Wilpena Pound, Natural amphitheater in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia
Wilpena Pound is a natural amphitheater formation within Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, stretching roughly 17 kilometers with St Mary Peak as the highest point. The mountain bowl is contained by surrounding ridges, with Rawnsley's Bluff being a key landmark that helps define the enclosed landscape.
Edward Eyre first spotted the distant peaks of this region in 1839, triggering a series of explorations into the area. Land disputes followed as bushman William Chace and pastoralist C.N. Bagot competed over control and use of the territory.
The Adnyamathanha people call this place Ikara, meaning meeting place, and their creation stories describe dreaming serpents that shaped the peaks. These stories remain central to how the landscape is understood by those with deep roots in the region.
A sealed road links the towns of Hawker and Blinman, offering easy access to Wilpena Pound Resort with lodging and guided walking tours available. The cooler months are ideal for visiting, as the heat can be intense during summer and trails are more enjoyable on milder days.
The rock formation is roughly 800 million years old, displaying some of the oldest stone layers in the region. This ancient structure lets visitors experience geological history within a landscape found nowhere else.
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