Classic Outback Tour – Adelaide to Alice Springs
Discover yourself exploring a stunning and ancient outback landscape, where presence is bound to awaken all your senses
Journey into the classic outback heartland filled with beauty, grandeur and isolation in intriguing abundance. Follow the songlines and pathways of our First Peoples, Explorers, Afghan Cameleers, Ghan Railway and Overland Telegraph gangs through the South Australian deserts to Central Australia and Alice Springs.
Visit the iconic Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound, Prairie Hotel and Lodge, world heritage Nilpena Fossil discoveries, Lake Eyre, Oodnadatta Track, Painted Desert, Coober Pedy, Hermannsburg, Palm Valley, Chambers Pillar, Rainbow Valley, plus Ormiston and other extraordinary gorges of the imposing MacDonnell Ranges.
HOW OUR GUESTS FELT
“You took us on an exploration of the Flinders Ranges of South Australia, up to Lake Eyre, the Painted Desert and the Red Centre, visiting vast outback stations, the most ancient Nilpena fossil fields, Parachilna, Leigh Creek, Marree and Coober Pedy. What is great about a Nature Bound Tour is your superb knowledge of flora, fauna, water, history and the legends of the bush. The dialogue is highly educational and fascinating.”
Everald and Helen AUS
Tour Highlights
Why you’ll like this holiday
Find yourself immersed in evocative and sublimely beautiful desert landscapes, contorted ranges and imposing monoliths dating back 80 to 550 million years. An exceptional experience and travel opportunity.
- Witness newly discovered fossil evidence of the beginnings of a complex life - from which we have all descended
- Enjoy the surreal experience of setting foot on the salt encrusted Lake Eyre where horizon and sky merge as one
- Appreciate why artist Hans Heysen was so inspired by the Flinders Ranges describing them as “the bones of the earth laid bare”
- Experience the extraordinary colour and panoramic form of the Breakaways and Painted Desert, the opal treasures of an underground community
- Explore the spiritual gorges of the East and West MacDonnell Ranges snaking across the ancient landscape
- Stand in awe of early exploration beside the towering monolith Chambers Pillar
- Wander beneath the sacred ramparts of Rainbow Valley, ablaze in the setting sun.
- Indulge yourself in one of Australia's finest holiday adventures enjoyed in comfort and style for an all-inclusive price
Itinerary
Day 1 Adelaide to Historic Melrose - Vineyards and villages of Clare Valley, a scenic start to an extraordinary journey
Depart Adelaide for a scenic drive through Clare Valley vineyards to the oldest village in the Flinders Ranges, followed by an afternoon trail walk
Features
- Picturesque drive through Clare Valley with its string of quaint villages.
- Selection of 40 small wineries, home of Australian Rieslings.
- Visit Seven Hills winery where in 1848 Jesuit priests produced the first sacramental wines.
- Free time in Melrose, the oldest village in the Flinders Ranges, named by explorer Edward John Eyre.
- Afternoon village roam and trail walk toward the summit of Mount Remarkable.
