Telowie Gorge Conservation Park is about a 2 and half hour drive north of Adelaide, not far from the town of Port Pirie.  If you follow Port Wakefield Road to Port Wakefield, then continue along the A1 until just before the turn off to Port Pirie.  Here you will find a sign indicating 'Napperby" to your right.  Follow this road to Napperby then on to Nelshaby.  There will be signs posted indicating the route to Telowie Gorge.

Telowi Gorge is part of the Southern Flinders Ranges and it is quite an extensive range of native bush.  Telowie Gorge is part of the Conservation Park and is a beautiful gorge, with running water, steep rock faces and lush native bushland.  A walking track meanders along the bottom of the gorge and ends about 1.5 k's in.  It is possible to walk further, but experienced walkers only should venture well past this point.  It becomes very disorientating here, with other gullys and lesser gorges running into the main gorge, making it easy to take a wrong turn.

The camping area is set about a kilometre back from the car park at the head of the walking trail.  It is very, very basic camping with only two sites.  Both are just a bare patch of dirt set amongst tall trees.  They are both set back from the road and offer a little privacy, although they are not particularly well screened from one another. 

This is the entrance to the two camping areas.  Bit rough eh!

This is one of the camping areas.....

.....and this is the other.

Both sites are hard packed dirt with rocks in some places.  The ground is relatively flat though.  I have been here in wet weather and, although not pleasant, the rain runs off of the dirt rather than turning everything to slush.  The same can't be said for the roads into the place.

There are no problems pitching a tent; you just have to work around the rocks.  Caravans and camper trailers might struggle a bit, unless you can back them in like a pro; there is not much room to negotiate a turn once in the site itself.

There are no facilities at all so it's self sufficient all the way.  Although there is water in the small creek flowing through the gorge most of the year, you need to take your own water.  If camping in summer, take plenty as it gets quite hot here, although the sites are quite shady.

The sites are not overly big, so it's one family, or a small group, to each site.

No dogs allowed, and no camp fires either - gas fires only - except on total fire ban days of course.

There is a fee for camping here, but there is no self-registration station.  PLease contact DENR Southern Flinders District Office phone: (+61 8) 8634 7068 for site fees and payment details.

Telowie Gorge is not the kind of spot you would stay for any length of time, but it's a very peaceful spot to spend a night or two.  It is also well situated as an overnight stop if travelling along the A1.  The gorge itself really is beautiful and the peace and quiet is exceptional whilst walking through the gorge itself.

One of the permanent pools along Telowie Gorge.

There are many species of birds that inhabit the gorge, along with the rare Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby.  I was lucky enough on my last visit to see an Echidna wandering along the creek, feeding freely as it did.  They are some powerful claws those guys have got - they make short work of rotten logs.

A nice spot within easy reach of Adelaide.