Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Port Augusta, Australia

In 1878, this city on the Upper Spencer Gulf emerged as the southern terminus for a north-south railway designed to reach Darwin.

Presently, Port Augusta is perceived as an entry point into the expansive Outback.

Supporting this notion is a world-class botanic garden that features low-rainfall species, while the city’s visitor center celebrates the allure and intrigue of the vast land that extends for thousands of miles beyond.

The Flinders Ranges, characterized by their ancient ochre formations, rise to the east across the gulf and warrant exploration. Simultaneously, Port Augusta’s 19th-century architecture adds a touch of elegance to any walking tour.

1. Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden

This expansive 250-hectare botanic garden showcases the diverse and intricate plant life endemic to Australia’s low-rainfall regions.

Equipped with walking tracks, this attraction is set on a picturesque plot atop cliffs overlooking Spencer Gulf, offering panoramic views of the Flinders Ranges.

The garden was established in the 1990s to enhance understanding of the often-overlooked natural resources of arid zones.

Notably, visitors can observe the contrast between the botany of arid zones and the natural grey mangroves that line the marine environment of the gulf to the east.

Home to more than 150 bird species, the garden boasts a remarkable eremophilia area containing around 155 varieties.

The garden’s café presents a menu inspired by local ingredients, featuring items such as tuna patties seasoned with native herbs, lemon myrtle pancakes, and desert quandong ice cream.

2. Wadlata Outback Centre

In Port Augusta, the tourist information center has been integrated with an engaging attraction dedicated to the marvels of the Outback.

A significant highlight is the acclaimed Tunnel of Time, a vast installation that chronicles the natural and human history of the South Australian Outback through both Aboriginal and European lenses.

This exhibition guides visitors through to the 21st century, illustrating developments that have modernized the Outback, such as Trager’s pedal radio and the School of the Air.

The center’s Outback Tuckerbox caters to a variety of taste preferences and dietary requirements, while the Visitor Information Centre assists with the practicalities associated with exploring the Flinders Ranges and the Outback.

3. Matthew Flinders Red Cliff Lookout

The English navigator and cartographer Matthew Flinders (1774-1814) was the first European to investigate the Spencer Gulf in 1802, having sailed inland from Port Augusta for additional exploration.

In Port Augusta, the gulf narrows to mere hundreds of meters, enabling visitors to survey the inlet from the cliffs on the eastern side of the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden.

The Red Cliffs Loop Trail offers opportunities to encounter emus and kangaroos, while the lookout provides stunning vistas over the water towards the Flinders Ranges.

These breathtaking views are complemented by informative signs detailing Flinders’ exploration efforts, including a plaque at the exact point where he landed to take navigational measurements.

4. Gladstone Square

This impressive plaza lies in the center of Port Augusta’s central business district, surrounded by notable landmarks, including the Water Works Barracks, the old Court House, and the Presbyterian Church.

Gladstone Square features a grassy area furnished with ample seating, accompanied by several gum trees and palms.

A beautiful central rotunda offers shade from the sun and hosts public events during the summer months, alongside two gazebos located on the west side.

The playground within the square has recently been renovated, with an accessible swing available for use through the adjacent public library and Civic Centre.

5. Port Augusta Cultural Centre – Yarta Purtli

A vibrant cultural district has flourished among the historic buildings situated on the western side of Gladstone Square.

Known as Yarta Purtli, meaning “Place of the Stars” in the Aboriginal Nukunu language, the Port Augusta Cultural Centre encompasses two gallery spaces, “The Barracks” for outdoor events, and the Institute Theatre complex, alongside the off-site Lea Memorial Theatre.

This venue features a diverse range of performances, including musicals, live music, and comedy, in addition to an active exhibition schedule and various activities such as art classes, yoga sessions, and children’s circus workshops.

6. Water Tower Lookout

Located on the western side of the gulf, a few streets from the bridge is Rotary Park, a verdant oasis complete with lawns, mature trees, flowerbeds, and a skate park.

Dominating the park’s eastern side is a substantial heritage-listed water tower, constructed in 1882 to supply pressurized water to Port Augusta.

This structure has since been transformed into a scenic lookout as part of an unemployment relief initiative.

While the ascent up the 80-step staircase is challenging, the reward is an uninterrupted panorama of the city, Spencer Gulf, Flinders Ranges, and the vast Outback.

