Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Australia – Adelaide – Port Augusta – Arkaroola – Flinders Ranges – Wilpena Pound – Clare Valley
100% customisable for you
Early morning alarms don’t feel so bad when a trip to the Land Down Under is on the horizon. Head to the airport, breeze through security, pick up a good read and settle into the lounge for some fizz and nibbles before boarding.
Your first flight will take you to a Middle Eastern or South Asian hub, where you’ll have a short stopover to stretch your legs before boarding your second flight to Adelaide. It’s a long journey, so queue up the films, fluff up the neck pillow and try to catch some Z’s before arriving the next day.
When you touch down in Adelaide, you’ll be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city – your base for the next two nights.
Keen to unwind after all that travelling? Depending on your arrival time, you could take a dip in the pool, enjoy your first dose of Aussie sunshine or simply crawl into bed and call it a day.
In true Aussie fashion, rise early this morning raring to go (and ready to shake off any lingering jet lag). Meet your local guide, hop on an electric bike and head for the Adelaide Hills, where rolling vineyards, storybook villages and some of the country’s finest produce await.
First stop: Beerenberg Farm. Weave between rows of ripe fruit, where the blissful Australian sunshine works its magic on every strawberry in sight. Fill your basket right up as you pick straight from the field, with plenty of sweet samples along the way.
Then whizz over to Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Drift along leafy streets lined with timber-framed buildings before fuelling up with a flat white from a local café. Spend the rest of the afternoon sipping your way through wineries before rounding things off at a local cheese cellar for a foodie match made in heaven. Then head back to your hotel, ending the day suitably stuffed.
Pick up your hire car this morning and bid Adelaide a fond farewell as you head north towards Port Augusta – considered the gateway to the Outback. It’s a three-and-a-half-hour drive, so hit the open road, roll down the windows and watch the scenery grow wilder with every mile.
If you fancy stretching your legs en route, pull over at Mount Remarkable National Park where walking trails weave through rugged gorges and forested valleys.
When you arrive in Port Augusta, check in to your hotel, where you’ll be staying for the night, then make a beeline for the coast, where you can flop on the sand and soak up your surroundings: think salt in your hair, sun on your skin and not a care in the world.
Feeling peckish? Nothing says Australia quite like a beach barbecue under the shade of swaying palms. Grab a snag (meaning sausage) fresh from the grill, pair it with some fresh salad and perhaps stay for sundowners as the sky turns shades of gold and pink.
Buckle in for another road trip this morning to Arkaroola, tucked deep in the Flinders Ranges. Over the next five hours, watch South Australia slowly turn more remote as the roads unfurl through rust-red plains and jagged peaks. Wildlife sightings are all part of the fun here, with kangaroos hopping through the bush and emus strutting across the plains – a sign you're well and truly in the Outback now.
When you arrive, check into your remote guesthouse – home for the next three nights. And after tucking into some classic Aussie grub this evening, step outside and look up. With barely any light pollution the night sky is alive with a sparkling canopy of stars.
Hold onto your hats this morning as you bundle into the back of a 4x4 for a day of Outback adventuring, with an expert guide at the wheel.
Bounce along the legendary Ridgetop Track, tackling steep climbs, hairpin bends and rocky ridgelines as your guide gives you the lowdown on Arkaroola’s astonishing 1.6-billion-year geological history. Pause for a tea break framed by the jagged peaks of the Freeling Heights surrounding the Mawson Plateau, before continuing on to the 3,300ft-deep Yudnamutana Gorge and the shimmering salt flats of Lake Frome. Keep your camera close – these views are holiday album gold.
The return journey is every bit as thrilling, serving up another adrenaline-fuelled ride through the wilderness before you arrive back at your guesthouse dust-covered and suitably wowed.
Worked up a heft appetite after all that Outback explorin’? For dinner, sink your teeth into some tender lamb chops, grilled barramundi or an Aussie beef steak, best paired with a glass of regional wine.
