South Australia
5
Day Itinerary •
Australia
Five days in South Australia take you from Adelaide's extraordinary food and wine scene across the most diverse landscapes in Australia, from the remarkable wildlife of Kangaroo Island and the ancient red ranges of the Flinders Ranges to the extraordinary underground opal mining town of Coober Pedy in the outback and the world-famous Barossa Valley with its centuries-old Shiraz vines. This route covers the complete South Australian experience. Adelaide and the Barossa, Kangaroo Island with its remarkable sea lion colony and Remarkable Rocks, the extraordinary Flinders Ranges with Wilpena Pound and the ancient Ikara landscape, and Coober Pedy with its remarkable underground homes, opal mines and the extraordinary outback desert.
Best Time To Visit
Apr to Oct. Coober Pedy year-round. Flinders wildflowers Aug to Sep.
Getting There
Adelaide Airport. Direct international and domestic flights.
Getting Around
Car or small plane to Coober Pedy. KI ferry from Cape Jervis.
Budget Per Day
Approx A$200 to A$450 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy. Some short walks. Outback requires preparation.
DAY 1
ADELAIDE CITY
MORNING
ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET AND NORTH TERRACE
Adelaide Central Market is the most extraordinary fresh produce market in Australia, its remarkable 250 stalls giving the finest regional food showcase in the country. The extraordinary South Australian Museum on North Terrace, with the world's largest collection of Aboriginal Australian cultural objects and the remarkable natural history galleries, and the fine Art Gallery of South Australia beside it give the finest free cultural precinct in Adelaide. Both free. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
MCLAREN VALE WINE REGION
McLaren Vale 45 minutes south of Adelaide is the most extraordinary coastal wine region in South Australia, its remarkable Grenache and Shiraz from producers including d'Arenberg, Wirra Wirra and the fine Yangarra Estate giving the finest alternative wine experience to the Barossa. The extraordinary d'Arenberg Cube above the vines, a five-storey glass cube housing remarkable wine-inspired art and the finest tasting room in the region, is outstanding. Travel: 45 min drive back
AFTERNOON
ADELAIDE HILLS AND HAHNDORF VILLAGE
Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills is Australia's most extraordinary German heritage village, its remarkable main street of heritage stone buildings from the 1839 settlement, the fine smoked meats and the extraordinary Beerenberg strawberry farm giving the finest heritage village experience near Adelaide. The remarkable Cleland Wildlife Park with its extraordinary koala encounters and kangaroo feeding is outstanding. Hahndorf free. Cleland approx A$25.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Semaphore beachfront suburb 30 minutes from Adelaide city is the most extraordinary hidden beach suburb in South Australia, its remarkable 19th-century jetty, the fine beachside fish and chip shops and the extraordinary Gulf St Vincent sunset giving the finest hidden coastal experience near Adelaide. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Adelaide Central Market Outstanding SA market breakfast. Local produce and coffee. | Lunch: d'Arenberg Cube, McLaren Vale Outstanding winery restaurant. Local SA produce and Grenache. | Dinner: Restaurant in Adelaide Outstanding SA fine dining. Local seafood, lamb and Barossa wine.
