A gem in the desert — discover Aroona Dam near Leigh Creek, a picturesque oasis of still water set among ancient hills, 560 km north of Adelaide.
The South Australian Outback, including the Flinders Ranges, is a vast and picturesque but dry area — one that visitors venture into for the desert wilderness experience. It is vital to carry drinking water when travelling in this region.
Aroona Dam — about 6 km south of Leigh Creek along a dirt track (rough but no 4WD required) — is a picturesque desert oasis surrounded by ancient hills and fringed by trees. The word "Aroona" comes from the Adnyamathanha language meaning running water or place of frogs, a fitting name for this unexpected jewel in an otherwise arid landscape. Wildlife abounds — Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies (reintroduced here in 1996), kangaroos, swans and turtles are all drawn to the water. The dam holds 5,000 megalitres and opened to non-motorised watercraft for the first time in April 2019.
The Flinders Ranges are also one of the world's great fossil sites. The nearby Ediacara Hills are home to fossils 570–540 million years old, discovered in 1946 — the find was so significant that a geological period, the Ediacaran, was named after the location. For paddlers, the 5.5 km interpretive walk linking the dam to surrounding wetlands and red-gum creeks makes a superb complement to a morning on the water, as does the 10.5 km Akurra Trail connecting the dam to Leigh Creek township.
While Lake Eyre appears large on the map, it is not suitable for paddling. Access is difficult, the water (when present) is very shallow, and sudden wind changes can cause large movements of water which may result in stranding. Do not attempt to paddle Lake Eyre.
