Drive Through 600 Million Years in Under an Hour – Flinders Ranges
The beginning of my drive through 600 million years in under an hour through South Australia’s Flinders Ranges led me to the Bunyeroo Valley. This scenic road has been called a corridor through time. The further I drove, the more I realised this was about presence, patience, and perspective.
Bunyeroo Valley & Razorback Lookout – A Journey Begins
The first stop was Bunyeroo Lookout, where the valley stretched wide beneath midday light. What began as a quick lunch break turned into an entire afternoon of exploring the area’s trails and geology, an afternoon of unexpected discovery.
From there, I continued to Razorback Lookout, a view I remembered from an old travel guide — one of those timeless places that stay with you. As the light softened toward evening, the ridges glowed gold with hints of violet, revealing another story as the day let go. I reluctantly headed back to Wilpena for the night.
Driving Through Time – 600 Million Years in the Flinders Ranges
The next morning was a chilly -3˚C in Wilpena, the kind of crisp air where every sound seems louder than it actually is. I set out before sunrise towards Brachina Gorge, but first, I stopped for a coffee at Huck’s Lookout, where dawn painted Wilpena Pound in pink hues before unveiling the curtain over the range, turning it into a deep red glow. Not far up the road was Stokes Lookout, where the sun infused mist in the valleys made the layers of the mountain ranges fall away into the distant ridges. As I turned onto the Brachina Gorge Road, it felt as if I’d stepped into another world. The drive in was magical as the gorge preserves more than 600 million years of geological history, from ancient ocean beds to fossilised life forms. Ripple marks from vanished seas still line the rocks, while Aboriginal carvings remind us that human stories here stretch far beyond recorded time
Life Among the Rocks – Brachina Gorge’s Resilient Beauty
Even in this rugged terrain, life endures. A single river red gum clung to a rock wall, its roots gripping tight where no soil existed. It was a symbol of resilience — survival through adaptation. Later in the day, rock wallabies appeared, quietly foraging among the dry creek stones and rocky escarpments. Their presence brought warmth to the stillness, a reminder that even in the harshest landscapes, life finds a way.
Reflections on the Drive Through 600 Million Years
Driving through Brachina Gorge is to travel through time itself. You can pass through it in under an hour, but the memory lasts much longer. Every ridge, every shadow, holds a chapter of the planet’s history. My last stop was the China Wall, its jagged ridge and valley was catching the late afternoon light before I continued to Blinman, South Australia’s highest town. The subdued glow on this ridge felt like a closing chapter — a reminder that endurance and beauty often share the same face.
Final Thoughts
This journey through the Flinders Ranges — from Bunyeroo Valley to Brachina Gorge — is more than just a drive. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with the Earth’s timeline. If you’re in South Australia, take your time exploring it. While it’s possible to drive through 600 million years in less than an hour, it’s best to pause and experience the awe inspiring beauty and let Brachina Gorge work its magic.
Watch the Journey on YouTube
Drive Through 600 Million Years in Under an Hour – Flinders Ranges on YouTube