DAY 2
KANGAROO ISLAND
MORNING
KANGAROO ISLAND FERRY AND SEAL BAY
Seal Bay Conservation Park is the most extraordinary accessible sea lion encounter in the world, the remarkable guided walk among resting Australian sea lions on a wild Southern Ocean beach giving the finest wildlife encounter in South Australia. The extraordinary interactions between the sea lions, their pups and one another at close range and the remarkable isolation of the wild beach are outstanding. The guided tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. Entry approx A$40. Travel: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
REMARKABLE ROCKS AND ADMIRALS ARCH
The Remarkable Rocks in Flinders Chase are the most extraordinary coastal granite formation in Australia, the remarkable orange and grey lichen-covered boulders balanced above the extraordinary Southern Ocean cliff giving the finest coastal rock formation in the country. The extraordinary Admirals Arch 15 minutes away, a remarkable natural arch housing a colony of fur seals directly beneath its stone overhang, is the finest combined geological and wildlife experience on the island. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
FLINDERS CHASE KOALAS AND ISLAND WILDLIFE
Kangaroo Island's remarkable koala population, introduced from the mainland in the 1920s and thriving on the extraordinary island vegetation, gives the finest accessible wild koala encounter in Australia without the cost of wildlife parks. The remarkable Kangaroo Island kangaroos, a distinct lighter subspecies, and the extraordinary Cape Barren geese and glossy black cockatoos on the roadsides give the finest roadside wildlife in any Australian state.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Vivonne Bay on the south coast of Kangaroo Island was voted the finest beach in Australia by a national survey and remains almost entirely undeveloped, its remarkable white sand and brilliant Southern Ocean water giving the finest hidden beach on the island. Entirely free. The finest undiscovered beach on Kangaroo Island.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast or ferry cafe Before the Seal Bay tour. | Lunch: Cape Willoughby or KI cafe Outstanding Kangaroo Island local produce. KI oysters and marron. | Dinner: Restaurant in Kingscote Outstanding KI seafood dinner. Local abalone, lobster and KI lamb.
DAY 3
BAROSSA VALLEY
MORNING
BAROSSA VALLEY OLD VINE SHIRAZ TRAIL
The Barossa Valley Shiraz trail visits the most extraordinary old vine vineyards in Australia, the remarkable Henschke Hill of Grace single vineyard of Shiraz vines planted in the 1860s and the extraordinary Penfolds Barossa Valley estate producing Grange from vineyards across the valley giving the finest Shiraz tasting experience in Australia. The remarkable Yalumba estate, Australia's oldest family winery, and the fine Grant Burge are outstanding. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
SEPPELTSFIELD WINERY AND CENTENNIAL PARA TAWNY
Seppeltsfield is the most extraordinary winery estate in Australia, the remarkable continuous unbroken release of the Para Vintage Tawny since 1878 giving the finest single wine legacy in the world. The extraordinary tasting of the year of your birth vintage from the cellar and the fine Fino restaurant in the winery grounds are outstanding. The remarkable heritage stone buildings from 1851 and the extraordinary avenue of palm trees give the finest winery approach in the Barossa. Travel: 1.5 hour drive north
AFTERNOON
DRIVE TO FLINDERS RANGES VIA QUORN
The drive from the Barossa to the Flinders Ranges via Quorn gives the most extraordinary transition from wine country to outback in Australia, the remarkable Pichi Richi Railway at Quorn and the extraordinary ancient Flinders quartzite ranges rising above the plains giving the finest approach to the oldest mountain range on earth. The remarkable first sight of Wilpena Pound above the plain is outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Whispering Wall at Williamstown in the Barossa is the most extraordinary acoustic curiosity in SA, a remarkable curved dam wall where whispers carry 140 metres. Entirely free. The finest hidden curiosity in the Barossa Valley.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Tanunda Coffee before the Barossa wine trail. | Lunch: Fino, Seppeltsfield Outstanding Barossa restaurant. Local lamb, cheese and Shiraz. | Dinner: Bistro at Wilpena Pound Resort Outstanding Flinders Ranges dinner. Local outback produce.
