South Australia Outback Adventure

Trip Type: Explorer
Australia | 10 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 3,719.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

Spend 10 days exploring the best of South Australia’s Outback on a culturally rich and deliciously different small group adventure. From Adelaide, ...

South Australia Outback Adventure

Spend 10 days exploring the best of South Australia’s Outback on a culturally rich and deliciously different small group adventure. From Adelaide, visit the opal capital of Australia, see silo art and watch stars sparkling above you in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Hear traditional stories of the Adnyamathanha people and immerse yourself in the beauty of Arkaroola – a 610 sq m wildlife sanctuary. Taste fine wines in the Clare Valley and take optional hikes through sweeping landscapes. With First Nations experiences, comfortable accommodation, a knowledgeable leader and free time to take on hikes, scenic flights or 4WD adventures – this trip to the Outback is the whole package.

Welcome to Adelaide (or Tarntanya, in the language of the Kaurna people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Adelaide is now located)! Your adventure begins straight away at 8 am this morning with a welcome meeting at the hotel. Then, you’ll head out of town towards Port Augusta, stopping at the pink Lake Bumbunga on the way. Have a look around Fourth St and Railway Terrace in Snowtown, then stop at Port Pirie for a tour of the town and some lunch. When you arrive in Port Augusta, maybe visit the Wadlata Outback Centre or the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens. This evening, you’re free to relax and recharge.

Have breakfast at a café in town before driving to Woomera – a town that was purpose-built for testing rockets in the 1940s. Learn about nuclear and non-nuclear rocket testing at the Woomera Heritage Museum & Visitor Information Centre. There will be time for lunch before the short drive to Lake Hart Rest Area for views of one of the region’s salt lakes. When you arrive in Coober Pedy, perhaps stroll around town, search out some street art or find a local bar. You are in the opal capital of Australia, so maybe go jewellery hunting for the perfect souvenir. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner at a local bar that offers up incredible views of the Breakaways and Coober Pedy.

Spend your day exploring Coober Pedy – head out on a tour of an underground home, an underground church and a historic opal mine. In the late afternoon, visit Josephine’s Gallery, which specialises in Aboriginal art and doubles as a kangaroo orphanage! Here, you can meet kangaroos and other native wildlife such as wombats and birds that are looked after by wildlife carers.

This morning, head out to Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park – a registered Aboriginal heritage site – and see the dog fence (also known as the dingo fence), before travelling back to Coober Pedy for an optional lunch at a local café. Then, drive into the remote South Australian Outback along a rough dirt road to William Creek, where you can enjoy a cold beer and check out the ‘museum’ of memorabilia across the street. Tonight, you may choose to join your group for dinner at the local pub.

This morning, consider rising early for an optional flight over Lake Eyre. Then, continue your drive deeper into the remote desert landscape to Lake Eyre via the legendary Oodnadatta Track. Stop at Wabma Kadarbu Mound Spring Conservation Park along the way, then have a picnic at Lake Eyre for lunch before getting back on the road. You may also stop at Coward Springs – home to a museum and a natural spa, a welcome reprieve among the desert landscape. Continue to Marree, where you’ll stroll around town to see historic sites like the old Afghan Mosque and remnants of the Historical Ghan Railway.

After breakfast, drive to Farina Town – a once booming oasis on the edge of the desert, this town now has a year-round population of just two people! Despite its ghost town status, Farina is home to a popular underground bakery, which is opened once a year by the Farina Restoration Project Group to raise funds to rebuild the town. If your visit lines up with its opening, stop by this unique bakery and take a wander around the town where stone ruins remain. Then, head to Copley, where you can have some lunch before continuing to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – a wildlife sanctuary in the Flinders Rangers. When you arrive, you’ll have free time to head out on a walk or hike through some of the geological monuments, mountains, granite peaks, gorges and waterholes here. Look out for the local birds, reptiles and mammals that live here, including the endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby.

After breakfast, your day is free to take up some of the optional activities on offer here. Maybe take a 4WD tour of the ridge top, driving through some spectacularly rugged country. You can also take an optional scenic flight or head to the observatory. This afternoon, you can head out on a leader-led hike to soak up the landscape – your leader will choose a route based on the group’s desires and abilities. Maybe take the Acacia Ridge hike, the Giselda Hill Walk or the Mawson-Spriggina Connecting Trail.

Continue driving to the famous Ikara-Wilpena Pound – the centrepiece of the Flinders Ranges and home to the Adnyamathanha people for thousands of years. Your first stop today is Blinman – the highest town in South Australia. When you arrive, visit Wadna – an authentic Aboriginal arts and crafts gallery in the heart of the Flinders Ranges. Wander around, maybe grab some lunch and if you like, take a tour of the local mine. Then, continue to Stokes Hill Lookout for sweeping views of the rolling landscape. This afternoon, you’ll stay at a resort in Ikara (Wilpena Pound) and soak up a free afternoon and evening.

After breakfast, join your leader for a bushwalk in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. In the afternoon, take a private tour of Sacred Canyon, where you’ll immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture as you listen to the stories and insights from your Adnyamathanha guide. Learn about the cultural significance of the site, the ancient rock engravings found in the smooth sandstone walls and discover bush medicines and bush tucker from the perspective of the local people. The rest of the day is free for you to choose your own adventure. You may decide to hike to the Wangara Lookout, take a shorter walk to Hills Homestead or spend the day swimming in the pool or enjoying other activities around the resort.

