Nothing gets you up to speed with what is going on in someone else’s life than sitting next to them for four hours – it’s great. Plus, if you break the drive up with a meal in Clare and add a petrol and ice cream stop in, you’re laughing.
I recently filmed three accommodation places in the Flinders Ranges for South Aussie with Cosi. Rawnsley Park, a leader in Flinders Ranges tourism and has been for years, and two lesser known yet amazing places called Horse Shoe Top End and Bendlebey Ranges.
The Flinders Ranges has something for everyone and every budget. We stayed at the Arkapena Homestead in Rawnsley Park, it is 5 star accommodation but you would give it six if there was an extra star. It is amazing, perfect for two couples. A view over Wilpena Pound from the homestead makes this place worth every cent.
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If you want to do the Flinders Ranges on a smaller budget, the Bendlebey Ranges has got you well and truly covered. With permanent camper trailers set up for you to use for a great nightly price. That’s a camper trailer set up including annexe and a sink – no walking through the night to do your dishes.
Horse Shoe Top End boasts that its campsites are a minimum of one km apart. How good is that! Show me a city park that can say that.
There’s always a huge range of attractions to visit and plenty of events going on in the Flinders too. My favourite is Wilpena Under the Stars. It’s a Royal Flying doctors black tie fundraiser but be warned, get your tickets fast as it sells out super quick.
I think half the time driving home from the Flinders you spend talking about planning your next trip to the region. Those who have been know what I’m talking about, I can only hope those that haven’t been will one day know the joy the Flinders Ranges and Outback can bring.
