Flinders, Arkaroola & Barossa Valley

Flight Details: Homeport - Adelaide (flight times to be advised) Today on arrival into Adelaide we meet up with our local coach captain and enjoy a light lunch while we wait for all passengers to arrive. We then board the coach and make our way up into the delightful Clare Valley region travelling via the small township of Owen. The town is home to the ‘Wheat bags to Sand bags’ silo mural which depicts a snapshot in time in rural Australia at the outbreak of the First World War. We then continue up to Clare where we stroll through the imposing Martindale Hall. A Georgian styled Italianate influenced sandstone mansion which has significant heritage value in South Australia. Following our tour we proceed to our Clare Valley accommodation for check-in followed by dinner at the Clare Hotel.

Overnight Clare Valley: Clare Valley Motel

Lunch & Dinner

Today after a light continental breakfast we journey north to Bungaree Station for a wonderful insight from Mark into the former merino sheep station and life as it is today, operating as an efficient mixed farm and run by the descendent of the original founder, G.C. Hawker. After our tour we enjoy Vicky’s homemade morning tea before heading up to Wirrabara to view the stunning silo mural which captures the beauty of the town and surrounding countryside. We then travel up to Port Augusta via Horrocks Pass before arriving at the Australian Arid Lands Botanical Gardens for light lunch. Afterwards enjoy a relaxing stroll with our guides through a range of natural and themed gardens and soak in the sounds and scents of Australia’s arid heart. Our last stop for the day is at the multi award-winning Wadlata Outback Centre where displays highlight the history of the Flinders Ranges and the Outback of South Australia from 15 million years ago to modern day. It’s then time for check-in at our accommodation with time to relax before dinner in the restaurant.

Overnight Port Augusta: The Standpipe Golf Motor Inn

Continental Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast and check out we take a drive around Port Augusta to see the sights before boarding the Afghan Express for our historic journey across to the outback town of Quorn. Travelling the old Ghan route over red earth and bluebush plains from Port Augusta, we’ll watch the Flinders Ranges creep ever-closer before entering the Pichi Richi Pass with its rocky outcrops, dry riverbeds and beautiful hilly scenery. Quorn which has been used as a backdrop for many famous films including ‘Gallipoli’, ‘The Shiralee’, ‘The Tracker’ and most recently Russell Crowe’s ‘The Water Diviner’. On arrival in Quorn we enjoy a light lunch at a local cafe before making our way up alongside the Flinders Ranges before heading across through Copley and into the 61,000-hectare wildlife sanctuary of Arkaroola for late check-in and dinner.

Overnight Arkaroola: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning we board our four-wheel drive vehicles for the famous half day Ridge Top Tour which takes in some of the most spectacularly rugged country on earth. Our specially trained guides share their knowledge of Arkaroola’s 1600-million year geological history as they navigate the steep slopes and hair raising ascents of the famous Ridge Top Track. Inspiring images of red granite mountains and golden spinifex covered hillsides give way to a breath-taking view across the Freeling Heights, Lake Frome and the desert beyond. After a wonderful morning, we enjoy lunch back at the resort, before enjoying the afternoon at leisure to enjoy at own cost one of the guided walks or take a scenic flight over the Arkaroola Sanctuary or Lake Eyre.

Optional Scenic Flights: Arkaroola offer scenic flights - Full information and cost please visit www.arkaroola.com.au

1: 35 minute Arkaroola Sanctuary Flight

2: 45 minute Lake Frome Flight

3: 75 minute Arkaroola Sanctuary & Lake Frome Combo Flight

4: 1/2 Day Lake Eyre Flight - 4 hours

Overnight Arkaroola: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We depart Arkaroola this morning out along the Gammon Range Road and make our way to Leigh Creek we visit the “Black Rock, Blue Sky” Exhibition which is a collection of photographic panels that relate the 75 year history of the Leigh Creek Coalfield and unique story of the two towns. With our local guide we enjoy an informative drive around Leigh Creek before heading to the Aroona Dam Sanctuary which offers spectacular views and peaceful surroundings. Head down into the Flinders Ranges to the historic copper mining township of Blinman where in the mining era from 1862 – 1910, the mine delivered a large amount of copper to the London Metal Exchange. After refreshments at the North Blinman Hotel, our guide shows us around the township followed by our Blinman underground mine experience which offers a unique journey into the heart of an historic copper mine and takes us back in time, to the lives of the miners and their families during the second half of the 19th century. From Blinman we travel down past the Great Wall of China and Stokes Hill Lookout before arriving at Wilpena Pound Resort, our home for the next two nights. Following check in and a freshen up we gather in the restaurant for dinner.

