South Australia

DAY 1 Drive two hours fromAdelaide to Clare Valley. Stop in at favourites like Jim Barry Wines, Pikes Wines, Shut the Gate and the oldest vineyard in the region, Sevenhill Cellars. Have lunch at Skillogalee - try to get a seat under the gnarled old pepper tree if you can. After lunch, walk or cycle the Riesling and Rattler trail, which links cellar doors between the townships of Auburn and Clare. Bicycles can be hired in the main townships. Enjoy a relaxed dinner at Umbria Rustic Italian and overnight at Neagles Retreats or Bungaree Station. DAY 2 Continue north to the Flinders Ranges. Stop in the charming Southern Flinders town of Melrose, the oldest town in the region and have lunch at the North Star Hotel. Head to Alligator Gorge and go for a hike (moderate level). Watch your step in the rainy season as the water levels can be unexpectedly high. Continue on to the Flinders Ranges for dinner at the Woolshed Restaurant at Rawnsley Park Station. Stay overnight at the Rawnsley Park Eco Villas for views of Wilpena Pound. DAY 3 Choose between a hike in and around Wilpena Pound (fitness dependent) or join a 4WD tour through Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorges, showcasing the breathtaking scenery, history and wildlife. Try the ‘Feral Feast’ (goat, camel and kangaroo) at the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna. Continue on to Port Augusta. Check out the Wadlata Outback Centre and the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens. Overnight at Majestic Oasis in Port Augusta. DAY 4 Today’s drive is a long one – five and a half hours along the Stuart Highway. Stop off for breaks at Island Lagoon, the Woomera Heritage Centre and Interactive Rocket Range Museum for something different. Finish your drive in Coober Pedy, the underground town that’s home to the opal rush. Have dinner and overnight in an underground room at the Desert Cave Hotel. DAY 5 Spend the day uncovering the quirks of this unique town. Go noodling for opals, visit underground churches, mines and shops. In the afternoon head to the Breakaways and watch the colours change as the sun goes down. Overnight in Coober Pedy. DAY 6 Continue north along the Stuart Highway towards Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory. Finish your trip in Alice Springs or continue your journey north to Darwin. Paulett Wines, Clare Valley Above S I X DAY I T I N E R A R Y F L I N D E R S R A N G E S & O U T B AC K For a more detailed itinerary visit explorers-way.com