Best of South Australia & Red Centre
Best of South Australia & Red Centre
Best of South Australia & Red Centre
9 Days Starting in Adelaide and ending in Alice Springs
Visiting: Adelaide, Adelaide / Hahndorf / Barossa Valley, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Clare Valley / Adelaide, Adelaide / Alice Springs, West MacDonnell Ranges / Kings Canyon, Kings Canyon / Kata Tjuta / Uluru / Yulara, Uluru / Yulara (or Alice Springs)
Tour Overview
On this eye-opening, soul-enriching journey through South Australia and the Red Centre, you’ll sip world-class wine at world-famous wineries, explore a wild landscape of geological wonders and learn about a culture that’s prevailed for thousands of years. On this nine-day trip, you’ll take a walk through Ikara (Wilpena Pound) with a First Nations guide, wine and dine in the famed Barossa Valley, stay on the outskirts of the vast Flinders Ranges and learn about the importance of preserving and caring for Country. Then, travel from Adelaide to the Outback, home to some of the country’s most incredible natural wonders. Here, you’ll delve deeper into First Nations culture, visit the iconic Western MacDonnell Ranges National Park (Tjoritja) and see Kings Canyon, Uluru, Kata Tjuta and more. With different perspectives at dawn and dusk and some Aussie Outback stars to end each night – what more could a comfortable journey through Australia's hotspots could you need?
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Adelaide
Location: Adelaide
Accommodation: Hotel
Welcome to South Australia! Your adventure begins in Adelaide, or Tandanya in the language of The Kaurna people – the traditional owners of the land. If you arrive in Adelaide early, there is much to see and do, from the Central Market to a footy game in the Adelaide Oval. Your trip will start with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. After, the night is yours. Maybe get your group together and head to one of the best restaurants in the city.
Day 2: Adelaide / Hahndorf / Barossa Valley
Location: Adelaide / Hahndorf / Barossa Valley
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: lunch, dinner
After breakfast this morning, meet with a local Aboriginal guide with whom you'll discover the city from a First Nations perspective. Learn about the wonderful and tragic colonial history on a walk through the heart of Adelaide. Next, head out of town to Hahndorf, a historic village nestled in the Adelaide Hills, originally settled by German immigrants in the 1830s. Enjoy some time to explore, then enjoy lunch made from locally sourced ingredients at a historic pub in another nearby village. After lunch, continue your drive to the famed Barossa Valley. A renowned region of wine, the Barossa is home to a string of rural towns, sun-kissed rolling hills and world-famous wineries – with shiraz grapes the local speciality. Enjoy an included wine tasting here, take in the gorgeous scenery and then sit down for a group dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Location: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast this morning, you’ll drive to the Flinders Ranges – the largest mountain range in South Australia, stretching for over 430 km. Stop in Ikara (Wilpena Pound) – a natural amphitheatre of mountains. Your base for the night is a stunning spot on the outskirts of this geological marvel. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore, search for the perfect spot to watch the sunset or relax at your eco-style accommodation.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Location: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
In the morning meet with a local First Nations guide for a walk around the magnificent Ikara (Wilpena Pound) area with your group. Your expert guide will share ancient stories of the landscape that have been passed down from generation to generation, provide insight into the region’s biodiversity 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 to explore – maybe join your leader on a hike, opt to go it alone or simply sit back and relax while enjoying the incredible scenery.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Clare Valley / Adelaide
Location: Clare Valley / Adelaide
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
It's time to head back to Adelaide this morning after breakfast. Along the way, make a stop in the Clare Valley at a local winery for a delicious tasting paddle of their favourite wines. Maybe grab some lunch here and share some stories with your fellow travellers. You’ll arrive back in Adelaide at about 4 pm, where your leader and some of your travel group will end their journey. The rest of the night is free to enjoy Adelaide’s nightlife.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Adelaide / Alice Springs
Location: Adelaide / Alice Springs
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Your included airport transfer will take you from the hotel to Adelaide Airport today. Fly to Alice Springs (flight not included), Mparntwe in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Alice Springs is now located. Alice Springs is the quintessential laidback Aussie town and when you arrive tonight, you’ll have a second welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and the new travel companions joining you on the next leg of your Aussie adventure.
