Flinders Ranges Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

There are a number of ways to get to the Flinders Ranges but the easiest and most convenient way is to drive as the ranges are remote and hard to access without a vehicle. Depending on where in the country you're travelling from, you can fly into Adelaide Airport, hire a car from one of six car rental companies, and then begin your 5 and a half hour (460km) journey to the ranges. 

Read more about getting to the Flinders Ranges

The weather in the Flinders Ranges is fairly seasonal throughout the year with varying temperatures ranging from 5°C in winter to as high as 38°C in summer. During winter and autumn, there's a high likelihood of rain and if temperatures drop down low enough, it has been known to snow. The hottest months to visit the Flinders Ranges are in December, January, and February.

The best time to visit the Flinders Ranges is between May to October as the weather is still reasonably warm and free of humidity. There is a chance of experiencing some rainfall and even snowfall during these times but, on average, the daily temperatures are around 15°C. It's unsuitable to travel to the region in the summer months as the high temperatures make hiking and spending long periods of time in the ranges unsafe. 

What to pack for a trip to the Flinders Ranges largely depends on what time of the year you're travelling in and what kind of holiday you want to have. If you plan on hiking, make sure to bring comfortable hiking/walking shoes, a day bag, a reusable drink bottle, a camera, and sunscreen. During the warmer months, packing shorts, t-shirts, and dresses is acceptable. You'll also want to pack a hat to protect you from the sun's UV rays. During the winter months make sure you're packing appropriate colder weather clothing. 

Australia is a big place so tours in the Flinders Ranges can involve a lot of time on the road covering long distances and services can be limited so bring some snacks and a book or some tunes to keep you company. Or you can sit back and enjoy the scenery and keep an eye out for eagles, emus and other local wildlife along the way. 

The phone service is fairly good in the Flinders Ranges, especially at your booked accommodation but, as in any national park, phone service will be spotty and may even drop out in places. Visitor centres in the park will have wifi services you can connect to but expect to be off-the-grid if you're camping or going on long hikes. 

The traditional custodians of the Flinders Ranges are the Adnyamathanha peoples who have lived on this land for thousands of years. Throughout the national park, you'll see ancient rock paintings, carvings, and engravings that tell the story of the landscape and how Adnyamathanha peoples have lived from generation to generation. The Ikara-Flinders National Park is now co-managed by the Adnyamathanha peoples and representatives from the Department of Environment, Water, and Natural Resources. 

Read more about the traditional owners of the Flinders Ranges

Your safety is our number one priority, so we don't cut corners. Ever. All our leaders are adequately qualified, experienced, and insured, so you don't need to worry about a thing. We only hike on well-settled trails and we follow local rules. Always. If the local authorities tell us it’s not advisable to walk specific trails, then we won’t. If the weather is not looking good, we'll change our plans. If the trail is too busy, we'll turn around and hike elsewhere. It's as simple as that.

The Flinders Ranges features plenty of walking trails over varied terrain, so these trips are best suited to travellers with a good level of mobility. Our walking trips in the Flinders Ranges have a high physical rating so training in the lead-up to your trip is recommended. Before joining the trip, make sure you have the appropriate footwear and if you feel like you'll need them, a set of walking poles. 

All of our walking trips in the Flinders ranges are in the point-to-point style meaning you'll be walking from one place to the next, pretty much every day. In short, you'll start in A and finish in B, walking between 2 kilometres and 15 kilometres per day. 

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid