The Opal Trail by 4WD

Explore for Opal

You are met by your Banksia Adventures’ 4WD driver/guide at your Adelaide accommodation and set off along the coast, past the historic ports of the Spencer Gulf, which provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of this trade route in by-gone days.

We visit the town of Roxby Downs, purpose-built to house the workers at the renowned Olympic Dam Uranium Mine. From there we drive to the world famous opal mining area of Andamooka. This town is opal mining in its ‘rare’ form. Meet the people of the area and be in awe of their lifestyle and gemstones.

Tour an underground working mine where ‘you may even strike some opal’.  

O/n – Andamooka

Day 2

We travel south for a short tour of Woomera, home to Australia’s rocket range and see the region around Island Lagoon and Lake Hart. Following the Stuart Highway further into the Outback we come to the plains of another internationally known opal region, that of ‘Coober Pedy’.

We 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. Your overnight unique accommodation will be at the famous Desert Cave underground hotel.

Optional scenic flight available at own cost.

O/n – Desert Cave Hotel

Day 3

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 kilometers 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 kilometers. 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.  

Lunch is at a classic Outback Pub, the Marree Hotel in 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 as you journey to the highest town in South Australia, Blinman.  The quaint Outback pub at this old copper mining settlement will be your home tonight.

O/n - Blinman Hotel

Day 4

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. Many species of birds also inhabit this region, ranging from brightly coloured Ringed Neck Parrots through to the magnificent Wedge-tail eagle, Australia’s largest bird of prey.

This day provides a stark contrast to the deserts and salt lakes you have just been through. Today will be spent exploring this region, which attracts nature lovers and artists from all over the world. You will then travel through the gentler southern ranges and into the vineyards of the beautiful Clare Valley wine region on your way back to Adelaide.  

Tour departs Adelaide at 07:00 and returns at approximately 18:00 on the last day