Walking at Wilpena Pound
There is an excellent brochure published by the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service which is available at the camping ground/motel at the entrance to Wilpena Pound. The booklet outlines some 13 walks in the pound. The most popular ones include:
1. Old Homestead and Wangara Lookout
This takes between 1-2 hours and is a relatively easy walk which goes through the Pound Gap, past the old Hill homestead and up the easy edge of the Pound so that, by the time the walker reaches Wangara Lookout, they have good panoramic views across the Pound.
2. The Drought Busters
This 1.5 kilometre walk takes about one hour and is an introduction to the flora which survives in this land where the rain and water supply is both low and unreliable.
3. Mt Ohlssen Bagge
This is a 2-3 hour walk which is strenuous but offers the walker a good view of the Pound floor and the country which lies to the east of the Pound.
4. Arkaroo Rock
15 km from Wilpena there is a car park at the foot of Arkaroo Rock. The walking trail from the car park takes about 1-2 hours but the rock walls have some very fine Aboriginal art including red ochre images of emu and bird tracks, snake lines, circles and leaves.
5. Edeowie Gorge
This is an 8-9 hour walk to the north west of the Pound. It goes to Edeowie Creek and Malloga Falls and enters and crosses a section of the Pound.
6. St Marys Peak
The highest peak (nearly 1200 metres) in the Wilpena Pound area this is a challenge for bushwalkers. The walk takes about 6-7 hours. It is a difficult walk but the walker is rewarded with an outstanding view of the whole of the pound.
7. Black Gap - Heysen Trail
This is part of the Heysen Trail which runs from Cape Jervis in the south to the northern end of the Flinders Ranges. It takes about 6-7 hours, crosses the Pound floor and passes over the Pound's western flank at Bridal Gap.
In the Area
Rawnsley Park Station
Rawnsley Park Station, which is located on the road south of Wilpena Pound and clearly signposted, was first settled by Europeans as part of Arkaba Station in 1851. Arkaba, Wilpena and Aroona were the first pastoral leases in the Central Flinders Ranges. The leases were granted for 14 years on what was described as 'unoccupied waste land'.
It is a comment to the tenacity of the farmers who settled Rawnsley Park that they persisted where many of the others in the area were defeated by droughts and government subdivisions.
In 1895 the section of Arkaba Station now known as Rawnsley Park Station, a portion of 6253 acres, was separated off and leased to a Mrs Fahey of Carrieton. The lease passed to a Mr Nugent in 1905.He built the simple stone house which still stands on the property near the old wagon. The Nugents started the present homestead in 1915 and it was completed by the next owner, Mon tgomery Haeusler, in the 1920s. The lease passed to a Neil Cutten in 1937 and in 1953 Clem Smith, father of the present owner, acquired the property. He added 1200 acres so the property is now 7453 acres. In 1968 Clem Smith started the Rawnsley Park Station accommodation with a single self-contained cabin. Since then the destination has grown so that it now includes conducted horse riding treks, hired mountain bikes, a range of 4WD tours, sheep shearing demonstrations and flights over Wilpena Pound. It also offers a variety of accommodation with a strong camping, caravan, family and group orientation.
Brachina Gorge
An impressive gorge which meanders between sharp ridges. It is located north of Wilpena Pound off the main road to Blinman and is characterised by precambrian and cambrian rocks with extensive fossils. It was once used as a pass by bullock teams.
Wilkawillana Gorge
An excellent place to view fossils and to explore the Mt Billy Creek. The walk takes about 4 hours. Look out for the small cone-shaped fossils embedded in the walls of the gorge.
Cazneaux Tree
Located off the Blinman Road this is one of the most famous trees in Australia. Photographed by Harold Cazneaux in 1937 and called 'The Spirit of Endurance' it was reproduced on calenders and posters all over the world.
Flora and Fauna
This is an area where it is possible to see a wide variety of flora and fauna in their natural habitat. The pound is home to Sturt's desert pea, river gums, mallee, acacia and casuarinas. The wildlife includes the red kangaroo, the euro, the yellow-footed rock wallaby, 18 species of snakes, 60 species of lizard, dingos, emus, galahs and wedge-tailed eagles.
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