Overview

8-Day South Australian Outback Adventure

Adelaide to Adelaide

The Flinders Ranges is a place where nature humbles over the course of 800 million years. The landscapes here are ancient, and reveal history through endemic flora and fauna as well as some of the most dramatic geological landscapes imaginable. Discover the Flinders Ranges, a breathtaking wonder shaped over 800 million years by the forces of nature. This stunning region invites you to explore its ancient landscapes, where every corner tells a story through unique flora and fauna. Immerse yourself in dramatic geological formations that will leave you in awe. Join us on a tour and experience the raw beauty and rich history of this extraordinary destination!

Why not join a Murray River Cruise after your tour and make the most of your visit to South Australia?

Journey:

Departs & Returns to Adelaide

Difficulty:

Moderate

Group Size:

Tour Code:

KSAMC

Itinerary

Print Itinerary

1 Day 1: Welcome to Adelaide

The South Australian capital often flies under the radar – locals like it that way, happy keeping their buzzing dining precincts, glorious gardens, and on-your-doorstep wineries to themselves. But the secret is well and truly out, and over the course of the afternoon you’ll discover just how diverse Adelaide really is. Touring the city after your welcome drink, you’ll cover every interest base: sports (Adelaide Oval), horticulture (the Botanic Garden), culture (the Art Gallery of South Australia), and food (Adelaide Central Market). Tonight, why not wander up to the foodie hub of North Terrace? The city offers plenty of eateries in which to while away your evening.
2 Day 2: Adelaide - Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

You don’t have to travel far from Adelaide to be surrounded by vines. In fact, just 1.5 hours north lies the Clare Valley, and therein one of Australia’s most awarded wineries. Knappstein Enterprise Winery’s roots reach back to 1878, which yields extremely tasty drops, as you’ll discover at the cellar door before lunch in the Clare Valley’s atmospheric central town. It’s the best way to ease into the wide-open, otherworldly spaces of the Flinders Ranges – your commute is a short journey by coach, but it transports you to seemingly Martian landscapes, some 800 million years in the making and home to the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years. The Indigenous community owns and manages your base for the night, Wilpena Pound Resort, and they’ll welcome you with spirit and soul.
3 Day 3: Wilpena Pound - Arkaroola

The cliffs and craters and ravishing red rocks of the Flinders Ranges shine brightly in the morning sun, your outlook particularly pretty from Wangara Lookout. From this vantage, you’ll enjoy expansive views over the natural amphitheatre that is Wilpena Pound. It’s an awe-inspiring way to start the day, before your journey carves north through dramatic gorges. Keep your eyes peeled for endangered yellow-footed rock wallabies – only 2,250 remain in Australia, and most call this part of the country home. You’ll begin to understand why they favour the South Australian outback when you arrive in Arkaroola, characterised by ancient granite mountains and golden spinifex covered hillsides and providing a vantage over Lake Frome and the desert beyond. But the real stars here are those overhead, as you’ll discover on an astronomy tour that brings the dazzling night sky into full focus. Prepare to be humbled – in the best possible way.
4 Day 4: Arkaroola - Marree

What was happening in Arkaroola 1.6 billion years ago? Your local guide will help decode the region’s mind-boggling geological history as you navigate the steep slopes and hair-raising ascents of the Ridgetop Track. Plants here are found nowhere else on the planet, and gorges are so vast that they seem to cleave off the edge of the earth. A patina follows your journey northwest to the Ochre Cliffs outside Lyndhurst, where an artist’s smudge of fiery hues paints the countryside all the way to the horizon. It’s as sacred as it is spectacular, with the Indigenous community having utilised the rich clay soil in ceremonies for centuries. You can see why this part of Australia was attractive to the 1800s settlers of nearby Farina – but you’ll also learn why they departed, leaving an eerie ghost town on the outskirts of Marree, where you’ll lay your swimming head for the night.
5 Day 5: Marree - Coober Pedy

