Dare Hill Summit Drive

Australia, South Australia

Recently, my husband and I did a day trip to Burra, and finished the day with the Dare Hill Summit Drive.

This is a drive of approximately 2 hours / 130km found from Hallett. (If you’re travelling from Burra, it’s 25 minutes / 33 kilometres North. Note, you go past the Midngiht Oil House at Burra on your way up!)

Ruins along the Dare Hill Summit Drive (near Burra and Hallett in South Australia)

Along this drive you will see many old ruins (homesteads abandoned when rainfall didn’t allow continued farming of the region). It is both eerie and sad to see magnificent, stone buildings being left to disrepair. The highlight of the drive is the view from the summit, which sneaks up on you. After the summit, the scenary changes to a charming Aussie scrubbiness. This drive also provides access to Pandappa Conservation Park.

Key points about the drive:

  • The drive is all on dirt road, but it is an easy drive in dry conditions.
  • There are no services on the drive. Make sure you bring your own water and fuel up before beginning.
  • If your car breaks down, the safest thing is to stay with your car and wait for help. Most of the drive does not have reception.
  • Note that the sights along the way are viewed from the road only.
  • There is minimal signage on the track. Downloading to your phone this guide may help you know what you’re looking at as you travel through.

The end of the drive will get you to Terowie (which is 40 minutes or 63km north of Burra).

View from Dare Hill Summit (along Dare Hill Summit Drive).

Nearby attractions include:

  • Sir Hubert Wilkins Homestead (not part of the official drive, but many travellers will detour to view)
  • Caroona Creek Conservation Park (also not officially part of this drive)
  • Historic Burra
  • Wind Turbine Blade Display at Mount Bryan

This is one of many things to see and do in South Australia.

Flowers at Dare Hill Summit (part of Dare Hill Summit Drive).

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