Map of Flinders Ranges Explorer including Australia

Welcome to a land of wonderful wine and ancient peaks

Would you rather sip world-class wine at spectacular wineries, explore a wild landscape of geological wonders, or learn about a culture that’s prevailed for hundreds of years? In South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, there’s no need to choose – this place has it all. Walk through the awe-inspiring scenery of Ikara (Wilpena Pound) with a First Nations guide, traverse the rugged landscapes of Arkaroola in a four-wheel drive vehicle, and gain a special insight into the culture of the Adnyamathanha people – and that’s just a taste of what’s to come!


Start
Adelaide, Australia
Finish
Adelaide, Australia
Destination
Australia
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
PZKF
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Taste the best of South Australia’s famous wine growing region, at an organic winery with biodynamic credentials, and visit a B Corp certified creative distillery that produces a uniquely delicious range of gin.

  • Stay on the fringe of Ikara (Wilpena Pound), a remarkable natural amphitheatre, and join a local Aboriginal guide to learn about the biodiversity of the landscape and its relationship to the Adnyamathanha people.

  • Explore the rugged landscapes of Arkaroola, a protected wildlife reserve, on a fascinating four-wheel drive tour, then look to the skies and marvel at the stars at an astronomical observatory.

  • In the Northern Flinders Ranges, discover Iga Warta, on the land of the Adnyamathanha people. Meet with an Adnyamathanha guide to learn about their culture, history and connection to the land.

  • Participate in a 'Walk on Country' experience with a local First Nations Guide. Start off with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony and learn about the Fleurieu Peninsula wetlands and landscape on a walk around this unique landscape.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

  • Australia is a big place so this trip involves a lot of time on the road covering long distances, and sometimes the landscape can be pretty barren, so bring a book or some tunes to keep you company.

  • Day 3 involves approximately 5 hours driving on dirt roads with no facilities available along the way so stock up on snacks before you hit the road.

  • On Day 5, we will visit an area where you might encounter mosquitos, especially if the weather has been wet. Bring plenty of repellent to keep them at bay.

