Flinders Ikara Experience

Your Flinders Ikara experience begins in Hawker, at the junction of all roads to this magnificent region. Refuel and purchase last minute necessities before driving 95km to Gum Creek Lodge, where you will be guests of Gum Creek Station. Home of the McIntosh family, immerse yourself in the scenic grandeur of the ranges overlooking river red gums and stands of native pines. Unpack, relax, and settle in for sunset, parade of wildlife and a leisurely dinner.

The 200 km² of Gum Creek Station, stretches north from the boundary of Flinders-Ikara National Park. Station tracks, trails and natural attractions are for the exclusive use of guests, affording a closeness with the environment without distraction. After breakfast, fortified with a packed lunch and accompanied by 5th generation custodian of the pastoral lease, Bill McIntosh, we explore by vehicle and foot within the station boundaries. Visit Charlie's Camp, Red Hill Lookout, 'Old Glen View', perhaps a hike on the 'Great Wall of China'.  Bill shares insightful stories of this country, of pastoral and copper mining pursuits, environmental impacts, and a resilient community. Return to the tranquility of Gum Creek Lodge, to relax and recharge, for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, depart Gum Creek and join resepcted Adnyamnathanha Elder Kristian Coulthard on a fabulous 1.5 km interpretive walk to ancient aboriginal rock carvings (petroglyphs)which have survived millenia. We are privileged to have permission from traditional custodian Kristian and the pastoral lease custodians  to experience these cultural treasures.

Enjoying a packed lunch along the way, we meander through spectacular landscapes, mountains, hills, native pine, redgum-lined creek beds to explore the eerily intact ruins of Nucaleena Copper Mine built in 1860. So remote, what were they thinking! On  Moolooloo Station, we are guests of pastoral custodians Reece and Tarina Warren. Returning through Glass Gorge, visit historic Blinman, then ‘home’ for your last dinner and overnight in the comfort of Gum Creek Lodge.

After breakfast, and packed, we depart Gum Creek Station for a morning exploring Alpana Station, with the Henery family, 5th generation pastoralists, descendants of an entrepreneurial 12 year old Paddy Henery who left Ireland in 1878, for an unimagined pastoral adventure. Sally and David Henery share their knowledge and passion for the area, from geology, flora, pastoral and Adnyamathanha stories to how on earth they muster merinos on the insanely steep slopes. We visit the original pug and pine homestead, woolshed, and a drive scaling ‘Sunset Hill’ with extraordinary 360 degree views to all significant points of the Ranges and the shores of Lake Torrens. Departing Alpana, we investigate the old Blinman copper mine before winding through Parachilna Gorge to Parachilna and the Prairie Outback Lodge, our home for 2 nights. A beautifully appointed outback hotel, the country hospitality, and fare with flair of this Australian outback icon are legendary. Jane and Ross Fargher, their family and team have welcomed Prairie guests since 1991. An oasis where Desert meets Outback. Settle in, enjoy the significant gallery of art, many of the contemporary aboriginal artists represented in national and international collections. Chill into the evening with a stunning Parachilna Sunset a ‘sundowner’ and canapés, and a Prairie dinner. 

Prairie breakfast precedes a private day trip to Nilpena Station and Nilpena Ediacara National Park. Nilpena is the home of Jane and Ross Fargher, and site of world-renowned Ediacara fossils, representing the dawn of animal life on planet Earth. Ross, who discovered the fossils on Nilpena in the 1980’s, will host our visit to the fossil research site and station outbuilding precinct. A national treasure, cattleman Ross shares his story of Nilpena and the area. From first multi-cellular life on earth, to First Nation habitation, a significant pastoral history, setting for movies, TV series, ads, and many a memorable woolshed event! The Fargher’s surrendered two thirds, of their 870sq km Nilpena Pastoral Lease to the South Australian Government in 2019 to create the Nilpena Ediacara National Park, World Heritage nominated, ensuring custodianship, protection and research possibilities for future generations. For lunch we venture to Beltana, historic township nearby, with both a local Adnyamathanha Elder and a local driving force in supporting outback rural communities at a regional and national level. On return to the Prairie Outback Lodge, our final meal is a ‘Tastes of the Outback’ dinner.

Breakfast is the finale to your Flinders-Ikara experience.