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SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari

Discover South Australia’s outback on this small-group journey from Adelaide. Highlights include Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, the Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy, the Oodnadatta Track, Arkaroola, Wilpena Pound, and Clare Valley. Travel in comfort by luxury 4WD or all-terrain vehicle, with space to relax and enjoy. Visit Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, home to rugged peaks, gorges, and rare wildlife, and take the option of scenic flights over Lake Eyre, the Painted Hills, and more. An unforgettable adventure showcasing the very best of the SA outback.

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Day 1 - Adelaide to Port Augusta

SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari - Day 1
7 Day Small Group 4WD Eco Tour incl. Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges and Outback

Experience the ultimate South Australian outback spirit on this 7-day 4WD small group tour from Adelaide. Journey through the rugged Flinders Ranges to the iconic Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, a 610sq km haven of granite peaks and rare wildlife like the Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby. The adventure continues to Lake Eyre, Australia’s lowest point and largest salt lake, with an optional scenic flight to witness its massive scale. From the underground charm of Coober Pedy to ancient mountain gorges, this tour offers a premier, comfortable exploration of the state’s most spectacular desert landscapes.

Adelaide to Port Augusta

Follow the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf, stopping at historical coastal towns. Learn our rich maritime history maybe take a walk down the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere at Port Germain. This was once a bustling port for sail ships & seafarers. During the safari your Tour Guide will introduce you to a remarkable and resilient history of both Aboriginal and white settlement in S.A. See the Southern Flinders Ranges, 600 million year old mountain peaks with spectacular views over this incredible landscape. Spend the afternoon strolling around the award winning Wadlata Outback Centre at Pt Augusta.

Meals included: Lunch

Your accommodation: Augusta Courtyard Motel (or similar)

Augusta Courtyard Motel is ideally located just five minutes from Port Augusta’s CBD, the Arid Lands Botanic Garden, and Wadlata Outback Centre. This comfortable and convenient property features air-conditioned rooms, on-site parking, a BBQ area, and laundry facilities. Whether stopping overnight or staying longer, it provides a relaxed base for exploring the Flinders Ranges and surrounding Outback.

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Day 2 - Port Augusta to Coober Pedy

SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari - Day 2
Port Augusta to Coober Pedy

Travel up the Explorer Highway to Woomera visiting the old rocket range and Military Base. As we head further North, East of the A.P.Y. Aboriginal lands take a break at the Lake Gairdner lookout to see this huge expanse of salt lakes. Onto Coober Pedy the largest opal mining field in the world. Heading into town we will pass the extensive mining operations that help make this place so unique. Coober Pedy is a town where people live underground to escape the harsh desert conditions. Watch a magical sunset over the desert at KankuBreakaways Conservation Park before following the Dingo Fence back to Coober Pedy.

Meals included: Breakfast

Your accommodation: The Underground Motel (or similar)

The Underground Motel was the first underground motel to be established in Coober Pedy back in 1984. All of its rooms are carved into a sandstone hill, offering a unique and authentic Coober Pedy experience. Take in the excellent views of the Stuart Ranges and the ‘Breakaways’ and watch the spectacular sunsets.

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Day 3 - Coober Pedy to William Creek

SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari - Day 3
Coober Pedy to William Creek

Spend a leisurely morning visiting underground churches, opal shops and displays. Learn about the area on a guided mine tour to see how these hardy folks live. After lunch we depart Coober Pedy crossing the famous dingo fence (the longest man-made structure in the world) this helps to keep the wild dogs up north away from the sheep stations further down. Travel along the red sand hill tracks through Anna Creek station
to William Creek. This remote town stands out like an oasis in the desert, halfway between Adelaide to Alice Springs. Enjoy an ice-cold beer at the bar of this famous Outback Pub that has a rich history of stockman camels and life in the bush.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your accommodation: William Creek Hotel (or similar)

Nestled along the Oodnadatta Track, the historic William Creek Hotel is a quintessential Outback stopover. Visitors can refuel, dine at the local restaurant, and enjoy a drink at the historic William Creek Hotel. Surrounded by Anna Creek Station—the world's largest cattle station—William Creek serves as a gateway to the vast Simpson Desert.

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Day 4 - William Creek to Marree

SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari - Day 4
William Creek to Maree

Continue your epic journey down the famous Oodnadatta Track, following the historic route of the Cameleers. This area has a rich history of Aboriginal culture and pioneering settlements. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the edge of Lake Eyre South National Park. This is where Sir Donald Campbell broke the land speed record in 1964 in the Blue Bird. Visit thermal springs that have been the life blood of this arid land for centuries. Arriving at Maree late afternoon, check out the old Afghan mosque and relics of our pioneering days. This historic town is where Outback legend Tom Kruse left on his epic mail run deliveries to Birdsville and beyond.

