Parachilna

Parachilna knows how to attract the rich and famous, with moviemakers drawn to this outback landscape. Famous visitors include actors Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel during the filming of Holy Smoke, and Bryan Brown and Australian rock star Paul Kelly during the filming of Beautiful Kate. The Australian movie Rabbit-Proof Fence was also filmed here.

For others, the big drawcard is the nearby Ediacaran fossil site, dating back some 600 million years. There is worldwide interest in the large reefs of stromatolites, understood to be the earth’s oldest fossils, found in the ancient ranges.

Famous for the ‘Feral Food Platter’ and Fargher Lager, the Prairie Hotel offers a variety of quirky food using local and South Australian produce (dining and accommodation bookings are essential). While at the Prairie Hotel, check out regularly exhibited artwork by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists. Most of the artwork is available to purchase.