Accommodation
- Private en-suite rooms in a Melrose Stone Cottage
Travel
- Driving: 284 kms in 4 relaxed stages over half a day
Day 2 Melrose to Wilpena Pound - Bound for Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound, “bones of the earth laid bare”
A relaxed scenic drive from Melrose to Wilpena Pound with a variety of feature stops along the way
Features
- Roam the streetscape of Quorn, scene of classic movie making
- Back road scenic diversion into Warren Gorge home of the Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies
- Following parts of the Hans Heysen 1200kms walking trail toward Wilpena Pound
- Exploring the historic ruins of Kanyaka Station and early settler life
- A visit to the Jeff Morgan Gallery with its spectacular, panoramic circular vista of the Flinders Ranges
- More scenic back roads winding beneath the grandeur of Wilpena Pound
Accommodation
- Luxury ensuite resort accommodation for 2 nights
Travel
- Driving: 247kms in 5 relaxed stages throughout the day
Day 3 Discovering Wilpena Pound and Flinders Ranges - Grand Ranges and rugged gorges, home to beautifully attired Wallabies
A delightful trail walk this morning followed by an afternoon of scenic driving, exploring the beauty and magnificence of the Flinders Ranges
Features
- Relaxed walk through Wilpena Pound Gap to an elevated platform, to view the inner Pound
- Learn of early settlement and Aboriginal connection to the Pound
- Back road journey through the scenic gorges of the Flinders Ranges
- Chance viewing of “delightfully coloured” and endangered Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies
- Visit the valley and shepherd’s hut ruins where celebrated artist Hans Heysen found inspiration for his creative works
- Glorious sunset over the Ranges
Accommodation
- Luxury ensuite resort accommodation
Travel
- Driving: 122 kms in 6 relaxed stages during the afternoon with many scenic stops
Day 4 Wilpena Pound to Prairie Hotel, Parachilna - Wilpena Pound to Prairie Hotel, Parachilna - Convulsed ranges lead to the desert doorstep and evidence of the life from which we all descended
Today, journey through the ranges to an historic copper mining town, then a convulsed ancient landscape to remote Parachilna for lunch and an adventure in chef prepared feral food
Features
- Pass through the northern reaches of the Flinders Ranges with towering bluffs and rocky crags rearing upwards and backwards
- Learn of the exploits of Thomas “pegleg” Blinman and cattle duffer Joseph Wills, the brutality of life in the outback in the 1800’s
- Visit the now sleepy historic ex-copper town of Blinman
- Test your taste buds with classic chef-prepared feral food at the jewel in the outback - Prairie Hotel
- Prepare for tomorrow's discovery, 555 million year old fossil evidence of the earth’s first animals and life from which we all descended
Accommodation
- Deluxe ensuite rooms at remote Prairie Hotel, Parachilna
Travel
- Driving: 97kms in 4 relaxed stages on back roads to Parachilna
Day 5 Fossil Discoveries of Nilpena Station - A world heritage journey into evidence of the life from which we all descended
Today, visit Nilpena Station north of Parachilna for an extraordinary viewing of the earliest evidence of life
Features
- Visit Nilpena, an historic wool and cattle station in the desert where an accidental discovery of ancient fossils occurred just a few years ago
- Learn of the ongoing discoveries by a team of American scientists sponsored by NASA, providing insights into possible life on other planets still to be visited
- Now protected by National Park dedication and soon a world heritage declaration, possible through the generosity of the owners of both Nilpena and the Prairie Hotel
- View the 560 million year old fossil evidence of the earth’s first animals and life from which we all descended
- Relax and socialise with locals and travel mates in one of Australia's most awarded outback hotels
Accommodation
- Deluxe ensuite rooms at remote Prairie Hotel, Parachilna
Travel
- Driving: 80 kms return trip to Nilpena Station
Day 6 Parachilna to Marree - Following the pathway of Afghan Cameleers and pastoral empire builders
Leave the bitumen and follow the gravel toward the outpost towns of Lyndhurst and Marree, taking in Aboriginal and Afghan history, early settler and railway endeavours. Pass through the southern intersections of outback adventure tracks, the Strzelecki and the Birdsville.
