| At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | NSW, SA & VIC |
| Best Time to Visit | Mungo & Flinders: May-October; Grampians: Year-round |
| Vehicle Access | 4WD recommended for outback areas |
| In Camps App | Yes – All campsites included |
Pack your sense of adventure – we’ve rounded up 40+ recommendations across 20 categories from our epic Mungo-Flinders-Grampians road trip. From feral feeds and lamingtons so good you’ll swoon, to unforgettable camps, hikes, pubs and even the best loos, we share all our top travel secrets covering NSW, SA and Victoria!
The ancient landscapes of Mungo National Park and Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park are best explored from May to October, when cooler days make outback wandering a dream. Meanwhile, the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is an all-year-round gem – full of waterfalls, walking trails and wildlife.
So grab your CAMPS App & new CAMPS 13 guide (and your appetite) — your next adventure starts here!
Best drive
So good we did it twice: Razorback Lookout (pictured above) – Bunyeroo Road – Brachina Gorge – Moralana Scenic Road. Put them on your list. No wonder South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Outback has been named on Lonely Planet’s Top Places Hotlist for 2026.
Best hike
Our fam loved the Wall of China, Mungo National Park, NSW. Just as well, as it is so remote and a real drive to get here! If you are fit, game and you have a whole day – my sister loved the trek up Rawnsley Bluff, overlooking Rawnsley Park and Wilpena Pound in South Australia.
Best Bakery
We were given the tip at the Quorn Distillery that the best bakery in SA was at Wirrabara and it was not to be bypassed. So I found the town after I worked out the spelling, we adjusted our route and stopped into this little town. Julia’s Kitchen is the name of the bakery, and that lamington almost made us swoon. Yum! There is a fantastic caravan park with very friendly volunteer managers AND silo art!
For novelty factor we reckon the The Miners Crib’s Apple Cornish pasty is worth a try at Blinman, SA and the GF banana bread at Wilders Bakery, Young, NSW deserves a mention.
Best tour
To be fair, it was the only one we did! But the jaw-dropping, rail-gripping Arkaroola rooftop tour at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, SA would win regardless. The commentary was also fascinating, even though rocks aren’t my thing, our guide was brilliant.
Big thing
Can you beat a Big Mallee Fowl? Patchewollock in Victoria’s arid Mallee region has two! And a silo and top pub. Plus we saw a real Mallee Fowl, not so big – but actually larger than we imagined, on the way to town!
Silo Art
It was very hard to narrow this down in our group – we saw so many and they were all a feast for the eyes and senses. However, Lascelles VIC, Walla Walla NSW, and this masterpiece at Wirrabara, SA take our gongs. As for silo art trails – the northwest Victoria route is a cracker!
Picnic spot
There was a windy one on the Murray where the crackers flew off the table at Cohuna, VIC, but we rated Aroona Valley Lookout on Brachina Gorge Road, Ikara Flinders Ranges. The rest of our crew voted for Lake Tyrell, Victoria.VIC.
Best Camps and Caravan Parks
You know when a place lives up to the photos you see? Rawnsley Park was everything I could have imagined. Waking up to sunrise on Rawnsley Bluff, watching it light up at sundown, sharing the campfire with our family… I treasure our time here. The Flinders has wormed its way into my being.
I’ll also give a shout out to Breeze Holiday Parks Halls Gap, VIC. You are a smidgen from the Grampians National Park and right in town. So location is superb, views magnificent and the walking tracks start on your doorstep. And there’s a watering hole opposite the office!
Best Pub
Heatley and I loved our night at Beltana Town Camp and the little track to the the Royal Victoria Hotel. NOTE: Beltana Station is no longer offering camping, make sure you stay on the road and follow directions to Beltana Town.
Our fam also rated Broken Hill’s iconic Palace Hotel from movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. They said the food was beautiful. Here’s some other Flinders Ranges sites we loved.
Best town
Goodness, they’re all in SA: Quorn, Melrose, Beltana, Burra, and mum and Lenore loved relaxing at Leigh Creek. Shame we missed out on the Pichi Richi…
Best cafe
Here’s a shout out to Dale (pictured) and James at Leigh Creek and their eclectic Sassy Emu Tea Room and Collectibles, what a delight. Heatley also rates their coffee and my hot chocolate was yummy, too.
Mum loved Berri Waterfront on the Murray River, and their pink lamington. We’ve stopped here with mates before and loved the location as well.
Best toilet
Warracknabeal has excellent amenities at the information centre, in the middle of town. (And terrific dog sculptures at roundabouts!)
