Map of Outback South Australia & Eyre Peninsula including Australia

Get a taste for Aussie adventure on a trip that explores it all from the Outback to the ocean 

This 19-day trip will take you into the heart of the South Australian Outback and then turn around and show you the best of the Eyre Peninsula and its wild coastline. From Adelaide, head toward the centre and visit the opal capital of Australia, see Silo Art and watch stars sparkling above Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park as you hear traditional stories of the Adnyamathanha people. Then, swap the desert landscapes for coastal vistas and explore Port Augusta, discover the diversity of the Gawler Ranges National Park, look out for southern right whales at the Head of Bight, snap pictures of the iconic Lake Macdonnell and dine on freshly shucked oysters in Coffin Bay. This trip takes you on an epic adventure across some of the most iconic South Australian scenery with a local guide to give you the inside scoop on everything along the way. 


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

Why you'll love this trip

  • Watch the night sky come alive as you enjoy a campfire dinner and learn about the stories and traditions of the First Nations Adnyamathanha people who are the traditional custodians of the Flinders Ranges. 

  • Enjoy a subterranean stay in Coober Pedy, the opal capital of Australia, in underground accommodation, which is cool, comfortable and unique to this part of the South Australian outback. 

  • Uncover the diverse flora, fauna and formations of the Gawler Ranges National Park, from salt pans to mountains, gorges and the spectacular Organ Pipes. 

  • Marvel at the pink and blue hues of Lake Macdonnell, watch the locals catch waves at the surf mecca of Cactus Beach and chill out in the laidback seaside town of Streaky Bay. 

  • Experience a working oyster farm with a local farmer, including a hands-on shucking lesson, and taste the freshest oysters you’ve ever tasted, straight out of the water. 

Is this trip right for you?

  • Just as a heads up before you book: this trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations 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’.

  • 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 and ensure you pack light.

