Hills Homestead

Starting from the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre on Wilpena Road, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, this walk takes you to the Hills Homestead and back via the Wilpena Pound Hiking track and Pound Gap track. One of South Australia's most popular tourist destinations, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park is home to ancient rugged mountain ranges, dramatic gorges, peaceful tree-lined creeks and abundant wildlife. This relatively easy walk initially follows a dirt road through the Pound Gap, following Wilpena Creek through tall river red gums and pines. After crossing the creek and passing a waterhole, the road reaches an information shelter and splits in two. Up to this point, the walk is suitable for wheelchairs and prams, and there is also a shuttle bus service to here. From there, walkers can continue along the walking trail, which is easier, or along the road, which climbs above Sliding Rock. The walk continues to the historic Hills Homestead, where there are toilets, picnic tables and interpretive signs telling the story of the cottage's original inhabitants and their struggles with the harsh Australian conditions. The walk can be extended to the Wangara Lookouts, which offer panoramic views of the interior of Wilpena Pound. This walk consists of narrow, gently undulating walking trails and fire tracks, with compacted natural surfaces suitable for most fitness levels. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Photo by admin, 2022.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Start	(-31.5270841,138.6056354)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Augusta Highway, Stirling North. Turn on to then drive for 75 m Turn slight right onto Range View Road and drive for another 33.1 km Turn left onto Railway Terrace and drive for another 66.4 km Turn right onto Wilpena Road and drive for another 50.9 km Turn left onto Wilpena Road and drive for another 3.8 km Keep left onto Wilpena Pound Road and drive for another 10 m Keep right and drive for another 205 m Turn right and drive for another 45 m

Track Notes

Getting started
Start from the wooden trailhead signpost with a small desk embedded to it, next to IGA Wilpena General Store just off Hawker-Wilpena Road. Head towards the angled hip-height signpost passing by a metal pole with colour-coded track signs on it along the dirt path, moving directly away from the store. Keep right and follow the dirt trail as you pass by the said angled signpost to your left. Cross the paved road using the crosswalk and keep going straight down the dirt track as it tightens after the road. Turn right as the track widens and comes to an intersection, passing by another colour-coded metal pole to your left to continue along Hills Homestead Track.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre (about 70 m back from the start). There is a toilet (about 60 m back from the start). Find the sign at the start. Find the car park at the start.
	After another 50 m continue straight. After another 125 m come to the "Wilpena Pound Campground" (20 m on your left).
	After another 60 m turn right. After another 35 m cross the ford. After another 40 m come to the "Wilpena Pound Resort Campground" (80 m on your right). Turn left.
	After another 130 m (at the intersection of Pound Gap Track & Outside Trail) continue straight, to head along Pound Gap Track.
	After another 340 m (at the intersection of Pound Gap Track & Mount Ohlssen Bagge Hike) continue straight, to head along Pound Gap Track.
	The starting point of an alternate route. An alternate, less challenging route via a fire trail, skipping Sliding Rock. To take the alternate route turn left here. Details below. After another 1.6 km (at the intersection of Wilpena Pound Hiking Track & Top track) continue straight, to head along Wilpena Pound Hiking Track (a walking track). After another 225 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long) After another 390 m (from the Wilpena Pound Hiking Track) continue straight, to head along Wilpena Pound Hiking Track.
	The alternate route finishes here. Continue straight to rejoin the main route at the 3.1 km waypoint. Details below. After another 110 m (at the intersection of Wilpena Pound Hiking Track & Top track) veer right, to head along Wilpena Pound Hiking Track. After another 215 m (at the intersection of Wangara Lookout Hike & Wilpena Pound Hiking Track) continue straight, to head along Wangara Lookout Hike. Keep right.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This optional side trip takes you to the Lower Lookout on the Wangara Lookout Hike. You can continue further north if you have the energy and time to visit the other lookouts. Watch out for an excellent carving on a large rock at the start of the side trip if you do so. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip turn sharp right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 20 m (from the Wangara Lookout Hike) turn sharp right. About 70 m past the end is a toilet. About 15 m past the end is a water tap. Turn around here and retrace the main route for 3.4 km to get back to the start.

This optional side trip takes you to the Lower Lookout on the Wangara Lookout Hike. You can continue further north if you have the energy and time to visit the other lookouts. Watch out for an excellent carving on a large rock at the start of the side trip if you do so.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	From the Wangara Lookout Hike Start heading along Wangara Lookout Hike (a walking track). Find the water tap at the start. After 150 m pass the toilet (50 m on your right).
	After another 45 m (from the Wangara Lookout Hike) turn left, to head along Wangara Lookout Hike. After another 25 m come to "Lower Lookout". Continue another 0 m to find Lower Lookout at the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 220 m to the main route.

An alternate, less challenging route via a fire trail, skipping Sliding Rock.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Top track & Wilpena Pound Hiking Track Start heading along Top track (a vehicle track).
	After another 610 m (at the intersection of Top track & Pound Gap Track) continue straight, to head along Top track. After another 130 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
	Continue another 8 m to find at the intersection of Top track & Wilpena Pound Hiking Track at the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain

Hills Homestead

Grading

	Class 2/6 Easy track
Length	6.7 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 3 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.2 km apart with the largest gap of 6.4 km.

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 2.3 km apart with the largest gap of 3.4 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-62 m	[toilet]
Camp site	210 m	Wilpena Pound Campground
Camp site	345 m	Wilpena Pound Resort Campground
Toilet	3.4 km	[toilet]

Weather Forecast for {{location.name}}

Alerts and Closures