Day 1: Arrive in Adelaide
Upon arrival at Adelaide airport you will be met by our representative who will transfer you to your hotel.
The wine and festival capital of Australia, Adelaide is a place to experience the buzz, culture and convenience of a city without the frustrations. The city centre, surrounded by parklands, is a charming blend of historic buildings, wide streets, groovy shops and a huge variety of street cafes and restaurants. Visit the largest undercover market in the southern hemisphere and taste the best of South Australia at the Adelaide Central Market, or enjoy a ride on Adelaide’s tram from the city centre to the historic yet vibrant beachside suburb of Glenelg. The city also provides a great launching point to the many attractions surrounding Adelaide, including world class wine regions, the Australian Outback, Kangaroo Island and much more.
Day 2: Kangaroo Island Wildlife Discovery
You will be collected from your hotel, to commence your 9.5 hour tour, and be transferred to Adelaide Airport for your flight to Kingscote. On arrival at Kingscote Airport, Kangaroo Island you will be met by your guide and your island nature experience begins with an introduction to Kangaroo Island. Tour through several island habitats and see wildlife in its natural environment. Kangaroo Island is a haven for Australian wildlife, which exists in its natural habitat without the threat of introduced predators. Stop at Seal Bay Conservation Park, where your guide will escort you on a memorable walk along the beach. With your guide you are able to stand at a safe distance to these wonderful endangered creatures and hear them sigh and watch them at play. Enter an exclusive Heritage-listed natural bush property to enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch with wine. Travel through the island’s interior keeping an eye out for koalas and echidnas. Explore the spectacular beaches of the north coast and enjoy a bushwalk. Later in the afternoon, see the kangaroos leave the safety of the bush to begin grazing on the open pastures. Your tour concludes at Kingscote airport with the flight transfer and connecting coach transfer to your Adelaide accommodation.
Day 3: Drive Adelaide to the Barossa via the Adelaide Hills
Today you will make your own way from your hotel to the car rental office to pick up your vehicle. You will then drive to the Barossa Valley just outside of Adelaide, passing through the Adelaide Hills enroute.
As you travel through the Adelaide Hills be sure to stop along the way at the many small towns and sites including the magnificent Mount Lofty Botanic Garden overlooking the Piccadilly Valley and enjoy close encounters with native animals at Cleland Wildlife Park. Visit the township of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement with a strong German flavour most evident in its smallgoods outlets, bakeries, pubs, restaurants and cafes. Stop in at Berrenberg Family Farm, a must do for all food lovers. It is one of Australia’s oldest family owned jam, condiment and sauce producers, run by the sixth generation of the Paech family. Travel on the Onkaparinga Valley to Birdwood, a small town on the banks of the River Torrens which achieved importance as a major attraction when the Blumberg Flour Mill was converted into the National Motor Museum. Continue on Warren Road through the Mount Crawford Forest to Lyndoch. Travel through Williamstown, the southern gateway to the Barossa, which boasts a number of cellar doors including Linfield Wines and TeAro Estate. Continue on to Lyndoch Valley Way through to Lyndoch. Lyndoch retains the feel of a small country town and the main street offers quirky shops, a butcher and traditional German bakery, great coffee and local produce. Lyndoch is colloquially known as ‘The cool end of the Barossa’ and nearby wineries include Schild Estate, Kellermeister, Hemera Estate, and 1847 Wines. Continuet onto Barossa Valley Way which will lead you to the heart of the Barossa Valley.
Day 4: Uncork the Barossa Valley Tour
This 8.25 hour tour provides you with the opportunity to uncork the historic Barossa Valley, discovering lesser-known boutique wineries that are big on character. Meet passionate locals, sample outstanding wine and enjoy a tasting menu lunch at one of the region’s best restaurants. You will taste the old and the new, the famous and the yet to be discovered, with a tour itinerary flexible to your tastes. At the completion of the tour you will be transferred to your Barossa Valley accommodation.