Itinerary

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). Your tour starts at 8:00 am with a group meeting at our start point hotel. Then head out of town towards Port Augusta. Stop at pretty pink Lake Bumbunga on the way to Snowtown. After a look around Fourth St and Railway Terrace, continue your journey to Port Pirie for a tour and lunch, hopefully at Solomontown Beach if the weather is good. On arrival at Port Augusta, you may like to enjoy an optional visit to the Wadlata Outback Centre or the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens. This evening, enjoy a relaxing night in Port Augusta.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Port Augusta - Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens guided tour - Free
  • Port Augusta - Wadlata Outback Centre 'Tunnel of Time' - AUD23
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you meet the group at 8 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). Total drive time today is approximately 4.5 hours.
Enjoy breakfast at a café in town before the drive to Woomera, a town that was purpose-built for testing rockets in the 1940s. Learn about nuclear and non-nuclear rocket testing and more at the Woomera Heritage Museum & Visitor Information Centre. There is 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, you could stroll around town, search out some street art, find a bar or buy jewellery as a souvenir. You are in the opal capital of Australia, after all. Tonight, you may choose to join your tour group for dinner at a local bar that offers up incredible views of the Breakaways and Coober Pedy.
Accommodation
  • Underground Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Woomera - Lake Hart Rest Area
  • Woomera - Heritage Museum & Visitor Centre
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Total driving time today is around 6 hours. Temperatures in this part of Australia can reach extreme highs between November and March. Please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water.
Spend your day exploring in and around Coober Pedy including 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 also doubles as a kangaroo orphanage. Here you can meet kangaroos and other native wildlife such as wombats and birds which are looked after by wildlife carers.
Accommodation
  • Underground Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Coober Pedy - Josephine's Gallery & Kangaroo Orphanage
  • Coober Pedy - Underground Home, Church & Historic Mine Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Head to Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park which is a registered Aboriginal heritage site and see the dog fence, also know as the dingo fence, before travelling back to Coober Pedy for optional lunch at a local café. Drive into the remote South Australian Outback proper, 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 tour group for dinner at the local pub.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Coober Pedy - Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park & Dingo Fence
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Total driving time today is around 3 hours. Please note that today's drive is on an unsurfaced gravel road. Some sections are corrugated so it may be a bumpy ride.
This morning continue your drive deeper into the remote desert landscape to Lake Eyre via the legendary and famous Oodnadatta Track, with a stop at Wabma Kadarbu Mound Spring Conservation Park along the way. Stop at Lake Eyre for a picnic lunch before getting back on the road. If the group fancies it, you can stop off at Coward Springs, home to a charming museum and a natural spa – a welcome reprieve among the desert landscape. Continue to Marree, where on arrival you’ll stroll around town to see historical sites such as the old Afghan Mosque and remnants of the Historical Ghan Railway. Your leader will give you the background on local history.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Marree - Leader-led Local History Walk
  • Stuarts Creek - Wabma Kadarbu Mound Spring Conservation Park
  • Lake Eyre - Picnic Lunch
Optional Activities
  • Coward Springs - Museum & Natural Spa - AUD2
Meals Included
  • Lunch
Special Information
Total driving time today is around 2.5 hours.
Perhaps enjoy an early morning scenic flight to see the Outback from a different angle. Your leader will be able to help you book a flight if you are keen (subject to availability). After breakfast, drive to Farina Town. A once booming oasis on the edge of the desert, Farina Town boasted a population of around 600 towards the end of the 19th century, but things look a little different today – the town 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 Iga Warta where you will spend the day and evening learning about Adnyamathanha culture and gaining a deeper appreciation of Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park. Lunch is followed by a tour to an ancient painting site with a Traditional Owner and a cultural cookout dinner where you will enjoy a traditional meal along with music and Adnyamathanha Yura Muda (cultural stories and language).
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Iga Warta - Cultural Cookout Dinner & Campfire
  • Iga Warta - Adnyamathanha Cultural Activities
  • Farina - Restoration Project
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Please note that depending on the group size rooming in Iga Warta for the next two nights will be twin or triple share cabins or safari tents. Due to the isolated nature of Iga Warta, there is no phone service and WiFi is only available at reception, although unreliable. Tap water here is not drinkable, so we recommended bringing some with you or purchasing on-site, and insect repellent is a must to combat year-round mosquitoes. Timekeeping isn’t a top priority in these parts, so be prepared to go with the flow. Also, please note that participating in kitchen duties will be highly appreciated by your hosts and provides for some great local interaction.
After breakfast at Iga Warta, join your leader for a bush walk. Stop for a picnic lunch along the way and take in the scenery before driving back to Iga Warta. After dinner, sit around the campfire for a night of storytelling, singing and a damper supper served with quandong jam and billy tea.
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Arkaroola - Bushwalk & Picnic Lunch
  • Iga Warta - Adnyamathanha Cultural Activities
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
High temperatures can be expected in this region between November and March, meaning the walks planned over the coming days may need to be changed to adapt to the conditions.
After breakfast at Iga Warta, continue driving to the famous Wilpena Pound (Ikara), the centre piece of the Flinders Ranges and home to the Adnyamathanha people for thousands of years. After lunch, join your leader for a walk around Old Wilpena Station. Operating between 1851 and 1985, this former pastoral settlement provides a special glimpse into what rural life once looked like within the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Tonight, enjoy a relaxing evening at the resort.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Wilpena Pound - Welcome to Country by Adnyamathanha Local
  • Wilpena Pound - Bushwalk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Total driving time today is around 3 hours. Please note that today's Welcome to Country at the Resort depends on the availability of a local Adnyamathanha person to perform the ceremony and can therefore not be guaranteed.
After breakfast, join your leader for another bushwalk in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. 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.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Wilpena Pound - Bushwalk
Optional Activities
  • Wilpena Pound - Sunset Spectacular Tour - AUD60
  • Wilpena Pound - Mountain Bike Hire (half day) - AUD35
  • Wilpena Pound - Time Travel & Gorgeous Gorges 4WD Tour - AUD150
  • Wilpena Pound - Yura Udnyu 'Our Culture, Your Culture' Tour - AUD45
  • Wilpena Pound - Sacred Canyon Yura Mulka Cultural Walk - AUD85
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
After breakfast, depart for Auburn, a village on the edge of the Clare Valley wine region. Stop for a wine tasting at a winery which is housed in an old railway station. Grab lunch at one of the cafes in Auburn, see the Silo Art at Farrell Flat and Owen before continuing to Adelaide where you'll spend the evening at your leisure before meeting your group leader and new travel companions to begin the next leg of your adventure tomorrow morning. 
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Auburn - Wine Tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Total driving time today is around 5 hours. Your arrival back into Adelaide this afternoon will be at around 5pm. Please note that tonight's night in Adelaide will be unaccompanied by your leader. You will meet your leader and group again tomorrow morning for a mid-trip group meeting, where new travellers will join the trip.
