Adelaide to Alice Springs Outback Grand Traverse 11D10N, Fully Guided (Small Group of 5)

With 7:30am pick-up included from your Adelaide CBD accommodation, journey through the northern suburbs and the Adelaide Plains to the beautiful Clare Valley wine region. Your first stop is the historic township of Kapunda – Australia’s oldest copper mining town – and Sevenhill Cellars, South Australia’s oldest winery. While you’re here, be sure to sample a glass of the famous Clare Valley Riesling!

Continue north through the Southern Flinders Ranges to the historic township of Hawker. Visit Kanyaka Ruins and pop into the Jeff Morgan Gallery for your first glimpse of Wilpena Pound aka Earth’s Bellybutton immortalised in a spectacular circular painting that is over 30-metres in circumference. A second circular painting, even larger and just as impressive (46-metres) features Arkaroola landscape with foreground coming to your feet. Also included is a huge mineral gemstone and fossil collection including a dark room showcasing fluorescent minerals.

You’ll stay the night in eco-villa luxury at Rawnsley Park, with magnificent views of Wilpena Pound from your private verandah.

Delve deeper into the Flinders Ranges, South Australia’s largest mountain range, via the Bunyeroo, Brachina and Moralana Gorges. On show today is some of the state’s most magnificent scenery including the jewel in the crown: Wilpena Pound.

Covering eight times the area of Uluru, Wilpena Pound is a breathtaking natural amphitheatre reminiscent of a primeval Colosseum. Take time to explore the crater on foot and keep an eye out for unique Australian wildlife including the rare and elusive Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby.

You’ll stay the night in deluxe accommodation at Mawson Lodge, Arkaroola.

Experience the most rugged part of the Flinders Ranges with the Arkaroola Ridgetop tour. This signature 4WD tour navigates the steep slopes and hair-raising ascents of the famous Ridgetop Track to reveal spectacular 360-degree views across Freeling Heights, Lake Frome and the desert beyond.

Travel to the western edge of the Flinders Ranges onto the famous Oodnadatta Track. Continue on to Beltana, a truly remarkable State Heritage-listed town dotted with original stone buildings. The local Quandong Café is the perfect place to enjoy a hearty lunch and recap the morning’s adventure.

In the afternoon, call into Lyndhurst to admire the outdoor art gallery of Talc Alf, a local bush sculptor and free thinker. Alf’s unique designs (carved from talc) have earned him a place in outback art and modern history. If you’re lucky, you might even get to meet the man himself!

At the end of the day, arrive into Marree, where you’ll have time to explore fascinating sights including the iconic Tom Kruse Museum, which commemorates the local mailman-cum-legend who worked the Birdsville Track from 1936 to 1957.

You’ll stay the night in deluxe accommodation at the historic Marree Hotel. Built in 1883, this magnificent Heritage-listed building is regarded as the most impressive of Australia’s outback hotels.

After breakfast, browse around Marree and take in the local history. Pay a visit to the Lake Eyre Yacht Club before setting off along the Oodnadatta Track to Lake Eyre South. This famous track follows a traditional Aboriginal trading route that was later used by the explorer John McDouall Stuart on his third expedition in 1859.

In Lake Eyre South, enjoy a stroll along the edge of the lake and take time to simply stand and appreciate the profound sense of isolation that comes with staring out into so much nothingness. Visit an outback sculpture park, The Mound Springs and The William Creek Pub.

You’ll stay the night in deluxe accommodation at the William Creek Hotel.

Kick start your day with an epic 2-hour scenic flight over Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake. Only from above can you truly appreciate the enormity of this outback wonder, which is large enough to be visible from space. If you’re lucky enough to catch the rains, look down in wonder as the desert explodes into floodwater and thousands upon thousands of birds.Continue the flight to the Anna Creek Painted Hills to witness this secret lunar landscape.

Then, it’s time to head to Coober Pedy, Australia’s opal capital where more than half of the town’s residents live underground. You’ll see Australia’s longest fence and visit the Breakaways, a striking rocky landscape that was once covered by an inland sea. You might recognise the Breakaways from movies such as Pitch Black, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Delve deeper into Coober Pedy and visit the must-see sights including visiting Underground Motel, Umoona Mine, Underground Church and other Coober Pedy Sites.

You’ll stay the night in deluxe accommodation at Coober Pedy.

Watch the sunrise red, yellow and pink over the beautiful Breakaways. Once covered by an inland sea, this striking rocky landscape has featured in movies such as Pitch Black, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Follow the Dingo (Dog) fence, experience the startling colours of the Painted Desert, visit historic Oodnadatta, and enjoy the hot waters of Dalhousie Springs.

Continue on towards Uluru via the Stuart Highway and look on in wonder as the landscape grows redder and redder.

You’ll stay the night at Mt Dare Hotel.

Visit Mt Dare - the most northern hotel in South Australia. Continue the road journey and cross the border into the Northern Territory. Stop off at the site of the old Charlotte Waters Telegraph Station, which became a hub for scientists travelling in central Australia in the late 19th and early 20th century. Pass through the Aputula Aboriginal Community at Finke. Visit the Geographical Centre of Australia.

You'll stay at Erldunda Roadhouse, uniquely located in ‘The Centre of The Centre’, also referred to as the Centre of Australia. It offers old fashioned country hospitality with home-style cooking and clean comfortable facilities.

Travel the Stuart and Lasseter Highways and stop to view Mount Conner - Red Centre’s hidden gem. This flat-topped monolith is estimated to be 500 million years old, and is actually linked to the same underground rock formation as Uluru.

Feel the anticipation build as you travel towards Uluru (Ayers Rock), the beating red heart of Australia.

Spend the afternoon exploring this mystical and timeless landscape. Take a short walk around the rock – either the Mala Walk to Kantju Gorge or the Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. You should also stop by the Cultural Centre for a fascinating introduction to Anangu culture and a chance to support some Anangu-owned businesses.

Cap off the day with an unforgettable ‘Sounds of Silence’ dining experience. Start with canapes and chilled sparkling wine upon a dune top overlooking the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the sun sets and darkness falls, listen to the sound of the didgeridoo and join your table of fellow travellers for a mouth-watering, bush tucker-inspired 3-course meal.

You’ll stay the night at the Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel.

Witness the magnificent Uluru sunrise as you listen to the variety of desert noises from the surrounding environment.

Explore the Kata Tjuta area with the Valley of the Winds walk. Wander among the domes and marvel at the dusty, red landscape that will make you feel as if you’re on Mars. The walk takes 3-4 hours and is steep, rocky and difficult in places, so please be careful and take your time.

After, travel to Kings Canyon, where you will stay the night at the Kings Canyon Resort.

Feel on top of the world as you walk along the towering red rock cliffs of Kings Canyon and take in views of the forest of palms below. A 6-kilometre round trip, the iconic Kings Canyon Rim Walk will take you down into the Garden of Eden, a beautiful rock hole surrounded by rare plants, before ascending to panoramic views over the red sand dunes. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended.

If heights aren’t for you, there is an alternative (and easier) walk along Kings Creek and across the boulder-strewn canyon floor. This 2.6-kilometre return walk leads you to views that are just as spectacular as the Rim Walk.

After the walk, head for Alice Springs via the Mereenie Loop road and the historic Hermannsburg Mission. Established as a Lutheran Aboriginal mission in 1877, the area is now Heritage-listed and well worth a visit.

You’ll stay the night at Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, with your tour concluding upon arrival.

Your holiday through the Outback concludes after breakfast. Depart by own arrangements.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.