Features
- History abounds at Beltana around the Thomas Elder land and sheep empire
- Here was the nursery of Camel importation and exploration across Australia leading to 600,000 creatures now running wild
- Extensive salt bush country emerges and beyond the vast gibber plains await
- Slag heaps remain in memory of South Australia’s open cut coal fields
- The contribution of Afghan Cameleers opening up the desert lands is not forgotten
- The great northern rail line laid down in 1882, now long abandoned, was forerunner to The Ghan, now linking Adelaide to Darwin
- The fully restored and functional underground bakery in the desert ruins at Farina is a complete surprise
- Visit the striking palette of rich earthy colours at the spectacular ochre pits of our First Peoples, once supplying their trade across vast distances
Accommodation
- Comfortable, detached hotel ensuite cabins for 2 nights
Travel
- Driving: 193kms outback travel toward the desert lands, enjoyed in 5 relaxed stages
Day 7 Day visit exploring Lake Eyre - Immerse yourself in the surreal experience of the great salt sink, Lake Eyre
A remarkable day journey to the lowest point in Australia, the extensive salt sink and surreal experience of Lake Eyre
Features
- Pass through the 5,600kms long wild dog or Dingo Barrier Fence crossing Australia
- Arrive at an amazing place and space, eerily empty and devoid of life, ready to capture all your senses
- Discover there are two lakes south and north connected by the Goyder Channel
- Heart of a 1.3 million sq kms drainage basin, one of the largest in the world
- Cause of great excitement and adventure when it floods from monsoonal rains in Australia’s far north
- Scene of one of nature’s greatest transformations with Pelican and waterbird migrations in pursuit of a flooded harvest and breeding frenzy
- The 5 metre deep crust in the lake’s centre enabled Donald Campbell’s world land speed record of 650kms/hr in 1963/4
- Seeing is believing. Experience the void. Gaze into infinity.
Accommodation
- Comfortable, detached hotel ensuite cabins
Travel
- Driving: 198kms return on outback road and sandy tracks to Lake Eyre
Day 8 Marree to William Creek - Adventures along the Oodnadatta Track with insights into the Great Artesian Basin
Journey along the Old Ghan Railway and legendary 615 kms long Oodnadatta Track toward William Creek, located in the centre of the world’s largest cattle station of 6 million acres
Features
- Discover mounded springs percolating up from the depths of the Great Artesian Basin below, following a 2 million year water flow from its source in the Great Dividing Range.
- Follow the vital Aboriginal Song Lines, Explorer and Afghan Camaleer pathways across the desert lands
- Pass by restricted access, Aboriginal homelands and pause at the remnant rail sidings of the Old Ghan Railway
- What possesses a former mechanic to turn artist and create out of waste, a post-apocalyptic sculpture park in the desert, for you to view and contemplate
- Gibber plains give way to crimson sand ridges, outliers from the Simpson Desert
- After lunch, free time to relax or if you wish, join a scenic flight over Lake Eyre or the Painted Hills of Anna Creek Station, a selection of flights on offer at your discretion and cost
- Embrace the sense of isolation and adventurous spirit of 4WD travellers, drawn to the outback from far and wide
Accommodation
- Basic but comfortable, air-conditioned, ensuite transportable cabins
Travel
- Driving: 199kms with several stops at natural and historic features along the way
Day 9 William Creek to Coober Pedy - Crossing huge cattle stations in search of opals and underground accommodation
Head west this day across cattle station holdings as big as small countries to discover Coober Pedy, acknowledged as Australia’s Opal Capital
Features
- Journey through the vast Anna Creek Station, and far reaches of the old Woomera rocket testing range
- One of the loneliest roads, described as “occasionally maintained” with a bit of traffic now and then
- Here the local mail run is 600kms long, twice a week, serving 6 stations and 2 villages
- Remember the desert lake with a big name and it’s fabled story
- Visit the strange if quirky landscapes of opal mining spoils surrounding Coober Pedy, evidence of treasures beneath, set down 150 million years ago
- Join a guided tour through an old Opal Mine exploring its tunnels and rooms
- The cosmopolitan population of underground dwellers boasts 45 nationalities
- If you care to invest there are a number of outlets to inspect and purchase exquisite opal jewellery
Accommodation
- Chance in a lifetime to sleep comfortably underground in a deluxe Coober Pedy Motel room. Every convenience except no window views.