After breakfast, depart for the Clare Valley wine region. Stop for lunch along the way and check out the silo art at Farrell Flat before arriving at a vineyard for an included wine tasting at a prominent local wine maker. In the afternoon, continue to Adelaide where your journey will come to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay and need help organising additional accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Meals
7 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(s),

Transport
Private Vehicle

Accommodation
Hotel (1 night), Cabin (4 nights), Underground hotel (2 nights), Resort (2 nights)

Included Activities
  • Woomera - Lake Hart Rest Area
  • Woomera - Heritage Museum & Visitor Centre
  • Coober Pedy - Josephine's Gallery & Kangaroo Orphanage
  • Coober Pedy - Underground Home, Church & Historic Mine Visit
  • Coober Pedy - Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park & Dingo Fence
  • Marree - Leader-led Local History Walk
  • Stuarts Creek - Wabma Kadarbu Mound Spring Conservation Park
  • Lake Eyre - Picnic Lunch
  • Farina - Restoration Project
  • Wilpena Pound - Welcome to Country by Adnyamathanha Local
  • Wilpena Pound - Bushwalk
  • Wilpena Pound - Bushwalk
  • Wilpena Pound - Sacred Canyon Yura Mulka Cultural Walk
  • Clare Valley - Wine Tasting
  • Watch the night sky come alive during your night in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – there is no light pollution here, so it's the perfect place to stargaze among the mountainous peaks.
  • Enjoy a subterranean stay in Coober Pedy, the opal capital of Australia, in underground accommodation that’s cool, comfortable and unique to this part of the South Australian outback.
  • Soak up the scenic beauty of the Clare Valley – one of Australia’s most famous wine regions – and sample Rieslings and other fine wines.
  • Drive into the remote South Australian Outback and bounce along the famous Oodnadatta Track to William Creek where you can enjoy a cold beer and check out the unique ‘museum’ of memorabilia across the street.
  • Take a bushwalk in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, then head out on a private tour of Sacred Canyon, where you’ll learn about Aboriginal culture as you listen to the stories and insights from your Adnyamathanha guide. Later, take an optional hike in Wilpena Pound.
  • This trip travels to the remote Outback of South Australia. There will be extended periods of time with no phone reception. Choices of where to eat will be limited and not all dietary needs may be able to be met. Road conditions may be affected by weather such as rain, extreme heat or wind particularly from Coober Pedy and on the Oodnadatta track. Your leaders will check forward conditions in Coober Pedy and make alternative arrangements if the road conditions are not safe for our vehicle to continue. We may need to backtrack from Coober Pedy to Port Augusta. Please also make sure you have access to your emergency funds in case this is needed. This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It's all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates. Departures during summer months can expect extreme heat. You will need to be well prepared with sun protection, including wearing light, long sleeves and carry at least 2 litres of water at all times when out exploring. Our vehicles are air conditioned, but even this may struggle at higher temperatures. In hotter months we may have earlier or adjusted departure times to beat the heat, rest at our accommodation during the hottest hours of the day and then explore again in the late afternoon/early evening. On the other hand, winter nights in the Australian Outback can be very cold. You may want to bring a warm jacket, a beanie and perhaps even gloves and a scarf. The days will be cool but perfect for exploring the region. Please choose your departure date carefully and make sure you are aware of the conditions. Some sites, restaurants, cafes, tours and attractions may be closed during the off season summer months. If you are keen to keep exploring South Australia's highlights, you might like to consider the Kangaroo Island Short Break Adventure or the Kangaroo Island Adventure.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

Price: NZD 5,060.00

Price: NZD 5,070.00

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Price: NZD 5,315.00

Price: NZD 5,315.00

Price: NZD 5,070.00

Price: NZD 5,070.00

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Price: NZD 4,830.00

Price: NZD 4,830.00

Price: NZD 4,830.00

Price: NZD 5,070.00

Price: NZD 5,070.00

Price: NZD 5,315.00

Price: NZD 5,315.00

Price: NZD 5,315.00

Price: NZD 5,070.00

Price: NZD 4,830.00

Price: NZD 4,830.00

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NZD 5,060.00 NZD 4,301.00

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NZD 5,060.00 NZD 4,301.00

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NZD 4,600.00 NZD 3,910.00

Price:
NZD 4,600.00 NZD 3,910.00

Price:
NZD 4,600.00 NZD 3,910.00

Price:
NZD 4,600.00 NZD 3,910.00

Price:
NZD 4,600.00 NZD 3,910.00

Price:
NZD 4,830.00 NZD 4,106.00

Price:
NZD 4,830.00 NZD 4,106.00

Price:
NZD 4,830.00 NZD 4,106.00

Price:
NZD 5,060.00 NZD 4,301.00

Price:
NZD 5,060.00 NZD 4,301.00

Price:
NZD 5,060.00 NZD 4,301.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
PZSA
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Adelaide, Australia
Trip Finishes:
Adelaide, Australia
Countries Visited:
Australia
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Destination Details
Australia | 10 Days | 1 - 12 People

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