A bit about Mount Remarkable National Park
A 4 hour drive from Adelaide, Mount Remarkable National Park is an ideal place to take the family.
There’s lots of diverse wildlife and campgrounds with good facilities. The park is a popular destination for bush walking, with trails for all ages and abilities and camping too!
The mild temperatures from April to October are the most comfortable for walking. It’s also the best time of year to see wildlife and admire the park’s spectacular native flora.
Summers are warm to hot with little rainfall. During the summer months, temperatures range from 30-45°C, making walking more challenging. Make sure you take plenty of water on walks in this area.
Where is Mount Remarkable?
The park is located 45km north of Port Pirie. Access is from National Highway One via Mambray Creek.
Alligator Gorge can be reached via a picturesque – but sometimes challenging – drive commencing 1km south of Wilmington on Main North Road. This road is very steep and is unsuitable for caravans, camper trailers and buses.
You can walk into the park from the adjacent town of Melrose, which lies at the foot of Mount Remarkable.
Please note: There are no public roads that pass through Mount Remarkable National Park. Horrocks Pass and Port Germein Gorge are the nearest public roads to the park where you can pass over the Flinders Ranges in an east-west direction.
What can I do at Mount Remarkable?
Bush walking
These trails cater for all ages and levels of fitness, varying in length and difficulty from challenging overnight treks and the long distance Heysen Trail to the easier and shorter walks at Alligator Gorge and Mambray Creek.
Recommended for kids...
Easy Walks…
- Ali Lookout Walk (15 mins return, 400m) A short and easy walk with spectacular views of Alligator Gorge below. Access: Alligator Gorge.
- Gorge Lookout Walk (20 mins return, 600m) A short and easy walk with spectacular views of the Alligator Basin. Access: Alligator Gorge.
- Mambray Creek Walk (1 hr return, 3km) An easy walk through Red River Gums and native pine forest. The trail links the Day Visitor Area and the Mambray Creek Campground. Access: Mambray Creek.
- Wirra Water Loop (30 mins return, 1.6km) This interpretive section of the Mambray Creek Walk explains the importance of water in the area as you explore rocky river beds. Access: Mambray Creek.
Moderate hikes
- Alligator Gorge Ring Route Hike (4 hrs return, 9 km) Follow the full length of Alligator Gorge. Uneven and loose gorge floor. Access: Alligator Gorge
Mountain Bike Riding
- The Willowie Forest trail network is a soft adventure, mountain bike trail opportunity that can also be used by walkers. The historical forest access tracks offer cyclists the chance to ride trails of varying distance from the smaller Echidna loop to the longer Monitor Loop that follows along the foothills of the Mt Remarkable Range.
Easy tracks
- Echidna Loop (1.7km loop) A short loop from the car park that circles formerly cleared cropping land of the farm.
- Possum Loop (4.2km loop) A loop trail that heads north out to the park boundary then connects to the Melrose – Wilmington Rail Trail and returns south to the car park.
- Monitor Loop (6.5km) A loop trail which meanders along the foothills of the Mount Remarkable Range. The trail crosses several shallow watercourses and reaches the highest areas of Willowie Forest.
- Kookaburra Trail (2.5km)
- The Kookaburra Trail provides the chance to travel from the Rail Trail through the native bushland and connect with Kookaburra Creek Bush Retreat that neighbours the park.
Camping
A variety of camping sites and cabin sites available for a true camping adventure! Be sure to check details for your requirements here
Picnics
A trip to a National Park is not complete without great picnic facilities and this park does not disappoint. Picnic and barbeque facilities are available at the Mambray Creek Day Visitor Area and Blue Gum Flat. There are no rubbish bins in the park so please take your rubbish with you.
Do Not Forget Your…
- Marshmallows for roasting by the campfire
- Gumboots for all the flowing creeks and secret paths you might discover
- Camera to capture the beauty in winter and any wildlife friends you might make!
- Torch for fun camping games
- Pack a picnic for a great outing
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