Rise and shine, join your group leader and fellow travellers (some familiar, some fresh faces) for an 8 am meeting to meet everyone and discuss your upcoming adventure before hitting the road for Port Augusta. Your first stop of the day will be in Crystal Brook to snap a selfie with the Big Goanna, then drive past the Barunga Ranges on your way to Port Pirie. Check out examples of colonial architecture and views of the Spencer Gulf before completing the final leg of today’s journey to Port Augusta, where the outback meets the ocean. Head to the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens for some lunch at the cafe inspired by native ingredients, then take a guided walk around the gardens to discover the diverse and resilient range of plants that exist in the outback. Enjoy a free night before you continue further on your way tomorrow.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Port Augusta - Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens guided tour
Meals Included
  • Lunch
Special Information
As this is a combination trip, the travellers in your group and your group leader are likely to change today. There will be a welcome meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and to meet new travellers joining you. It’s important that you attend the meeting as your new leader will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. Total drive time today is approximately 4 hours.
You have some free time this morning to visit the Wadlata Outback Centre and Tunnel of Time if you wish, before saying goodbye to Port Augusta. Venture on to the town of Wudinna with a stop at the Big Galah in Kimba, said to mark the halfway point across Australia. While here you’ll also check out the impressive artwork painted on silos. Carry on to Wudinna, where on arrival you’ll have a free afternoon to climb Mt Wudinna, visit the Big Farmer statue or rest up before an exciting day exploring the Gawler Ranges National Park tomorrow.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kimba - Big Galah
Optional Activities
  • Wudinna - Big Farmer - Free
  • Wudinna - Climb Mt Wudinna - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 4.5 hours.
After breakfast this morning, head out for a full day exploring the Gawler Ranges National Park with a local guide, discovering the region’s fascinating flora, fauna and natural history. Pay a visit to Sturt’s Lake where a walk over coloured rocks will reveal how the land has changed over time, then head to Mt Sturt where a diverse array of plant life can be admired. Continue to the Old Paney Homestead, a restored sheep station which provides a glimpse into the history of the Gawler Ranges. Next up is a visit to the Yandinga Gorge where you’ll stop and take in the scenery over lunch (you may even be joined by some yellow-footed rock-wallabies!). Take a short walk through a stunning valley to the Organ Pipes, awe-inspiring rock formations created by volcanic activity more than 1500 million years ago. After an exciting day, return to Wudinna for the evening, but not before stopping off at Pildappa Rock, where the rippling wave formations make for a spectacular sight.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Gawler Ranges National Park - Full day guided 4WD tour including lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
The Gawler Ranges People are recognised as the traditional owners of this Country, and ask that you respect their culture and do not move any rocks or walk on the surface of the salt lakes.
Your first stop of the day is the lovely little town of Ceduna where you’ll grab some lunch, take a walk along the peaceful jetty and maybe pay a visit to the local art centre showcasing Aboriginal art by artists from the Far West Coast of South Australia if it's open today. Travel onwards to Penong, home to the windmill museum where you’ll find Bruce, the largest windmill in Australia. Your journey continues as you travel to the Scotdesco Aboriginal Community in the locality of Bookabie, named for the descendants of the founding Scott family, who still reside in and manage the community today. The community operates as a social and cultural hub while providing employment for local families. Spend the evening in Scotdesco, and be sure to keep an eye out for southern hairy-nosed wombats roaming the property!
Accommodation
  • Cabins (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Penong - Windmill Museum
  • Bookabie - Aboriginal Community Stay
Optional Activities
  • Ceduna - Arts Centre (entry by donation) - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 4.5 hours.
After breakfast this morning, make the journey out to Head of Bight, one of Australia’s top whale watching spots, located at the edge of the Nullarbor Plain. From soaring limestone cliffs to a wash of white sand dunes, this slice of South Australia is certainly fantastic to look at, but the real stars of the show are the southern right whales who use the bight as a breeding ground and to calve during their winter migration. Various viewing platforms allow you to observe whales when they’re visiting, and also take in fantastic views of the Bunda Cliffs and surrounding landscape. Return to Scotdesco for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation
  • Cabins (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Head of Bight - Whale Watching Centre
  • Bookabie - Aboriginal Community Stay
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 5 hours. Please note that whales visit the south coast of Australia during their winter migration, and are commonly seen between June and August. Sightings cannot be guaranteed however. If you would like to increase your chance of seeing the whales we recommend you choose the time of visit carefully. Outside of whale watching season we may include another alternative activity in the area.
Take part in a cultural activity this morning at Scotdesco to gain a deeper understanding of the community, then it's time to say your goodbyes and head to the famous Lake Macdonnell, one of the most iconic images of South Australia. With a road cutting through the middle, one side of this salt lake is (sometimes) a vivid pink, while the other side (can be) a deep blue – this striking natural phenomenon is a sight you won’t soon forget if you are lucky enough to be here at the right time. From here, it’s just a short drive to Cactus Beach, one of Australia’s premier surf spots. Watch the locals catch some waves before continuing on to Streaky Bay, a delightful seaside town on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula. With a laidback atmosphere and gorgeous coastline, Streaky Bay is the perfect place to stretch out on the beach or take a dip in the clear waters of the jetty pool. The historic town centre is pleasant to wander around and be sure to ask your leader for tips on the best places to dine tonight.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Penong - Point Sinclair & Cactus Beach
  • Penong - Lake Macdonnell (Pink Lake)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 3 hours.
Hit the road and head to Murphy’s Haystacks, a series of wind worn boulders and pillars dating back some 100,000 years. Then it’s on to Point Labatt, home to the only permanent colony of Australian sea lions on the mainland. Watch these endearing creatures bask in the sun, and if you’re lucky you may even catch some seal pups learning how to swim. Your journey then takes you through Port Kenny, Venus Bay & Elliston, to the seaside city of Port Lincoln where you’ll enjoy a free afternoon. With a rich history of industry and seafaring and fishing, you can walk along the Parnkalla Walking Trail past historic sites and of course the city is celebrated for its phenomenal seafood, so be sure to tuck into some tonight.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Streaky Bay - Murphy's Haystacks
  • Point Labatt - Sea lion colony
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 5 hours.
Start the day with a visit to Coffin Bay, brimming with wildlife both on shore and off. You’re in for a real treat as you don a pair of waders and take a seat at the 'The Salt Water Pavilion' which is located right in a working commercial oyster farm. Learn about this vital industry and you’ll even have the chance to sample some freshly shucked oysters too. The rest of the day is spent on further discoveries of the area. Explore the Coffin Bay National Park – dotted with walking trails, lookout points and an abundance of wildlife, there are few better places to spend an afternoon! Return to Port Lincoln for the evening.
Accommodation
  • Motel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Coffin Bay National Park - Yangie Bay or Point Avoid
  • Coffin Bay - Oyster farm experience
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Total driving time is approx. 2 hours today.
Leave Port Lincoln this morning and check out the Tumby Bay silo art before heading to Lucky Bay, where you’ll board a ferry to Wallaroo. Make the drive back to Adelaide, arriving in the early evening, at which point your Eyre Peninsula adventure will come to an end.
Included Activities
  • Tumby Bay - Silo Art
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Total drive time today is approximately 4.5 hours, plus 2.5 hours on the ferry from Lucky Bay to Wallaroo. The trip comes to an and in the late afternoon or early evening upon arrival in Adelaide. Please take this into consideration when booking onward travel. We recommend you spend an additional night in Adelaide. We’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Meals

