Burke & Wills Outback Discovery

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.

A delicious boxed breakfast will be provided to you as you travel aboard our luxurious air-conditioned motor coach from Adelaide. We begin our journey to Broken Hill via South Australia’s historic farming and sheep breeding stations. We travel through towns such as Riverton, Saddleworth & Burra. After a stop for lunch, we continue through Yunta & the Barrier Ranges to one of Australia’s most famous cities, Broken Hill. We check into our accommodation on arrival and enjoy some free time before dinner.

❱ 2 nights: Desert Sand Motor Inn

After breakfast, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the famous ‘Silver City’. Broken Hill is famous as an important part of our history and was the foundation for Australia’s largest company, BHP. Later in the morning, we tour to Menindee, the oldest town in western NSW. The site was first visited by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1835 and is situated on Australia’s longest river – the Darling River. The Burke & Wills Expedition camped here on 14 October 1860 and the leaders of the group stayed at the Menindee Hotel which was known at the time as the Pain’s Hotel. We enjoy lunch at this famous and historic Outback hotel before visiting the Burke & Wills Monument near the Menindee Lakes. Later, we tour back to Broken Hill for dinner & our overnight stay.

After breakfast, we journey further into Australia’s remote Outback to the historic town of Tibooburra.
Along the way Kangaroos, Emus and other native animals can often be seen roaming around in the wild. We stop at the ‘Packsaddle’ for lunch, before continuing following the early explorer’s route to Milparinka. Here at this former goldmining settlement we see the original old outback courthouse and Police Station. After the interesting sights in the area, we continue through to Tibooburra. Tonight is a great opportunity to enjoy & feel the atmosphere of a real Aussie Outback. A special highlight is the paintings by famous Australian artists Clifton Pugh, Drysdale and Minchin painted on the bar wall. Hotel dinner tonight.

❱ 1 night: Family Hotel

This morning, we set off into classic Australian Outback terrain which is possibly the best example of real outback desert landscape. The stony desert has relics of ancient Aboriginal habitation. The area is mainly Mulga Bushland and arid shrub land although after rains the area often turns into a wonderland of wildflowers! The area is inhabited by Red Kangaroos, Euros, large lizards, emus and wedge tailed eagles. Arrive at Cameron Corner, a well-known Outback icon where you are able to stand in 3 states at once! Queensland, South Australia and the New South Wales borders meet here. During our tour, sections of the famous Rabbit Proof Fence will be seen. After our lunch stop at Cameron Corner, we continue along the famous Strzelecki Track to the Outback settlement of Innamincka. Known for being ‘in the middle of nowhere’, Innamincka is home to just 44 people and offers a hotel, general store, fuel and a remote airstrip on the Strzelecki Track.

❱ 2 nights: Innamincka Hotel

After breakfast, we begin our journey to the important site of Australia’s most astonishing & well-known story of survival & tragedy – the site where the final saga of explorers Burke & Wills’ expedition was played out. Our tour to the famous “Dig Tree” takes us to the exact location and the original tree which had been carved with instructions on where vital rations had been buried for the Burke & Wills team who were returning badly weakened by lack of food and water from the north. In one of Australia’s greatest tragic circumstances, the group missed seeing the tree which resulted in the death of Burke and Wills as well as most of the expedition’s party! Later, we take a boat ride along one of Australia’s most famous waterways – the Cooper Creek. We visit the actual Burke & Wills burial sites which are located on the side of the creek on the outskirts of Innamincka. Tonight, we enjoy a fabulous Aussie style dinner at the iconic Innamincka Hotel – a night to remember!

It’s quite a long day along one of the world’s most gruelling outback roads – the famous Strzelecki Track. To make the journey a more comfortable one, we depart early after breakfast at sunrise. Along the way, we stop to view the awesome Moomba Gas Field complex which is set in the middle of the desert – a site reminiscent of a scene from a James Bond movie! The road has been upgraded a little in recent times as it serves as an access to this huge gas field. Natural gas from here is piped all the way to Sydney & Adelaide. Some of the original wells & waterholes are still visible. We make refreshment stops during the trek for morning tea and a picnic lunch and to take in some of the unique landscape along the way. Later, we arrive at Leigh Creek, a modern township built to house electricity workers from the nearby ETSA works.

❱ 1 night: Leigh Creek Outback Resort

After breakfast, we depart Leigh Creek for our journey back to Adelaide. We stop for morning tea on our journey south to take in the panoramic views of the iconic Flinders Ranges. Later, we continue on your journey to the beautiful Clare Valley. The area is famous throughout the world for the fine wines produced here. A delicious lunch awaits you before we continue our travels through Gawler and back to Adelaide. 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