The Flinders Ranges are one of South Australia's most famous outback tour destinations, and are world-renowned for their rugged mountain landscapes, spectacular gorges, sheltered sandy creeks lined with majestic River Red Gums, and their abundant flora and fauna. It's one of the authentic Australia outback destination, the the Ranges are nevertheless easily accessible from the South Australian capital of Adelaide.
The Flinders Ranges National Park is situated between the outback South Australian towns of Hawker and Blinman. Covering over 950 square kilometers, the park is about 450 kilometers north of Adelaide and offers a broad range of outdoor activities for all ages and tastes including camping, bushwalking, scenic touring, photography, bird watching and Aboriginal and European tour activities exploring the history and cultures of the region.
Nocturnal animals such as dunnarts and planigales are rarely seen as they are mainly active at night and are generally quite small. Bats represent one-third of the native mammal fauna of the Ranges National Park. Their high pitched sounds can frequently be heard as they hunt insects attracted to the light of camp fires at night. Echidnas (native Australian porcupines) are common within the park in early spring (Sep-Oct). Over 100 native bird species are found in the Flinders Ranges National Park, including colorful Australian Ringneck Parrots, Pink and Grey galahs, the migratory Rainbow Bee-eater, the small Elegant Parrots and the Red-capped Robin. Tree-lined creeks and springs provide an ideal habitat for a large variety of reptiles, including skinks, geckoes, legless lizards, lizards, goannas and snakes. Now rare, the large Carpet Python can be found in tree hollows, on rock ledges, and moving on the ground to hunt at night.
An intriguing combination of both moisture-dependant and arid-adapted plants co-exist in the the Ranges. The specialized habitats of local indigenous plants are bound to the geology of the region, and are shaped by landform, climate, soil and fire. A majority of the plants found in the Flinders Ranges National Park are arid-adapted. Cypress Pines are found across much of the park, while Porcupine Grass is found on stony hills. Black Oak and Mallee trees are found on the deeper soils in the north-east of the park, and Pearl Blue bush, Broom Emu bush and Red Mallee are found on alkaline soils. Fringing the moister quartzite slopes of Wilpena Pound, Guinea Flowers, Grevilleas, Bush Peas, Shrub Violets, Native Cranberries and Fringe Myrtles are common.
The the Ranges are full of sites testifying to the rich cultural heritage of the Adnyamathanha people, including cave paintings, stone arrangements, graves and ochre quarries. Cave paintings and rock engravings can be viewed at Sacred Canyon and Arkaroo Rock in the the Ranges National Park. The Adnyamathanha people ask that visitors respect their culture by refraining from touching, damaging or removing items at these sites.
The Flinders Ranges National Park is situated between the outback South Australian towns of Hawker and Blinman. Covering over 950 square kilometers, the park is about 450 kilometers north of Adelaide and offers a broad range of outdoor activities for all ages and tastes including camping, bushwalking, scenic touring, photography, bird watching and Aboriginal and European tour activities exploring the history and cultures of the region.
Nocturnal animals such as dunnarts and planigales are rarely seen as they are mainly active at night and are generally quite small. Bats represent one-third of the native mammal fauna of the Ranges National Park. Their high pitched sounds can frequently be heard as they hunt insects attracted to the light of camp fires at night. Echidnas (native Australian porcupines) are common within the park in early spring (Sep-Oct). Over 100 native bird species are found in the Flinders Ranges National Park, including colorful Australian Ringneck Parrots, Pink and Grey galahs, the migratory Rainbow Bee-eater, the small Elegant Parrots and the Red-capped Robin. Tree-lined creeks and springs provide an ideal habitat for a large variety of reptiles, including skinks, geckoes, legless lizards, lizards, goannas and snakes. Now rare, the large Carpet Python can be found in tree hollows, on rock ledges, and moving on the ground to hunt at night.
An intriguing combination of both moisture-dependant and arid-adapted plants co-exist in the the Ranges. The specialized habitats of local indigenous plants are bound to the geology of the region, and are shaped by landform, climate, soil and fire. A majority of the plants found in the Flinders Ranges National Park are arid-adapted. Cypress Pines are found across much of the park, while Porcupine Grass is found on stony hills. Black Oak and Mallee trees are found on the deeper soils in the north-east of the park, and Pearl Blue bush, Broom Emu bush and Red Mallee are found on alkaline soils. Fringing the moister quartzite slopes of Wilpena Pound, Guinea Flowers, Grevilleas, Bush Peas, Shrub Violets, Native Cranberries and Fringe Myrtles are common.
The the Ranges are full of sites testifying to the rich cultural heritage of the Adnyamathanha people, including cave paintings, stone arrangements, graves and ochre quarries. Cave paintings and rock engravings can be viewed at Sacred Canyon and Arkaroo Rock in the the Ranges National Park. The Adnyamathanha people ask that visitors respect their culture by refraining from touching, damaging or removing items at these sites.
About the Author:
Arthur is an avid traveler and an ardent eco-economics expert. He is author of a number of eco-economy and travel economy books and his latest book Flinders Ranges National Park is sold worldwide.
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