Brachina Gorge Geological Trail

The trail is best driven from east to west, beginning at the Brachina Gorge and Blinman Road junction about 37 kilometres north of Wilpena Pound. The unsealed road winds along Brachina Creek, passing through bands of purple, red and grey rock that shift imperceptibly from one geological period to the next. Detailed brochures are available from the Wilpena Pound Visitor Centre.

Geological highlights include the Elatina Formation, which records one of the great global glaciations, and the Rawnsley Quartzite, the same rock that forms the walls of Wilpena Pound. The trail has been recognised internationally as a key site for understanding the Ediacaran Period, when the first multicellular organisms appeared.

The road is suitable for standard 2WD vehicles in dry conditions, though some sections are rough and can be impassable after heavy rain. The full drive takes around two to three hours at a relaxed pace and suits both geology enthusiasts and travellers with a general curiosity about deep time.