Much of the South Australian outback exists because of the old Ghan Railway, click-clacking from Adelaide to Darwin. Plenty of history will be revealed on your morning’s journey along the Oodnadatta Track, perhaps only outshone by the natural drama of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Australia’s largest inland lake is – most of the time – a shimmering saltpan covering hundreds of square kilometres, yet is occasionally transformed by desert downpours into a thriving oasis. You’ll have the chance to glimpse it from the air, your bird’s-eye view unfolding beneath you like a work of art. Speaking of art – your included scenic flight will also pass over the Anna Creek Painted Hills, a rocky outcrop that literally pops out of the flat desert, creating silhouettes resembling cartoon characters. Touch down to explore the otherworldly countryside before jetting on to your destination for the next two nights, Coober Pedy, brimming with compelling quirks and subterranean adventures.
6 Day 6: Coober Pedy Sightseeing

Coober Pedy’s many attractions lie primarily below the earth’s surface. Due to the aboveground heat (temperatures can soar) many locals choose to take up a subterranean residence as well. Once you’ve explored this fascinating community – including fossicking for opals in surrounding mines – look further afield to Aboriginal owned Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, where you’ll travel along a stretch of the Dog Fence: a barrier spanning 5,300 kilometres across three states. As mind-boggling as the construction is, it pales in comparison to the setting’s moonscape of fossilised shells and cracked grey clay. It has provided the ideal setting for Hollywood blockbusters like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The only thing more surreal than the natural landscape is the constructed one this afternoon at Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club, where the fairways are dirt and sand. That’s one for the record books. Pick up a club to thump balls around the oil-soaked putting green. And then learn more about the region’s history at the Big Winch 360º, a ‘circlevision’ cinematic experience that envelops you and takes you on a journey along SA’s Explorer’s Way. Make no mistake – this show is as big as the outback, and as unique as the people that call it home. It’s where you have dinner tonight.
7 Day 7: Coober Pedy - Port Augusta

It’s hard to imagine landscapes more dramatic than those you’ll have experienced so far. But the bar is officially raised by those at Lake Hart, another vast saltpan that sparked a community in the 1930s. Today, it’s all but deserted, the isolation reminding you that Mother Nature always rules. The vastness of the South Australian outback here was no doubt one of the reasons why it – specifically Woomera – was chosen to become the world’s largest military land base. Established by the British in 1947, the countryside here has been a testing base for atomic bombs, ballistic missiles and satellite boosters. It’s a piece of Australian history few know of, but that you will leave appreciating, as you head toward your evening’s repose in the natural harbour of Port Augusta.
8 Day 8: Port Augusta - The Barossa - Depart Adelaide

The Barossa needs no introduction – your journey today will take in one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, and local makers know a thing or two about creating memorable vintages. Lambert Estate reveals some of the finest regional drops, your lunchtime tipples complemented by glorious views over the vines. Cheers to that! You’ll arrive in plenty of time for your Adelaide flight, your heart, mind and spirit filled with the natural and human wonders of a region that exudes superlatives.

Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price.
Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 11.00am into Adelaide Airport
Day 8 – flights to depart after 5.00pm from Adelaide Airport.
Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Warm layers in cooler months Camera.
Wilpena Pound: Bush walk to Hills Homestead and Wangara LookoutMedium level of fitness required. This 6km hike will be suitable for most guests. The Tour Director will offer guests an option to book shuttle bus for part of the trip however the track up to the homestead has uneven surfaces and is rocky in places. Retractable hiking poles may be useful.
Arkaroola: The Ridgetop 4WD tourMedium level of fitness required. Guests will sit in the back of an open air 4WD. It is wheelchair accessible however due to the roads being quite rough in places, it’s not recommended for pregnant travellers or people with serious back problems Anna Creek Painted HillsMedium level of fitness required.
The Lake Eyre flight will touch down at Anna Creek Painted Hills and guests will have the opportunity to have a walk around the area. This is an extremely remote area and ground will be rocky and uneven. Guests with mobility issues may wish to choose to stay close to the aircraft Coober Pedy and surrounds full day tour
Medium level of fitness required. Part of the tour will include walking down into mine shafts. Areas may have low lighting and ground will be uneven in places.

