Six new luxury eco villas are being built at Rawnsley Park Station in the Flinders Ranges, one of South Australia’s most unique properties. Owners Tony and Julie Smith have just visited the UK on a trade mission, to raise awareness of the new villas, which will have outdoor kitchens, plunge pools and bedroom skylights for stargazing. They will also have unrivalled views of Wilpena Pound, one of the most iconic geological rock formations in Australia.
“There’s nothing in the Flinders area that has quite this level of privacy, seclusion and elevated luxury,” explains Tony. “And because we’re in a conservation zone and had to jump through hoops to get these approved, it’s unlikely we will build any more, in this exact location, with this view.”
The villas will incorporate solar power, onsite waste water treatment, and their muted design will help them to blend seamlessly into the landscape.
Julie adds: “We have a full-service restaurant on-site, the Woolshed, so guests don’t need to cook, but our existing villas each have a wraparound verandah and a barbecue and we find guests love to cook up some lamb from the homestead and open a bottle of wine they’ve purchased in the Barossa Valley to enjoy that lovely outback cooking experience.”
Julie and Tony Smith, owners of Rawnsley Park Station
Tony’s family connection with the land dates back to 1923. His father purchased Rawnsley Park Station in 1953, when it was predominantly a sheep operation, and first launched tourist accommodation in 1968. Tony and his wife Julie took over the business in 1984, expanding the accommodation range from budget-friendly units to high-end eco villas – although there are still 2,000 sheep on the 30,000-acre plot.
“The location is really special,” says Julie. “Looking out at the rocky escarpments and seeing the coloured layers of the ranges… you realise how tiny you are on this planet.”
The area is known for its wildlife, including three species of kangaroos, plus emus and echidnas. Guests can take 4WD tours, scenic flights and guided hikes to discover the landscape, which Tony says is “like having a geography book in front of you”.
“The Flinders are a geological record of the beginning of time. Around 350 million years ago, the sedimentary rocks were under the sea, and as they got pushed up, the sea retreated, and now you see the layers of sediments all the way to the top of the mountains – we offer a remote yet accessible Red Outback experience.”
Rawnsley Park Station is a five-hour drive north of Adelaide, on a sealed tarmac road, with towns along the way for pitstops.
“We have an airstrip and you could reach us by helicopter or charter flight, but we find the UK market isn’t afraid to drive, and it’s an interesting journey up from Adelaide as you see the landscape changing and you get into the red earth. Our minimum recommendation is a three-night stay,” explains Tony.
One of the station’s most luxurious offerings is a heli-camping experience, where guests sleep on the Chace Range under the star-filled Outback sky.
The new villas will go on sale in January 2026, for stays from October 2026, and are bookable via tour operators in the UK, such as Gold Medal, Prestige Travel, Premier Holidays, Audley, First Class Holidays, Anzcro and If Only, plus the DMCs Pan Pacific, ATS, Southern World and Southern Crossings.
