Australia’s Latest National Park Features 550-million-year-old Fossils and a Vibrant Aboriginal Heritage

A sunlit yellow building overlooking the majestic Flinders Range of Australia at dusk

The Arkaba Conservancy, a lodge and wildlife sanctuary nestled in Australia’s Flinders Range. Photo: Richard I'Anson/Courtesy of Arkaba Conservancy

The rugged and isolated terrain of the Flinders Ranges, located five hours north of Adelaide in South Australia, exudes a prehistoric vibe — and for good reason. This area boasts the oldest Aboriginal culture alongside some of the Earth’s earliest geological and biological evidence, including fossils from the ediacaran biota, multicellular life forms dating back 550 million years.

This rich history recently garnered the region a UNESCO World Heritage nomination, prompting Australia to establish part of the range as Nilpena Ediacara National Park. New walking paths and an interactive visitor center were launched last spring. “This is where animal life began, and it holds one of the finest fossil records globally,” remarks Mary Droser, a paleobiologist from the University of California, Riverside, who has been researching the area since 2001.

A group of visitors examines fossils found in the earth of Australia's Flinders Range

An exploration of ediacaran-period fossils at Nilpena Ediacara National Park in the Flinders Range. COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WATER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Long before geologists came to the Flinders to study, the Aboriginal Adnyamathanha people had their own interpretation of the land. According to their creation tale, two serpents emerged from the earth to shape the Flinders mountains, with their bodies forming the walls of Wilpena Pound, or Ikara, which translates to 'meeting place.'

Visitors can explore Adnyamathanha culture with Kristian Coulthard, founder of Wadna, an Aboriginal art gallery and tour operator. “We must consider Flinders not only for its geological importance but also for its cultural heritage,” says Coulthard. He conducts tours of the region's petroglyph sites, including Dingley Dell, home to engravings that date back 40,000 years.

One of the finest places to stay is the Arkaba Conservancy, a bold rewilding initiative spanning 63,000 acres. Its five-bedroom Arkaba Homestead immerses guests in the project aimed at restoring biodiversity to land harmed by overgrazing and invasive species, while protecting endangered animals like the yellow-footed rock wallaby. Guests can participate in conservation efforts, including setting up motion-activated wildlife cameras. Adventurous travelers can also sign up for the three-day Arkaba Walk, a roughly 28-mile hike through the basin of Wilpena Pound.