Tour Inclusions

Highlights
- Take a flight over mighty Lake Eyre, or if terra firma is more your thing, stay on the coach to Coober Pedy to experience more of the famous Oodnadatta Track with your experienced Driver Guide.
- Explore Farina, one of Australia’s most famous ghost towns, and enjoy a tour of Coober Pedy where 70% of the population live underground.
- Arkaroola has established an education and research foundation to foster an interest in science, education and conservation. AAT Kings donates $10 for every guest who visits.
- See prehistoric river systems as you fly over Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest inland lake.
- Comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres National Park entry fees Specialist team of 2 highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Flight over Lake Eyre and Anna Creek Painted Hills
- Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Warm layers in cooler months Camera
- Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 11.00am into Adelaide AirportDay 8 – flights to depart after 5.00pm from Adelaide Airport
- Wilpena Pound: Bush walk to Hills Homestead and Wangara LookoutMedium level of fitness required. This 6km hike will be suitable for most guests. The Tour Director will offer guests an option to book shuttle bus for part of the trip however the track up to the homestead has uneven surfaces and is rocky in places. Retractable hiking poles may be useful. Arkaroola: The Ridgetop 4WD tourMedium level of fitness required. Guests will sit in the back of an open air 4WD. It is wheelchair accessible however due to the roads being quite rough in places, it’s not recommended for pregnant travellers or people with serious back problems Anna Creek Painted HillsMedium level of fitness required. The Lake Eyre flight will touch down at Anna Creek Painted Hills and guests will have the opportunity to have a walk around the area. This is an extremely remote area and ground will be rocky and uneven. Guests with mobility issues may wish to choose to stay close to the aircraft Coober Pedy and surrounds full day tourMedium level of fitness required. Part of the tour will include walking down into mine shafts. Areas may have low lighting and ground will be uneven in places.
Inclusions
- • Comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres • National Park entry fees • Specialist team of 2 highly experienced Travel Director and Driver • Flight over Lake Eyre and Anna Creek Painted Hills

Availability

Other Dates

Additional Information

Additional Information
Travel Documents Travel documents for guided tours are delivered to the hotel or address you are staying at prior to your tour depending on the tour type chosen. We also provide you with a tour itinerary and arrival instructions by email, once we have all your flight information and personal details.

Group Size There is no set age or type of traveller, you can expect a wide-range of like-minded travellers. Families with children, young couples, baby boomers, solo travellers, small groups and more can be found on guided tours. There is certainly no age limit for touring, with children as young as 6 through to seniors travelling, however, the general demographic tends to be over 40.

Depending on the tour you choose and the time of year you are travelling our group sizes can vary from 20 people up to 49 people

Optional Experiences The must-see and must-do experiences in all their tours but also offer you the ability to customise your tour with a selection of Optional Experiences. Details of Optional Experiences available will be sent with your final documents.

Clothing and What to Bring Clothing and footwear should be casual, comfortable and suited to the cooler climate of Tasmania.
• Clothing – shorts, trousers, shirts, swimwear, hat, sunglasses, a jacket and a change of warm clothes in case of inclement weather are advisable.
• Footwear – comfortable walking shoes and some form of fast-drying wet-shoe would prove useful.
• Personal – sun protection, insect repellent, medications, toiletries, (overseas travellers should bring a suitable adapter). Don’t forget to bring your video or camera along with plenty of film & spare batteries (recharge facilities are available).
• Money and/or credit card for personal expenses such as drinks, souvenirs and optional extras.

Fitness to Travel A good level of fitness and health is required to participate on holiday packages. In some destinations there are extensive sightseeing excursions by foot which includes the climbing of stairs and walking on uneven surfaces. Mobility is needed boarding or alighting coaches and trains.

Fitness Level For example a low level of fitness is required. If your tour includes the walk around Dove Lake is considered a Moderate – Easy 6km loop. Not all guests will be able to complete the walk. Alternate short walks are available.

Extras Airfares (unless stated), airport taxes, laundry, food not on the regular menu, drinks may or may not be included as indicated in your itinerary, excess baggage, Wi-Fi (unless stated), fuel surcharges and optional excursions not specified in the itinerary. Extra overnight accommodation is not included at the start or end of the tour if not specified in the itinerary. Airport Transfers Airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the tour as indicated by the itinerary or when booking pre or post tour accommodation with your tour.

Seat Rotation To enable everyone the opportunity of enjoying window and front seats, clients change seats daily during the course of the tour.

