Camping in the Flinders Ranges is extremely popular, with around 33% of visitors choosing to pitch a tent or sleep under the stars.
The options are as numerous as they are diverse and cater to all types of travellers, whether you’re a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, family on a school holiday trip or an adventurer with a pet sidekick.
This in-depth Flinders Ranges camping guide will explore the following choices in more detail:
1) Free camping.
2) Camping in the Flinders Ranges National Park.
3) Caravan park camping.
4) Pet-friendly camping.
5) Station stay camping, and
6) Luxury glamping.
1) Free camping
Free camping is uncommon in the Flinders Ranges for two primary reasons.
Most of the best areas to camp are in the national park, and outside of this, numerous pastoral stations now offer station stay camping.
Both options are not free, but the cost is small and people seem happy to pay it.
With the above said, there are a few free camping sites that are worth a look.
Hancock’s Lookout
Hancock’s Lookout offers tremendous views over the upper Spencer Gulf. On a clear day, you may even be able spot towns on eastern Eyre Peninsula.
While there are signs advising otherwise, camping is permitted for up to 24 hours outside of the fire ban season. The season usually runs from November to April, but check the CFS website for exact dates.
Campers here need to be fully self-contained. There are no toilets, but there are rubbish bins and picnic tables.
The 7 kilometre dirt access road may be sketchy after rain too, but some campers have towed with 2WD vehicles and made it just fine.
Parachilna Gorge
Parachilna Gorge is a popular free camping option in the Northern Flinders Ranges.
Numerous campsites are dotted throughout the gorge which criss-crosses the Blinman to Parachilna road.
The Heysen Trail Camp Site (at the northern terminus of the Heysen Trail) is one example. You don’t actually need to be a walker to camp here, but the site is on the smaller side and may be busy from time to time.
Parachilna Gorge Campground
A better spot to stay is the main Parachilna Gorge Campground a few kilometres to the east. This is a beautiful area under majestic eucalypts on the banks of Parachilna Creek, and there are probably hundreds of sites in total.
Choose carefully, however, especially for a stay in winter! If you camp too close to the towering rock face above, you may find yourself saying goodbye to the sun prematurely.
There are no amenities at Parachilna Gorge Campground, but one could easily venture to Angorichina Village in a pinch. What’s more, if you want phone signal, you’re going to have to work for it by climbing the nearest hill.
More places to free camp in the Flinders are listed here.
2) Camping in Flinders Ranges National Park
Camping in the national park is a popular choice because it is more untouched than the surrounding country and equally as peaceful.
There are ten different campgrounds within the park boundaries, or eleven if you include Wilpena Pound Resort!
None of these sites are free, but the minimal fee is a small price to pay for privilege of staying inside the national park.
Now let’s take a look at each campground and what is available.
Acraman
Close to Bunyeroo Gorge and with large, private campsites is the Acraman Campground.
Note that there are only four sites available at Acraman, so book early if your heart is set on staying there.
This is a desirable campground because of its proximity to Razorback Lookout and Bunyeroo Gorge.
It’s also shielded from the wind by large trees and the fact that there are only 4 sites means it is more peaceful and private.
If you’re lucky, you may even have the whole Acraman campground to yourself!
Acraman Campground
Accessibility – high-clearance 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents and camper trailers.
Facilities – long drop toilet, water tank, fire pits with BBQ plates.
Total number of campsites – 4.
Individual campsite capacity – maximum 1 vehicle or 7 persons.
Price – $25 per night.
Check dates or book an Acraman campsite
Aroona
Located at the northern end of the national park in the Aroona Valley, this is one my favourite places to camp or just to visit for a picnic.
Aroona is located at the end of the one-way road, so you won’t hear much road noise.
Nearby are the ruins of early pastoral pursuits as well as Aroona Hut – a four-room pug and pine hut built in 1925 by early pastoralist Eddie Pumpa.
