The Flinders Ranges from Port Augusta
Most visitors head for Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. It includes Wilpena Pound and the Brachina and Bunyeroo Gorges. Before you leave Port Augusta you can sort out passes, maps and tours at the Wadlata Outback Centre before you leave.
This is an independent guide. It is not run by the park, the council or a tour operator. Road and trail conditions change, so check the park's current alerts before you set out.
Distances and fuel
Distances as listed by the Flinders Ranges Council. The total is the sum of the legs, not a measured route, and no driving time is guaranteed.
| Leg | Distance |
|---|---|
| Port Augusta to Hawker | 110 km |
| Quorn to Hawker | 64 km |
| Hawker to Wilpena Pound | 64 km |
| Port Augusta to Wilpena Pound via Hawker | about 174 km |
Hawker is the last town before Wilpena. Hawker Motors on the Cradock and Wilpena Road lists diesel, several petrol grades, a shop and a tire service. Listed hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from mid-March to mid-November and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the rest of the year. Fill up before you head into the park, and do not count on every fuel grade being in stock.
Our picks: Flinders Ranges tours
Three-day trips from Adelaide; none of them starts in Port Augusta.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
3-day 4WD tour through the Flinders Ranges and outback
Starts in Adelaide, not Port Augusta, with a driver-guide and an air-conditioned vehicle. The listed meals are included; snacks, alcohol and optional activities such as the extra flight on day two cost more.
Check availability →
Private 3-day Flinders Ranges expedition
A private tour that starts in Adelaide, not Port Augusta. Two nights, a guide and meals between pick-up and return are included; check park entries before you book.
Check availability →3-day 4WD trip to the Flinders Ranges and Clare Valley
Starts in Adelaide, not Port Augusta. Two nights, a guide and meals between pick-up and return are included; check park entries before you book.
Check availability →Flinders Ranges tours and day trips
Day trips and longer tours into the ranges, with live prices and availability.
Wilpena Pound
Wilpena Pound is the main visitor area of the park. The Visitor Information Centre is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the park is generally open daily. On days of Catastrophic Fire Danger all walking trails are closed.
Wilpena Pound Resort and its campground are inside the park. After the early October rain, the resort, the campgrounds, Arkaroo Rock and the track to Hills Homestead were listed as open. The St Mary Peak outside trail and Mt Ohlssen Bagge have loose rocks and erosion, so do not treat the park as one open network.
From 1 to 31 October 2026, several trails are closed at night between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. They include the St Mary Peak outside trail, Pound Gap, Trezona, Cooinda and Wilcolo. Weather closures apply on top of that.
Ikara-Flinders Ranges: closures to know
Dated notices from the park service. Check the current alerts before you go.
Rain damage, notice of 1 October 2026
Bunyeroo Gorge on the Bunyeroo Gorge Road is closed until repairs are done. The Brachina Gorge Road is open to 4WD vehicles only. Campgrounds were listed as open at that time.
Closure from 6 to 9 November 2026
Most of the park is closed from 9 p.m. on 6 November to 9 p.m. on 9 November. Wilpena Pound Resort and its campground are named as exceptions, and the other campgrounds are closed. Earlier notices mention through-routes for Brachina and Bunyeroo. The newer rain notice conflicts with that, so do not plan on a free drive-through.
Roads and conditions
Traffic SA covers roadworks and incidents. Outback Road Warnings covers temporary closures and restrictions to the north and west of Port Augusta. Check both before you leave.
Park fees, passes and camping
Amounts as listed in 2026. Confirm them when you pay.
Vehicle entry
The park lists A$14.40 per vehicle, to be paid before you enter. Some other listings show lower amounts such as A$10.90, so confirm the current fee when you pay.
Multi-park pass
Passes for 2 or 12 months cover Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Mount Remarkable but not camping. You do not need one for a single day visit. A single vehicle entry is sold separately.
Camping
Book ahead, even with a pass. Accommodation and camping is listed from A$12.30 per night. For most booked vehicle campgrounds the separate vehicle entry is not added, but hiker-only sites do not include vehicle entry. Read your booking confirmation.
Fees and closures for the other national park are on the Mount Remarkable page.
Ikara
The name and a longer tour option.
Ikara is part of the park's current name, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Use the full name when you look up passes, closures and bookings. A three-day 4WD tour listed in the state tourism directory visits stops such as Kanyaka, the Wangarra Lookouts and Hills Homestead, Brachina Gorge and Blinman. The actual route depends on the park restrictions above.
Safety in the ranges
Simple rules that reduce risk.
Water and heat
The park service suggests about 1 liter of water per hour of physical activity. Water in the park is not guaranteed. See the weather page for monthly temperatures.
Wildlife at dawn and dusk
Animals are more active around sunrise and sunset. Drive slowly and watch the road edges.
Phones and plans
Reception is unreliable in remote and steep parts of the park. Stay on marked trails, avoid closed sections and tell someone your route and return time.
Flinders Ranges: common questions
How far is Wilpena Pound from Port Augusta?
Adding the legs via Hawker gives about 174 km: 110 km from Port Augusta to Hawker plus 64 km from Hawker to Wilpena Pound. That is a calculated total, not a surveyed route.
Do I need a parks pass?
Not for every visit. You can pay a single vehicle entry, listed at A$14.40 in 2026. A multi-park pass for 2 or 12 months also covers Mount Remarkable but does not cover camping.
Can I drive the Brachina and Bunyeroo roads?
A notice of 1 October 2026 closes Bunyeroo Gorge until repairs and limits the Brachina Gorge Road to 4WD. Check the park's current alerts, especially around the closure of 6 to 9 November 2026.
Where can I buy fuel?
Hawker is the last town before Wilpena. Hawker Motors lists diesel and petrol, with hours that depend on the season. Fill up before you enter the park.
Do I need to book camping?
Yes. Book ahead, even if you hold a multi-park pass. The pass does not cover camping fees.
Can I do the Flinders Ranges as a day trip from Port Augusta?
Wilpena Pound is about 174 km each way, so a day trip is a long day. Allow for the distance, the heat and the closures listed above. A tour or an overnight stay gives you more time on the trails.