Women’s Far North Flinders Camel Trek

It’s an early start from Adelaide this morning as we head north in our comfortable private transport, ready for adventure in the stunning Far North Flinders Ranges.

Morning tea is enjoyed in Port Wakefield, before continuing our drive north and witnessing the Flinders Ranges gradually rising on our eastern side. Crossing the Ranges just before Quorn, we stop for lunch at the fabulous Flinders Food Co in Hawker, then continue our journey further north to Blinman.

Arriving at the camel farm by midafternoon, we’re introduced to our team of camels, pack our equipment, and have our pre-trek safety briefing. Once settled we’re Welcomed to this beautiful Country by our Adnyamathanha guide, and you’re presented with a small useful gift of bush medicine to carry with you.

Dinner tonight is prepared on the campfire, a delicious taste of things to come, before we all head to bed early in anticipation of our first walking day.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Walking Distance: –

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 10 – 15 km

Sleeping in swags and connecting intimately with nature allows our body clocks an opportunity to reset and adjust to more natural rhythms. You may wake at dawn, eager to rise and greet the day. Or you may like to lay a moment, listening and quietly contemplating the sounds as the world around you stirs into activity.

The tinker of the billy and the wafts of morning brew will entice you into the day as you get up, dress and pack your gear ready to load.

Breakfast is had, and although our new routine still feels a little foreign this morning, the ways of the camel train will soon become second nature.

We aim to set off a little earlier this morning (around 9:30/10am) and will walk until lunchtime, briefly stopping to admire any points of interest along the way. We may see a range of animals, birds or other wildlife, as well as old mines, plants, rocks, etc. Then it’s time to refuel with some food and a cuppa.

We pull into camp around mid-afternoon, and knowing that dinner is usually served just after dark, you have time to relax.

Help with firewood collection and with the camels is always greatly appreciated. Or, if your inner chef wishes to assist with dinner preparations, from Moroccan couscous to jacket potatoes, there’s always something exciting on the menu that you can lend a hand with.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 10 – 15 km

We wake this morning and notice that what appeared hectic a couple of days ago suddenly seems smoother and more straightforward as we gain confidence with the camels and our gear.

The campfire is lit at sunrise so the billy can be put on and breakfast is eaten. The camels are let off for their breakfast as we pack our gear and once complete, they are brought in and loading begins.

As we set off and fall into a comfortable pace, our camel train moves across the landscape in a meditative and synchronised motion. All of us beginning to feel connected in the time and space continuum, tuning in to the rhythm of nature and our collective movement.

Our day follows the familiar pattern, with lunch en route and finding camp by mid-afternoon. You may choose the same activity as your previous days, or mix it up with something else.

Dinner is served by the campfire, after which you may feel like sharing stories with your fellow adventurers or perhaps retreat to your swag and enjoy your own quiet, reflective moment before sleep.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 10 – 15 km

Dawn stirs us, and a new day begins. Lured by a fireside breakfast and a cuppa, we detangle ourselves from our swags and discuss what lies ahead: our fourth trekking day with the camels.

Although a familiar daily routine, the terrain we pass through varies greatly. There are sections of creek bed walking and also rocky hills, avoiding anything too steep with the camels.

Similar to our previous days, the route we travel today is determined by the weather, topography and the conditions of the land. Perhaps today we will stick to the station tracks, or there might be more cross-country action. It’s this element of the unknown that adds to the intrigue and excitement of each day. We are well off the beaten path, and there is always something new to discover!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 10 – 15 km

Our camel train moves across Adnyamathanha Country sustainably, leaving no trace in our wake. Wherever we travel, we take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints.

Ryan, our head cameleer has worked with camels for 18 years. He has led treks through the Simpson Desert, Strzelecki Desert, Sturt Stony and Great Victoria Desert. Ryan is an excellent bushman with a vast knowledge of ornithology, geology, history and astronomy. He has been exploring the Flinders Ranges for the past 16 years with the camels, and has a great appreciation for these wonderful animals and the environment.

Tonight is our last night on the trek, and as we set up our final camp, you may like to contemplate the unique experience of the past few days. Or perhaps your thoughts may be more daydreams about the hot shower you’ll be having tomorrow night.

After dinner and campfire chats, we tuck ourselves into our swags and allow the soft evening sounds to relax us as we drift into sleep.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, 2 Course Dinner
Walking Distance: 10 – 15 km

This morning, having had breakfast, we pack our gear, roll up our swags, and load the camels one last time.

Once camp is packed and our hoofed friends are ready, we begin our final leg and return to the camel farm by lunchtime. Walking throughout the morning, we savour these special, uninterrupted moments. It’s a time of nostalgia, an invitation to further reflect on the past few days – the quiet, the serenity, the simplicity. Life as part of a camel train is unique and an experience far removed from most of our everyday lives.

Breakfast this morning is at the Woolshed Restaurant. After we have eaten, our comfortable private vehicle awaits us at our accommodation, ready to be loaded with your belongings. We find our seats onboard and start our journey back to Adelaide with comfort stops along the way.

Our lunch stop will be at the beautiful Over the Edge Cafe in Melrose. We then continue on, taking a scenic drive through the Clare Valley and arrive back in Adelaide at around 6:00 pm. We provide multiple drop-off points, including most CBD hotels in Adelaide. Please do not book flights for this evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Walking Distance: –

There are rocky and uneven surfaces on this trek, plus group participation in loading and unloading the camels and firewood collection. Please talk to us about your accessibility needs before booking.