The Yuluna Loop trail passes nearby in addition to the Heysen Trail.
Aroona Campground
Accessibility – high-clearance 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, and caravans.
Facilities – long-drop toilet, bus parking, water tank, fire pits with BBQ plates.
Total number of campsites – 13.
Individual campsite capacity – maximum 1 vehicle or 7 persons.
Price – $25 per night.
Check dates or book an Aroona campsite
Brachina East
Set off the Brachina Gorge road with a total of 14 sites is the Brachina East Campground.
Half of these are 2WD accessible and suitable for caravans and camper trailers. The other half are across the creek and accessible only by 4WD.
Brachina East Campground
Accessibility – 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, and a few select sites for caravans.
Facilities – long-drop toilet, fire pits (some with BBQ plate), water tank.
There is only one toilet here, and it may be quite a walk depending on which site you book. Distances from facilities for each site can be checked via the link below.
Total number of campsites – 13.
Site capacity – 2WD sites have a capacity of 1 vehicle (7 persons), while some of the 4WD sites can accommodate up to 2 vehicles (14 persons).
Price – $25 per night for 1 vehicle sites, and $36 per night for 2 vehicle sites.
Check dates or book a Brachina East campsite
Cambrian
Cambrian is a cool, shaded campground near the Bunyeroo Gorge road that feels a little more remote than some of the other national park campgrounds.
It is set amongst a beautiful pine forest with flat and shady sites.
There are 13 sites available for both 2WD and 4WD vehicles.
Cambrian Campground
Accessibility – 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, and caravans.
Facilities – long drop toilet, water tank, fire pit with BBQ plate, large rocks for seating and table.
Total number of campsites – 13.
Site capacity – maximum 1 vehicle or 7 persons.
Price – $25 per night.
Check dates or book a Cambrian campsite
Dingley Dell
Dingley Dell is located next to the main Wilpena to Blinman road on Oraparinna Creek.
The campground is right next to the road, so you may experience some traffic noise during the day. But this also makes it nice and accessible when roads to other campsites are closed.
While Dingley Dell will never top the list of best campsite in the Flinders, it is perfectly fine for a stay of one or two nights.
Note also that there is limited shade.
Dingley Dell Campground
Accessibility – easy access for both 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, caravans.
Facilities – long-drop toilet, water tank, rock seating, and some shared stone tables and fire pits.
Total number of campsites – 7 (some sites are also drive-through).
Site capacity – maximum 1 vehicle or 7 persons.
Price – $25 per night.
Check dates or book a Dingley Dell campsite
Koolamon
Are you a fan of the artist Hans Heysen and his works?
If so, Koolamon is the campground for you. There are superb views of the mountains from here and some campers will also appreciate that there are not one but two long-drop toilets.
Koolamon offers 13 mostly shady sites with access to the Yuluna Loop hike across the usually dry Aroona Creek.
There is only a small section for 2WD campers, and it should be noted that some of the sites are close to each other. Some are also on a bit of a slope with erosion channels carved out by run-off.
Tip: if you’re travelling as part of a larger group, book campsites 5, 6, and 7 as they are relatively close together.
Koolamon Campground
Accessibility – high-clearance 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, and caravans.
Facilities – long-drop toilets, fire pits with BBQ plates, water tank. There are also a few drive-through sites.
Total number of campsites – 13 (6 for high-clearance 2WD, 7 for 4WD).
Site capacity – maximum 1 vehicle (7 persons) for 2WD sites and maximum 2 vehicles (14 persons) for 4WD sites.
Price – $25 per night for 2WD sites, $36 per night for 4WD sites.
Check dates or book a Koolamon campsite
Teamsters
A favourite of many, the Teamsters Campground is near the western end of Brachina Gorge where the creek (when it flows) spills out onto the plains.
Teamsters is located on a cliff top above Brachina Creek, and for those who are interested, fossils set in Wilkawillina limestone can be viewed nearby. The kids will also appreciate the cave located across the creek.
