South Australia Outback Adventure
South Australia Outback Adventure
South Australia Outback Adventure
10 Days Starting and ending in Adelaide
Visiting: Adelaide / Port Pirie / Port Augusta, Woomera / Coober Pedy, Coober Pedy , Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park / William Creek, Oodnadatta Track / Marree, Farina / Arkaroola, Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park / Arkaroola, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park / Wilpena Pound, Clare Valley / Adelaide
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PZSA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Adelaide / Port Pirie / Port Augusta
Location: Adelaide / Port Pirie / Port Augusta
Accommodation: Motel
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.
Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Woomera / Coober Pedy
Location: Woomera / Coober Pedy
Accommodation: Underground Hotel
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Coober Pedy
Location: Coober Pedy
Accommodation: Underground Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park / William Creek
Location: Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park / William Creek
Accommodation: Cabin
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Oodnadatta Track / Marree
Location: Oodnadatta Track / Marree
Accommodation: Cabin
Meals Included: lunch
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 6: Farina / Arkaroola
Location: Farina / Arkaroola
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park / Arkaroola
Location: Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park / Arkaroola
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Day 8: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park / Wilpena Pound
Location: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park / Wilpena Pound
Accommodation: Resort
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park / Wilpena Pound
Location: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park / Wilpena Pound
Accommodation: Resort
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Clare Valley / Adelaide
Location: Clare Valley / Adelaide
Meals Included: breaksfast
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.
Included Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (1 night), Cabin (4 nights), Underground hotel (2 nights), Resort (2 nights) -
Woomera - Lake Hart Rest Area
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Woomera - Heritage Museum & Visitor Centre
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Coober Pedy - Josephine's Gallery & Kangaroo Orphanage
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Coober Pedy - Underground Home, Church & Historic Mine Visit
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Coober Pedy - Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park & Dingo Fence
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Marree - Leader-led Local History Walk
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Stuarts Creek - Wabma Kadarbu Mound Spring Conservation Park
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Lake Eyre - Picnic Lunch
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Iga Warta - Cultural Cookout Dinner & Campfire
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Farina - Restoration Project
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- Private Vehicle
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
- START & END POINT LOCATION & TIME
- The trip starts in Adelaide with a Welcome Meeting at 8 am on Day 1 at our joining point hotel, and finishes back in Adelaide on Day 10 at our finish point hotel around 5pm. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request.
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
- A Single Supplement can be booked if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.
- ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY & ROAD CLOSURES
- In the event that the road from Coober Pedy towards William Creek or the Oodnadatta Track are closed due to weather, an amended itinerary will be put in place. It may involve returning along some of the route already travelled.
Mode of Transport
- Private Vehicle
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
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. -
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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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