Ikara, Wilpena Pound, Sacred Sites and Ancient Lands
Ikara / Wilpena Pound by @saltythebus - Madie Stevens
Have you ever visited Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park? Have you ever felt the energy or aliveness of a sacred site? One of the things that we love about semi-arid zones and the desert is that it doesn't give away all of its secrets upon first glance - if you take the time look closer, and wider, and allow yourself to settle in and feeeeel the land and breathe the air, and lose track of time for a little while - you begin to really tap into the true vitality and sacredness of the country.
Ikara (aka Wilpena Pound) is historically and sacredly, a meeting place for the Adnyamathanha people and many other clans far and wide. Ikara is also our meeting place for the Wilpena Womens Weekend - joining together for an immersion of rest, adventure, and connection. With over 800 million years of geological history (yea, wow), along with tens of thousands of years of rich and continuing Adnyamathanha history, this area is as old as time itself, and holds stories that are sacred, and only to be shared by a local Yura guide. Being here and feeling the presence of this deep history is such a privilege, and we can't wait for you to experience it through the Welcome to Country, the Sacred Canyon Yura Mulka tour with a local Adnyamathanha guide, and by walking through crevices and valleys holding the rock art and fossils of past millenia.
This area isn’t only amazing for it’s living culture and history, it’s also famous for the epic mountanous landsape, the unique and abundant native wildlife, the big night skies devoid of any light pollution, and the ancient geology of the area, which is home to some of the first fossils of multi-cellular life!
Allow yourself to be held by sacred land because you too, are sacred. This life is sacred, and it's time we started treating it like that.
Our Wilpena Womens Weekend retreats are be held 450kms North of Adelaide in the stunning surrounds of Wilpena Pound Resort, which lies within the Ikara - Flinders Ranges National Park. The Traditional Owners of this region are the Adnyamathanha People, which means “rock” people, referring to the rugged surrounding landscapes.
Take 30mins just for yourself to breathe, sit and connect into Adnyamathanha Country with Sarah. On each retreat, connecting to Country is a huge part of what and ‘how’ we do. Working with local Adnyamathanha guides, practicing yoga & breathwork outside in nature, bushwalking amongst the River Red Gums, Native Pines and stunning red rock. This cultural, physical and spiritual connection that we build, is an essential ingredient to the transformation experienced on retreat with us.