Some of the 6 sites are rather exposed, but they do offer tremendous views of the peaks surrounding the gorge.
Teamsters Campground
Accessibility – high-clearance 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, caravans, and buses.
Facilities – long-drop toilets, water tank, shared fire pits with BBQ plate, and large rocks for tables and seating. Campsites 3, 4, 5, and 6 are spacious and have their own fire pits, but shade is limited.
Total number of campsites – 6.
Site capacity – for campsites 1, 2, and 3, the capacity is 1 vehicle or 7 persons. For campsite 4, the capacity is 2 vehicles or 1 vehicle with a caravan (up to 8 persons).
Campsites 5 and 6 can accommodate up to 15 persons across 3 vehicles, or 2 vehicles with camper trailers or caravans.
Price – $25 per night for campsite 1, 2, and 3. $36 for campsite 4. $47 per night for campsite 5 and 6.
Check dates or book a Teamsters campsite
Trezona
Another situated on the Brachina Gorge road, Trezona is a large campground with 15 campsites each having decent separation.
The campground is close to the Trezona Hike and for those with even a passing interest in geology, it is just a short 600 metre walk to the Ediacaran Golden Spike.
Trezona is ideal for convoys with many of its spacious sites able to accommodate 3 vehicle loads of people. There’s also a decent amount privacy between each site.
Please drive slowly through the campground as the access road kicks up a lot of bulldust in dry periods.
Trezona Campground
Accessibility – 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, and caravans.
Facilities – long-drop toilet, picnic area, water tank, fire pits with BBQ plates, and rock seating and dining areas.
Total number of campsites – 15.
Site capacity – the capacity of campsites 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 13 is three vehicles or 21 people in total.
Campsites 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15 are for perfect for 1 vehicle or a maximum of 7 persons. For something in between, try campsite 3 with a capacity of 2 vehicles (14 persons).
Price – the price for 1, 2, and 3 vehicle capacity campsites is $25 per night, $36 per night, and $47 per night respectively.
Check dates or book a Trezona campsite
Wilcolo
Wilcolo is a beautiful, secluded campground near St. Mary’s Peak – the highest peak in the entire Flinders Ranges.
Wilcolo is a walk-in site, which means it is only accessible to hikers and cyclists on either the Heysen or Mawson Trails.
If you were so inclined, you could also hike the 7 kilometres to Wilcolo from Wilpena Pound Resort, stay the night, and then return in the morning.
Note that campfires are prohibited all year round.
Wilcolo Campground
Accessibility – hikers only, no vehicle access.
Suitability – tents.
Facilities – long-drop toilet, water tank.
Total number of campsites – unallocated camping area.
Site capacity – around 50 hikers.
Price – $11 per night.
Check dates or book a Wilcolo campsite
Youngoona
Youngoona is a small campground with only 4 relatively exposed sites near the confluence of Enorama and Oraparinna Creek.
The eponymous Youngoona waterhole is spring-fed and sections of the creek run all year round. This tends to be one of the less busy national park campgrounds.
Youngoona Campground
Accessibility – high clearance 2WD and 4WD.
Suitability – tents, camper trailers, and caravans.
Facilities – campsites 1, 3, and 4 have dedicated fire pits. Note that there are no toilets or water tank at Youngoona.
Total number of campsites – 4.
Site capacity – maximum 1 vehicle or 7 persons.
Price – $25 per night.
Check dates or book a Youngoona campsite
What fees are applicable?
The cost to camp in the Flinders Ranges National park varies according to the number of vehicles a particular site can accommodate.
Here’s an example if it’s not clear from the above information.
At the Brachina East Campground, sites suitable for one vehicle (up to 7 persons) are $25 per night, while large sites that can accommodate up to 2 vehicles (14 persons) are $36 per night.
How can campsites be booked?