Travel
- Driving: A relaxed morning drive of 168 kms to Coober Pedy in two easy stages
Day 10 Coober Pedy to Marla - - Exploring wild movie sets and moonscapes then an extraordinary Painted Desert
Today, pass through the striking Painted Desert region few Australians are aware of, before joining a sealed highway run to the Marla Roadhouse and Motel
Features
- Journey through the “Breakaways” landscape with outstanding views of country laid down more than 80 million years ago and featuring the “Salt and Pepper” hills
- Here were the feature settings for movie classics “Mad Max”, “Thunderstorm” and “Ground Zero”
- Alongside the Wild Dog Barrier Fence discover a blackened moonscape sparkling in gypsum and petrified wood
- Pass through 2 million acres of desert grazing lands, another two stations held by the Anna Creek Station owners the Williams Cattle Company
- The Painted Desert located in Arckaringa Station offers spectacular breakaway land forms rich in many colours, bold and beautiful
- The Stuart Highway Run is the life vein for transport and tourism linking the Northern Territory and South Australia, following the discovery pathway of early explorer John McDouall Stuart.
Accommodation
- Comfortable but basic ensuite highway motel units at Marla Retreat
Travel
- Driving: 367 kms at relaxed pace through the desert in 5 comfortable stages
Day 11 Marla to Alice Springs - A journey through history and Australia connecting to the world with a long length of wire and morse code
Today, enjoy an easy highway run into the Northern Territory bound for Alice Springs. Later in the afternoon take-in the extraordinary Rainbow Valley experience, roaming around the ramparts of a giant sandstone feature ablaze in the setting sun..
Features
- Highway travel with shared stories relating to the true location of the centre of Australia
- Further story telling on the exploration accounts of John McDouall Stuart and Charles Todd and the establishment of the Overland Telegraph Line
- Learn of the achievements and legend of Len Beadell grading a 1350kms straight track through three states across the desert wilderness, from nearby Victory Downs. Eventually to be known as the notorious “Gunbarrel Highway” it passes through the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (not normally accessible by the general public)
- Enjoy a late afternoon trail walk toward the sandstone bluffs and ramparts of Rainbow Valley. 350 million year old free standing cliffs, a sacred site to the Southern Arrernte People.
- Stand in awe as the joints and fractures, dramatic shapes and colouration, fire up in the setting sun. Turn around to witness the Desert Oaks silhouetted against the golden parting glow of the day
Accommodation
- Comfortable, spacious ensuite rooms at Mercure Alice Springs Resort for the next 4 nights.
Travel
- Driving: 447 kms sealed highway drive crossing into the Northern Territory, plus diversion into Rainbow Valley
Day 12 Day visit exploring East MacDonnell Ranges - Follow the “Caterpillar Dreaming” country to scenic gaps and gorges
An early start and relaxed scenic drive along the East MacDonnell Ranges to visit various gaps and gorges cutting through the range. Enjoy an elevated rim walk overlooking Trephina Gorge. Later an afternoon visit to the award winning Desert Park with its informative fauna, flora and cultural exhibits. Closing the day with an elevated view of Alice Springs from the town lookout, Anzac Hill.
Features
- Emily and Jessie Gaps offer intimate scenic viewing and are important spiritual sites to the Eastern Arrernte People
- Rock paintings depict the Caterpillar Dreaming creation stories and a totem respected widely across Alice Springs, described as “caterpillar country”
- The grey column of dolomite known as Corroboree Rock was laid down in a salty lake 800 million years ago. Traditional owners regard it as a sacred men’s site for storage of ceremonial objects
- Trephina Gorge is a paradise of sheer red quartzite cliffs sheltering a delightful sandy watercourse lined with River Red Gums supporting bird and wildlife
- Visit a wonderful specimen of the classic Australian “Ghost Gum” estimated to be 350-400 years old. Share the significance of Ghost Gums to Aboriginal and other home loving people. The species came to world prominence through the art of Albert Namatjira.
- Visit the quality wildlife exhibits at the Alice Springs Desert Park carrying David Attenborough’s endorsement “there is no zoo or wildlife park in the world that can match it”
Accommodation
- Quality ensuite rooms at our Mercure Resort Alice Springs base.
Travel
- Driving: Total 158 kms of sealed road in 5 relaxed stages linking the days features
Day 13 Day discovery of Chambers Pillar - Like the explorers, cross the Simpson Desert fringe, drawn to the towering vision of Chambers Pillar
Today, head into the fringes and sand ridge outliers of the Simpson Desert to an iconic landmark that once guided early explorers and settlers, but today few tourists witness – Chambers Pillar.