Itinerary

Welcome to South Australia! Your adventure begins in Adelaide (Tandanya in the language of The Kaurna people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Adelaide is now located). You can think of Adelaide as your gateway to the ancient peaks of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. At 8.30am, join your local leader and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting, then leave Adelaide behind and make tracks north. Stop off at a local sustainable hotel with its own farm where you’ll have the chance to grab some lunch. Continue to Ikara (Wilpena Pound), a natural amphitheatre of mountains. Your base for the night is a stunning spot on the outskirts of this geological marvel.
Accommodation
  • Cabin (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you meet the group at 8.30 am this morning in the hotel lobby to begin your tour. Find more details in the ‘Joining Point Instructions’ section of your Essential Trip Information. We recommend spending a night before your tour begins in Adelaide. If so, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
After breakfast this morning, meet with a local First Nations guide for a walk around the magnificent Ikara (Wilpena Pound) area with your group and possibly some other travellers. Your expert guide will share ancient stories of the landscape that have been passed down from generation to generation, provide insight into the biodiversity of the region and the life it sustains, and explain the relationship between the land and the Adnyamathanha people. Once you have a better understanding of the landscape, the rest of the day is yours for further exploration. You may like to join your leader on a hike, go it alone, or simply sit back and relax while enjoying the incredible scenery.
Accommodation
  • Cabin (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park - Day walks
  • Wilpena Pound - Yura Udnyu Our Culture, Your Culture walking tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Wake up surrounded by the mighty Flinders Ranges then perhaps join your leader for a walk around the local area if you like. In the afternoon, get ready to hit the road for the long but scenic 5 hour drive to Arkaroola, a wilderness sanctuary focused on education and conservation. Filled with wonderful wildlife and geological features, there’s so much to uncover here. Enjoy an included dinner at your accommodation then as the sun begins to set, see the stars and planets from a different perspective, up close and personal on the big screen. Afterwards, make the most of this unspoiled and remote location and look skyward. Free of light pollution, this is a great opportunity for star gazing.
Accommodation
  • Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park - Day walks
  • Arkaroola - Explore the Cosmos Tour at Ningana Imaging Observatory
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 3-5 hours. Please note that today's drive is on a bumpy unsealed road and that there are no established bathroom facilities en-route.
Start the day with an exhilarating exploration of the Arkaroola grounds in a 4WD vehicle. Drive up to the ridgetop, the oldest part of the Flinders Ranges (we’re talking 1.6 billion years old!) and discover a jagged landscape of ancient granite, mountains, and unique plant life. Stop for morning tea at Sillers lookout and take in the views as you enjoy fresh lamingtons. Your expert local guide will fill you in on how the fascinating features of the landscape were formed over millions of years. Return to your accommodation and enjoy some downtime for lunch, then set out to explore more of the surrounding scenery on foot. Join your leader on a bushwalk and learn more about the unusual flora and fauna of the region. This evening, sit down to a delicious barbecue dinner at your resort. There is even the option to pair it with a glass of crisp South Australian wine.
Accommodation
  • Lodge (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Arkaroola - Day walks
  • Arkaroola - 4WD Ridgetop Tour with Local Guide
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Say goodbye to Arkaroola and drive on to Iga Warta, overlooked by the mountains and surrounded by the land of the Adnyamathanha people. Meet with an Adnyamathanha guide to learn more about their culture, explore the land and meet the wildlife that lives on it, and hear stories of their history. Tuck into a lunch of local ingredients (think quandong, acacia seed, lemon myrtle or kangaroo) at Iga Warta as you enjoy the peaceful location and listen to some traditional music, then continue on to the historic town of Quorn. From April to October, you may have the opportunity to see the Quorn Silo Light Show this evening, an audiovisual celebration of the Flinders Ranges and the local stories of the area, projected on a grain silo.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Iga Warta - Adnyamathanha Cultural Activities & Bush Foods Lunch
Optional Activities
  • Quorn - Silo Light Show - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 5-6 hours.
Travel from Quorn to the Adelaide Hills, an area famous for its cool-climate wines. But wine isn’t the only drink produced in these parts – today you’ll pay a visit to a B Corp distillery that uses native Australian ingredients to create sustainably made and uniquely delicious gin. Take a look behind the scenes during a tour of the distillery, learn about their sustainable practices and perhaps sample some of the creative flavours yourself. Tonight will be spent in Hahndorf, a delightful town tucked away in the Adelaide Hills, made famous not only by its German-style buildings, but by its continued German traditions of food, hospitality and crafts. You may like to join your group for a final dinner in a local restaurant.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Adelaide Hills - Gin Distillery Tour & Tastings
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 4.5 hours. Please note that shoes with closed toes are required when participating in the tour at the gin distillery today.
This morning, head to the Yundi Nature Conservancy and participate in a 'Walk on Country' experience with a local First Nations Guide. Start off with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, then follow your guide around and learn about the wetlands of the Fleurieu Peninsula, the local peoples' ancient knowledge of plants, Australian bush medicine and foods, and the local wildlife. Enjoy an included lunch with native bush foods then drive to McLaren Vale, a celebrated winegrowing region. Here you’ll stop by a winery with biodynamic credentials to sample some of their most delicious organically produced drops during a wine tasting experience. Finally, drive back to Adelaide, where on arrival your Flinders Ranges adventure will come to an end.
Included Activities
  • McLaren Vale - Gemtree Winery Visit & Tasting Experience
  • Yundi - Welcome to Country
  • Yundi - Walking on Country Aboriginal Cultural Tour & Bush Foods Lunch
  • Yundi - Bush Foods Lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 2.5 hours. Your tour finishes back in Adelaide at approximately 4pm. If you require any additional accommodation in Adelaide please let your sales agent know.

Meals

6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Cabin (2 nights), Hotel (1 night), Lodge (2 nights), Motel (1 night)

Included activities

  • Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park - Day walks
  • Wilpena Pound - Yura Udnyu Our Culture, Your Culture walking tour
  • Arkaroola - Explore the Cosmos Tour at Ningana Imaging Observatory
  • Arkaroola - Day walks
  • Arkaroola - 4WD Ridgetop Tour with Local Guide
  • Iga Warta - Adnyamathanha Cultural Activities & Bush Foods Lunch
  • Adelaide Hills - Gin Distillery Tour & Tastings
  • McLaren Vale - Gemtree Winery Visit & Tasting Experience
  • Yundi - Welcome to Country
  • Yundi - Walking on Country Aboriginal Cultural Tour & Bush Foods Lunch
  • Yundi - Bush Foods Lunch

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Flinders Ranges Explorer trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Prices may go up, so secure your trip today!
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Important notes

START & END TIME
This trip starts in Adelaide on day 1 at 8.30am and finishes in Adelaide on day 7 at approximately 4pm.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

REMOTE TRAVEL & ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
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 Wilpena Pound onwards. This does mean that at times groups will not be able to complete the itinerary as planned. Please also make sure you have access to your emergency funds in case this is needed. Please also note that some sites, restaurants, cafes, tours & attractions may be closed during the off season summer months.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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