On our first full day in the Flinders Ranges we drove north from Wilpena Pound on the road to Blinman, and Hucks Lookout was the first stop. It’s a quick one: a short gravel track up a bare hill, a car park on top, and a wide view over the rocky hills to the ranges.
What we like
- Wide views over the ranges
- Right off the sealed road
- Signs explain the geology
- Free, and nobody else there
What we don’t
- Almost no shade in summer
- A quick stop, not a walk
About Hucks LookoutAbout
Hucks Lookout sits on a rise beside the Flinders Ranges Way, the sealed road north from Wilpena Pound towards Blinman, about 15 km from the resort and campground. There’s no walk, just the car park on top of the hill with the view in front of you and two signs beside it. One tells the story of how the Flinders Ranges formed: the rocks were laid down as sediments between about 1,000 and 500 million years ago, piled up to 20 km deep, then folded, lifted and worn down into the ranges you see today. The other is a profile of the view, naming Wilpena Pound, the ABC Range and the Heysen Range.
Quick facts
- AddressHucks Lookout, Flinders Ranges Way, Flinders Ranges, SA, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone receptionPatchy
- FacilitiesParkingLookoutsInterpretive SignsNo ToiletsNo Drinking WaterNo Shade
- Good to know15 km from WilpenaShort gravel track upNo shade in summer
- FeesFree
- 7.9/10Overall rated
Getting There
From Wilpena Pound, head north on the Flinders Ranges Way towards Blinman; it’s about 15 km and a 15-minute drive from the resort. The road is sealed, and a brown Hucks Lookout sign marks the turn-off on the left. From there a gravel track winds up the bare hill to the car park on top. It’s short, any car can do it in dry weather, and there’s plenty of room to turn around.
Hills, Pines and the Ranges BeyondThe view
From the top you look out over rocky, rust-coloured hills dotted with native pines and spinifex, with the blue ridges of the ranges stacked up behind them. It’s a big, open view, and with the profile sign you can pick out the ABC Range, the Heysen Range and the back of Wilpena Pound. There’s one tree for a bit of shade and a log barrier at the edge, and that’s it. We were the only ones there.
It was very hot in the middle of the day, and with so little shade it isn’t a place to hang around in summer. Early morning or late afternoon would give softer light on the ranges.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
Hucks Lookout pairs well with Stokes Hill Lookout, a bigger lookout with a bronze map of the ranges on the same road closer to Wilpena. Further north the road passes the turn-off to the Bunyeroo and Brachina gorge drive and the old copper town of Blinman. Everything we did in the park is in our Flinders Ranges National Park guide.
Summary
A ten-minute stop with a big view and a good story on the signs. Free, right off the sealed road, and worth the short detour on your way north from Wilpena, just not at midday in summer.
A quick, free stop with a big view.
The gravel track runs up a bare hill to a car park with wide views over the rocky hills to the ranges, and two signs explain how the Flinders Ranges formed. Worth the detour, but there’s no shade, so don’t linger in the middle of a summer day.
- Travellers
- Campers
- 4WD tourers
Yes. It’s a few minutes off the sealed road, it’s free and the view over the ranges is wide. We had it to ourselves.
Recommended Gear for Hucks Lookout
The Hema Flinders Ranges Atlas & Guide names every range you can see from the top. Carry water up with you in a good water container, keep a cooler bag or fridge in the car for the day, and a power bank keeps the phone going for photos and the map.
