Trips

Adelaide - Clare Valley - Flinders Ranges

Welcome to South Australia! Your adventure begins in Adelaide, your gateway to the ancient peaks of the Flinders Rangers. At 8.30 this morning, meet with your local leader and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting, then leave Adelaide behind and make tracks for the Clare Valley. Stop off at a local sustainable hotel with its own farm where you’ll have the chance to grab some lunch, then continue to the Sevenhill Cellars, a gorgeous winery in the Clare Valley. Founded by a priest in 1849, Sevenhill became the birthplace of the Jesuits religious community in Australia, with one Jesuit brother still working with the winery today. Tour the fascinating vineyard and take part in a wine tasting session with a side of history. Continue to Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre of mountains. Your base for the night is a stunning spot on the outskirts of this geological anomaly. This evening, receive a welcome to the region in Yura Ngawarla, the language of the Adnyamathanha people. Listen to traditional stories and Aboriginal songs while learning about the land you will be exploring over the coming days.

Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges

After breakfast this morning, meet with a local Aboriginal guide for a walk around the magnificent Wilpena Pound area. Your leader will share ancient stories of the landscape that have been passed down from generation to generation, provide insight into the biodiversity of the region and the life it sustains, and explain the relationship between the land and the Adnyamathanha people. Once you have a better understanding of the landscape, the rest of the day is yours for further explorations. You may like to join your leader on a hike, go at it alone, or simply sit back and relax while enjoying the incredible scenery.

Arkaroola - Flinders Ranges

Wake up in the peaceful setting of Wilpena Pound, and perhaps choose to join your leader for a two-hour walk around the local area. In the afternoon, drive on to the north of the Flinders Range and discover Arkaroola, a wilderness sanctuary focused on education and conservation. Filled with wonderful wildlife and geological features, there’s so much to uncover here. Enjoy an included dinner at your accommodation then as the sun begins to set, make the most of your unspoiled and remote location and visit Arkaroola’s astronomical observatory. Free of light pollution, use professional astronomical telescopes to look into the night sky above – this really is an out-of-this-world experience!

Arkaroola - Flinders Ranges

Start the day with an exhilarating exploration of the Arkaroola grounds in a four-wheel drive vehicle. Drive up to the ridgetop, the oldest part of the Flinders Range (we’re talking 1.6 billion years old!) and discover a jagged landscape of ancient granite, mountains and unique plant life. Stop for morning tea at Sillers lookout and take in views of the Arkaroola Lamingtons, rock formations resembling your favourite coconut-covered treats. Your guide will fill you in on how the fascinating features of the landscape were formed over millions of years. Return to your resort and enjoy some downtime for lunch, then set out to explore more of the scenery surrounding your accommodation on foot. Join your leader on a bushwalk and learn more about the unusual flora and fauna of the region. This evening, sit down to a delicious barbecue dinner at your resort, paired with a glass of crisp South Australian wine.

Arkaroola - Iga Warta - Port Augusta

Say goodbye to Arkaroola and drive on to Iga Warta, overlooked by the mountains of the Northern Flinders Ranges and the land of the Adnyamathanha people. Meet with an Adnyamathanha guide to learn more about their culture, explore the land and meet the wildlife that lives on it, and hear stories of their history. Tuck into lunch at Iga Warta as you enjoy the peaceful location and listen to some traditional music, then continue on to the little city of Port Augusta. This former seaport has a bustling local community and no shortage of great spots to grab a tasty dinner – be sure to ask your leader for dining recommendations this evening!

Port Augusta - Hahndorf

Travel from Port Augusta to Mintaro, a charming historic town in the Clare Valley. On arrival, take a step into the town’s history during a visit to Martindale Hall, a Georgian style home built in 1879. Explore the grandiose home and get a glimpse into what an upper-class life looked like in the 19th century. Take some time out for lunch in Mintaro then drive into the Adelaide Hills, an area famous for its cool-climate wines. But wine isn’t the only drink produced in these parts – today you’ll pay a visit to a distillery that uses native Australian ingredients to create sustainably made and uniquely delicious gin. Take a look behind the scenes during a tour of the distillery, learn about their sustainable practices and perhaps sample some of the creative flavours yourself. Tonight will be spent in Hahndorf, a delightful town tucked away in the Adelaide Hills, made famous by its German-style buildings. You may like to join your group for a final dinner in a trendy local restaurant housed in 130-year-old church.

Hahndorf - McLaren Vale - Adelaide

This morning, head to McLaren Vale, a celebrated winegrowing region. Here you’ll stop by South Australia’s first carbon neutral winery to learn a little about regenerative agriculture, and of course you’ll sample some of their goods. Continuing along the wine trail, travel to another sustainably run winery where you will take part in a wine tasting experience, paired with native treats like muntries, saltbush and pepper berries. Take a self-guided walk along the winery’s Eco Trail in search of native plants, birds and animals. Stop off for a last lunch and perhaps take the time to look back with you group on all you’ve seen and done in the past week. Finally, drive back to Adelaide, where on arrival your Flinders Ranges adventure will come to an end.