Welcome back to Arkaroo Rock, an ancient treasure in the Flinders Ranges

11 Nov. 2025
4 min read

Significant Adnyamathanha rock paintings at Arkaroo Rock (Akurra Adnya) are now easier to view after the installation of a beautifully designed new screen and upgraded viewing area, and careful cleaning. Here's how you can experience this cultural treasure.

How to get there

The Arkaroo Rock trail is accessed by road about 17km south of the Wilpena Visitor Centre, via the Hawker-Blinman Road.

The walk – an easy-to-moderate hike of around 3km return - takes you uphill to the rock shelter towards the top of the Pound ‘wall’.

An old wooden platform around the rock has been removed and the viewing area sensitively remodelled with seating, interpretive signage and more natural integration into the landscape.

Along the trail, panoramic views can be enjoyed, especially around sunset.

A seat in front of an Aboriginal rock art viewing area. — Visitors can sit and enjoy the artwork.

New rock steps lead lead into a creekbed. — A new creek crossing has been constructed to replace an old wooden bridge.

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One of the best examples of Adnyamathanha rock art

The detailed ochre and charcoal paintings have been protected for thousands of years by the natural rock overhang.

They depict aspects of the Yura Muda (history story) of Ikara (Wilpena Pound).

The paintings are believed to have been created by Adnyamathanha men, beginning around 6000 years ago and continuing until recent times.

Coloured ochres were ground and then mixed with animal fat, then applied to the rock by hand or with a brush made from a chewed stick or reed.

A cave-like rock formation on a path, with a sign — A smaller rock shelter along the path, believed to have been where paintings were practiced. No paintings remain on this rock, which visitors pass on their hike up to Arkaroo Rock. (Image: LCS Landscapes)

New Akurra Screen

Around 1966 a protective screen was first erected, and a second version was installed in 1987.

The new screen was designed and fabricated in South Australia, and features a depiction of two Akurra (giant snakes/serpents) from the Ikara creation story.

Views through to the artwork are improved, and the screen is naturally coloured by a deliberate light surface rust, in harmony with the rock and landscape.

An old black and white photo shows a plain wire screen in front of a rock wall. — The original screen installed in 1966.

A rock and gravel path leads to an aboriginal rock art site which is protected by a new metal screen.. — The new screen, viewing area and pathways blend sensitively into the landscape. (Image: LCS Landscapes)

Cleaning the artwork

Surface dust settling in the rock hollows has been an ongoing issue, making it difficult to see parts of the paintings.

Cleaning the artwork was entrusted to Sophie Parker, a skilled conservator from ArtLab Australia, our state’s own internationally-recognised leader in the conservation of cultural collections.

Sophie spent three days on site, assisted by Ranger in Charge and Adnyamathanha man Alan Harbour, completing this final step of the upgrade.

As well as dust, mud-wasp nests were an issue.

“It’s a lovely dry space,” said Sophie, “and wasps are really keen to put their mud nests on the walls.

"And those wasps use white muds, brown muds, greys.

"Some were knocked off in a cleaning effort in the 1980s and they’ve left a ladder-like footprint, which very much looks like artwork at first glance.

“What I originally proposed was reducing the dust that had settled on the artwork, but we ended up spending most of our time reducing the footprints of the wasp nests.”

A dry brushing technique was used to reduce dust buildup, with great care taken according to the vulnerability of the different ochre pigments.

Park staff will continue to visit and monitor the site, in particular watching out for more wasp nests, and will pass on maintenance knowledge and custodianship to younger members of the Adnyamathanha community.

A man wearing a National Parks & Wildlife Service uniform is gently cleaning aboriginal rock artwork. — Ranger in Charge and Adnyamathanha man Alan Harbour assisted in the cleaning process to remove dust and mud-wasp nests.

A story in place

The story of the rock and the artwork belongs to the place and to the Adnyamathanha people.

They ask that you do not re-tell the story, but enjoy it while you’re there.

Signage on site will help you understand the history and significance of the work, and how it relates to the landscape that surrounds you.

All work on the Arkaroo Rock site has been completed in consultation with the traditional custodians, the Adnyamathanha people, and earth-disturbing works were supervised by appointed representatives.

If you’re visiting the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, don’t miss this must-do experience that celebrates ancient and living Adnyamathanha cultural heritage.

World Heritage Nomination for Flinders Ranges

South Australia is edging closer to finalising the nomination of features of the Flinders Ranges for World Heritage listing. You can learn more about what makes this region worthy of nomination, the benefits of a World Heritage listing and more over here: Flinders Ranges World Heritage nomination.