Australia's newest national park features stunning landscapes, remarkable wildlife, and the world's oldest fossils — here's how to explore it.

Over 540 million years ago, the area now known as South Australia's outback was part of a dynamic coastline. At its edge, a shallow sea flourished with peculiar, alien-like organisms — the earliest life forms on Earth.

As the waters receded and land emerged, countless creatures became trapped and buried in layers of sediment, forming a paleontological treasure trove just waiting to be unearthed. In 1946, geologist Reg Sprigg first discovered these ancient fossils in the Ediacara Hills, some of the oldest ever found.

'This is likely the premier Ediacara fossil site globally,' states Kym Geue, the ranger overseeing Nilpena Ediacara National Park. 'With only about 60 sites worldwide that contain Ediacara fossils, we showcase the most diverse array of species. While other locations might offer isolated specimens, here we extract entire sections of the seafloor, reconstructing them like a vast jigsaw puzzle.'

Over 75 years since the initial discovery, numerous fossil beds have been excavated at what is now known as Nilpena Ediacara National Park, unveiling entire ecosystems with tens of thousands of preserved specimens. These ongoing findings have positioned the national park as a key player in the Australian government’s efforts to have the surrounding Flinders Ranges designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Although the recent discoveries in the Flinders Ranges have thrilled scientists, this expansive landscape has been home to the Adnyamathanha people for countless generations.

Preparing for Your Visit

In contrast to many other Australian national parks that allow free entry and independent exploration or camping, access to Nilpena Ediacara National Park is strictly via guided tours, starting at AUD 80 ($53 USD).

Guided Tours

Two distinct tours are offered — one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

The Ediacara Experience is a two-hour ranger-led tour of the park, showcasing the historic woolshed and the former Blacksmith’s Shop. The shop has been transformed into a cutting-edge interpretation center, featuring an original nine-meter fossil bed that visitors can touch, along with interactive displays that revive the Ediacara creatures. This tour is available from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

The -hour Fossil Field Exploration tour includes all the highlights of the Ediacara Experience, plus a visit to an active research site at the fossil beds. This tour operates from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Both tours are quite popular, and rangers suggest purchasing tickets online at least one week ahead to ensure availability. Tours start at the park's entrance, marked by a stone wall, with parking provided at that location.

As the national park is an active research area and features a sensitive environment, there are no hiking trails, recreational facilities, camping options, or food services. Visitors should bring their own drinking water and snacks, and please remember to take any trash with you when you depart.

Facilities

Restrooms, including accessible options, are located at the visitor area. Assistance dogs are allowed in the park but must be properly restrained.

Visitors with mobility, visual, or hearing impairments, as well as those who speak English as a second language and need translation assistance, should reach out to the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia in advance for further information.

Directions

Nilpena Ediacara National Park is approximately 311 miles away, or a six-hour drive, from Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Alternatively, you can take a regional flight from Adelaide to Port Augusta Airport and then drive for three hours.

Public transportation is not available, so you'll need to rent a car from Adelaide or Port Augusta to access the park, or opt for a packaged tour. If you decide to rent a vehicle, it's advisable to choose one with higher clearance, as lower cars are more likely to get stuck on unpaved roads. Additionally, confirm that your car insurance covers off-road driving.

Navigating the Park

Several tour operators, such as Wallaby Tracks Adventure Tours and Walk Into Luxury, provide packaged tours from Adelaide that include transportation, accommodation, and visits to both Nilpena Ediacara and Ikara-Flinders Ranges national parks.

Driving Yourself

While many travelers opt for the coastal route from Adelaide to Port Augusta before heading to the Flinders Ranges, a more picturesque and enjoyable drive is through the Clare Valley, one of Australia’s oldest wine-producing regions.

'This region produces some of Australia’s finest riesling and was settled by Cornish tin miners, leaving behind a wealth of stunning stone architecture to admire,' notes Carlow. The award-winning Skillogalee Estate features a cellar door and restaurant located in a historic cottage that overlooks the vineyards, while Pikes boasts both a winery and a brewery.

For a quick snack while traveling, Carlow suggests stopping for a pie at Stone Hut or the North Star Hotel, one of the area's oldest pubs. Be sure to visit Quorn for a taste of artisanal gin made with native botanicals at Flinders Gin. The drive from Quorn to Hawker offers stunning views of the Willochra Plain and glimpses of colonial ruins along the roadside.

About 90 minutes from Nilpena Ediacara National Park, Hawker is one of the larger towns in the region, featuring a service station, mechanic, hospital, general store, and the best spot to replenish your supplies, including water.

If you're planning to drive, remember that not every town has a gas station, and you'll encounter dirt roads in some areas. It's best to avoid driving at dawn and dusk, as this is when wildlife is most active, and kangaroos can suddenly appear on the roads, leading to potential accidents.

Ideal Time to Visit

The ideal time to explore Nilpena Ediacara National Park is from April to October, when the weather is more temperate. In July, daytime temperatures typically reach 61 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to 39 degrees at night.

'June and July are relatively dry, but the weather tends to become less predictable as September and October approach. This area is low and exposed, so it can get quite windy,' explains Geue.

Although it might be cool, wearing sunscreen is advisable, as Australia’s sunlight can be quite strong. During the summer months, temperatures can soar up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why Nilpena Ediacara National Park is closed from December 1 to March 15 each year. This period also sees intense thunderstorms that can turn the landscape into a swamp.

Top Activities to Experience

Alice's Restaurant Bed

In the late 1960s, American folk singer Arlo Guthrie sang about being able to find anything you desired at Alice’s Restaurant. When palaeontologist Dr. Mary Droser and her team from the University of California uncovered a distinctive fossil bed in the national park, they chose to name it in honor of Guthrie’s song.

