South Australia (Flinders Ranges)
Hawker
The locals call this the hub of the Flinders, with some justification - it is the junction of roads from Port Augusta, Orroroo, Marree and Wilpena Pound. It was once a thriving railway town, a typical outback town, but when the line was re-located. Hawker's pace slowed somewhat. It is, however, an important tourist town servicing the traffic into the central and northern Flinders Ranges and has all necessary facilities.
HAWKER itself is somewhere to fuel up, make use of the last banks and shops for a while, have a meal at the Old Ghan Restaurant down past the hotel, organize a flight over the Flinders through Hawker Caravan Park on the Wilpena exit, and seek advice from the regional NPWS office at 60 Elder Terrace about far-northern parks and roads (Mon–Fri; tel 08/8648 4244).

Decisions have to be made in Hawker about whether to press on into the Flinders and the northeast or continue following the former Ghan line north towards Marree; the bitumen on the latter route extends past the Leigh Creek coalfields to Lyndhurst, start of the Strzelecki Track. Stateliner buses pass through Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, continuing to Wilpena, with a connection (Mon & Fri) to Arkaroola in the Northern Flinders. On Sunday, Thursday and Friday the buses return to Port Augusta and Adelaide.

Attractions
  • FRED TEAGUE'S MUSEUM This museum contains a fine collection of gemstones, minerals, Aboriginal artefacts, fossils, photographs, antique bottles and memorabilia.
  • JARVIS HILL LOOKOUT A walking track and scenic lookout have been established at Jarvis Hill, five kilometres south-west of Hawker, The lookout offers a spectacular vista over the nearby countryside.
  • KANYAKA RUINS Pronounced Kan-i-ka, this once gracious homestead dates back to the 1850s, when it supported as many as 70 families. Drought and a series of poor seasons forced the owners off the land. Restoration and interpretive signposting give an interesting insight into the past.
  • YOURAMBULLA CAVES Only a few kilometres south of Hawker, the Yourambulla Caves have some excellent examples of Aboriginal rock paintings. There is also a marvellous panoramic view of the surrounding ranges.