7. Curdnatta Artists’ Platform Gallery

Port Augusta is home to a thriving community of artists, with one group managing an exhibition and retail space within the refined setting of the Port Augusta Railway Station building.

This initiative is run by volunteers; however, if you wish to visit outside regular opening hours on Fridays and Saturdays, a phone call may allow you access.

Featured items for display and sale include an array of paintings, unique home decor, fashion items, jewelry, postcards, ceramics, and much more.

8. Pichi Richi Railway

In 1878, Port Augusta became the southern terminus of an ambitious north-south transcontinental railway that aimed to connect the city to Darwin, long before the completion of the Adelaide-Darwin railway in 2003. The rails extended as far as Alice Springs by 1929, aligning with the overland telegraph route.

This line was utilized by the legendary Ghan passenger train from 1923 to 1956, and for the six years prior to the completion of the stretch to Alice Springs, travelers continued their journey via camel.

From March to November, visitors can experience a restored portion of the railway connecting the towns of Quorn and Port Augusta.

Travelers can enjoy vintage carriages dating back over 130 years, drawn by historic steam or diesel engines.

The Pichi Richi Railway navigates through the Flinders Ranges, offering views of ancient rocky formations and creeks adorned with red river gums.

9. Mount Remarkable National Park

The South Flinders Ranges, always visible on the horizon, present an excellent option for a day trip.

Many peaks within the park consist of quartzite that is hundreds of millions of years old, and visitors will encounter towering ochre cliffs, deep gorges, and creeks bordered by river red gums.

This national park encompasses three significant portions of the ranges located along the eastern edge of Spencer Gulf.

The northernmost section protects the 961-meter Mount Remarkable.

From the summit, one can appreciate vast views of the Spencer Gulf and the Willochra Plain stretching north and east.

Within this section lies the remarkable Alligator Gorge, characterized by multilayered walls shaped into overhangs, reflected in bright orange pools.

10. Mount Brown

Rising on the skyline east of Port Augusta is the silhouette of Mount Brown, one of the tallest peaks in the South Flinders Ranges at 964 meters.

This mountain is named in honor of Robert Brown, the naturalist aboard Matthew Flinders’ HMS Investigator. A lookout dedicated to him is located at the summit.

For those feeling adventurous, two trails lead to the peak (one measuring 15 kilometers and the other 11.6 kilometers), both starting from a car park situated at an elevation of 410 meters.

The longer route guides you past remnants of a canyon, which is one kilometer deep and was formed 600 million years ago.

11. Warren Gorge

Another captivating destination within the Flinders Ranges is Warren Gorge, located to the northeast and accessible from the town of Quorn via the entirely sealed Arden Vale Road.

At the gorge entrance, visitors will find a campground, with the gorge’s rugged walls rising dramatically behind it, showcasing spectacular orange-tinted formations interspersed among majestic cypress pines.

This terrain can be explored via a 5.2-kilometer trail that traverses the creek multiple times, allowing exploration through mature woodlands and past reed beds.

The creek flows for most of the year, attracting groups of rock wallabies that are best spotted at dawn or dusk.

12. Port Augusta Golf Club

A more leisurely way to enjoy the surroundings in Port Augusta is by visiting the local golf club, situated just south of the Botanic Garden.

This slightly elevated location on the western side of the gulf provides breathtaking views eastward toward the Flinders Ranges.

Welcoming visitors, the Port Augusta Golf Club offers 18 holes, distinguished by expansive and lush greens and fairways.

Many holes are strategically protected by challenging bunkers, notably the 3rd and 10th holes, which are encircled by four and five bunkers around their greens, respectively.

13. RSL Military Museum

For those with an interest in military artifacts, the museum located at the RSL Club on Fulham Road offers numerous intriguing exhibits.

The first notable attraction is the West German Leopard 1 tank positioned prominently at the entrance.

This tank is one of over 100 armored vehicles acquired by the Australian Army from Porsche during the 1970s and 1980s.

The intimate museum houses an array of items including weaponry, documents, uniforms, equipment, flags, medals, and more, spanning from the mid-19th century New Zealand Wars to contemporary operations in Afghanistan.

Additionally, a series of panels honoring the Port Augusta men who served in the First and Second World Wars, formally displayed in the Town Hall, are also present.