Visitors can explore Alice’s Restaurant Bed, which consists of 500 unique pieces, inside the Blacksmith’s Shop. Audiovisual displays animate the fossils, and guests have the opportunity to create 3D casts of the creatures using putty.

Fossil Fields

During a guided tour, guests visit the quarries where palaeontologists are actively extracting Ediacaran fossils from the rock. While these experts are on-site for only a few months each year, there's a chance you might see them at work. If not, your guide will lead you through the rippled layers of organic matter, explaining the meticulous efforts involved in preserving these tiny fossils.

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

Adjacent to Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, this area serves as a perfect addition to any visit to Nilpena Ediacara National Park. While Nilpena Ediacara is flatter and more open, Ikara-Flinders Ranges features vast mountain ranges and grasslands. Here, you’ll discover numerous hiking trails, campgrounds, and historic stations converted into luxurious accommodations on the park's outskirts.

Wadna

Kristian Coulthard, the owner of Wadna, is an Adnyamathanha guide who offers walks through Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, including a visit to Dingley Dell, an ancient petroglyph site with engravings dating back as far as 40,000 years. Coulthard shares insights about the region’s plants, native foods, and cultural stories passed down through generations. Visitors can also explore carvings, jewelry, bush medicines, and artworks available for purchase.

Top Hiking Trails

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park features four walking routes and 14 hiking trails. Among the easier options are the Hills Homestead Walk, which explores pioneering heritage within Wilpena Pound, and the Living With Land Walk.

The moderately challenging Arkaroo Rock Hike showcases Adnyamathanha rock paintings and narrates the creation story of Wilpena Pound.

The Wilcolo Creeks Hike is a self-guided, 5.7-mile loop leading to a lookout point, complete with signage detailing the area's geological significance and formation. The entire hike takes approximately five hours.

Wildlife

Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby

The plains are home to various macropod species, including red kangaroos, western grey kangaroos, and wallaroos, but the yellow-footed rock wallaby stands out as the Flinders Ranges' greatest conservation success story. The best viewing spot for these wallabies is Brachina Gorge, where a large group resides.

'They were nearly driven to extinction in the 1920s, and their numbers were further impacted by introduced and feral species,' explains Geue. 'Significant efforts have been made to control feral populations, and over the past two decades, yellow-footed rock wallabies have made a remarkable recovery.'

Birds

The natural spring water in the creeks attracts a vibrant array of birdlife, with some of Australia's most colorful and unique species coming to feed and breed in the Flinders Ranges. This includes the wedge-tailed eagle, the country's largest bird of prey, along with smaller species such as fairywrens, mulga parrots, kingfishers, and swallows. The area is particularly noted for its abundant emu populations.

Bearded Dragons

Often seen basking on the roadside or perched on high spots, the bearded dragon is a small reptile known for its spiky scales beneath its chin. When frightened, it opens its mouth and expands its beard to look more formidable.

Campgrounds

While there are no accommodations within Nilpena Ediacara National Park, nearby towns offer various lodging options. Pastoral stations, a hallmark of the region's history, have been transformed into luxurious stays.

Beltana Historic Town

The nearest campgrounds to Nilpena Ediacara National Park are located in Beltana, roughly 45 minutes away. There are six sites available for RVs or tents, featuring showers, toilets, a complimentary barbecue in the community park, and potable water available for purchase.

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

This park boasts 10 campgrounds, some of which are accessible only by foot, while others accommodate varying numbers of two-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles. Camping fees apply, and reservations are required prior to arrival.

Wilpena Pound Resort

Wilpena Pound Resort features 40 powered sites perfect for caravans, campervans, camper-trailers, and tents, along with 300 unpowered bush campsites. There are also safari-style glamping tents and fully equipped resort rooms for individuals and groups of up to five. Amenities on-site include toilets, showers, fuel, a visitor information center, an ATM, internet access, laundry services, a swimming pool, and a general store.

Hotels and Stations

Prairie Hotel

The land now encompassing Nilpena Ediacara National Park was once owned by Prairie Hotel proprietors Ross and Jane Fargher, who safeguarded the fossil fields and conducted tours until transferring management to the government. Guests can discover more about fossils at the hotel, which also offers stylish, country-chic accommodations.

Rawnsley Park Station

Once a sheep shearing station, Rawnsley Homestead now provides luxurious, self-contained accommodations for couples and families.

Arkaba Homestead

With a capacity for up to 10 guests, the all-inclusive Arkaba Homestead features daily guided safari experiences and gourmet dining. The five-day self-drive Fauna, Fossils, and Food of the Flinders package includes two nights at Arkaba Conservancy and two nights at Prairie Hotel, along with a scenic flight over Wilpena Pound.

Places to Eat

Nilpena Ediacara National Park lacks dining facilities, so it's essential to plan ahead by packing a lunch, visiting a nearby town's supermarket, or dining at a restaurant in one of the nearby stations.

Prairie Hotel

“They're famous for their cuisine,” says Geue. “Everyone visits for the ‘Feral Feast’, where they serve up dishes like goat, camel, emu, and kangaroo.”

Flinders Food Co

This charming outback eatery boasts all the flair and ambiance of a city cafe. The menu features native ingredients such as quandong, myrtle, and saltbush, with offerings for both lunch and dinner.

Woolshed Restaurant

The on-site restaurant at Rawnsley Park Station features local suppliers from all over South Australia, highlighting signature lamb tasting dinners that showcase lamb raised on the property.