Aroona Valley Lookout was a quick stop on the Brachina road between Blinman and the camps on our gorge day. The view runs down the valley between the ABC and Heysen ranges, but the reason to stop is the board: it tells the Adnyamathanha story of how this valley was the track to Ikara, and once you’ve read it, the walls of Wilpena Pound look different.
What we like
- View down the valley to the ranges
- Adnyamathanha story of Ikara
- Picnic table and shelter
- Right off the Brachina road
What we don’t
- No toilets or water
- Little shade in summer
About Aroona Valley LookoutAbout
The lookout is a gravel area a short way off the Brachina road, with the board on a rusted steel stand, a picnic table and a shelter further along. The board, titled Yurlu Ngukandanha, the track to Ikara, tells the story: long ago Yurlu the kingfisher and two Akurra, serpents, journeyed south along this valley to a ceremony at Ikara, Wilpena Pound. As the Akurra travelled, they created the ABC and Heysen ranges on either side of Aroona Valley. Yurlu lit fires on the track to signal he was on his way, the Akurra noticed the smoke, crept up on the ceremony, stirred up whirlwinds and ate almost everyone there. Yurlu survived and flew south, and the bodies of the Akurra form the walls of Ikara that you can see today. A map traces the story from Lyndhurst to Hawker, and a painting shows the two serpents wrapped around the Pound. For the longer version, the board says, join an Adnyamathanha guided tour.
Quick facts
- AddressAroona Valley Lookout, Brachina Gorge Road, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, SA, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone receptionPatchy
- FacilitiesParkingLookoutsInterpretive SignsPicnic TablesPicnic ShelterNo ToiletsNo Drinking Water
- Good to know15 minutes is enoughGravel road, 2WD in the dryRead the board before the Pound
- FeesFree with the $14.40 park entry
- 8.3/10Overall rated
Getting There
From Blinman, take the Brachina road west, and the Aroona Valley Lookout sign comes up on the right along with the pointer to the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail. A short gravel track leads to the parking area. From Wilpena Pound it’s the long way round, over the Bunyeroo drive and north through the Brachina junction past Cambrian, Trezona and Youngoona. The roads suit a high-clearance 2WD in dry weather.
The View Down the ValleyDown the valley
From the board you look down the valley over low scrub and scattered trees to the ranges on both sides, the ABC Range on one and the Heysen Range on the other, exactly as the story describes. The Aroona ruins and the Aroona campground are further up the valley, which we didn’t get to this time. There’s a picnic table and a shelter for a break out of the sun, but no toilets or water, and in summer the shade runs out quickly.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
Youngoona and Trezona campgrounds are the next stops west along the Brachina road, with the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail beyond them. Blinman is back the other way, with the Great Wall of China on the sealed road south of town. The rest of the park is in our Flinders Ranges National Park guide.
Summary
Fifteen minutes off the Brachina road for a view down the valley and the story that explains the whole park. Read the board here before you stand under the walls of Wilpena Pound.
A quick stop worth making.
The board at Aroona Valley Lookout tells the Adnyamathanha story of Yurlu and the two Akurra whose bodies became the walls of Ikara, and the view down the valley between the ABC and Heysen ranges is the country the story is about. Fifteen minutes, free, and it changes how you see the Pound.
- Travellers
- 4WD tourers
- Campers
Yes. It’s a few minutes off the Brachina road, free with your park pass, and the story on the board gives the whole park a different meaning.
Recommended Gear for Aroona Valley Lookout
Carry water with you in a good water container, as there’s none at the lookout, and keep cold drinks in a camping fridge in the car. The Hema Flinders Ranges Atlas & Guide names the ABC and Heysen ranges on either side of the valley, and a power bank keeps the phone charged for photos of the board.
