Camping at Mambray Creek, Mt Remarkable National Park


Mambray Creek Campground is in Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia. On the Eastern side of Spencer Gulf, it’s about halfway between Port Pirie and Port Augusta.

Emu Mambray Creek Mt Remarkable National Park

We stayed at Mambray Creek campsite for several days because we wanted to have a good look around… but mainly because we loved it so much.

And we’ve been back a few times since. This is an ideal stopover point and a perfect place to rest before pushing east, west or north.


Wildlife Everywhere

Every morning we were woken at dawn by a cacophony of bird calls, all competing to be the loudest. We became accustomed to looking out the tent window and watching birds, emus, kangaroos and euros wandering through the campsite. Magic!

Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Peace, quiet and solitude.
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
It’s not exactly crowded!

Large goannas came out when the day warmed up. They can be a pest in some places, but these ones never bothered us. And we found some rather large scorpions hidden under rocks.

Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
A very well camouflaged goanna.

This kookaburra decided scorpions taste pretty good. The scorpion had taken up residence under our tent and was exposed as we were packing down. It was no match for the kookaburra!

Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Yum, raw scorpion for lunch!

A small joey wandered around with Mum and Dad. His antics kept us entertained – very cute.

Kangaroo, Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
This little fella’s pretty cute.
Kangaroo, Mambray Creek Campround, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Time for a rest.


Taking A Hike

You have seven walks to choose from out of Mambray Creek. They vary from an easy stroll to challenging multi-day hikes. SA National Parks have maps and basic information on each hike here.

Map of hikes out of Mambray Creek, Mt Remarkable National Park S.A.
Map of the hikes out of Mambray Creek. (Source: S.A. National Parks).

We did three of the walks, two easy ones and one quite challenging.


Davey’s Gully Hike

The first afternoon we did the Davey’s Gully Hike. It’s a short walk just to the south of the campground. The walk ascends through a gully, then up a hill overlooking Spencer Gulf. There were euros and emus everywhere and the colours of the landscape were amazing.

Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Rugged slopes of the southern Flinders.
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Spencer Gulf in the distance.
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Distinctive Flinders Ranges rock faces.
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
The afternoon sun bringing out the colours of the landscape.

This easy to moderate walk is ideal to do late afternoon. You’ll see the sun shimmering off the waters of Spencer Gulf. Davey’s Gully Hike is a scenic introduction to the walks in this area.


Hidden Gorge – A Hidden Delight

The next morning we set out on the 18km Hidden Gorge Hike. It was a cool morning, a perfect day for hiking.

It was absolutely beautiful, probaby the best walk I’ve ever done.

Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Pausing to take in the atmosphere.

You follow a creek upstream for about 12km and walk through spectacular red gorges for much of the way. At one point it closes right in until the walls are only 4 or 5 metres apart.

Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Hidden Gorge.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Having a breather in Hidden Gorge.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
Following the track over rocks.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Surrounded by tall cliffs.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
We were fortunate to do this walk after good rains. Most of the time, these creeks are bone dry.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Imposing red cliff walls.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Even in good times, some of the creeks are dry.
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Dewdrops on the tree branches.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
This place is magical in a good season.

Just make sure you take plenty of water. We were lucky, the creek had water in it the whole way. So we were able to refill our water bottles.

Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park South Australia
You certainly won’t always find this much water in the creeks. Make sure you take plenty of water.

The northern end of the hike swings west, up onto a high ridgeline. You follow the ridge back, all the way to the campground. This section is fairly exposed, so make sure to take your sun protection.

By the time we arrived home, we were quite footsore. We must be getting soft… or old!


Mambray Valley Hike

Follow the creek upstream from the Day Visitor parking area. This easy walk meanders along beside the creek, eventually meeting with the start of the Alligator Gorge Hike.

It’s mainly flat ground and is more a stroll than a hike. In a good season, the running waters of the creek will be a constant companion. And keep an eye out for all sorts of wildlife.

One of the features is the beautiful river red gums. They provide a vital habitat for all sorts of birds and animals, plus they provide welcome shade in the heat of the day.

Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Strolling among the river red gums.
Hidden Gorge Walk, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
The bush framed by a yawning gap in the trunk of a river gum.
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Looks like an Ent from Lord Of The Rings.
Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
Ben being eaten by the Ent.
The Mambray Valley Hike in drier times.
The Mambray Valley Hike in drier times.


Campground Facilities

Mambray Creek Campground has exceptional facilities. The amenities are clean and tidy, plus they even have hot showers! Even better, the campsite is protected from the wind because it’s tucked away in a valley under the ranges.

The campsites are huge at Mambray Creek Campground. We shared a site, as we were travelling together.
The campsites are huge. We shared a site when we were travelling with Peta’s brother Lance.

There’s also a large outdoor sink where you can wash the dishes or prepare a meal to cook on the adjacent BBQs.

Just make sure to bring your own drinking water.

Mambray Creek Campground, Mt Remarkable National Park, South Australia
The amenities and facilities at Mambray Creek Campground are exceptionally good.


In Summary

If you stay at Mambray Creek once, I guarantee you’ll be back time and again. It’s such a peaceful part of the world, and full of wildlife.

Take a few walks or just sit back and take in the scenery. Either way, you’ll leave feeling refreshed. Pretty soon you’ll find yourself planning to your next visit to Mambray Creek!


Mambray Creek Campground is on Nukunu Country.


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2 thoughts on “Camping at Mambray Creek, Mt Remarkable National Park”

  1. This has been a great insight to the splenders of Mambray Creek. Definitely inspiring me to ensure I take my wife and kids there very soon.
    I would love to know a bit more about the size of the camp sites, whether they have fire pits and how far apart they are from neighbouring sites. Thankyou for this really wonderful post.

    Reply

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