DAY 4
FLINDERS RANGES
MORNING
IKARA WILPENA POUND WALK
Wilpena Pound, known as Ikara to the Adnyamathanha people whose country it is, is the most extraordinary natural amphitheatre in Australia, a remarkable natural bowl of quartzite peaks enclosing a valley accessible only through one narrow gap. The extraordinary Ikara Circuit walk through the pound and the remarkable Hill Homestead ruins give the finest introduction to one of Australia's most ancient landscapes. The Adnyamathanha have lived here for over 35,000 years. Walk free. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
BRACHINA GORGE GEOLOGICAL TRAIL
Brachina Gorge in the Flinders Ranges is the most extraordinary geological drive in Australia, the remarkable 20km drive through extraordinary Precambrian rock layers spanning 650 million years of earth history and the fine geological interpretation signs giving the finest accessible geology experience in the country. The remarkable creek red gums and the extraordinary abundant wildlife including yellow-footed rock wallabies are outstanding. Entirely free. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
PARACHILNA OUTBACK PUB AND SUNSET
The Prairie Hotel at Parachilna is the most extraordinary outback pub in South Australia, its remarkable feral food menu featuring camel, kangaroo and emu given in the fine outback pub setting and the extraordinary Flinders Ranges sunset viewed from the pub verandah giving the finest single outback afternoon in the region. The remarkable remoteness and the extraordinary silence of the outback at dusk are outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Sacred Canyon near Wilpena Pound has the most extraordinary Aboriginal rock engravings in the Flinders Ranges, remarkable Adnyamathanha engravings of geometric designs in a dramatic canyon accessible on a short walk. Entirely free. The finest hidden cultural experience in the Flinders Ranges.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Wilpena Pound Resort cafe Before the Ikara walk. | Lunch: Picnic in Brachina Gorge Outstanding outback setting beside the gorge creek. | Dinner: Prairie Hotel, Parachilna Outstanding feral food menu. Local camel burger and kangaroo pie.
DAY 5
COOBER PEDY
MORNING
DRIVE OR FLY TO COOBER PEDY
drive or 1.5 hour flight Coober Pedy in the South Australian outback is the most extraordinary underground town in the world, the remarkable opal mining settlement where approximately 60 percent of residents live in underground dugout homes to escape the extraordinary heat of up to 50 degrees in summer. The remarkable opal fields discovered in 1915, which produce approximately 70 percent of the world's opals, and the extraordinary underground churches, homes and hotels give the finest outback town experience in Australia. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
UNDERGROUND OPAL MINE TOUR
The underground opal mine tour at Coober Pedy gives the most extraordinary mining experience accessible in Australia, the remarkable descent into an actual working opal mine showing the extraordinary noodling and tunnelling techniques used by miners and the fine opal identification and cutting demonstrations giving the finest single opal experience in the world. The remarkable Underground Books cafe and the extraordinary underground Serbian Orthodox Church are outstanding. Tour approx A$35. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE BREAKAWAYS AND MOON PLAIN
The Breakaways conservation park north of Coober Pedy is the most extraordinary outback landscape in South Australia, the remarkable multicoloured mesa formations rising above the extraordinary gibber plains giving the finest outback photography landscape in the country. The famous Moon Plain, used as an alien landscape in several films including Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and the extraordinary Dingo Fence stretch are outstanding. Entry approx A$10.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Coober Pedy Drive-In Theatre is the most extraordinary outdoor cinema in Australia, a remarkable open-air drive-in on the edge of the outback where films are screened against the extraordinary starlit outback sky. Ticket approx A$15. The finest hidden experience in Coober Pedy.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Prairie Hotel or cafe Before the Coober Pedy drive or flight. | Lunch: Cafe in Coober Pedy Outstanding outback food. Underground cafe experience. | Dinner: Restaurant in Coober Pedy Outstanding farewell SA outback dinner. Local opal wine and feral game.
Where To Stay
Adelaide, Night 1 Mayfair Hotel or Hotel Indigo. City centre. Approx A$180 to A$400. Kangaroo Island, Night 2 Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat or Mercure. Approx A$150 to A$380. Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy, Nights 3 to 5 Wilpena Pound Resort or Desert Cave Hotel. Approx A$150 to A$300.
Top Tips
1. Coober Pedy in summer reaches 50 degrees. Underground accommodation keeps a constant 24 degrees year-round.
2. Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges is best walked at dawn before the heat. The Ikara Circuit is extraordinary.
3. Seal Bay guided tour must be booked at the entrance. The sea lions are genuinely unafraid of humans.
4. The Remarkable Rocks are most extraordinary at golden hour. Stay on Kangaroo Island to catch the sunset.
5. Barossa Valley accommodation is limited in harvest season (Feb to April). Book months ahead.
6. An underground opal mine tour in Coober Pedy takes approximately 1 hour. Book at the local visitor centre.
Total Budget
Approx A$200 to A$450 per person per day