Welcome to Copley 

A former 'Ghan' railway town, Copley sits at the crossroads of the Strzlecki and Oodnadatta Tracks in the midst of the spectacular Northern Flinders Ranges, 6 kms north of Leigh Creek township, 600 kms (6 hours' drive) north of Adelaide or 3 hours north of Port Augusta. With a population of approximately 100, most bypass the turn-off without a second glance. See How to get to Copley.

Spirit connections
The Oodnadatta Track from Whyalla north alongside the Flinders Ranges is one of a network of Dreaming Tracks or Leylines connected to the energy of the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, a myth permeating all cultures. It is a line of pilgrimage and with SA Tourism we're developing a Meditation Trail identifying energetically significant sites. Travel the Songline

What's up in Copley?
In the town itself, the first stop on the south end of the main street, Railway Terrace West is the Copley Caravan Park, hosted by Shirley and David Mills with regular coffee and scones sessions in the mornings and campfire-side drinks celebrating astonishing sunsets and impressive astronomical events in the clear night skies. Bookings can be made here for local tours, including Red Gorge and the geologists' paradise, Arkaroola Resort where the nail-biting, white knuckle 4WD Ridgetop Tour is a MUST.
Nearby, the Packsaddle General Store is also a Post Office Agency with a public phone service and next to it the Leigh Creek (Copley) Hotel offers a traditional outback welcome, meals and accommodation.
Should your vehicle need a little TLC, David Pinkerton runs Cookes Outback Motors, the local RAA outpost. Thirty years of experience running transport convoys across Africa gave Dave both the ability to surmount any mechanical challenge and a fund of African adventure tales told at the drop of a hat in either Arabic or Swahili, whichever version you prefer.
Shirl Mills operates the cappuccino machine at local watering hole the Quandong Cafe and Bush Bakery, open every day and renowned for home-baked pasties, pies and slices.
And you probably won't leave town without admiring the infamous Agnew Spread, one of the most impressive sprawls of scrap in the country, aquired by town patriarch with many an Irish yarn, Tommy Agnew.
Mr Apollos is a pastor with the United Aboriginal Ministry. He has come here recently from Adelaide to take up a ministry with the Copley Christian Fellowship. His family will join him shortly. Mr Apollos comes from the Solomon Islands and Copley is his first outback ministry.

Down the track...
From March 2006 Boundary Riders offer trail rides with Bob Dillon, Horse Whisperer, Bush Legend and accredited tour guide. Based at Angepena Station, where the cosy shearers' quarters sleeps sixteen, hosts Faye and Sid Nicholls can provide fabulous station meals if you don't feel like cooking. Rides are tailored to all needs on well mannered horses. The trails wind along the Frome Creek, through the Spectacular Gammon Ranges. These are fast becoming a mecca for artists, bushwalkers and lightwalkers and for those who just want to chill out away from the city and learn more about local Aboriginal Culture with Adnyamathanha Elders.

Copley Rocks!
Also launching in 2006, Flinders Geotours will be based in Copley and operated by Dr Ian Dyson who has studied the geology and salt diapirs of the central and northern Flinders for the past 25 years. Geotours through this region will visit unique localities, from the level of the Golden Spike to the Ediacaran fauna and the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary whilst highlighting the environmental repurcussions of the giant Acraman meteorite impact and links with the Dreamtime related by local Adnyamathanha Elders.

Unleash your creative skills

Another artist in the area is Talc Alf, whose remarkable talc stone sculpture gallery is at Lyndhurst, just 30 kilometres to the north of Copley.

Northern Exposure
"Lake Eyre holds up the world", says Arabunna nulla Reg Dodd whose Arabunna Tours bring together the ancient and natural wonders of the Lake Eyre region, sharing land, culture, history and life.
Adrenaline junkies can be swept over stunning Lake Eyre and beyond by Wrightsair in William Creek who also offer Aboriginal Art Tours to outlying Aboriginal communities producing amazing art works such as Ernabella, Amata, Fregon, Indulkana, Western Desert, Blackstone and Patjar.

The Mysterious East
Heading East towards Arkaroola, visit the Adnyamathanha communities of Iga Warta, Nepabunna and Mt Serle. Adnyamathanha translates as "People of the Stones". Phonetically in Tamil, it means "an outpouring of Light".
And along the way you might just encounter a strange ark drawn by camels and a cavalcade of creatures, Kye and Gill Wheaton's ‘family' of rescued animals. Selling on eBay under the label Wunjocrow their radiant ritual clothing is perfect for formal occasions on the outback tracks. Their ongoing animal rescue work can be tracked onine.
We've got a great deal to offer. A warm welcome, the chance to catch a few fish in the local retention dam, or just chill out under the stars while you plan the next stage of your journey.