Wilpena or Arkaloola?

[Paul (SA)]

I am busy hammering out my holiday plans for June and it looks like I only have the choice of one or the other. I need some help from swaggers who have been there and done them both.

Please give me your vote on which one you would prefer to visit if (2 night stay with wifey and two boys aged 6 and 4).

[crackacoldie]

Both are great places with plenty to see.  If you want 4wding then Arkaroola is the place to go, if you want bush walking only, then both offer plenty.  With young kids the walks into the pound are easier.

[Pog]

I went to both last year on my motorbike.

I much preferred the bush camping by the creek and the 4x4 tracks at Arkaroola.

[Bird]

I missed Arkaroola on our longer trip to Flinders, but everyone I was with said it was the highlight of the trip...

I'd say 2 totally different places... I liked the Pound and the flight over it...

Hard decision, but I think I'd do Arka next time.

[Alan Loy]

I'd vote for Arkaroola if I had to choose.

Wilpena Pound is more accessible so you are more likely to get there on another trip.

[JCOJ]

Over the two I'd choose Arkaroola.

I'd also choose Rawnsley Park over Wilpena too.

[allan.kidd]

In my mind Arkaroola wins hands down - no contest.

Also agree with Rawnsley Park over Wilpena if you want to explore this area.

[Pipeliner]

It's many years since I've been to either of them, but in my mind it definitely has to be Arkaroola - there's so much more to see and explore.  The old copper mine (just imagine the logistics of getting the copper from there to the market!), the Echo Camp Backtrack, the hot springs, and you can also book a scenic flight over the ranges.

[GGV8Cruza]

Arkaroola for me, heaps to do and an amzing variety or rocks. In case you missed it here is my trip report from last year, we stayed at both areas and a few between

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=32457.0

GG

[chester ver2.0]

You say you are only there for 2 nights

If you want 2 days of activities Arkaroola
If you want 2 days of just chillin and looking at the view Wilpena (Rawnsly Park station)

[jimc1]

Or split the 2 and set up camp at Chambers Gorge. From there you can visit either and stay in a magical spot.

[2010banditsa]

If you stay at Arkaroola, take plenty of beer with you... it was $85 a carton of pale when we were there last year.. same price as Innaminka....(the things you remember eh)... the tracks were great to drive and we stayed in the neighbouring national park rather than the tourist village in town. Dont forget Skytrek near Wilpena though, thats a great drive too

[Pog]

I was there in May 2013, and they charged me $50 for 1/2 a carton of VB... it was the only full strength beer they had, and I was desperate.... VERY desperate 

[Traveller]

You say you are only there for 2 nights

If you want 2 days of activities Arkaroola
If you want 2 days of just chillin and looking at the view Wilpena (Rawnsly Park station)

We were at both last October and think Chester sums it up well. Interesting drives with stunning scenery at Arkaroola, more of a quiet meander at Wilpena (don't do St. Mary's peak with the boys).  Agree with Rawnsley Park over Wilpena as well.

It is a shame you only have 2 nights in such a great part of Australia. We have been about a dozen times now and would go back tomorrow.

On a side note. The flies were horrendous when we were there last time. Wilpena was bad, Aroona Ruins were terrible, with Rawnsley and Arkaroola much more bearable fortunately. Take fly spray.   

[Paul (SA)]

Thanks for all your feedback everyone.....we are headed to Arkaroola then.

[GeoffA]

I was there in May 2013, and they charged me $50 for 1/2 a carton of VB...

That's better than $36 for a 6 pack at Uluru......

Paul, your boys may like the observatory at Arkaroola.

[muzza01]

Did a couple of trips out there with the FIL. With his old job, he used to look after a few hundred Kms of the dingo fence. Interesting place, Lake Frome was a real eye opener.

[Bird]

Paul, your boys may like the observatory at Arkaroola.

yea good point, I'd forgot about that.

[Redcherokee]

Now you have to decide what to do while you are there. 

Echo camp selfdrive,  Ridgetop tour, acacia walk if you want to exhaust the kids, drive out to the copper smelter, evening visit to the observatory, late afternoon search for wallabies at the waterhole. 

You'll be exhausted!

[rodw]

Over the two I'd choose Arkaroola.

I'd also choose Rawnsley Park over Wilpena too.

X 2, factor both in if you can, Rawnsley Park and Arkaroola!

[Hews]

Stayed at both 2 years ago on our 18,000km honeymoon - 3 nights at WP and only 1 at Arkaroola - you couldn't cook/eat/open your mouth outside for the flies at Arkaroola, hence only the 1 night stay.

We thoroughly enjoyed WP and found plenty of awesome day trips to do from there and good walks. Would definitely return there, very relaxing and comfortable place. Awesome to have the tame kangaroos wandering the campgrounds aswell.

Ark had 4wd tracks/rocky roads to explore on the property though and an elevated camp are which was cool

Depends what your in to!

[Finners]

I'll be controversial - love both Ark and WP - but given you've got really young kids - I'd actually recommend southern Flinders (agree Rawnsley Park or even Willow Springs has better bush camp feel over WP campground).

Reason being... the kids will not appreciate the geology, history and astronomy of Ark, yet. Bushwalk choices are broad in the Pound - mild to strenuous (St Mark Peak) - more choice and all no less dramatically scenic than Ark, IMHO. And ther Visitor Centre at WP is more small kid-friendly.

4WD options... I thought SkyTrek more interesting botanically/scenic than Echo Camp backtrack (though history of Ark is much richer). And campgrounds like Rawnsley are prettier - the Pound wall backdrop is spectacular - you don't get that in the Whyana creek bush camping of Ark. And forget the CP at Ark - it's a horrid dust bowl.

And from WP area - you can easily do Bunyeroo scenic drive and Brachina gorge as a (free) day drive. Or even Blinman mine tour.

Remember to take 'slime' if you're taking bikes for the kids - punctures happen within minutes of putting the bikes to ground. Slime works a treat to resist further punctures too. And for winter - double sleeping bags and beenies for the little 'uns!

[Pog]

And forget the CP at Ark - it's a horrid dust bowl.

I would agree with that, It is one of the least appealing campgrounds I have ever seen!

However, there is 300Ha of bush camping (no power) along the creek, a little further away from the ammenity blocks, but at least you can have a fire (provided on the season) and you are away from others.

[woolgoolgaoffroad]

In my eyes both Arkaloola and Wilpena have totally different features and def a different feel. We came in from the north past Mount Hopeless along the eastern side of the flinders and couldnt get over the size of the Ranges.
Arkaroola can be very dry, dusty and rocky- yet when the explorers found the place it was green and held water. If you stay here make sure you explore the observatory, the lookouts, the sprig trail and the remote stone homesteads. And agree with the others, camp away from the caravan park if you can avoid it- the creek camp is great.











But when we left and headed towards Wilpenia- it seem like it was creating its own ecosystem due to the high mountains, so there for the southern area was a lot greener and lush. We enjoyed both and would def go back.

[allan.kidd]

Kev

Love your photos!

What size lens and software did you use to create the panorama shots?