Rawnsley Park Station blog

Rawnsley Park Station, your accessible outback destination, is located under Rawnsley Bluff (pictured), on the SW corner of Wilpena Pound, central Flinders Ranges, South Australia.

The landscape is built from distinct layers that began as ocean floor some 600 million years ago. Arising from these layers are two amazing features which make the Flinders ranges unique in the world.

The first is an incredible bio-diversity. The minerals in each layer, combined with the differing sun and shade profiles provided by the tall peaks, deep gullies, rolling hills and alluvial flood plains, combined with the water capturing properties of each area - all turn the Flinders into a patch-work quilt of different micro-climates. Some are arid, some quite temperate. This means that while comprising just 4% of South Australia’s land area, some 45% of SA’s plant, mammal, bird and reptile species are found here!

The second is the geology itself. Like the pages of a book or the rings of a tree the ancient layers exposed here tell the story of the emergence of multi celled, oxygen breathing life on earth. The geological formation and fossil sequences exposed here make for a geologists paradise. It is truly a place to feel both exhilarated and humbled at the same time.  

Rawnsley Park Station is a regional leader in the field of geo-tourism. Since 1968 we have been replacing sheep farming with outback hospitality. The sheep are still here but are now more of a sideline. Our main business is sharing our beautiful country with you.

This blog then is aimed at sharing. We will attempt to keep you up to date with what is happening here at Rawnsley and around us, in the landscape, with the plants and animals. We hope also that those of you who have visited will register and share your experiences and opinions of the awesome Flinders Ranges.