Hawker

Hawker is a small town on Adnyamathanha Country in South Australia's Flinders Ranges, about 370 km north of Adelaide. It sits on the edge of the ranges, around 55 km south of Wilpena Pound in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. With fuel, a general store, cafés and accommodation, it is the last full-service town for many visitors heading into the park and beyond.

History in brief

Hawker was established in the 1880s, when the Great Northern Railway (later the old Ghan line) pushed north from Port Augusta and farmers took up land after good seasons. The surveyor George Goyder had drawn a line marking the limit of reliable rainfall, and Hawker lay beyond it. When drought returned, wheat crops failed and many farms were abandoned. The stone ruins of farmhouses around the district are reminders of that time. The railway closed in the 1950s, but the old station building remains.

For the Adnyamathanha people, the ranges are deeply significant, with stories that explain the formation of Wilpena Pound (Ikara) and other features. Visitors can learn more through Aboriginal-led tours in the region; see Aboriginal-led experiences.

Things to do in and around Hawker

• Yourambulla Caves. About 10 km south of town, a short walk leads to rock shelters with Aboriginal paintings. Stay on the path and do not touch the art. See our rock art guide.
• Kanyaka ruins. South of Hawker on the road to Quorn, the stone ruins of a large 19th-century pastoral station, with a nearby waterhole and the Death Rock site.
• Jarvis Hill lookout. A short drive and walk to views over the town, plains and ranges.
• Moralana Scenic Drive. An unsealed drive between the Hawker–Wilpena road and the Leigh Creek road, with views of the southern wall of Wilpena Pound. Check conditions after rain.
• Historic town walk. Explore the old railway station and heritage buildings.
• Scenic flights. Flights over Wilpena Pound operate in the region; check with local operators.

Wilpena Pound and the national park

Wilpena Pound is a vast natural amphitheatre of mountains. The park offers walks from short strolls to the climb up St Mary Peak, as well as Arkaroo Rock (another rock art site), the Bunyeroo and Brachina gorges and abundant wildlife, including yellow-footed rock-wallabies. Park entry and camping fees apply; book through National Parks SA.

Getting there

From Adelaide, drive via Port Augusta and Quorn, or via Orroroo and Carrieton. Hawker is about an hour from Port Augusta. North of Hawker, the sealed road continues to Parachilna and Leigh Creek, then on to Lyndhurst and Marree for the outback tracks.

Where to stay

Hawker has a caravan park, motel and hotel accommodation, plus station stays in the surrounding district. Wilpena Pound also has a resort and campground inside the park.

Suggested two-day plan

Day one. Visit Kanyaka ruins and Yourambulla Caves on the way into town, then climb Jarvis Hill for sunset.

Day two. Drive to Wilpena Pound, walk to Wangarra Lookout or Arkaroo Rock, and return via the Moralana Scenic Drive if it is open.

When to visit

April to October is the most comfortable season, and spring often brings wildflowers. Summer is hot, and some walks may close on days of extreme fire danger.

Tips for visiting

• Fuel and supplies. Fill up and buy groceries in Hawker. Wilpena has fuel and a small store, but further north the choice thins out.
• Wildlife on the roads. Kangaroos, emus and goats are common, especially at dawn and dusk. See our driving safety guide.
• Park passes. Buy park entry and camping permits online before you arrive.
• Respect cultural sites. Rock art is fragile and irreplaceable. Never touch it or climb barriers.

Hawker as a base for the northern Flinders

Many travellers spend several nights in Hawker and explore in day trips. North of Wilpena, the Bunyeroo and Brachina gorge drives pass through layered rock that records hundreds of millions of years of Earth's history, and the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail explains it with roadside signs. Further north, Parachilna, Blinman and the Northern Flinders offer historic copper mines, pubs and rugged scenery. Remember that distances add up: a loop through the gorges and back can fill a full day once you stop for walks, photographs and wildlife.

Fuel, phones and medical help

Hawker Memorial Hospital, on Druid Range Drive, is part of SA Health's regional network (phone 08 8648 4007). The nearest larger hospital is in Port Augusta.

Fuel is available in town. Quorn is about 65 km south.

Travelling with kids

Families can use Hawker as a base for short walks and wildlife spotting in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.

Walks around Hawker

The Hawker Visitor Information Centre lists several easy walks in and around town.

• Hawker Heritage Walk. A self-guided walk with 34 points of interest past buildings surviving from the town's early days. Pick up the free map at the visitor centre.
• Community Walking Trail. A walk and exercise trail on the eastern side of town, with benches, exercise equipment and views over the surrounding country. Enter from Wilpena Road, from the corner of Chace View Terrace and Wirreanda Terrace, or from the corner of Rawnsley Street and Chace View Terrace.
• Police Hill Walk. From the visitor centre, head north along Cradock Road into Wonoka Terrace and through the small gate. The hill was once used for police horses and as the animal pound, and the Hawker Rifle Club used it as a range from 1913 until the early 1980s. The old target pit is still there; do not enter it, as snakes may shelter inside. The top has views to Wonoka Bluff, the Wilpena Pound Range, the Chace Range and the Yappala and Yourambulla ranges. Allow about half an hour.

Getting to Jarvis Hill

The South Australian Tourism Commission says Jarvis Hill Lookout is about 7 km west of Hawker. Head west on Wilpena Road, turn left onto the Quorn road, then take the first signposted right after about 200 m and follow it about 6 km to the car park. The road contains a lot of clay, so do not use it when wet, and it is not suitable for towing caravans. Views take in the Worumba Hills, Wilpena Pound, the Elder Range and Wonoka Hill.

Practical information

• Distance: about 370 km north of Adelaide; 55 km to Wilpena Pound.
• Best time: April to October.
• Services: fuel, store, cafés, accommodation.
• Related: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Port Augusta, Leigh Creek, Rock art sites.

Nearby park guide: Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges.