Breakthaking is a word used to describe the Southern Flinders Ranges.
Most visitors would think rugged treks through the Mount Remarkable National Park, or adventures in the intriguingly-named Alligator Gorge.
You might pop in for a visit to historic Melrose, or perhaps Laura or Wirrabara, or you might go fish and chips on the wharf at Port Pirie.
A Bourke & Wills-style drive from Adelaide to Alice Springs or Darwin will take you along the highway through the Flinders Ranges.
There’s a line running through the region called “Goyder’s Line of Rainfall”, which marks what they call the “northern most limits of feasible agriculture”. In other words, it’s all desert north of the Flinders.
It’s pretty darn warm and it’s pretty darn dry. Yet despite these conditions, or perhaps because of them, the Southern Flinders Ranges has put itself on the map as one of the more fascinating wine region of Australia.
It extends north-west from the Clare Valley, and basically runs to the “northern most extremities”, as Goyder says.
Predominantly a red region, you’ve got Barossa legends like Charlie Melton Peter Lehmann and Yalumba with plantings here, used for blending and I believe the odd Southern Flinders Ranges wine, as well as giants Accolade and Treasure.
It’s mostly Shiraz, full of ballsy red colour and rich berry and licorice flavours, not dissimilar to Clare Valley Shiraz.
But there are also a few home-grown brands, like Bundaleer, Mopeta, Belalie, Bartagunya, Stone Hut and Remarkable View Wines – many of which have cellar doors.
There’s a strong artisan food movement, with awesome farmer’s markets and cafe’s.
Frontier stuff, with a food and wine culture, and adventure on your doorstep? I’m there.