Sites need to be reserved and paid for online before you arrive, and it’s good practice to do this before you town since there are vast areas of the national park without mobile coverage.
You wouldn’t be able to rock up to Trezona Campground, for example, and scope the place out before setting up camp.
If you can’t book online or would prefer to do it face-to-face, you can visit a certified National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) agent.
Here’s a link to a list of agents with the closest to the park being:
- Wilpena Pound Resort.
- Hawker Visitor Information Centre.
- Flinders Ranges Information Centre (Quorn).
- Wadlata Outback Centre (Port Augusta), and
- SJ + JA Wild Rural & Hardware (Wilmington).
What about the vehicle entry fee?
Campers who stay in one of the national park’s campgrounds do not need to pay the entry fee which currently stands at $13 per vehicle.
What is the check-in and check-out time?
Please arrive no earlier than 1 pm and leave no later than 11 am the morning of your departure.
Do permits need to be displayed?
It is advisable to have a printed or digital copy of your permit, but it does not need to be displayed on your vehicle or tent.
Park staff have a record of each booking and its associated vehicle registration number.
Wilpena Pound Resort campground
Wilpena Pound Resort is the only commercial campground inside Flinders Ranges National Park.
It’s also the only place where you can camp next to Wilpena Pound itself.
Unpowered bush sites
The campground covers a vast area, with the majority of space taken up by approximately 300 unpowered sites.
Popular areas include anywhere near Wilpena Creek and along the eastern and northern fence near the amenities block and camp kitchen.
If you’d like a little more privacy, head up to the north-western section of the campground near the safari tents. You’ll have to walk further to use the toilet and shower, but will likely have the area to yourself.
Ask one of the friendly staff at the visitor centre for directions on the map they hand out.
Amenities blocks
There are four or five amenities blocks servicing the campground, and they will be busy in the morning in peak periods.
Sometimes they can be dirty, dusty, and a little rough around the edges, but they mostly do the job.
Unpowered sites are available for $19 per night.
Powered sites at Wilpena Pound
The powered site area is nice enough, but vans are always packed in and you’ll need to book ahead. Sites are also suitable for tents, camper trailers, and small to medium sized motorhomes
Powered sites can be booked for $30 per night with water and shared fire pits also available.
3) Caravan park camping in the Flinders Ranges
Where else can you camp in the Flinders in a more caravan park-style environment?
Rawnsley Station is the most obvious choice for its superb location, facilities, and staff. But if you’re still tossing up between Rawnsley and Wilpena, maybe this comparison will help you make a decision.
Otherwise, here are some options to consider.
Quorn Caravan Park
I have stayed at the Quorn Caravan Park on several occasions and been greeted with country hospitality each time.
The park does not have the largest camping area, but it is set amongst beautiful native landscaping. It’s also a short walk to the Quorn silo art, Pithi Kawi Bush Food Garden, and the town’s main street.
The amenities are also clean and functional.
Hawker Caravan Park
Hawker is an ideal base to explore the attraction-rich Central Flinders Ranges, and we’re lucky to have an excellent caravan park in the town.
There are several drive-through sites as well flat and shady sites for tents, camper trailers, and caravans.
For those who prefer to pitch a tent or roll out their swag, there is also an unpowered bush camping area up the back.
The owners of the Hawker Caravan Park are super friendly people who have worked hard to create a fun and friendly park. Guests also love the clean amenities and swimming pool for those hot summer days.
Angorichina Tourist Village
For something nearer to Blinman, Parachilna, Leigh Creek, Parachilna Gorge, Glass Gorge, and Chambers Gorge, why not camp at Angorichina Village?
The shower, toilet, and laundry facilities here are nothing fancy but are clean and functional. The views, however, are something else, with the smallish camp area nestled on a hill surrounded by multi-coloured mountains.
Angorichina is the only place for miles where you can get petrol and diesel, too.
Camping in Melrose
I’m including Melrose in this list because of the numerous Flinders Ranges camping options the town offers.
