If you’re looking for something other than a caravan park stay but you’re not ready for off-grid camping, the alternative could be a station stay.
Station stays give you the best of both worlds. Typically you’ll have power, water, ablutions and camp kitchens, but with the added advantage of wide-open spaces to camp under the stars.
Spoilt for choice with more than two dozen station stays to try in South Australia, it can be hard to know where to start. For a little inspiration, I’ve shared four of my favourites.
Farina Station
You can’t get more of an outback feel than when you’ve driven 600 kilometres north of Adelaide to Farina Station. This station stay is just short of Lake Eyre, but the entire drive is on bitumen until you get to the station entrance.
Farina is truly unique. As well as being a working sheep station, it’s also a ghost town with substantial ruins still standing from a time when this was once a thriving town.
From the campground, you can walk or drive among the old streets and ruins of the town which have been preserved, thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers. When volunteers are on-site during June and July, maintenance work is carried out on the buildings and a historic underground oven is fired up to bake bread for campers and travellers passing by.
Farina Station is open all year round and costs $10 per person per night to stay. Showers and toilets are available.
Rawnsley Park Station
Incredible views of the Flinders Ranges and roaming wildlife are among the most convincing reasons to stay at Rawnsley Park. From the bush camping sites, you have the luxury of picture-perfect views of Wilpena Pound. Take yourself on self-guided 4WD tours and walks on the property in the nearby Flinders Ranges National Park to see it all.
Epic views and roaming wildlife surround you wherever you choose to stay at Rawnsley, whether that’s a powered site in the caravan park or a bush camping site. Prices start at $29 per night for two people, perfect for a romantic couple’s vacation location or a getaway for two mates.
Hummocks Station
A mere 150 kilometres north of Adelaide, Hummocks Station provides an avenue for an easy weekend escape.
Wide drive-through powered sites are available in the caravan park along with a camp kitchen and clean modern amenities. The caravan park-powered sites cost $38 per night and the unpowered bush camping sites are ideal for a group of mates. Warm yourself in front of a campfire pit and take in the unique spectacular rural views of Hummocks Station.
Spear Creek Station
Located just 25 kilometres south of Port Augusta, Spear Creek Station is an incredible stopover option prior to exploring the Eyre Peninsula, the Flinders Ranges or the far north of South Australia.
The peace and serenity at Spear Creek are what makes this a popular stay. Staying in the caravan park area or bush camping sites also allows you to see and hear the daily workings of this sheep station. Not only that, but you can buy ready-to-cook lamb, perfect for your camp oven roast. Delicious!
While you’re there, take to the walking trails to discover steep, dramatic gorges. You’ll likely spot kangaroos and birds of prey among the colossal river red gums and natural scrub, so make sure you’ve got your camera.
A camp kitchen and ablutions are available for all campers’ convenience at Spear Creek. Love a sunset? Check out the designated sunset viewing area to watch the sun disappear behind wind turbines in the distance.
What about Almerta Station and Willow springs Station!