While only a relatively small national park, locals consider this to be an important area as it is one of the few areas of natural bushland left in the southern Flinders Ranges. Another important fact about the park is that it sits on the boundary between the arid north and the wetter south and contains flora and fauna from both regions. This means the park is botanically rich and varied.
Most visit the park on one day walks and indeed it is possible to visit any place within the park on a day walk. To see all of the park takes longer, and an overnight walk following a figure eight circuit enables the walker to visit all of the gorges and major features. While there are no really spectacular sights within the park, the combination of rocky gorges, interesting flowers and plants, inquisitive animals (the emus can actually be a nuisance) and views across the rolling hills make walking here interesting. All of the tracks are clearly defined and easy to walk along.
Mt Remarkable National Park is located about 250 km north of the state capital, Adelaide and is about half way between the towns of Port Pirie and Port Augusta. It is located 5 km east of the main highway.
Regular daily bus services pass along the highway from Adelaide to Port Augusta. From the highway it is a 5 km walk to the ranger station at Mambray Creek at the park entrance. As the access road is not a regular bus stop, make sure you book your return so the driver will pick you up.
The SA Department of Environment and Natural Resources produce the 1:50,000 topographic maps 'Melrose' and 'Wilmington' which cover the entire park. The rangers hand out a very simple but useful basic map with your permit showing all tracks and camp sites. Detailed track notes are available from many sources. Notes are in 'Flinders Ranges Walks' by Peter Beer, '50 Walks in South Australia' by Tyrone Thomas, 'Car Touring and Bushwalking in the Southern Flinders Ranges' by Grant Da Costa and also on 'Bushwalking In Australia' by John and Monica Chapman.
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Mambray Creek to Teal Dam, afternoon sidetrip to Alligator Gorge |
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Return to Mambray Creek via Hidden Gorge |
Permits are required for overnight camping in this national park and camping is restricted to a set of designated camp sites. This is no problem as these are the only sites that have water. The rangers at Mambray Creek (tel (08) 8634 7068) issue permits at $2 per night plus $3 per car. From the 1st November until 30th April all overnight camping is banned because of the risk of bushfires.