For starters, there’s the Melrose Caravan & Tourist Park which is under new ownership and set on the banks of Willochra Creek.
There’s also bush camping at the nature-oriented Kookaburra Creek Retreat and at the mountain bike-oriented Under the Mount.
For a more detailed look at these camping options, check out my guide to Melrose accommodation here.
4) Pet-friendly camping
Since camping with pets in Flinders Ranges National Park is a no go, here are some options just outside the park.
Places like the Rawnsley Park Station and Skytrek Willow Springs allow pets and offer a fabulous taste of outback living at the same time.
Both places are just outside the park boundary and so are well positioned for the various Flinders Ranges attractions.
In the case of Rawnsley, you can leave your pets with their dedicated daycare service while you explore the national park on your own. There are also two cabins in the caravan park that allow pets inside.
Your best pet, I mean bet..
If you need a bit more flexibility with location or price, most of the Flinders Ranges station stays also allow pets.
Edeowie Station
Edeowie Station, situated on the western side of Wilpena Pound, is one of many great options in the Flinders. Five unpowered and 4 powered campsites afford superb views of said Pound across flat expanses of saltbush and tree lined creeks.
One attractive quality of Edeowie Station is the ability to hike into Edeowie Gorge from the other side of Wilpena Pound. The other only public access to the gorge is via the visitor centre in the national park and it’s a long, long walk.
Firewood is available for purchase with each site having its own fire pit. Hot showers can be purchased for $5, and there is also a more central toilet for the bush sites.
If you do bring a pet, know that it must be on a leash or contained at all times. Edeowie Station is close to the national park boundary and there may be poisonous baits in the area.
Scroll down to the next section for more information about camping on these stations where similar rules and best practices around pets apply.
5) Station stay camping in the Flinders Ranges
Experience the majestic Flinders Ranges like never before by camping on a working pastoral station.
Each station offers its own rustic charm and are run by the sort of authentic, hospitable people you only find in the outback.
While most stations offer camping, where they differ lies in what experiences are available. Some run station tours, while others provide access to private 4WD tracks, hikes, and other points of interest.
Here are some of the top picks for station stay camping in the Flinders Ranges.
Merna Mora Station
Merna Mora Station is a place you’ll book for two nights but stay for four. Friendly hosts, superb 4WD tracks, and powered and bush camping sites on the Moralana Creek await.
Bush toilets are provided, and showers are available for $6 per person at the station around 500 metres away.
Skytrek Willow Springs Station
Established as Appealinna in 1856, Willow Springs Station is a 70,000-acre sheep station that was purchased by the Reynolds family in 1952.
Though better known for its station stay accommodation, Willow Springs does offer a few private and secure campsites with clean amenities and fire pits.
Each campsite also comes with its own picnic table and long drop toilet, with the camp kitchen and amenities block about 2 kilometres.
But if you’d like to camp closer to those facilities, you certainly can!
Willow Springs welcomes all types of vehicles, including caravans and motorhomes.
The station is 20 kilometres from Wilpena along the Wilpena to Blinman road.
It’s just a hop, skip, and jump to Stokes Hill Lookout – the best lookout in the Flinders famous for its 360-degree panoramic views.
Also in the area are Appealinna Ruins, Wilkawillina Gorge, and the Bunkers Conservation Reserve.
Flinders Bush Retreats
Flinders Bush Retreats touts itself as a “boutique farm stay” that, like Rawnsley Park, diversified into tourism to supplement its income.
In addition to a couple of luxurious restored homesteads, Flinders Bush Retreats also offers 6 unpowered bush campsites in Willow Waters Gorge.
The campsites are located 21 kilometres east of Hawker in an area few visitors to the Flinders ever see. Perfect if you like to be able to hear a pin drop at night.
6) Glamping in the Flinders Ranges
At the premium end of the spectrum is the emerging trend of glamping – a more luxurious form of camping that combines a nature-based experience with modern and sometimes luxurious creature comforts.