Lake Eyre Optional Extras

Enhance your journey with these unforgettable optional experiences:
1-hour Lake Eyre Classic scenic flight: Take to the skies for spectacular views of Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, Australia's largest inland lake. Marvel at its striking colours, ancient river systems and abundant birdlife, while enjoying informative commentary via personal headsets. Fly over Belt Bay, home to the lake's lowest point, and experience one of Australia's most remarkable landscapes from above. Window seat guaranteed.
2-Hour Lake Eyre Deluxe scenic flight: Discover the full scale and beauty of Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre on an extended scenic flight. Travel from Belt Bay to the northern reaches of the lake, following the Warburton River and Channel Country's intricate waterways. With expert commentary throughout, this flight offers an unforgettable perspective of the lake, surrounding desert and thriving birdlife. Window seat guaranteed.
3-hour Lake Eyre & Painted Hills scenic flight incl. landing and walking in the Painted Hills: Experience two of outback Australia's most extraordinary sights in one journey. Fly over Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre before continuing to the spectacular Anna Creek Painted Hills, a vibrant landscape accessible only by air. Land among the hills for a guided walk, where you'll gain a closer appreciation of their colourful sandstone formations and unique natural history. Window seat guaranteed.
Optional extras are available at an additional cost. Please speak with your sales agent for more information.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your accommodation: Marree Roadhouse (or similar)

The Oasis Caravan Park at Marree Roadhouse offers clean, en suite cabins equipped with air conditioning, TVs, fridges, microwaves, and electric blankets. Guests enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and two-course evening meals. The park features a rustic BBQ area, open campfire, and live entertainment most nights, providing a cozy and friendly base for exploring the South Australian outback.

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Day 5 - Marree to Arkaroola

SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari - Day 5
Maree to Arkaroola

Venturing further east into the remote outback of Australia, we will cross ancient creek beds that meander out to Lake Frome. Witness a stunning change in the landscape from spectacular deserts to the ancient mountains of the Gammon Range. Arriving at the Arkaroola Village around lunch time you will have time to relax and take in this world renowned area of stunning beauty. Alternatively take the exhilarating 4wd ridge top tour to the top of Mt Siller or maybe a scenic flight over this breathtaking land.

Arkaroola Optional Extras

Enhance your journey with these unforgettable optional experiences:
Explore the Cosmos” night sky observation: The latest addition to our impressive collection of astronomical venues, the Ningana Imaging Observatory allows visitors to experience a real-time, state of the art Digital Astro Experience. You'll be able to view the wonders of our solar system and beyond into deep space – all without getting up from your relaxing, indoor seating. The Observatory is just 100m from the main reception, bar and restaurant area, perfect for the end of a long day exploring Arkaroola.
4-hour 4WD Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour: Travelling in a specially constructed open-top 4WD, passengers are taken on a guided tour of spectacular rugged country. Experienced tour guides share their knowledge of Arkaroola's 1600-million-year geological history as they navigate the steep slopes and hair raising ascents of the famous Ridgetop Track. Travel through the oldest parts of the Flinders Ranges, home to plants found nowhere else, and explore the ancient granite mountains and hillsides covered in native bush. Several lookouts along the way offer breath-taking vistas of the vast and humbling expanse of the ranges. Take a tea break while drinking in the magnificent ring of saw-toothed Freeling Heights fringing the Mawson Plateau. See the jaw-dropping 1000m deep Yudnamutana Gorge, the plains and Lake Frome salt lake. The return journey to the village is just as much of an adventure, leaving you with a thrilling, enriching experience you won't forget.
Optional extras are available at an additional cost. Please speak with your sales agent for more information.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your accommodation: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (or similar)

Nestled in the Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is a vast protected area with a rich geological history. Founded in 1968, the sanctuary offers eco-tourism experiences that emphasize conservation. Visitors can choose from comfortable lodge rooms or secluded cabins.

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Day 6 - Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary to Wilpena Pound

SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari - Day 6
Journey to the Flinders Ranges

This morning, travel south along the top of Lake Frome, visible in the distance from vantage points once used by early explorers. See the Red Sandhill country, a landscape that holds thousands of years of sacred significance for the Adnyamathanha Aboriginal people. Enjoy lunch at the historic copper mining town of Blinman, the highest town in South Australia. A local guide will lead a journey through the secluded and ever-changing creek beds of Brachina Gorge, known as The Corridors Through Time. This area teems with wildlife and showcases a remarkable geological history, including Ediacaran fossils. World-renowned South Australian painter Sir Hans Heysen found inspiration in this country, capturing its essence in many of his landscapes. Capture that perfect photograph or simply take in some of the most spectacular outback scenery. As the sun dips lower in the sky, follow the road through a landscape of breathtaking beauty. Wildlife such as kangaroos, emus, and wedge-tailed eagles are often spotted in this rugged terrain during the late afternoon.

