TOUR DESTINATIONS

The Flinders Ranges in outback South Australia offers a mix of stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural experiences. Explore the Wilpena Pound rock formation, visit the abandoned relics of Australia’s settler history, encounter native wildlife and plants, and see ancient rock art sites that showcase the area’s Aboriginal heritage. Spot mobs of kangaroos, emus and other wildlife in their natural habitats.

This is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities for activities like scenic flights, bushwalking, and stargazing at night in the dark sky reserves like Arkaroola.

The Flinders Ranges are the largest mountain ranges in South Australia, stretching for over 430 km from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna. These ancient ranges were formed around 540 million years ago when sedimentary rocks from the Adelaide Geosyncline were thrust upwards. The rugged landscapes include striking geological features such as Wilpena Pound, Arkaroola, and deep gorges that reveal a rich fossil record spanning over 600 million years.

Aboriginal communities have inhabited this harsh yet beautiful terrain for tens of thousands of years, leaving behind a rich cultural heritage including rock art galleries.

Lake Eyre, located in South Australia, is the largest salt lake in the country and one of the lowest points on the Australian continent. It is a crucial part of the Lake Eyre Basin, a vast inland river system covering over a million square kilometers.

The lake is normally dry and salty, creating a stark white landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see. However, during rare periods of flooding, it transforms into a spectacular sight, attracting tourists and wildlife alike.

The flooding of Lake Eyre is a rare but incredible event that brings life to the surrounding desert landscape. When heavy rains occur in its vast catchment area, the channels and rivers flow towards the lake, filling it with water. The transformation is dramatic, turning the once barren salt flats into a teeming wetland ecosystem. The flooding can trigger mass breeding events for bird species such as pelicans, banded stilts, and other waterfowl that flock to the area to take advantage of the temporary oasis. The 2025 flooding of Lake Eyre is the most extensive in 20 years.

Coober Pedy, an iconic outback town, is situated in the arid northern reaches of South Australia, approximately 850 km north of Adelaide along the Stuart Highway. Renowned globally as the “opal capital of the world”, its name is believed to derive from the Aboriginal term “kupa-piti”, commonly interpreted as “white man in a hole” or “boys’ waterhole”, reflecting the unique underground lifestyle adopted by many residents to escape the extreme desert temperatures.

The town’s historical significance is intrinsically linked to the discovery of opal in 1915 by a 14-year-old boy, Willie Hutchison, which subsequently triggered an opal rush and established Coober Pedy as a major centre for opal mining. This unique mining heritage has shaped the town’s character, with a significant portion of the population living in subterranean dwellings known as “dugouts”, which maintain a comfortable, consistent temperature year-round.

The area holds deep significance for the local Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people, who are the traditional custodians of the land, known to them as Umoona, meaning “long life” and also referring to the mulga tree. Their connection to the land spans millennia, with rich cultural stories and heritage sites throughout the region. The Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, with its colourful mesas and stunning vistas, is another significant natural landmark managed jointly with the traditional owners.

The South Australian Riverland region is a verdant oasis located in the state’s east, following the majestic Murray River from the Victorian border downstream towards Blanchetown, approximately 150 to 280 km north-east of Adelaide. This extensive area is characterised by its life-giving river, sprawling floodplains, ancient limestone cliffs, and a sun-drenched climate conducive to agriculture.

Historically, the Riverland has been a vital area for millennia, with Aboriginal peoples, including the Erawirung, Ngawait, and Nganguruku language groups, having a deep and continuous connection to the river and its resources, which provided sustenance and cultural significance.

National Parks, such as the Murray River National Park and the Loch Luna Game Reserve, protect important wetland ecosystems and offer opportunities for birdwatching, canoeing, and bushwalking. The Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre is a notable landmark combining wine production with internationally recognised conservation efforts, showcasing the region’s commitment to sustainable practices.

The Yorke Peninsula, known as Guuranda to the Narungga people, is a prominent boot-shaped landmass in South Australia, situated northwest and west of Adelaide. It is flanked by Spencer Gulf to the west and Gulf St Vincent to the east, with Investigator Strait separating its southern tip from Kangaroo Island.

This region boasts a diverse landscape, from fertile agricultural plains, particularly renowned for barley cultivation, to rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs.

Significant landmarks on the Yorke Peninsula reflect its rich natural and cultural history. Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, at the peninsula’s southern extremity, is a major highlight, featuring spectacular coastal scenery, historic ruins including the Inneston gypsum mining town and the Ethel shipwreck, and abundant wildlife.

The Copper Coast towns of Kadina, Moonta, and Wallaroo are living museums of the region’s mining past, with numerous heritage sites, museums like the Moonta Mines Museum, and the iconic Wallaroo Jetty.

The Eyre Peninsula and West Coast of South Australia form a triangular promontory bounded by Spencer Gulf to the east and the Great Australian Bight to the west. This region boasts remarkable geological features including the second largest monolith in Australia at Mount Wudinna, distinctive granite formations such as Pildappa Rock with its wave-like structure, and the dramatic Bunda Cliffs where the Nullarbor Plain meets the Southern Ocean.

The area’s rich history spans over 40,000 years of Aboriginal habitation by the Barngarla and Wirangu peoples who continue as custodians of the land. European exploration began with Dutch navigator Francois Thijssen in 1672, followed by Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin who charted the coastline in the early 1800s.

The area’s cultural landscape is further enriched by National Trust museums preserving pioneer history, Kimba’s towering silo murals, and the strong community-centred lifestyle that characterises the coastal towns along this remote yet spectacular stretch of Australian coastline.