Located between the top of the Spencer Gulf and the base of the Southern Flinders Ranges in South Australia the District Council of Mount Remarkable is a small regional Council of prime and marginal agricultural land with diverse industries. Its national parks and natural gorges lend it to unique walking and bike trail experiences. The District encompasses a wide variety of towns, including coastal and agricultural centres.
Situated 300kms north of Adelaide, approximately a three hour drive from its Capital City and only 45mins from the regional centres of Port Augusta and Port Pirie the Distirct Council of Mount Remarkable covers approximately 3,400km2 and has a population of approximately 2827 residents. There are five major towns – Booleroo Centre, Melrose, Wilmington, Wirrabara and Port Germein and another eight smaller towns and settlements. Previously the District was known as an agricultural area however in recent years it has diversified into a food and wine region in the Southern Flinders Ranges with an emphasis on activity based tourism including bushwalking, road and mountain bike riding and recreational fishing.
Some local points of interest are; Port Germein which hosts the historic Port Germein Jetty, Melrose the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges situated at the foothills of the impressive Mount Remarkable. The scenic Wirrabara Forest, historic town of Wilmington with Alligator Gorge only a short drive away and Booleroo Centre the service hub, all making for a truly Remarkable Experience. There are many natural walking trails throughout the District, including the Heyson and Mawson trails and Mambray Creek and Mount Remarkable National Park. Visitors can walk the peaceful tranquility of the Wirrabara Forest or for those more adventurous tackle the steep climbs of Mount Remarkable or Alligator Gorge. The area caters for a diverse range of age and fitness levels. Keen recreational fisherman can enjoy a catch from the Port Germein jetty or foreshore, where at certain times of the year the blue swimmer crabs are in abundance. If you are a keen bike rider, the annual mountain bike festivals the Fat Tyre Festival and 18 hours of Melrose are events not to be missed!