Arkaroola & Lake Frome Flight Optional Extras

Enhance your journey with these unforgettable optional experiences:
35-Minute flight over Arkaroola: The Sanctuary Flight is 35 minutes of breathtaking history, as it takes you from the ancient sedimentary seabed layers of southern Arkaroola to the unruly granite and quartz outcrops of Mt Gee, the Mawson Plateau and the Freeling Heights. Ridgetop area granites are the oldest part (1.5 - 1.6B), sedimentary in Arkaroola is half the age but still the oldest of the Flinders. Your expert pilot's commentary will teach you about Arkaroola’s geology and mining history as you take in the beautiful views down below. A unique way to experience the region, it's a stunning adventure you won't soon forget. Window seat guaranteed!
45-Minute flight over Lake Frome: The Lake Frome flight takes you over one of the whitest salt lakes in the Southern Hemisphere – you may have to shade your eyes from the epic crystalline expanse of salt glinting in the sun! Flanked by 20,000-year-old sand dunes trapped forever in the crusty grasp of the Lake, these are a relic of the time when central Australia was once an inland sea. With 45 minutes of breathtaking views and fascinating commentary from your expert pilot, this short flight is packed with wonderment. Window seat guaranteed!
75-Minute flight over Arkaroola & Lake Frome: Begin your Arkaroola and Lake Frome Flight over ancient sedimentary seabed layers of southern Arkaroola, witnessing the breathtaking sights all the way to the unruly granite and quartz outcrops of Mt Gee, the Mawson Plateau and the Freeling Heights. Your expert pilot's commentary will teach you about Arkaroola’s geology and mining history as you take in the beautiful views down below. Continue the journey east across the flood plains to Lake Frome, the whitest salt lake in Australia. You may have to shade your eyes from the epic crystalline expanse of salt glinting in the sun! Flanked by 20,000-year-old sand dunes trapped forever in the crusty grasp of the Lake, these are a relic of the time when central Australia was once an inland sea. A unique way to experience the region, it's a stunning 75 minute adventure you won't soon forget. Window seat guaranteed!
2-Hour flight “2 Lakes & 2 Deserts”: Join our expert pilot on a 2 hour & 10 minute adventure. Fly over the northern part of Arkaroola and the Mawson Plateau, the Cobbler Desert with its endless sand moguls, Lake Callabonna, home of megafauna fossils and enigmatic mound springs, the red sand of the Strezlecki Desert, and Lake Frome with its islands and sparkling white salt surface. While taking in the spectacular vistas, listen to your expert pilot's commentary on your personal headphones and learn about the region's geology and mining history. Window seat guaranteed!
Optional extras are available at an additional cost. Please speak with your sales agent for more information.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your accommodation: Wilpena Pound Resort (or similar)

Located in the heart of the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound Resort is the perfect base to explore this vast and spectacular outback landscape. Enjoy the comfort of the light filled resort rooms as you unwind after a day spent exploring.

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Day 7 - Wilpena Pound to Adelaide

SA Eco Tours: Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari - Day 7
Flinders Ranges to Adelaide

Enjoy an early morning walk, breathe in the fresh air while listening to the unique sounds of the Australian Bush. Spend a relaxing morning travelling back to Adelaide along the eastern side of the magnificent Flinders Ranges with its mighty red gum forests. The land will change into lush expanses of natural rural beauty as we head south. Enjoy a break in the world-famous Clare Valley wine region. No doubt you will leave with life-long memories to share with family and friends about your journey to the Flinders Ranges & Outback Australia!

Wilpena Pound & Flinders Ranges Flight Optional Extras

Enhance your journey with these unforgettable optional experiences:
30-Minute Wilpena Pound & Flinders Ranges flight: During this 30 minute experience, be guided by commentary through more than 550 million years of geological history as you take in the magnificent views of Wilpena Pound, the Elder Range, Edeowie Gorge, St Mary’s Peak, Heysen Range, Bunyeroo Gorge, and Brachina gorge. The flight includes full commentary via headsets worn by all guests and superb window seat views!
45-Minute Wilpena Pound & Flinders Ranges scenic flight: A 45-minute scenic flight taking in Ikara-Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges National Park, and the Heysen Range including Bunyeroo, Brachina and Parachilna Gorges. The flight includes full commentary via headsets worn by all guests and superb window seat views!
1 Hour Wilpena Pound & Flinders Ranges flight: During this 1 hour experience, be guided by commentary through more than 550 million years of geological history as you take in the magnificent views of Wilpena Pound, the Elder Range, Edeowie Gorge, St Mary’s Peak, Heysen Range, Bunyeroo Gorge, and Brachina gorge. Continue on your scenic flight beyond Wilpena Pound over the Western Plains, Parachilna township, Parachilna Gorge, Blinman township and Copper Mine, the Bunkers Range and the Skytrek 4WD track. Take in the backbone-shaped Ikara-Flinders Ranges and marvel at the varying colours and textures of this ancient and beautiful landscape. The flight includes full commentary via headsets worn by all guests and superb window seat views!
Optional extras are available at an additional cost. Please speak with your sales agent for more information.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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