Day 5: Barossa Valley to Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is just an hour and a half drive north of Adelaide. With a rich cultural tapestry dating back 160 years, and more than 35 cellar doors, the region is perfect for guests to immerse themselves in the finer things in life - food and wine, divine places to stay, history, arts and festivals. The region has been likened to Tuscany due to its classic stone buildings, pretty churches and rolling hills patterned with vines. Established in 1851 by the Jesuits, now more than 30 wineries produce prestigious wines, especially Riesling. Discover antiques and crafts and indulge at the chic Gourmet Weekend.
Day 6: Clare Valley to Flinders Ranges
Today you will head north as your travel to the Flinders Ranges. We suggest a stop at Jamestown along the way, located in the heart of South Australia's most productive agricultural land. The town is the birthplace of RM Williams, the famous outback clothing maker. Visit the RM Williams Interpretative Display located in Memorial Park. The town is also famous for its murals along the main street and Ayr Street. Continue to Hawker, once a thriving railway town and now the focus is tourism as people flock to discover the beauty of the Flinders Ranges and Outback South Australia. Stop at the Elder Range Lookout for a different perspective of the Flinders Ranges. Your day ends as you reach your accommodation.
Day 7: Day at Leisure
Today is at leisure and an opportunity to do some independent exploring, or just relax.
Covering 927 kilometres, the attractions in the Flinders Ranges and Outback are as diverse as the regions themselves. Spanning 100 kilometres, Wilpena Pound is a gigantic naturally-formed amphitheatre, created from an ancient mountain range that eroded over millions of years. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park is home to Australia's largest salt lake while the nearby Painted Desert is an 80 million year-old outcrop of ochre-coloured hills. To the south, you will find an incredible Aboriginal rock art gallery in Chambers Gorge while Australia's largest billabong, the Cullyamurra Waterhole, lies in Innamincka Regional Reserve. No matter where you travel, the region's wildlife and birdlife are remarkable.
Day 8: Flinders Ranges to Port Augusta
Today you will continue along to Quorn, situated on the edge of the Flinders Range. The town has been the setting for historic movie scenes in movies as diverse as Wolf Creek, Gallipoli, The Shiralee, The Sundowners, The Light Horseman, Sunday Too Far Away, The Last Ride and Robbery Under Arms. It is a historic town which has a harsh story of trying to farm successfully on very marginal land at the edge of the desert. You final destination today will be Port Augusta. This town is situated on the quiet waterways at the head of the Spencer Gulf. Visit The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden, featuring more than 200 hectares of low-rainfall native Australian plants.
Day 9: Return to Adelaide
Your final day of driving will have you drive from Port Augusta back to Adelaide. If time permits, immerse yourself in the beauty of Mount Remarkable National Park, with its high ochre ridges, deep gorges and watercourses lined with river red gums. There are lots of diverse wildlife and is a great destination for bushwalking. Offering some incredible views from Mount Remarkable Summit over to the Willochra Plain and out to the Spencer Gulf. Continue south on the National Highway, passing the towns of Port Germein, Solomontown and Port Pirie. Dating back to 1845, Port Pirie was best known for its giant smelter, but also offers a treasure trove of colonial architecture and intoxicating views of the Spencer Gulf. Cool off at nearby Solomontown Beach, which offers safe swimming and plenty of parking. Stop at Crystal Brook for a “selfie” with the Big Goanna before continuing south. Continue to travel on the National Highway to Port Wakefield, a town best known its many roadhouses that line the highway. If time permits, take the time to wander into this historical township and be pleasantly surprised. Stretch your legs along the water's edge or discover the many well-preserved old buildings and historical sites. Walk along boardwalks through mangrove forests and view the abundant bird life or take a dip in the local swimming area before continuing on to Adelaide.
Day 10: Depart Adelaide
Today you will return your rental vehicle to the airport where you will depart Adelaide.
