South Australia’s Flinders Ranges – a stunning part of our ancient land, and Rawnsley Park Station offers the total package when it comes to exploring them.
Farm life is bloody hard, and when your livelihood is in the stunningly beautiful, but unforgiving, Flinders Ranges in outback South Australia you need all kinds of smarts to make it work. But all kinds of smarts is exactly what Tony and Julie Smith of Rawnsley Park Station have – and they’ve used this knack for thinking outside of the box, and for hard work, to turn their historic sheep station into an award-winning tourism gem in the middle of the outback.
Despite the fact that much of my own family history is centred around the mid-north of South Australia, I hadn’t quite made it to the Flinders Ranges until a few months back. I’m well past the point in my life where camping and roughing it in the outback have any appeal to me, and was excited to visit Rawnsley Park as they celebrated their 50th anniversary as a tourist destination. It was a wonderful chance for a princess like me to enjoy the natural splendour of the area in stylish comfort.
This region is the traditional home of the Adnyamathanha people, who play a significant role in the management of the land (they also own and run the nearby Wilpena Pound Resort), and Rawnsley Park Station was originally part of the sprawling Arkaba Station which was settled in 1851.
Some of the locals dropped by.
The station is spread out over 12,404 ha (well over 30,000 acres) and is still an operating sheep property, but, in an effort to value-add to their property, early owners Clem and Alison Smith began offering tourism options to those visiting the Flinders Ranges.
Beginning modestly in 1968 with simple accommodation, Clem also provided guests with a first hand view at work on the station followed by morning tea made and served by Alison. Now run by son and daughter-in-law Tony and Julie Smith, visitors today can still expect the same warm welcome, along with a much expanded tourism offering.
Part of the generous living areas in our eco-villa
Appealing to travellers in all brackets, the accommodation at Rawnsley Park now includes a caravan park, with cabins, powered sites, full amenities, a pool and licensed store or self-contained, air conditioned one to three bedroomed 3.5 star holiday units with outdoor decks, fully equipped kitchens and satellite television.
Visitors after a little luxury (yes, that’s me) can choose from either the fabulous Rawnsley Homestead, a beautifully appointed homestead with a private pool and stunning views of the Chace Ranges, or the sustainable and energy-neutral eco-villas. These one and two bedroomed villas offer spacious living areas, wide verandahs and fantastic over-the-bed skylights, perfect for midnight star-gazing.
Bedroom – note over-the-bed skylight for midnight star gazing – which opens and closes to avoid too much of an early morning start.
Once you settled into your preferred accommodation option it’s time to explore this timeless land and, if you prefer not to do that by yourself, once again the Smith family have stepped up with adventures to suit everyone.
They offer daybreak (with breakfast included) and day-long walks, or three and five day walking tours, led by experienced guides with an intimate knowledge of the land and the local flora and fauna, that return you to your comfy bed at the end of each day. This is the kind of walking I enjoy most – we have plans to head back there soon for a walk or two.
Early morning visitor, singing us into the day.
Ranwsley Bluff at sunset.
Wheeled options include mountain bike trails or a large selection of four wheel drive tours. For the ultimate experience, guests can choose helicopter tours, the Heli-Swag experience which includes a night in the Pound, scenic flights over the Pound or extended flights to Lake Eyre or Arkaroola.
And, if the idea of cooking a meal at the end of the day doesn’t appeal, guests can dine in style at the fully licensed Woolshed Restaurant. They offer a la carte dining and, of course, they also serve their own delicious lamb.
The view from our eco-villa.
Rawnsley Park Station is a wonderful way to experience the unique South Australian outback – this is totally the Flinders Ranges at it’s best.
My favourite part was the bedroom with the skylight above the bed. I’m not one for early rises but I am one for star gazing in bed!