I've been to Australia many times, including a three year stay in Canberra. Will be doing another trip Down Under this July, visiting in-laws in Sydney and the Gold Coast. We (myself, wife and kids) always try to see a new part of the country on each trip. This year my wife and I are considering South Australia as a destination for 5-6 days, in particular the Flinders Ranges. We really like the outback, scenery, and hiking, and from what I've seen and heard, the Flinders Ranges look ideal.

Looking for suggestions on where to stay/accommodation - ideally somewhere nice to use as a base for day trips. Although my wife likes to hike, she isnt terribly into "roughing it". Places like the Ross River Homestead near Alice Springs, the Oasis Lodge (Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland), Undarra (North Queensland), El Questro Station (Western Australia), and Silky Oaks (North Queensland) have worked well for us in the past.

Any suggestions most appreciated...

Ralph in CT

A good base for exploring the Flinders Range is Wilpena Pound. There is a nice forested campsite there, as well as a small resort hotel. There are some tent cabins that you can rent in the campground. Nearby, there are cottages at Arkaba Station.

There are several nice day hikes that leave right out from Wilpena Pound. One good hike is to climb St. Mary's Peak - this one took us the better part of a day. The other good peak climb is up Mt. Ohlssen Bagge - along the way is a short interpretive 'Drought Buster' trail. Another favorite was taking the short hike and watching the sunset over the Pound from the Wangarra Lookouts.

From the Pound, you can drive to the other parts of the Flinders, such as the scenic gorges; Bunyeroo and Brachina, and the Aroona Valley. Lastly, there is some ancient aboriginal rock art in Sacred Canyon.

Not trying to talk you out of the Filnders, as they are spectacular. But a South Australia alternative you might like to examine is Kangaroo Island, which is unspoiled and beautiful, ofers many walks, and not so far to travel. Also offers the bonus of taking a short ferry trip (including your car)as an alternative to flying there are hiring a car.

If you take the ferry, you can also stop on the way and tour the Southern Vales wine area, which has many small boutique wineries.

However, the weather will be cooler than in the Flinders...

ALF, John...Thanks very much for your helpful replies and suggestions. I will look into them, though, as much as I would like to go to KI, my wife will not entertain a winter visit there. Convincing her to go as far south as the Flinders Ranges was hard enough.

Ralph

Good point. We were last there (Flinders) in June, and there was some whining on the part of the teenagers when the night-time temps dropped into the single digits (C).

Wlipina pound is a good place to base your self but I would also recomend a night ( on way to/from Adelaide as its soth of Wilpena pound)at the Craddock Hotel the food and hospitality are wonderful

drwahwah: Thanks for the suggestion of the Craddock Hotel. Sounds like a place we'd enjoy! Did some web searching on the place and havent found much, in particular exactly where it is and how to book (necessary?).