We took some time off work to do some walking in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, and our accommodation was the Wilpena Pound Resort – chosen so that we could be close to the start of the walking trails. The resort was more of a campsite with cabins and fancy tents than a ‘resort’ (we stayed in something that was called an ‘Economy Cabin’).

Wilpena Pound refers to the nearby natural amphitheatre of mountains, with the ‘pound’ being the interior – an area which is about 15km long and 8km wide. The pound is totally surrounded by mountains and the only relatively flat way in is to follow the gorge at Wilpena Gap.

The resort is situated just outside Wilpena Gap, and a 3km walk will take you into the pound itself. At the far end of Wilpena Pound is Bridle Gap – a mountain pass that got its name because apart from Wilpena Gap it was the only way into the Pound on horseback. In the olden days there was a farm inside the pound and the old homestead buildings are still there.

We did four walks during our stay, and three of them started directly from our cabin (return walk to Mount Ohlssen Bagge, Tanderra Saddle loop walk, and return walk to Bridle Gap).

We also visited Arkeroo Rock – which was a 20 minute drive away, with a short walk (3km return) to see some rock art.