Parachilna - on the plain of the Flinders Ranges

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Prairie Hotel in Parachilna

Prairie Hotel in Parachilna - Food at its best

Parachilna is a small settlement on the plains of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, 490 kilometres north of Adelaide. The locals say: Parachilna is the place where the desert meets the Flinders Ranges. The community has only seven permanent residents. The main attraction is definitely the multi award wining Prairie Hotel which is well known for its fine food. You can get kangaroo fillets, camel sausages, goat chops or even wallaby shaslick. Or what about a roo burger? I can recommend the “Feral Mixed Grill” and you shouldn’t miss the dessert. The quandong pie (if available) is outstanding. Lots of the food is locally produced and supplied. It is quite amazing that you can get so much good quality food in such a remote location.

Accommodation

There are also some different types of accommodation available. You can get heritage & deluxe rooms as well as executive suites at the hotel, or choose some budget accommodation at “The Overflow” just opposite the Prairie Hotel. Parachilna has a community campground with basic facilities. The people of Parachilna like to have new toilet and shower blocks but being a small community things are a bit difficult to realize. Please try to keep things clean and tidy.

For accommodation in Parachilna get your rate with Hotel Combined here

A perfect base to explore the Flinders Ranges

Parachilna is among other places a perfect location to explore the Flinders Ranges. It just depends on your preferences.The road to Blinman starts nearly opposite the Prairie Hotel. The turn off into Brachina Gorge road is 19 kilometres to the south and the Moralana Scenic Drive starts 46 kilometres south of Parachilna. You can do a few different round trips which can include Wilpena Pound or even Arkaroola, Copley and Leigh Creek – it depends what you like to see. By the way – there is fuel supply in Parachilna.

Hikers can use Parachilna as a start or a finish point when walking the Heysen Trail, one of Australia’s long distance walks. The northern head of the Heysen Trail is 15 kilometres east of Parachilna. I’ve done it in 2011, travelled with Genesis Bus Service from Adelaide to the Prairie Hotel. From there I walked with a friend along the Heysen Trail to Wilpena. Read more about the hiking trip on “Hiking the Flinders Ranges”.

Flinders Ranges in a distance

Scenic flights to Lake Eyre and over the Flinders Ranges are also available from the airstrip close to the hotel. The website of the Prairie Hotel offers a lot of different packages with Fargher Air.

Even conferences and events are available at the Prairie Hotel. Do you like an Outback style wedding, or you come along with a whole film crew – the Prairie Hotel caters for all your needs. See the website of the Prairie Hotel for details.

See the website of the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna here

Visit Fargher Air website here

Camping with a "view"




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Two local Macpies

Hut in Parachilna

Part of the Old Ghan Railway line

Parachilna was once a small railway siding on the Old Ghan line from Port Augusta to Alice Springs, via Marree and Oodnadatta. The settlement was originally established around 10 kilometres further east of its current location. The site near Parachilna Gorge was chosen because it was close to a government water well. In 1878 a railway construction began from Port Augusta towards the north. The new Parachilna Station was erected in 1881. More and more people moved from the old settlement to the new location.

Old railway station

The old narrow gauge line was replaced by a standard gauge as far as Leigh Creek in 1956. That caters for the needs of more efficient coal transport from the Leigh Creek mine. Finally the passenger service stopped through Parachilna when the Old Ghan finished its operation in 1980. A small station building and a water tank on a stand are the remains of the vibrant railway times in Parachilna.

The trip on the Old Ghan was known for its interruptions caused by flood waters and sandstorms. A new railway line for the Ghan was build around 200 kilometres further west which is successfully operating as far as today. But the railway is not completely vanished in Parachilna. There are still massive coal trains on their way to Port Augusta. A real eye catcher for railway buffs.

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