South Australia: Outback Edition

Day trip around Flinders Range

Rawnsley Park Station sits on the traditional lands of the Adnyamathanha people, who have cared for this country for countless generations. Their connection to the Flinders Ranges adds a layer of reverence to every moment—from the red-rock sunrises to the quiet nights under a sky filled with stars. My time here felt like stepping into a place where the landscape itself tells a story millions of years in the making.

Scenic flight over Wilpena Pound

If there’s one experience that made my jaw drop, it was the scenic flight over Wilpena Pound. Rawnsley Park Station has its own airstrip, so you lift straight off the property and immediately get sweeping views of the ranges.

Seeing Wilpena Pound from above is breathtaking—an enormous natural amphitheater nearly 80 square kilometers wide, carved over hundreds of millions of years. From the air, the ridgelines look sculpted, almost otherworldly, like a massive bowl of red rock rising from the desert floor. It’s a perspective you simply can’t grasp from the ground.

Scenic flight over Wilpena Pound

Daybreak Loop Walk & bush breakfast

The Daybreak Loop Walk is one of those experiences that grounds you in the slow magic of the outback. In the soft morning light, the ranges glow gold, then pink, then a deep terracotta.

Our guide, Damo, was incredible—he spotted yellow-footed rock wallabies before any of us could, pointed out native plants used for traditional purposes, and explained how the geology reveals the story of an ancient seabed-turned mountain range.

The walk ends with a delicious bush breakfast cooked outdoors. Somehow coffee tastes better when you’re surrounded by nothing but rugged cliffs and open sky.

Bush breakfast after a guided hike

Wilpena Pound & Brachina Gorge touring

A day trip through Wilpena Pound and Brachina Gorge is the perfect way to understand the vastness of this region. You’ll drive past fossil-rich rock formations, across dry creek beds, and along sections of the original seabed. Emus and kangaroos wander freely, and the scale of the scenery makes you feel tiny in the best possible way.

Brachina Gorge, with its towering canyon walls and geological layers, feels like driving through a time capsule—a powerful reminder of just how old Australia’s landscapes truly are.

Wildlife in the outback

Stargazing at Rawnsley Park Station

Nights at Rawnsley Park Station are pure magic. With almost zero light pollution, the Milky Way stretches across the sky in a bright, shimmering band.

Staying in the eco villas made stargazing even more special—the open ceiling windows frame the night sky right above your bed. I’ll never forget lying there, watching constellations drift slowly overhead. It was peaceful, grounding, and one of the moments that made this place unforgettable.

Getting there

The journey to Rawnsley Park Station is part of the adventure but it’s a long drive, so bring motion-sickness medication if you’re prone to it, especially for the scenic flight or winding roads through the ranges. The small six-seater plane is an incredible experience, but those who aren’t comfortable in tight spaces should plan accordingly.

Packing & weather

Closed-toe shoes are a must for hikes and station tours, and during high fly season, a bug net or face covering will make exploring much more comfortable. The weather in October was perfect warm days, cool nights, and clear skies, but I wouldn’t recommend visiting in peak summer when temperatures can soar.

Rawnsley Park is all about slowing down, getting outside, and embracing the outback’s rhythm. Pack light, stay curious, and let the wide-open landscape do the rest.

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