Flinders Bush Retreats
One of the best options for glamping in the Flinders Ranges is the very recently mentioned Flinders Bush Retreats.
The property’s sole Eco Tent offers a private, peaceful, sustainable, and self-contained stay away from the demands of modern life. It is located in the secluded Willow Waters Gorge and you’re travelling party will feel like the only people left on Earth.
The Eco Tent is more about nature and less about modernity, however.
There is no 240 V electricity to run household appliances like a television, but there is a fridge, small kitchenette, ensuite, and queen bed.
There are also reports that guests are greeted with a cheese platter and bottle of something or other on arrival.
Arkaba Conservancy
Arkaba Conservancy has a unique twist on the glamping concept that only be appreciated if you’re willing to lace the boots up and walk for a few days.
The land on which Arkaba sits is a former sheep station now transformed into a wildlife preserve and tourism venture. It’s in one of the most majestic areas of the Flinders with mountain vistas around every turn.
Sure, you could stay in the homestead with access to the open bar and your own personal chef. This is the most luxurious stay money can buy in the Flinders Ranges.
Alternatively, sign up for the 3 day, 40 kilometre Arkaba Walk where’ll you spend two nights glamping it under the stars.
If it sounds like you need to be moderately fit, it’s because you do. But you only need to carry a small backpack, and the reward each evening is the chance to sleep in a double swag perched on a custom built deck with ensuite.
All the while, you’ll be fed the best local food and wine the state has to offer and no doubt experience numerous animal encounters.
Camp safety
As peaceful and stress-free as camping in the Flinders Ranges can be, it is helpful to consider some basic safety tips.
Everyone wants to have an enjoyable time and return home in one piece, but it’s also important that we preserve the wild beauty of the Flinders for others.
Planning your campsite
First and foremost, plan your campsite carefully.
Look for relatively level ground and shaded areas for setting up your tent, but try to avoid areas directly under large eucalypts which can drop limbs. Also ensure you’re a safe distance from cliffs and potential rock fall.
If rain is predicted, avoid camping near waterways as sudden rains can cause flash floods. It may be sunny where you are, but rain that has fallen tens of kilometres away can easily flow downstream and wash away your campsite.
Respect the environment
Always respect the natural environment. Do not leave any trash behind for obvious reasons.
Bins are provided at most of the campsites, but if they happen to be full or non-existent, please take your rubbish with you.
Firewood collection is also prohibited within Flinders Ranges National Park, and to be honest, it’s been picked to death at the above mentioned campgrounds anyway.
Firewood collection is also prohibited in parts of the Flinders Ranges Council area, and you may see signs on the side of the road to that effect.
Be wary of the fire ban season
On a related note, be aware that the fire ban season runs from November 1 to April 30 in South Australia.
This can change according to the dominant climate system. During El Nino years with low rainfall and hot, windy temperatures, the season may start in the middle of October for the Flinders Ranges and then run past the end of April.
During this time, it is prohibited to light fires in the open to minimise the risk of bushfires. Outside of the fire ban season, exercise common sense when enjoying your campfire and never leave it unattended.
Final thoughts
Experiencing the Flinders Ranges under an open sky is a bucket-list experience for some and an annual tradition for others.
Camping in the Flinders remains the best way to experience its impeccable blend of mesmerising landscapes, diverse local fauna and flora, and peaceful outback serenity.
Your best option for camping with pets is to book a station stay as most stations will allow them. Otherwise, the national park is a terrific place to camp and fall in love with the essence of the Flinders (if you haven’t already).
Glamping is a trendy – though currently underutilised – form of camping in the Flinders Ranges. But I expect this will change in the near future.
Flinders Bush Retreats offers a fantastic glamping experience only matched by that which is offered on the Arkaba Walk.
As always, leave a comment below if you have any questions!
