Classic Opals Outback And Flinders Ranges 4WD Experience: 5 Days

An Awesome Outback Adventure

After dining on the Ghan you are welcomed at Manguri Railway Siding and transferred to Coober Pedy.

O/n - Desert Cave Hotel

Begin the day with a tour of the town, visiting an underground home, church and mine, where you will learn about the opal industry. Perhaps you’ll buy an opal during a shopping break before taking an afternoon tour of the mining area. 

This is followed by a visit to The Breakaways, an amazing sight where also called the Painted Desert. Here you’ll see the amazing natural ochre colours of the local countryside. 

Dinner tonight is at your own cost. There are a variety of options in Coober Pedy, some of them unique.  

O/n - Desert Cave Hotel

DAY 2

Depart on a trip through the real Australian Outback to see all the BIG icons.  

Cross the Moon Plains and the longest fence in the world, the Dog Fence, which stretches more than 5300 kilometers from the Great Australian Bight to the foothills of Queensland’s Bunya Mountains.  

Drive through Anna Creek cattle station, the largest cattle station (single land holding) in the World. At around 24,000 square kilometers, Anna Creek is ‘bigger than Belgium’.  

See Lake Cadibarrawirracanna and try and get your tongue around the longest place name in Australia. Then on to the William Creek, Australia’s smallest town for lunch at the famous William Creek Hotel.

In the afternoon we travel the Oodnadatta Track, which follows the original old Ghan Line and see the little water volcanoes that are artesian mound springs. You won’t see all of Lake Eyre because it’s 10 times the size of Singapore but you’ll see enough to realise its Australia’s largest salt lake.

The last stop for the day is Marree, this town that signals the start of the famous Birdsville Stock Route (Birdsville Track).   

O/n - Marree Hotel

DAY 3

This morning we pass through the sad ruins of Farina, an abandoned wheat town and once home to Afghans connected to the camel train. On the way to Copley you will see the Aboriginal Ochre Pits where the prized ochre was mined for ceremonial purposes.

There will be time in the Nepabunna/Iga Warta Communities area to talk about this and other customs with local Aborigines, who will also introduce you to bush-tucker, the Outback’s own pantry. Along the way they will tell you the creation tales, the stories about the birth of this land and entertain you with stories of Aboriginal history. 

The most rugged ranges in Australia, the Gammon Ranges, are our next destination, which is where we’ll find the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Here you can enjoy an Observatory tour (own cost) or just relax over an extended dinner.

O/n - Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

DAY 4

Begin the day on the Ridgetop Tour (Resort-operated) and see views usually reserved for wedge-tailed eagles.  Marvel at the spectacular rugged peaks towering above the Outback plains and wonder at the cool creeks and mysterious waterholes that sparkle within jagged gorges. 

Keep the image of those water holes at the front of your mind because after lunch you will experience some of the dry eastern side of the ranges, including spectacular Mt Chambers Gorge. We cruise on down into the central Flinders area through Blinman, an old copper mining town and the highest town in South Australia.

We carry on through Parachilna Gorge to the Prairie Hotel for the night. This Outback hotel is well known for its Australian feral food menu so you’ll be almost guaranteed a meal that none of your friends has ever had and probably ever will. If you can’t quite bring yourself to choose from the feral menu, a regular menu is also available.

O/n - Prairie Hotel    

DAY 5

At 0830, we depart The Prairie Hotel to travel through the spectacular Brachina and Bunyeroo Gorges with over-views of Wilpena Pound – an extraordinarily picturesque area. 

You will travel through the habitats of emus, kangaroos and the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby.

See the historic towns of Hawker, Quorn and Melrose before leaving the Flinders Ranges and passing though the Clare Valley wine region where we’ll stop to enjoy a wine tasting. 

Travel south through rich farming land to arrive at your Adelaide accommodation at approximately 18:00.

Tour departs Coober Pedy and Adelaide to connect with all Ghan timetables.