Day 7: West Macdonnell Ranges / Kings Canyon
Location: West MacDonnell Ranges / Kings Canyon
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
This morning, you’ll hit the road for Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park (Tjoritja). Keep an eye out for rock wallabies as you take part in a guided walk through the important spiritual site. A First Nations guide will share their insights on the local flora and fauna and will tell the story of the great Tjunba (Perentie) totem that protects the gorge and its present importance to the Eastern and Northern Arrernte People. The walk will also take you along the riverbed that marks the boundary between the Eastern and Northern Arrernte tribes. Next, drive along the Stuart and Lasseter Highway and through the colourful semi-desert to Watarrka National Park, home of the majestic Kings Canyon. Your leader will take you along the Kings Creek Walk, following the trail between soaring cliffs and ethereal rock formations. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more magical place! Tonight enjoy an included dinner before visiting the Light Towers - an immersive visual and aural display.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Kings Canyon / Kata Tjuta / Uluru / Yulara
Location: Kings Canyon / Kata Tjuta / Uluru / Yulara
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Spend the morning exploring the rugged landscape of Kings Canyon and enjoy the 3-hour rim walk up and across the famous Kings Canyon plateau, from the sandstone domes of the 'Lost City' to the oasis of the 'Garden of Eden'. You’ll walk across the red rock cliffs that protrude from the land and take in views of the palm forest below. Then hit the road again for a scenic drive across the red landscape to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Keep your eyes out, there’s chance that you might spot brumbys, camels or wallabies on the drive. First up today, you’ll arrive in Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas) – a towering collection of 36 domed rock formations. Here, you'll embark on a walk to a popular lookout to admire the stunning red formations that make up Kata Tjuta – these ochre-coloured shapes are a mesmerising sight. After, you'll make your way to one of Australia’s most spiritually significant and iconic sites, Uluru. From a prime location, you’ll enjoy the view as the sun sets over the epic sandstone monolith – watching the incredible landscape shift in colour is a sight you won’t soon forget!
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Uluru / Yulara (Or Alice Springs)
Location: Uluru / Yulara (or Alice Springs)
Meals Included: breaksfast
You'll start the day early in one of the best ways imaginable – watching a spectacular sunrise over Uluru. Embark on a short walk across the rust-coloured landscape to a nearby waterhole and marvel at some of the traditional art sites. Your leader will shed light on the history and nature here and explain how the Anangu people are deeply connected to the lands. After, stop by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to continue learning about First Nations culture. After some time here, stop by Yulara for any travellers flying out of Uluru to catch the free airport shuttle. Then, for those finishing the trip in Alice Springs, hit the highway just after lunch. Arrive in Alice Springs in the evening, where your Outback adventure will come to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.
Included Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights) -
Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 3 dinners -
McLaren Flat - Wuldi Cultural Experience at the Gemtree Eco Trail
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Barossa Valley - Winery visit & tasting
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Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park - Day walks
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Wilpena Pound - Yura Udnyu Our Culture, Your Culture walking tour
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Clare Valley - Wine Tasting
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Tjoritja-West MacDonnell Ranges - Simpsons Gap Guided Aboriginal Cultural Walk
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Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Creek Walk
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Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Light Towers by Night
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Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge Walk
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Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Rim Walk
Transport
- DRIVING DISTANCES IN AUSTRALIA
- Australia is a BIG country! In fact, the whole of Europe fits into Australia with plenty of room to spare. Australians are accustomed to driving long distances on holiday, but you may not be. Perth to Broome is roughly the length of Portugal. Driving from Alice Springs to Darwin is about the length of the UK, and Perth to Adelaide is about the same distance from Spain to Poland. However, that's why we think seeing Australia from the ground is better. We live in a country that has it all; stunning coastline and beaches, the outback, tropical rainforests, and some seriously amazing landscapes and wildlife. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
- HOT WEATHER
- From October to March it is likely that you will experience temperatures over 35C/95F. These extreme temperatures place stress on the air-conditioning units within our vehicles which can make travelling uncomfortable. Your leader will assist with regular breaks and information to assist keeping cool and hydrated.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- FLIGHTS BETWEEN TRIPS
- Your flight from Adelaide to Alice Springs is not included. Please see the itinerary for information on recommended flight details and book these through your agent or directly with the airline.
- START & END TIMES
- The trip starts in Adelaide with a Welcome Meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 at our joining point hotel. The trip finishes on day 9 in either Yulara with a drop off at the airport at 11:30am or on arrival in Alice Springs by 6:30pm. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request (in Alice Springs only).
- COMBINATION TRIP
- This is a combination trip made up of two shorter trips. This means the composition of your group may change in Alice Springs as some group members leave and new ones join you.
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
- A Single Supplement can be booked if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Flights from Adelaide to Alice Springs are not included. Please see the itinerary for information on recommended flight details.
Temperatures in Northern Territory can be extreme, so you will need to be well prepared. Depending on the time of the year, daytime can be very hot (and the Australian sun is very strong year-round) so always use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures can really drop, so bring sufficient warm clothing.
On some days of the trip, you’ll spend many hours driving through very remote areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel. The days can be long, but you’ll want to fit as much of this amazing place in as you can in four short days!
As sunrise and sunset times as well as weather conditions vary throughout the year, the order of activities may change to ensure you have the best experience possible. On occasion, the First Nations experiences may not be available should your guides have other cultural commitments, in which case there will be alternative activities. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Tuesday - Wednesday
Dec 24, 2024 - Jan 01, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions