Arkaroo Rock has some of the most easily accessible Aboriginal rock art in the Flinders Ranges. Whilst the Flinders is well known for having many rock art sites, most are not known to the public, so Arkaroo Rock is a great opportunity to see some beautifully preserved paintings with very little effort.
The circuit walk around the site is also absolutely gorgeous, with some jaw dropping views of the walls of Wilpena Pound and the surrounding mountain ranges. If you’re walking in the early morning or late afternoon it’s also a good spot for wildlife watching.
Here’s what to expect from the walk and the rock art.
Arkaroo Rock Walk
The stats
Distance: 3.1km
Elevation: 110m
Difficulty: Easy but not entirely flat
Type of trail: Circuit
The Arkaroo Rock Trail is a leisurely 45 minute to 1 hour long walk. We recommend allowing 1.5 hours to take in the rock art and the views.
The trail
The trail begins on a wide red dirt path which begins heading gradually uphill between dense vegetation. As you progress it does become a little rougher with some rubble and rocks, but nothing too difficult.
The beginning of the walk is the steepest part and whilst it’s by no means a slog, if you’re walking in the heat of the day you’ll definitely feel like you’re going uphill!
The scenery is spectacular from the beginning though, and as we were walking close to sunset it wasn’t long before we’d already spotted our first Euro (Common Wallaroo).
Although it’s unlikely you would get lost, there are a couple of turns in the trail which aren’t signposted. The first comes 350m in when you want to keep left. The next turn is signposted a couple of hundred metres in and the arrow points you to take the circuit anticlockwise.
The closer you get to the rock the more magnificent the scenery becomes as you feel surrounded by the beautiful deep red mountains.
There was no one else at all on the trail when we visited and all you could hear were the sounds of the birds and the insects which made for such a peaceful atmosphere.
The path becomes much flatter and it’s not long before you come to another intersection. You’ll see a huge rock in front of you and another to the right of you.
At this point you turn left and then you are less than 200m from Arkaroo Rock.
Arkaroo Rock
You’ll see a large viewing platform with a bench where you can sit and admire the art in the shade. The rock is protected by a fence but there are holes which are plenty wide enough to get pictures through without having to worry about the wire.
The paintings are a mixture of charcoal and white and red ochre. They are thought to be over 5,000 years old and a place of great significance to the Adnyamathanha people.
The paintings themselves are really well preserved and there are a lot of them, but there is no information board as to what they represent. Luckily we had been to Stokes Hill to watch the sunset the evening before and had taken a photo of the sign there which listed a lot of different symbols and their meanings.
This proved to be a big help in recognising some of the art although much of it is still a mystery to us! Having done some research online the paintings are said to tell the creation story of Wilpena Pound.
If you want to do more than admire the paintings we’d recommend taking a photo of the sign with you so that you can identify some of what is there.
The walk back
The walk back is all either downhill or flat so it’s very quick. You will get more fantastic views, including several spots where the vegetation completely opens to provide uninterrupted views of the Chace and Druid Ranges.
It’s a gorgeous walk, and we found ourselves drawn to sit on the rocks and watch as the sky turned pink and purple when the sun began to set.
Although the sun sets behind the mountains where Arkaroo Rock is situated we thought that the reverse sunset happening in the direction of the trail was just as spectacular.
The best time to visit Arkaroo Rock
We heard that the best time to see the paintings is early morning, however, we loved visiting around sunset. Choosing either early morning or late afternoon will mean that you aren’t walking in the heat of the day and the trail should also be pretty quiet.
Getting to Arkaroo Rock
Arkaroo Rock is 16km and roughly a 15 minute drive from Wilpena Pound Resort. It’s 12km and roughly 15 minutes drive from Rawnsley Park Station and 42km and 30 minutes from Hawker.
You’ll need your own vehicle if you don’t want to visit as part of a tour.
Where to stay near Arkaroo Rock
Wilpena Pound Resort
We stayed in Wilpena Pound Resort and were very happy with it. We were in the cheapest rooms which were very dated but large and clean. Rooms with a kitchen would be ideal if you’re staying a few nights because food options in the area are extremely limited.
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Rawnsley Park Station
Rawnsley Park Station has good reviews and a wide range of rooms from basic up to fancier villas. We heard good things about it from others but didn’t get a chance to experience it for ourselves. Their restaurant has very good reviews but can be hard to get in to (we couldn’t).
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What is your favourite Aboriginal rock art site? Let us know in the comments below!