Features
- Visit an isolated claypan beside which rust red rock clusters have been engraved with non-representational circles, lines and geometric motifs. They are thought to be up to 40,000 years old. Custodians say the meaning of the petroglyphs is sacred and too dangerous to reveal to non-initiated people.
- At “Maryvale” Station the Titjikala Art Centre may be open for a visit. Your interest may be drawn to the lady artists at work with their “connection to country” dot painting, inspired by the beauty of the arid and colourful landscape you too are experiencing
- The Pillar beckons from afar during the desert crossing, a towering sandstone plug deposited in the area 350 million years ago. Its isolation, presence, historical and cultural significance can’t be denied
- For Europeans the pillar is a tangible link to the first sighting by early explorer John McDouall Stuart in his quest to cross Australia south to north, other explorers, surveyors and pastoral settlers
Accommodation
- Quality en-suite rooms at our Alice Springs base
Travel
- Driving: 328kms in 4 relaxed stages on back roads and tracks across desert sand ridges
Day 14 Day Visit to Hermannsburg and Palm Valley - Hermannsburg, site of an historic mission, then crossing the most ancient Finke River to the beauty of Palm Valley
A big day ahead travelling to Hermannsburg and Palm Valley along Larapinta Drive
Features
- Free roam the art galleries, grounds and buildings of the historic Hermannsburg Historic Precinct once a struggling Lutheran Mission determined to advance local Aboriginal lives and souls
- Albert Namatjira was born at the Mission and his landscape paintings and fame reached all corners of the world. Reflect on the trials and injustices in his life and the Ghost Gums that featured extensively in his works
- Crossing the dry sandy bed of the Finke River can be deceiving. It has followed this original course for 350million years while the mighty Colorado River in the US is only 21 million years old
- The Red Cabbage Palms grow only in Palm Valley where a maze of rust red amphitheatres, pinnacle and gorges play host to a diverse range of rare or unique plants
- Time permitting, visit the crater site of an enormous comet which impacted the earth 142 million years ago, now a sacred site of the Western Arrernte People
Accommodation
- Quality ensuite rooms at our Mercure Resort tour base.
Travel
- Driving: 248 kms in 4 relaxed stages throughout the day
Day 15 Day visit exploring West MacDonnell Ranges and Ormiston Gorge - Complete your adventures along the 1000 million years old West MacDonnell Ranges
Today, explore the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges and a 4 hour walk through Ormiston Pound and Gorge.
Time too, to reflect on the variety of experiences enjoyed in your 15 day / 3,200 kms journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs
Features
- Ormiston Creek cuts through the 250m high gorge and is a tributary to the ancient Finke River still flowing its original course from 350 million years ago
- Around you, extraordinary earthly convulsions have heaved and thrust hundreds of metres of quartzite on top of itself in contorted fashion
- The ancient sandy creek bed is littered with large coloured boulders and a near permanent water hole is 14 metres deep
- Learn of the geological upheavals that folded and formed the ranges 1000 million years ago
- Dry sandy river beds with occasional water holes here are some of the most ancient in the world
- A colourful outcrop of ochre is an important trading resource to the Western Arrernte People. The many colours mixed with animal fats and water are used for ceremonies, medicines and paintings
- Water charging through the gaps and gorges of the range create picturesque swimming and picnic sites, also calling points sustaining dingoes and other wildlife. Visit too, the Ellery Creek Big Hole, created thousands of years ago
- One deep red cleft carving through the range over millions of years is named after the first non-Aboriginal woman to visit the site. So narrow and sheer the chasm is most dramatic when the sun penetrates into the cleft around mid-day
- Time to remember the great Aboriginal artist as you travel the Albert Namatjira Drive into Alice Springs
Accommodation
- End of holiday journey accommodation pre-arranged at your discretion
Travel
- Driving: 296 kms in 5 relaxed stages throughout the day
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