Reinhard Steiner

Review of Wilpena pound resort

I was there in May 2019. The Flinders Ranges Natio...

I was there in May 2019. The Flinders Ranges National Park and especially Wilpena Pound are stunning and one of my favourite places in South Australia.
The campground and resort are the only accommodation available so close to the Wilpena Pound. It is the gate for all hikers who want to explore the pound and the surrounding ranges like St. Mary's peak.
I have visited the resort and campground on five occasions over the last 12 years. Nothing much has changed there so far.
The bar and restaurant in the resort look more or less the same, 1980s standards and are in good nick. The toilet and shower blocks on the campground need an overhaul. The amenities for campers have a "beautiful" 80s (or is it 70s?) feel to them. The buildings are not closed to the outside but the air is freely circulating through large wooden lattices that are sitting between the 2 m walls and the roof. In SA winter, when temperatures go down to 0 C and below at night this is a chilly place. The showers kept changing temperature between ice cold and boiling hot, depending on how many people were showering and the water pressure is poor.
The staff is another issue. They are very laid back, meaning that in the tourist information I got totally ignored by the lady behind the counter. There was only one other customer, a backpacker who was studying some brochures on her own. I had to actively approach the staff member to get her attention for a simple map of the trails. "Help yourself" was the only answer I got out of her.
The signage on the trails has not changed much since I was there for the first time. The signs are spread out widely and it is hard to find the trailhead.
The last weather and hiking conditions update on the whiteboard at the trailhead was 2 weeks old.
This is a remote location, however there is sealed roads all the way to Adelaide, so it is not too difficult getting building materials there.
Although the place is generally well kept and clean a few things could be done. I think the management are very reliant on the scenery/location and not so much on upgrades and customer service.