Colours of Coober Pedy & the Breakaways

Travel arrangements commence on the day before the tour departs.

Your adventure begins with a flight to the beautiful city of Adelaide. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure.
Ask us about a range of optional activities available or simply take a stroll along the newly redeveloped Riverbank precinct or go shopping at nearby Rundle Mall.

❱ 1 night: Grosvenor Hotel or similar

Adelaide travellers will be met at home and transferred to the Central Bus Station to join the tour. Interstate travellers will be picked up from the Grosvenor Hotel.

An early start this morning as we depart Adelaide at 8.00am and travel by luxury coach to commence our 5-day holiday to experience the great South Australian Outback. The coach travels through the Adelaide’s northern suburbs through to Balaklava and Laura to Quorn and Hawker stopping for a lunch along the way. We continue to the Flinders Rangers to Parachilna to arrive at Leigh Creek to enjoy our Overnight stay. Passing through some of the Flingers Ranges amazing lookouts and enjoying the well-known colours of the Flinders Ranges before arriving at Leigh Creek. Leigh Creek was originally established by the Electricity Commission to house the coal mine workers who worked the coal mines to supply coal for the huge electricity generators which supplied the state of South Australia.

❱ 1 night: Leigh Creek Outback Resort

Today’s journey takes us along the iconic Strzelecki Track. This morning after breakfast it’s an early start to travel along the famous Strzelecki track. We travel north to a little township of Lyndhurst, where we join the Strzelecki track to begin our journey to Maree. The town also played a part in the laying of the historic Ghan railway track which rand from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Maree was founded in 1840 and is the site of Australia’s first mosque. The mosque was built by several Afghan Camel Drivers and was constructed of mud brick. Originally the town was called Herrgott Springs but due to the anti- German sentiment, after the First World War, it was changed to Marree in 1918. From Marree, we continue along the famous Oodnadatta Track, passing Lake Eyre South on our way to William Creek Hotel for lunch. We arrive at the iconic township of William Creek, which consists of one hotel, where we stop for lunch. The basin here can change dramatically after floods & heavy rains. In dry years, the area becomes a shimmering white salt pan whilst in wet seasons, it becomes an inland garden. In 2019, the area was transformed into the world’s largest desert oasis when waters flooded both Lake Eyre North & South.

For those that are interested, short scenic flights are able to be taken over Lake Eyre from William Creek (to be booked separately at persons own cost). After lunch and scenic flights, we set off deeper to the remote outback wilderness passing Anna Creek before crossing old Dog Fence and through the ‘Breakaways’ Range to Coober Pedy. Tonight, indulge in a special welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant.

❱ 2 nights: Desert Cave Hotel

Today, we begin to explore one of the world’s most unique towns, the opal mining capital of Coober Pedy. Most of the population here live in underground dugouts to insulate the residents from the intense summer heat which rises to the high 40s most of the summer. We visit an interesting Opal Interpretive Centre & Museum during our town tour. Here, you can watch craftsmen cut & polish beautiful black opals unique to the area, as well as see one of the extensive displays of opal in the world. After lunch, we take a local tour which includes a unique underground church, local dug outs, and places of interest. You will soon discover why Coober Pedy is one of the most interesting towns to visit! This evening, at sunset, we tour out to the Breakaways which form part of the Painted Desert range of hills. Here, the amazing colours of the Breakaways can be seen at their very best at sunset. The hills and have been created over centuries. We celebrate with champagne before returning to enjoy a barbeque dinner at our hotel.

This morning after breakfast we begin our journey south, along the Stuart highway to Glendambo and after a short refreshment stop we continue to the township of Woomera. Woomera was established as a rocket launching station by the British Cold war era. After lunch, we have the opportunity to visit the heritage and information centre which houses a great photographic display on Woomera and its activities. We continue our travels along the highway to our accommodation at Port Augusta. This evening, an opportunity for a short tour to Quorn to witness a spectacular sound & light show and silo art, held under the stars in Quorn in the Flinders Ranges (check with your coach captain for details).

❱ 1 night: Standpipe Golf Motor Inn

Today, a relaxing tour back to Adelaide. After leaving Port Augusta we visit the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, which were established in 1993 to research, conserve and promote the wider appreciation of Australia’s arid fauna whilst offering spectacular views to the ancient Flinders Ranges. We continue to the attractive township of Port Broughton on the coast in the afternoon, before arriving to Adelaide at approximately 5pm. Adelaide travellers will be met on arrival at the Adelaide Central Bus Station and transferred home by chauffeured vehicle.

Stay the night on return to Adelaide and fly home the following day.

On our tour’s return to Adelaide, you will be taken to your hotel in the city centre. The next day, enjoy some time at leisure to explore Adelaide. Ask us about optional tours that are available today. Later, you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight.

❱ 1 night: Grosvenor Hotel or similar