Luggage Limits One medium size suitcase (not exceeding 76x46x25 cm) per person plus one piece of hand luggage which may be carried on-board the coach. Please note luggage with adjustable handle and wheels will not fit in the overhead luggage compartments and cannot be accepted as hand luggage. Maximum weight of the suitcase not to exceed 23kg (50lbs). If your luggage exceeds this limit, we ask that you make alternative arrangements for the excess to be forwarded to the termination point of your tour. We suggest that you have wheels on your suitcase, as there are certain places where assistance is not available (e.g. railway stations and cruise terminals).

Smoking Government regulations prohibit smoking, including e-cigarettes, inside tourist coaches. Please restrict smoking to the ample stops en-route.

Travel Insurance Clients are strongly advised to take out travel insurance to cover any unforeseen circumstances (e.g. cancellation or curtailment expenses, loss of luggage etc). Disruption to Itinerary Arrangements Itineraries are intended as a guide only and are subject to alteration without notice. Alterations may be necessary for various reasons including, without limitation, road or weather conditions, strikes or other reasons beyond reasonable control. Occasionally airlines and tour operators are forced to reschedule departure dates. Guided Holidays will not be rescheduled within 45 days of the published departure date.

Booking Terms and Conditions

Be aware that some confirmed bookings are not refundable if cancelled, and also may not be transferable to another date or otherwise changed. Alternatively, a change may only be permissible subject to payment of an additional fee or charge. Your entitlement to a refund for cancelled bookings is subject to the relevant Supplier’s terms and conditions. Please note that if we are entitled to a service fee for placing a booking, we will remain entitled to this fee if you cancel the booking or the Supplier fails to provide you with the Product for any reason (other than our default), including in an event of Force Majeure. We will be entitled to deduct our service fee from any refund we receive on your behalf before remitting the balance to you. Suppliers’ fees are outlined in their relevant terms and conditions.

Please review the full Terms and Conditions and Schedule of Fees prior to making a booking.

Supplier Terms and Conditions Summary Guided Holidays:
- 60 days or more prior to departure will incur a loss of deposit.
- 16-59 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 30% of holiday package price.
- 15-8 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 50% of holiday package price.
- 7-1 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 50% of holiday package price.
- Day or departure will incur a fee of 100% holiday package price.
Promotional sales may incur stricter cancellation fees, these will be in terms and conditions of sale price purchases.

Changes to the Itinerary Not all attractions, excursions and/or optional tours are provided by the tour operator. Accordingly, tour operators may, where it is required to do so, suspend or cancel any tour inclusion where that tour inclusion is not available or in the opinion of tour operators, unadvisable, unsafe or unsuitable. During local or national holidays, certain facilities such as museums and restaurants, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited or not available. Tour operators reserves the right to alter or change the accommodation, carriers or vessels at any time for any reason; and cancel or alter the itinerary and/or tour at any time without notice as the tour operator considers necessary for any reason whatsoever including road, weather or traffic conditions, non-performance of suppliers, industrial action, operational conditions and requirements.

Travel Insurance
As a valued customer we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase discounted travel insurance. It is HIGHLY recommended that passengers take out travel insurance or trip cancellation cover. As a valued customer we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to get a free no-obligation quote from NIB Travel Insurance.

Credit Card Payments
Credit Card Customer Payment Link enter this link into your browser: pay.travelpay.com.au/AUSTC

If paying via the Customer Payment Link, please ensure you complete all fields and ensure you enter the correct Trip Reference Number, so we can identify your payment.

Credit card surcharges will apply when paying by credit card. We accept all credit cards and relevant credit card fee is applied when processing: Mastercard – 1.20%, Visa – 1.40%, American Express – 1.80%, Diners Card – 2.5%, International Credit Cards – 3%

Direct Deposit

Direct Deposit payments take up to 3 business days to process. Please call your consultant to confirm bank details, and notify us when your payment has been made

Commonwealth Bank: Australian Tours and Cruises
Reference: Your Trip Number
BSB: 062-504 Account: 1### ##68
Branch Address: Shop 1/80-84 William St, Bathurst NSW 2795
In Bank Payment of Cash Or Cheque: Add $5 for bank fees
International Direct Deposit: Add $25 for bank fees
SWIFT or BIC CODE: CTBAAU2S