There are places that look much better from the air  than from the ground. One of these places is Ikara/Wilpena Pound in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. The pound looks like a (oval) crater but has not been formed by the impact of a meteor or anything the like, it’s form is totally natural. On images shot from the air it looks fantastic and I really wanted to see how it looks like, well, from the ground (still waiting to win a helicopter flight).

Hills and Fields

The Flinders Ranges are a beautiful mountain range northeast of Port Augusta. To the south of the mountains are endless green and yellow fields, grazing sheep and cattle, and a few small villages. Abandoned historic stations such as Kanyaka Station near the town of Quorn make for interesting stops and offer a chance to learn about the first European settler’s life in the area.

Ikara / Wilpena Pound

Wilpena Pound lies in the Flinders Ranges National Park. Various trails lead from the Wilpena Pound Resort to several lookout points; we chose the Wilpena Lookout trail. Not too long and not too short, and the name guarantees good vistas. The walk is easy, the only challenge are the few river crossings. With a small detour and a few good jumps however, they’re manageable without getting your feet wet.

The views of Wilpena Pound are not bad, in fact they’re gorgeous but in no way comparable to or as impressive as the aerial view must be.

Just below the ascent to the lookout there’s a beautifully renovated old homestead. A series of signs tells the rich history of the place and its former inhabitants. Take the time to read it, it’s really interesting!

Wilpena Pound may not be as stunning as suggested by the pictures but the walk is nice and the surroundings beautiful. Coming from the north via the Stuart highway, the change of scenery  is striking. Here, there are mountains, rolling green hills, and lovely old houses. Suddenly, the outback feels far, far away.