Overnight Wilpena Pound: Wilpena Pound Resort

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today with our local station owner guide on board we begin our drive through the scenic Flinders Ranges. After pausing at the famous Cazneaux Tree, we head up to Stokes Hill Lookout which provides expansive panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including Wilpena Pounds eastern escarpment and the Skytrek Willow Springs Station. Our drive continues through the ranges taking in breathtaking gorges, lookouts and rocky creek beds, while spotting stunning wildflowers (seasonal) and wildlife. Our tour also includes a stop at Skytrek Willow Springs Station Camp Kitchen for a cuppa and overview of family life on the remote station from our station owner/guide. We then return back to the Wilpena Pound Information Centre for lunch. This afternoon we join an Aboriginal Guide for our Cultural Walk (2 hours). This is an informative stroll to Old Wilpena Station, one of South Australia’s oldest and best preserved pastoral settlements. We then regather tonight for some pre-dinner drinks (own expense), before dinner back in the restaurant.

Overnight Wilpena Pound: Wilpena Pound Resort

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy a free day today.

Scenic flights over Wilpena Pound - options to be provided

Take a leisurely walk along one of the tracks or take the shuttle into the Pound for the longer walk which allows us to see the Hill Homestead and Wangarra Lookouts which offer stunning views over Wilpena Pound. This evening after a delightful day spent as we wish, we meet up for dinner back in the restaurant.

Overnight Wilpena Pound: Wilpena Pound Resort

Today we head down to Hawker stopping by the Jeff Morgan Gallery to view Jeff’s amazing works, particularly the amazing giant panoramas including the - 30m x 3m Wilpena Panorama and 46m x 5.5m Arkaroola Panorama. Our journey from Hawker takes us down through Orroroo and the historic railway township of Peterborough for a look through the Social History Museum which includes the Meldonfield Miniatures Collection, artefacts associated with the history of ‘Petersburg to Peterborough’ and the new ‘Lionel Noble’ Room containing an historical photographic collection of Peterborough and the Peterborough Division of the South Australian Railways. After our tour and light lunch we travel further south to the historic copper mining town of Burra which provides another interesting tour. The copper mines were first discovered in 1845 and were operated by Cornish and Welsh miners until 1877. Our guided tour takes in the heritage buildings, lookouts and other major sites including the Red Ruth Gaol which featured in the movie ‘Breaker Morant’. From Burra we drive down into the beautiful Barossa Valley wine district via the Farrell Flat Silo Train Mural. Tanunda is the cosmopolitan heart of the Barossa and our home for the next two nights. Following check-in at our hotel we gather for dinner in the restaurant.

Overnight Tanunda: Wine Vine Hotel

Our day today will be spent in the beautiful Barossa Valley with two special visits to Maggie Beers Farm Shop and also the Penfolds Barossa Cellar Door, home of the famous Grange, arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and a heritage icon of South Australia. At Maggie Beers we enjoy a brief talk on the history of the property and Maggie’s culinary career plus spend some time in the gourmet gift shop. Then up at Penfolds Cellar Door we get to experience a piece of Penfolds history. We then visit the historic Seppeltsfield Estate for a delicious ‘Barossa Style Lunch’ followed by a ‘Grand Insight Tour and Tastings’, which includes a behind the scenes look through the estate’s treasure trove of historical buildings. After some leisure time in Tanunda we gather back at our hotel restaurant for our farewell dinner. Overnight Tanunda: Wine Vine Hotel

Today before leaving the Barossa we enjoy a must visit to the Barossa Tourist Information Centre which is also home to the Barossa Made Wares and Food Pantry featuring bespoke, artisan and unique products and produce all handmade in the Barossa. Our last Barossa treat is at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company where we partake in a Wine and Chocolate Paring Experience. Learn how to taste chocolate and wine together with this sensory tasting, featuring five Barossa Vineyard Road wines alongside White, Ruby, Milk and Dark chocolates. From Tanunda we travel back across to Adelaide via the Adelaide Hills enjoying a quick stop at the Whispering Wall, set within the Barossa Reservoir. Arriving back into Adelaide we make our way to the Airport for our return flights home.

Flight Details: Adelaide - Homeport (flight times to be advised)