Back at Colbinabbin Hotel, VIC I had forgotten their loos have heated seats! Meals were awesome, too. And so is the view…
Biggest surprise
Lake Aroona near Leigh Creek,SA – no wonder the locals love this oasis!
The loos at Warracknabeal has excellent amenities at the information centre, in the middle of town. (And terrific dog sculptures at roundabouts!)
Best Tree
Brewery Tree, Melrose SA (which is handily close to the brewery!), the Salmon Gums at Leigh Creek, SA and the Big Tree – Moulamein NSW (also right at a camp!)
Best Coffee
We rate the Ampol Roadhouse at Balranald, NSW and the Old Wharf Cafe, Pooncarie (scone, too!)
Best brekky
Chicken Korma at Yunta Truck stop, SA was brilliant (yes, I love a curry breakfast) but the Old Wharf Cafe, Pooncarie, NSW wins our gong. Not only do they have traditional bacon and eggs, there are other surprising offerings. Not often Heatley finished off a brekky with a hot scone, but they were freshly made and he could see other customers enjoy them. Seriously, everything they create is delish! We have visited before!
Best Wildlife Experience
Sooo many emus, but I did not get tired of seeing them – especially wandering around Trezona Campground at Brachina Gorge, SA. Heatley also spotted a yellow footed wallaby nearby.
However, the ultimate wildlife thrill… I have never seen Major Mitchell Cockatoos (now known as Pink Cockatoos) SO CLOSE as our drive from Mungo National Park to Pooncarie, NSW. I think they are my favourite, perhaps even more than wombats!
Funniest names
Dicks Knob near Wilpena Pound Range, SA, Tittybong near Sea Lake VIC, and good old Burrumbuttock, NSW all made us giggle, especially Mum.
Best Supermarket
As outback supermarkets go, Leigh Creek has the best range and prices we’ve seen.
Feral Feed – YES OR NO?
YES! The Prairie Hotel has a few feral options on the menu, our crew enjoyed the feral platter. and you’ll find more at the North Blinman Hotel. Goat curries are also popular on the menus on this trip, like Olary Hotel on the Barrier Highway, SA.
Jump to another route for the 25 of the BEST for our VIC, NSW and SA trip!
Of course, find all the campsites in the brand new CAMPS 13 and our other guides and CAMPS App!
Thanks to our family crew for the photos – especially Miles Boak!
Download the Camps App for iPhone/iPad or Android
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Mungo National Park and the Flinders Ranges?
The ancient landscapes of Mungo National Park and Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park are best explored from May to October, when cooler days make outback wandering much more comfortable. The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is an all-year-round destination.
What is the best drive on this road trip?
The Razorback Lookout to Bunyeroo Road, through Brachina Gorge and along Moralana Scenic Road in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges is considered the ultimate drive – so spectacular it was done twice during this trip!
Where are the best places to stay along this route?
Rawnsley Park in the Flinders Ranges offers stunning sunrise and sunset views of Rawnsley Bluff. Breeze Holiday Parks Halls Gap provides easy access to Grampians National Park. Beltana Town Camp offers a unique outback experience. Check the Camps App for current details on all campsites.
What are the must-try food stops on this journey?
Julia’s Kitchen in Wirrabara, SA serves legendary lamingtons. The Old Wharf Cafe in Pooncarie, NSW offers exceptional breakfast and fresh scones. The Prairie Hotel features a feral platter with local game meats. Don’t miss the Ampol Roadhouse at Balranald for great coffee.
Which hikes are recommended on this route?
The Wall of China walk in Mungo National Park is a family-friendly favourite, though remote. For experienced hikers with a full day available, the trek up Rawnsley Bluff offers spectacular views overlooking Rawnsley Park and Wilpena Pound in South Australia.
What wildlife can I expect to see?
Emus are abundant throughout the trip, especially around Trezona Campground at Brachina Gorge. Yellow-footed wallabies can be spotted in the Flinders Ranges. Pink Cockatoos (Major Mitchell Cockatoos) are frequently seen between Mungo National Park and Pooncarie. Real Mallee Fowl can be spotted near Patchewollock in Victoria’s Mallee region.
Are there guided tours available?
The jaw-dropping rooftop tour at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in SA is highly recommended, featuring rail-gripping outback scenery and fascinating geological commentary from expert guides.
Which silo art locations are worth visiting?
Lascelles in Victoria, Walla Walla in NSW, and Wirrabara in SA are standout silo art locations. The northwest Victoria silo art trail is particularly impressive and covers multiple sites worth exploring.