Excitement levels are bound to be sky-high this morning (quite literally) as you lift off for a scenic flight above Arkaroola’s Outback landscapes. Soar over the quartz outcrops of Mount Gee and admire every shade of red, gold and ochre over the rolling Mawson Plateau and the rugged Freeling Heights, all sure to spark plenty of oohs and aahs. Throughout the flight, your pilot will regale you with stories of Arkaroola’s ancient geology and fascinating mining history, bringing this remote wilderness vividly to life.
The magic continues after dark with a stargazing experience this evening beneath some of the clearest skies in the southern hemisphere. Guided by an expert astronomer inside one of Arkaroola’s observatory domes, gaze up at glittering constellations like Orion’s Belt and Scorpius, alongside the luminous moon and distant planets scattered across the night sky. Who will be the first to spot Saturn?
Gear up for another drive this morning to Rawnsley Park near Wilpena Pound, a roughly three-hour journey. This is road tripping at its finest: paper map on the dashboard, barely another car in sight and a picnic pitstop somewhere along the way.
When you arrive, check in to your guesthouse – your home away from home for the next three nights. Spend the rest of the afternoon ambling around the countryside, where adorable joeys peek out from their mothers’ pouches, cockatoos screech overhead and sheep lazily roam the paddocks. You may even spot a few creepy crawlies too – you are in the Outback, after all.
Another day, another adventure. Meet your local guide and head deep into the Flinders Ranges, where towering rock formations reveal a fascinating window into Australia’s prehistoric past. As you wind through Bunyeroo Gorge, marvel at 600-million-year-old seabeds preserved within the rocks before continuing on to Brachina Gorge, home to some of the best-preserved fossils on the planet. And while the scenery may steal the show, keep your eyes peeled for the elusive yellow-footed wallabies springing between the cliffs along the way.
Round off an action-filled day by asking your Concierge which local dishes deserve a spot on your table tonight, then tuck right in.
The last few days have been wonderfully jam-packed, so today is all about embracing a slower pace. Sleep in, lose yourself in a good book and while away the hours in a shaded hammock before cooling off in the pool or treating yourself to a massage – very well deserved after all that Outback explorin’.
Still raring to go? We can also arrange a scenic flight over Wilpena Pound for a whole new perspective on the region, with rugged ranges, ancient gorges and sprawling plains spreading as far as the eye can see.
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast today before setting your sights on Clare Valley. It’s a three-and-a-half-hour drive away, so tune into our destination-specific playlist and let the singalong commence as rugged outback landscapes give way to vineyards dotted with sleepy towns.
When you arrive, check into your cosy guesthouse where you’ll stay for the next two nights. This region of Australia is home to some seriously good Syrah, Chardonnay and Riesling, so spend your days drifting between cellars, discovering how a quick wine tasting has a funny way of turning into a full-blown love affair with your new favourite vintage. In between sips, explore charming villages like Clare, Auburn and Mintaro, where you can browse artisan boutiques for the perfect keepsake.
Inspired by the active locals? Hop on two wheels and pedal along stretches of the scenic Riesling trail, a former railway route that’s been transformed into one of Australia’s most beloved cycling paths.
Come evening, stroll to nearby restaurants for some hearty local fare as the vineyards glow gold in the setting sun – cheers to that.
Leave behind the romance of the vineyards as you drive back to Adelaide this morning, a journey that takes around two hours.
When you arrive, return your trusty hire car and check into your hotel for the night. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy, so tick off any attractions still on your to-see list or simply find a sun-drenched spot on the coast for a final spot of sunbathing.
For your last night, leave dinner plans in the hands of your Concierge, who’ll know just the spot for a celebratory final meal.
Time flies when you’re having fun and, sadly, your adventure in the Land Down Under has come to an end. Today, you’ll be privately transferred to Adelaide Airport, just a short 20-minute drive away. Once you’re checked in, stock up on your favourite Aussie snacks and settle in for the journey home, with a stopover in the Middle East or South Asia along the way.
By the end of the trip, you’ll likely be head over heels for Australia’s charm and perhaps even dreaming about a permanent postcode... or at the very least, plotting a return trip.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
