Southern Flinders Precinct

Southern Australian company TrailScapes will deliver the detailed design and construction of a new network of walking trails in the Southern Flinders Ranges.

The Gorges Walks trail network will create a new, iconic, multi-day hiking experience in the Southern Flinders Ranges, taking hikers through the region's gorges and up on to vantage points which offer spectacular views across the Spencer Gulf.

It includes plans for up to 4 day/3 night hike and day walking opportunities, with the detailed design continuing. New campsites will also be built along the trails.

The construction will be based on a concept completed for the trail network by Tredwell Management an Adelaide-based sport, recreation and open space specialist. An overview of the concept for the trail can be downloaded below.

TrailScapes will now finalise the detailed design based on this concept, ahead of construction commencing in the second half of 2022.

Construction has commenced on the new Epic Mountain Bike Trail planned for the Southern Flinders Ranges.

South Australian company TrailScapes, who are specialists in environmentally sustainable design and construction, will build the new trail.

The Epic Trail has been designed to international standards and is set to become a world-class tourism drawcard for the region.

The proposed route will showcase the best mountain biking country that the Southern Flinders Ranges has to offer. The 42-kilometre trail will wind its way through Mount Remarkable National Park and adjacent private land, traversing the previously unexplored western flank of Mount Remarkable and descending into Spring Creek. From the western side of the trail, the spectacular Black Range is visible before the trail loops back toward Melrose beneath the Gibraltar and Cathedral Rock formations.

Watch this video or read this article to find out more about this exciting project.

20 kilometres of new mountain bike trails constructed at Willowie are now ready for public use.

Catering for beginner through to intermediate riders, the new trails are family-friendly with some progressive elements included for riders looking to challenge their skills.

New and improved day visitor facilities are now also in place at Willowie including a picnic area, accessible toilets and improvements to the existing carpark.

These new trails will contribute to the network of already popular mountain bike trails in Melrose and were planned with the help of local mountain bike organisation, Bike Melrose.

Trail construction was undertaken by South Australian business Trailscapes.

Local Port Pirie business Alsanto Constructions Pty Ltd completed construction of the Willowie day visitor facilities.

New and improved day visitor facilities and car parking have been developed at the Wirrabara Forest picnic area for visitors to this region of the Southern Flinders.

The new facilities include two picnic shelters with tables and seating, BBQ facilities, an amenity block with accessible toilets and improvements to the existing carpark.

The improvements to the carpark include more parking spaces, including accessible car parking, resurfacing and changes to improve traffic flow.

Construction of the day visitor facilities was undertaken by local Port Pirie business Alsanto Constructions Pty Ltd.

A new national park in the Southern Flinders Ranges has been proclaimed.

The new Wapma Thura - Southern Flinders Ranges National Park comprises the former Telowie Gorge Conservation Park, Wirrabara Range Conservation Park, Spaniards Gully Conservation Park and a discrete portion of Mount Remarkable National Park known as the Napperby block.

Wapma Thura, the Aboriginal co-name for the new park, means ‘Snake People’. The Wapma is an important totem for the Nukunu people and shows their significant connection to each other and the dreamtime serpent.

The procalmation is part of the State Government's overall commitment and investment in positioning the Southern Flinders as a nature and adventure-based tourism destination. The new national park will increase the environmental protection for the former conservation parks to conserve their vitally important ecosystems, habitats, plants and animals, unique land formations, and culturally significant places.

Beetaloo Reservoir is part of the broad range of nature-based visitor destinations in the Southern Flinders Ranges.

An area of 5000 hectares, encompassing the Beetaloo Reservoir and surrounding land, has recently been placed under the care and control of the Department for Environment and Water as Crown Land.

The reservoir is now open to the public 24 hours a day.

Activities permitted include wildlife and birdwatching, picnicking and barbeques using the onsite facilities.

Fishing, with an approved permit, is also possible with the reservoir stocked with Golden Perch, Silver Perch and Murray Cod.

Infrastructure upgrades will also soon be underway in the Mambray Creek campgrounds as part of the Remarkable Southern Flinders project, with the detailed design for the new facilities close to completion.

Mambray Creek is one of the state’s most popular national park campgrounds, located within Mount Remarkable National Park.

This project will contemporise and improve the visitor experience within the campground, including a new day and overnight visitor precinct, redesign group camping facilities and provide greater accessibility for larger touring caravans, motorhomes, and campervans.

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National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) team members attended the June 2022 Fat Tyre Festival at Melrose to provide information to Festival attendees about the Remarkable Southern Flinders Project.

This is the second time NPWS team members have attended the Festival to promote the project and it proved to be another terrific opportunity to connect with the mountain biking community.

“Riders were very excited for the opening of the Epic Trail in 2023," said NPWS team member Dee Bluett.

She said Fat Tyre Festival attendees also commented on how much they had enjoyed the variety of new trails which were constructed at Willowie Forest as part of the Remarkable Southern Flinders project and which were opened last year.

"They were particularly impressed with being able to take the whole family, and that everyone could find a trail to their level of enjoyment. With the new carpark, toilets, bike repair station and shelters, the site is well-equipped to support a full-day adventure. Everyone agreed that the network was well-worth visiting and visiting again," she said.

The NPWS team included Dee and Pete Stokes from Project and Asset Services, rangers Niamh Douglas and Brett Coghlan and volunteer rangers Miranda Trewren and Alison Marsden. Pictured are Pete, Niamh and Alison.

Thursday 15th April 2021

The award celebrates strong partnerships between federal, state, and local government and recognises leaders in their communities.

Kelly-Anne was acknowledged for her work as the driving force behind the delivery of the Remarkable Southern Flinders adventure tourism project. The project is a truly remarkable collaboration between federal, state and local governments, not for profits and Traditional Owners the Nukunu Wampa Thura Aboriginal Corporation. Kelly-Anne was instrumental in bringing all stakeholders to the table.

During the initial phases of Remarkable Southern Flinders Project, Kelly-Anne’s local knowledge played a huge part in securing funding through the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

The Remarkable Southern Flinders Project is a partnership between the Australian and State Governments, who are each investing $5 million to create new mountain biking and hiking trails and visitor facilities in the region – including upgrading and expanding campgrounds.

The project’s partners include the Department for Environment and Water, District Council of Mount Remarkable, Port Pirie Regional Council, Northern Areas Council, Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife and Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation.

Monday, 19 October 2020

National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia’s engagement website will be a central point where you can access more information on the projects planned and already underway. As well as sharing updates and information, the online hub will seek your feedback and input on some of these projects.

A short community survey is currently open on the engagement website and your feedback is welcome to help guide initial thinking on sharing the vision for the project with a wide range of audiences.

Keep an eye on future editions of this e-news for updates on this exciting project and remember to sign up to be notified of opportunities to help shape the future of this precinct.