I’ve walked along the rocky creek bed, picking my way carefully so as not to do an ankle, in parts having to climb over boulders, all the while wondering was this a good idea? But not being one to give up easily, I continue on to my destination, sure that it will be worth the effort.

In the last few metres I’m using my hands to pull myself up the incline and into the cave, but I was right.

I’d achieved my goal and conquered the pirates cave and my new found friend and I were both pretty happy about that!

This is just one of the ‘choose your own adventures’ you can have when you stay at Mt Little Station in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges.

This station stay is around 16 kilometres north of Hawker on the Outback Highway and from the moment you arrive and check in at the homestead, you are made to feel welcome and given plenty of information to enable you to explore this working sheep and cattle station of more than 23,400 acres.

Choose your own adventure really is the theme for a stay at Mt Little Station, and as you sort through the information pack, you’ll find a map for self-driving tours, and a list of trail walks to take. The information is very detailed, giving ratings from easy to hard for the walks, which can be from one to six kilometres in distance.

But first, we settle ourselves in at the campsite we’ve chosen. There are plenty of places to set up camp with 25 sites along the Hookina Creek which runs through the property. Some of the campsites like ours, are within walking distance to toilets, clean and flushing ones at that, not the long drops we were expecting.

Surrounding the campsites are towering gum trees and behind us, views towards the Elder Range. You can simply stay here and just enjoy the serenity, watching the plentiful birdlife and the occasional kangaroo visitor or roaming emus with chicks during the day, and then huddle around a campfire under a sky full of stars at night. But with so many tracks open to explore the station, you won’t want to stay still for long.

The maps given are pretty simple and you can’t go too far wrong, though we did get stumped a few times until we found reassuring signs that we were on the right track. Look for the telltale windmill blade signs around the property to know that you’re heading in the right direction.

The scenic drives you can take include to lookouts, past settler’s ruins and to the old Hookina township, all with stunning Flinders views along the way.

Mayo Gorge is one of the easier walks to take, with the three kilometre, one hour return trip taking you to a permanent spring and waterhole, where you may be lucky enough to spot a rock wallaby.

Make sure that you include a Saturday or Sunday night in your stay, so that you can experience pizza night at the Mt Little Tavern. The BYO drinks, rustic tavern serves up absolutely delicious, gourmet wood oven pizzas, served to your table with a big dose of humour. Come rugged up to enjoy dining under strings of lights with millions of stars above and a big open fire blazing nearby.

Other information:

Peter and Kellie Zadow are the owners and extremely hospitable hosts at Mt Little Station. The station is open to campers and caravanners from March through to the end of November each year. Other accommodation options are available too.

Cook your own BBQ meat packs, roasts and lamb shanks can be bought from the homestead.

You can either bring your own firewood for campfires, or you can buy cut and bagged wood from the homestead.

Off grid caravan sites are spaced well apart from each other and the fee is $15 per head, per night. Mt Little Station is children and pet friendly.

Keep this one in mind for your next Flinders Ranges trip, you won’t be disappointed.

Glenys