One of the best Flinders Ranges lookouts that you can get to by car, Stokes Hill Lookout provides a 360-degree view over the entire Wilpena Pound Range, Bunkers Range, Druid Range and Chace Range. A 3D map depicts the topography of the surrounding area.
To the west are the highest mountains of the long Wilpena Pound Range…
…which include St Mary Peak (1,171m) and Pompey Pillar (1,168m).
To the south-west are more Wilpena Pound Range peaks – Point Bonney (1133m), Tumburru Peak (1027m), Mount Karawarra (1071m) and Binya Peak (1027m).
Looking south is the Chace Range (Mount Havelock and Mount Desire being two of the named peaks) and the Druid Range.
To the south-east is Willow Springs and Upalinna, and in the distance some lower peaks – Mount Victor, Koolka Hill, Mount Josephine and Wilyerpa Hill.
As with most lookouts, sunrise and sunset from Stokes Hill Lookout offer the most dramatic views.
Stokes Hill Lookou twas opened in March 1992 to honour and recognise the history of the local Adnyamathanha people. Signage at Stokes Hill Lookout explains the symbolism of the indigenous rock art of the area (oddly, there is is no signage at Arkaroo rock, so it’s useful to have a photo of the sign) and the Dreamtime stories explaining the creation of Ikara (Wilpena Pound).
Yurlu [the Kingfisher] journeyed south from his home at Kakarlpunha (Termination Hill) to attend an important malkada (corroboree and initiation ceremony) at Ikara. On the way Yurlu made a big signal fire. The smoke was a sign that he was on his way to the ceremeony. His fire created the coal at Leigh Creek and at other places where he lit fires along the way.
At the same time two Akurra (powerful Dreaming serpents) set out from Arrunha Akurra Awi (now covered by Aroona Dam) to travel south to Ikara. The Akurra Valadupa (male and female) entered Ikara through Vira Warldu (Edeowie Gap) and camped at Akurra Awi, a large waterhole. The people looked up and saw bright stars rising. They took this as a sign to start the ceremony.
They didn’t realise that the stars were actualy the eyes of the Akurra looking down at them. When Yurlu the Kingfisher arrived, the ceremony was well undwerway. Yurlu snatched the firestick from Walha the turkey and threw it up into the sky. This stick turned into the red star Wildu (Mars). The two Akurra came up on either side of the ceremonial ground in whirlwinds and caught and ate the people. Only four escaped – the two initiates (Vardnapa – the new Vardnapa, and Yakamburu – the new Wilyaru), Walhala the turkey and Yurlu the kingfisher. Walha and Yurlu flew off south and the initiates fled eastwards, watched by the Akurra. The bodies of the two Akurra form the sides of Wilpena Pound.
A less obvious vantage point on the way up to Stokes Hill Lookout offers a view to the north-west to Heysen Range: Hayward Bluff, Mount Hayward and False Mount Hayward.
Getting to Stokes Hill Lookout
Stokes Hill Lookout is about 15km north (10min drive) of the Wilpena Pound Resort and 65km (45min) north of Hawaker along the Flinders Ranges Way. The unsealed access winds up to the top of the hill; it should be suitable for all vehicles, but one steep section was very rough on one of out visits, and an AWD/4WD would be recommended. (If the road is roo rough for your car, the nearby Hucks Lookout also offers a good view of the Wilpena Pound Range.)
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