Self Drive
A$3495per person
Would you rather sip world-class wine at spectacular wineries, explore a wild landscape of geological wonders, or learn about a culture that’s prevailed for hundreds of years? In South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, there’s no need to choose – this place has it all. Walk through the awe-inspiring scenery of Ikara (Wilpena Pound) with a First Nations guide, traverse the rugged landscapes of Arkaroola in a four-wheel drive vehicle, and gain a special insight into the culture of the Adnyamathanha people – and that’s just a taste of what’s to come!
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Private vehicle
Cabin (2 nights), Hotel (1 night), Lodge (2 nights), Motel (1 night)
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Arkaroola, Iga Warta, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Yundi Nature Conservancy
Welcome to South Australia! Your adventure begins in Adelaide, your gateway to the ancient peaks of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. At 8.30am, join your local leader and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting, then leave Adelaide behind and make tracks north. Stop off at a local sustainable hotel with its own farm where you’ll have the chance to grab some lunch. Continue to Ikara (Wilpena Pound), a natural amphitheatre of mountains. Your base for the night is a stunning spot on the outskirts of this geological marvel.
There are no meals included on this day.
It’s very important that you meet the group at 8.30 am this morning in the hotel lobby to begin your tour. Find more details in the ‘Joining Point Instructions’ section of your Essential Trip Information. We recommend spending a night before your tour begins in Adelaide. If so, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
After breakfast this morning, meet with a local First Nations guide for a walk around the magnificent Ikara (Wilpena Pound) area with your group and possibly some other travellers. Your expert guide will share ancient stories of the landscape that have been passed down from generation to generation, provide insight into the biodiversity of the region and the life it sustains, and explain the relationship between the land and the Adnyamathanha people. Once you have a better understanding of the landscape, the rest of the day is yours for further exploration. You may like to join your leader on a hike, go it alone, or simply sit back and relax while enjoying the incredible scenery.
Wake up surrounded by the mighty Flinders Ranges then perhaps join your leader for a walk around the local area if you like. In the afternoon, get ready to hit the road for the long but scenic 5 hour drive to Arkaroola, a wilderness sanctuary focused on education and conservation. Filled with wonderful wildlife and geological features, there’s so much to uncover here. Enjoy an included dinner at your accommodation then as the sun begins to set, make the most of your unspoiled and remote location and visit Arkaroola’s astronomical observatory. Free of light pollution, you will use professional astronomical telescopes to look into the night sky above – this really is an out-of-this-world experience!
Total drive time today is approximately 3-5 hours. Please note that today’s drive is on a bumpy unsealed road and that there are no established bathroom facilities en-route.
Start the day with an exhilarating exploration of the Arkaroola grounds in a 4WD vehicle. Drive up to the ridgetop, the oldest part of the Flinders Ranges (we’re talking 1.6 billion years old!) and discover a jagged landscape of ancient granite, mountains, and unique plant life. Stop for morning tea at Sillers lookout and take in the views as you enjoy fresh lamingtons. Your expert local guide will fill you in on how the fascinating features of the landscape were formed over millions of years. Return to your accommodation and enjoy some downtime for lunch, then set out to explore more of the surrounding scenery on foot. Join your leader on a bushwalk and learn more about the unusual flora and fauna of the region. This evening, sit down to a delicious barbecue dinner at your resort. There is even the option to pair it with a glass of crisp South Australian wine.
Say goodbye to Arkaroola and drive on to Iga Warta, overlooked by the mountains and surrounded by the land of the Adnyamathanha people. Meet with an Adnyamathanha guide to learn more about their culture, explore the land and meet the wildlife that lives on it, and hear stories of their history. Tuck into a lunch of local ingredients (think quandong, acacia seed, lemon myrtle or kangaroo) at Iga Warta as you enjoy the peaceful location and listen to some traditional music, then continue on to the historic town of Quorn. From April to October, you may have the opportunity to see the Quorn Silo Light Show this evening, an audiovisual celebration of the Flinders Ranges and the local stories of the area, projected on a grain silo.
Total drive time today is approximately 5-6 hours.
Travel from Quorn to the Adelaide Hills, an area famous for its cool-climate wines. But wine isn’t the only drink produced in these parts – today you’ll pay a visit to a B Corp distillery that uses native Australian ingredients to create sustainably made and uniquely delicious gin. Take a look behind the scenes during a tour of the distillery, learn about their sustainable practices and perhaps sample some of the creative flavours yourself. Tonight will be spent in Hahndorf, a delightful town tucked away in the Adelaide Hills, made famous not only by its German-style buildings, but by its continued German traditions of food, hospitality and crafts. You may like to join your group for a final dinner in a local restaurant.
Total drive time today is approximately 4.5 hours. Please note that shoes with closed toes are required when participating in the tour at the gin distillery today.
This morning, head to the Yundi Nature Conservancy and participate in a ‘Walk on Country’ experience with a local First Nations Guide. Start off with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, then follow your guide around and learn about the wetlands of the Fleurieu Peninsula, the local peoples’ ancient knowledge of plants, Australian bush medicine and foods, and the local wildlife. Enjoy an included lunch with native bush foods then drive to McLaren Vale, a celebrated winegrowing region. Here you’ll stop by a winery with biodynamic credentials to sample some of their most delicious organically produced drops during a wine tasting experience. Finally, drive back to Adelaide, where on arrival your Flinders Ranges adventure will come to an end.
Total drive time today is approximately 2.5 hours. Your tour finishes back in Adelaide at approximately 4pm. If you require any additional accommodation in Adelaide please let your sales agent know.
| Departing | Finishing | Total from AUD | |
| Fri 7 Apr 2023 | Thu 13 Apr 2023 | Available | $3,665 |
| Fri 26 May 2023 | Thu 1 Jun 2023 | Available | $3,775 |
| Fri 16 Jun 2023 | Thu 22 Jun 2023 | Available | $3,775 |
| Fri 14 Jul 2023 | Thu 20 Jul 2023 | Available | $3,910 |
| Fri 4 Aug 2023 | Thu 10 Aug 2023 | Available | $3,910 |
| Fri 6 Oct 2023 | Thu 12 Oct 2023 | Available | $3,795 |
| Fri 3 Nov 2023 | Thu 9 Nov 2023 | Available | $3,795 |
| Fri 1 Dec 2023 | Thu 7 Dec 2023 | Available | $3,795 |
We’re not just experts, we’re travellers and we’re here to help you.
We are an Australian team which means you’re dealing with a local.
Each Holiday Package is hand-picked and tested by our expert team.
Get the lowest prices on the best accommodation, tours & activities
Before, during and after your Holiday, we’re with you all the way.
Choose one of our packages, and our team will build and book you a detailed itinerary.
Our Packages are totally flexible. Change what you want whenever you want.
There’s no booking fees when you choose an Australian.com Holiday Package.
You'll get an interactive itinerary with everything you need for your holiday.
