Most people who are planning a trip to Australia don’t really think about visiting the country’s mountains. As a result the Flinders Range is a much more popular tourist destination with Australians than it is for people who come from overseas. Nevertheless it is a part of the country that you should check out if you are going to visit Australia.

Mountains may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Australia and in fact a lot of people are surprised to learn that they exist. The Flinders Range is actually quite extensive stretching for more than four hundred kilometers in South Australia. Compared to the worlds other mountain ranges the peaks are not all that tall, the highest being just below four thousand feet. However because the land around the mountains is so flat they mountains do really stand out.

The Flinders Range contains most of the activities that you would expect to find in any mountain range. Hiking and camping are the major attractions. The area has long been home to aborigines so there is also the chance to learn about their history with cave paintings and rock carvings being big draws for tourists.

One of the most surprising activities that can be done in Flinders Range is skiing. This is another major surprise for a lot of people who shocked to learn that it snows in Australia. The mountains actually get an extensive amount of snow and there are several ski resorts. Because winter in Australia is during the summer in the northern hemisphere a lot of tourists are starting to take advantage of this so that they can ski year-round.

Getting to the Flinders Range is fairly easy, there are lots of good roads that run into the mountains as well as bus and train service. Most people use the town of Port Augusta as their starting point; it is located near the mountains and is a major transportation hub with connections to most of the major cities.

The best time to visit the Flinders Range is early spring although the winter is also a good time. The temperatures get very high during the summer so most people will stay away at this time of year. There is occasional rain during the spring and it can be quite heavy but for the most part the weather is quite good at this time. Keep in mind that when you are travelling in the mountains you are out in the back country and need to make sure that you are prepared.