12 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, 4WD, Ferry

Accommodation

Motel (7 nights), Underground hotel (2 nights), Hotel (3 nights), Permanent tented camp (2 nights), Resort (2 nights), Cabin (with shared facilities) (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
  • Iga Warta - Cultural Cookout Dinner & Campfire
  • Iga Warta - Adnyamathanha Cultural Activities
  • Farina - Restoration Project
  • Arkaroola - Bushwalk & Picnic Lunch
  • Wilpena Pound - Welcome to Country by Adnyamathanha Local
  • Wilpena Pound - Bushwalk
  • Auburn - Wine Tasting
  • Port Augusta - Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens guided tour
  • Kimba - Big Galah
  • Gawler Ranges National Park - Full day guided 4WD tour including lunch
  • Penong - Windmill Museum
  • Bookabie - Aboriginal Community Stay
  • Head of Bight - Whale Watching Centre
  • Penong - Point Sinclair & Cactus Beach
  • Penong - Lake Macdonnell (Pink Lake)
  • Streaky Bay - Murphy's Haystacks
  • Point Labatt - Sea lion colony
  • Coffin Bay National Park - Yangie Bay or Point Avoid
  • Coffin Bay - Oyster farm experience
  • Tumby Bay - Silo Art

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Outback South Australia & Eyre Peninsula trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

START & END TIME
This trip start in Adelaide on day 1 at 8.00 am and and finishes in Adelaide on day 19 at approximately 6pm.

COMBINATION TRIP
As this is a combination of two smaller trips, your leader and the composition of your group may change in Adelaide. Please note tat the night in Adelaide on day 10 is unaccompanied by your leader.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. The price of the single supplement does not include the following nights, where a single room does not form part of the package:
- Days 6-7 Iga Warta
For those nights you will be matched up with other travellers of the same gender. If a single room becomes available at check-in for these nights, there may be the option for you to upgrade to a single room and pay the surcharge locally for that night. Please also note that there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.

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 Coober Pedy onwards, and on the Oodnadatta track. Our leaders will check forward conditions in Coober Pedy and make alternative arrangements if the road conditions are not safe for our vehicle to continue. Safety will always come first. This does mean that at times groups will not be able to complete the itinerary as planned. For example, we may need to backtrack from Coober Pedy to Port Augusta and travel from there into the Flinders Ranges. 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.

HEAT
Departures during summer months can expect extreme heat. Customers will need to be prepared with sun protection, including wearing light, long sleeves and carry at least 2 litres of water at all times. 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.

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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