South Australia's Highlights

Drive Your Own Adventure

This Banksia Adventure takes you north along Highway 1, with the waters of the gulf on one side and the magnificent ranges on the other. You pass historic ports and can reflect on the importance of this trade route in by-gone days, as you travel towards Port Augusta. After lunch and some last minute shopping for fresh supplies, it is time to head to Mount Ive Station, on Eyre Peninsula, for our first overnight stay.  There will be time to explore some of the 4WD tracks on the property including ‘The Flight Path’, ‘Billy Can Drive’ and ‘Mt. Scott’. These old mustering tracks on the station are moderate to challenging 4WD tracks. They welcome travellers to stay on their property to explore the unique landscapes with ancient rhyolite columns and see the stunning views over Lake Gairdner. Mount Ive Station provides the only public access to this large glistening salt lake that forms the northern boundary of the property.

O/n Mount Ive Station

Rise and shine, it's time to get moving again! Today we travel north from Mount Ive Station along 4WD tracks to Coober Pedy.  Shortly after leaving Mount Ive, we will travel along the Lake Gairdner National Park Public Access Route PAR10. It is a 2.5km short track off the Kingoonya to Iron Knob Road on the western side of the lake. Continue your journey along these tracks to Kingoonya and shortly after you will meet the bitumen road and continue along the Stuart Highway to Coober Pedy. We stay here for two nights to allow plenty of time to explore the region.

O/n Coober Pedy Opal Inn Motel & Caravan Park

Today we will travel to The Breakaways, which are a striking and unique example of arid scenery. From the flat - topped mesas to the stony gibber desert, remnants of millions of years provide a wealth of geological interests and breathtaking views.

There will be time this afternoon to take a tour through the township, visit underground opal mines and meet with the characters of this region. There will also be an opportunity to explore Coober Pedy’s many opal retail outlets.

O/n Coober Pedy Opal Inn Motel & Caravan Park

Day 4  

Leaving Coober Pedy, we set off through the real Australian Outback to see all the BIG icons.   Crossing the Moon Plains you will see the longest fence in the world, the Dog Fence, which stretches more than 5300 kilometres from the Great Australian Bight to the foothills of Queensland’s Bunya Mountains and separates the native dog, the dingo, from the sheep flocks.   We drive through Anna Creek cattle station, the largest cattle station (single land holding) in the World some 24,000 square kilometres. Anna Creek is described as ‘bigger than Belgium’. See Lake Cadibarrawirracanna, and get your tongue around the longest place name in Australia. Then we travel onto William Creek, keeping watch in case we miss it, because this is said to be Australia’s smallest town.   Following the Oodnadatta Track (original Old Ghan Line) we see the artesian mound springs (water volcanoes, in fact) and Australia’s largest salt lake, Lake Eyre around10 times the size of Singapore.  From here we head towards Marree (previously Hergott Springs), which is at the junction of the famous Birdsville Track stock route and up to Muloorina Station for an overnight stay.

O/n Muloorina Station

Day 5

Travel to Level Post Bay where Lake Eyre South meets Lake Eyre North and then to Marree. Once known as Hergott Springs, Marree has a rich history.  It was a staging post for the large camel trains that carried wool and supplies in the early days before being eventually replaced by the Ghan Railway. This town is at the start of the famous Birdsville Stock Route (Birdsville Track). Gradually, in the distance, the Flinders Ranges rise up out of the vast plains of the desert.  We travel through the picturesque tree-lined Brachina Gorge then marvel at the changing colour as we travel through the ‘corridor in time’. You will be guided through the habitats of Emus, Kangaroos and Reptiles where you may also spot the rare and beautiful Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies.  See the earliest living animal fossils (630-million-years-old) in the World.  Tonight we stay at Rawnsley Park.

O/n Rawnsley Park

Day 6

Today is yet another unforgettable adventure as we set forth on the breath taking ‘Skytrek’.  This is the highest place you can take a 4WD in South Australia, Mount Caernarvon, 921 metres above sea level, affording sweeping view over the surrounding ranges.  The track takes you through majestic river gum lined creeks, rugged mountain valleys and groves of native pines and black oak, before returning to Rawnsley Park.

O/n Rawnsley Park

Day 7 

The final day will take you to Arkaroo Rock, where you will have an opportunity for a short walk. You continue your journey down to the more gentle scenery of the Southern Flinders Ranges, visiting the quaint historic town of Melrose at the foot of Mt Remarkable.  The destination for this afternoon is the delightful Clare Valley. Full of old-world charm and settler history, the hidden glades and valleys here are home to some of Australia’s most famous winemakers.   After exploring this truly unspoiled gem of the Australian countryside, it is time to head for home.   You arrive back in Adelaide, completing your journey into Australia’s greatest wildlife and wilderness region.