Quorn: Historic Railway, Local History and Garden Walks

In Quorn, railway history, historic local buildings and a garden path along Pinkerton Creek come together. This town in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia offers several ways to explore: a ride on the historic railway, a self-guided walking tour or time outdoors in the natural surroundings of the Pithi Kawi Bush Food Garden. Which of these experiences interests you most can help you decide whether Quorn is the right holiday destination for you.

Travel on the Pichi Richi Railway

The Pichi Richi Railway is an authentic historic tourist railway and operating museum based in Quorn. Its scheduled train services run along the oldest surviving section of the famous old narrow-gauge Ghan railway line. Trains depart from Quorn for half-day or full-day excursions. This makes it easy to plan the train journey as a distinct part of your trip, whether you want to set aside half a day or a full day for it.

The Pichi Richi Explorer combines a historic train journey with views of the Flinders Ranges’ ancient geology. The route passes through deep cuttings in Pichi Richi Pass, which were made in the 1870s. This combination of railway history and landscape makes the experience appealing to visitors who want to take in not only the train but also the surrounding geology.

The station and local history

The railway station is prominently located on Railway Terrace, the main street in the heart of Quorn. The Flinders Ranges Visitor Information Centre is also located at the station. This places the station and information centre at a prominent spot in the town centre, with Railway Terrace providing a clear landmark to help you find your way around Quorn.

The Quorn Heritage Walk offers another perspective on the town. This self-guided walking tour takes you to Quorn’s historic buildings. The brochure includes a map as well as information about the history and significance of each site. You can decide for yourself which buildings you want to spend more time at and how to fit the walk into your day. Visitors particularly interested in a town’s development and buildings will find a different focus here than on a train journey.

Gardens and walking paths in town

The Pithi Kawi Bush Food Garden walking trail runs through Quorn along Pinkerton Creek and is about 2 km long. The garden is a natural outdoor space for the local community and visitors to enjoy. The approximate trail length gives you a useful guide when planning this walk into your day. Its setting along Pinkerton Creek sets it apart from the local history of the Heritage Walk and the railway experience.

Powell Gardens is another green space in Quorn: the garden is located in Quorn’s parklands, next to Pioneer Park. Together with the Pithi Kawi Bush Food Garden, it reveals another side of the destination beyond its railway and historic buildings. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you are mainly looking for a train ride, an insight into local history or time in a natural outdoor setting.

More destinations to discover: Flinders Ranges, Hawker.

Return to the main travel overview: The Flinders Ranges Council.