The South Australian capital may have a habit of flying under the radar – and locals are perfectly content to keep it that way, quietly enjoying their dining precincts, lush gardens, and world-class wineries just minutes from the city centre. But word is well and truly out, and this afternoon you’ll see for yourself just how wonderfully diverse Adelaide is.

After a welcome drink, your guided city tour will reveal something for every interest: the sporting pride of the Adelaide Oval, the beauty of the city’s Botanic Garden, the artistic treasures of the Art Gallery of South Australia, and the mouth-watering flavours of the Adelaide Central Market.

As evening falls, why not wander towards North Terrace, the city’s culinary hub? With its array of restaurants and eateries, it’s the perfect place to settle in and savour Adelaide’s warm, relaxed charm.

HotelMotel Adelaide

You don’t have to venture far from Adelaide to find yourself among the vines – just an hour and a half north lies the picturesque Clare Valley, home to some of Australia’s most celebrated wineries. One of the finest is Knappstein Enterprise Winery, with a heritage dating back to 1878 and a well-earned reputation for producing award-winning wines. You’ll have the chance to sample its finest drops at the cellar door before enjoying lunch in the charming heart of the Clare Valley.

From here, your journey shifts from rolling vineyards to the wide-open, otherworldly landscapes of the Flinders Ranges. The short coach ride feels like a trip through time, delivering you to a place shaped over 800 million years and home to the Adnyamathanha people for countless generations. Your home for the night, Wilpena Pound Resort, is owned and managed by the local Indigenous community, who will greet you with warmth, stories, and a connection to Country that runs deep.

Wilpena Pound Resort

Breakfast, Dinner

As the morning sun spills across the Flinders Ranges, the cliffs, craters, and striking red rock formations seem to glow. From Wangara Lookout, take in sweeping views over the vast natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound – an awe-inspiring start to the day.

Your route north winds through rugged gorges, where sharp eyes may spot the endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby. Fewer than 2,300 remain in the wild, and many make their home in this part of South Australia. It’s easy to see why they thrive here, as the landscape transforms into the ancient granite peaks and golden spinifex slopes of Arkaroola. From this remote wilderness, gaze across to the expanse of Lake Frome and the desert stretching far beyond.

When night falls, the real show begins. On a guided astronomy tour, the outback sky reveals a glittering canopy of stars in dazzling clarity. Standing beneath this cosmic display, you can’t help but feel both humbled and uplifted by the vastness of it all.

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

Breakfast, Dinner

What was unfolding in Arkaroola 1.6 billion years ago? Your local guide will unravel the region’s extraordinary geological story as you traverse the steep ridges and ascents of the legendary Ridgetop Track. This is a land of rare wonders – plants found nowhere else on Earth, and gorges so immense they seem to split the horizon in two.

Your journey continues northwest to the Ochre Cliffs near Lyndhurst, where nature has painted the landscape in vivid streaks of crimson, gold, and burnt orange. For the local Indigenous community, this rich clay has held deep cultural and ceremonial significance for countless generations – a place that is as sacred as it is spectacular.

It’s easy to see why 19th-century settlers were drawn to nearby Farina, but the harsh realities of life here eventually saw them abandon the town. Today, its weathered remains create an atmospheric ghost town on the edge of Marree – your base for the night, where you can rest your head and perhaps reflect on the stories the outback holds.

Marree Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Much of South Australia’s outback owes its existence to the legendary Ghan Railway, which once rattled from Adelaide to Darwin. This morning, your journey along the historic Oodnadatta Track peels back layers of pioneering history, set against the spectacular backdrop of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Usually a vast, glistening saltpan, Australia’s largest inland lake transforms into a shimmering inland sea when rare desert rains arrive – a sight few are lucky enough to witness.

You’ll take in its scale and beauty from above on a scenic flight that also sweeps over the Anna Creek Painted Hills. This dramatic rocky outcrop bursts from the surrounding plains in a kaleidoscope of ochres, reds, and creams, its abstract shapes forming a landscape as surreal as it is striking. Touch down to wander this otherworldly terrain before continuing on to Coober Pedy, your base for the next two nights.

Famed for its opal mines and its ingenious underground homes, this eccentric outback town offers a fascinating mix of adventure, character, and subterranean surprises.

Desert Cave Hotel

Breakfast

In Coober Pedy, much of the magic lies beneath the surface. With aboveground temperatures that can soar, many locals have embraced a subterranean lifestyle, carving homes, shops, and even churches into the earth. Spend the morning delving into this remarkable community, including the chance to try your hand at fossicking for opals in the surrounding mines.

Venturing further afield, you’ll discover the Aboriginal-owned Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park. Here, travel a stretch of the legendary Dog Fence – an extraordinary barrier spanning 5,300 kilometres across three states – before taking in the park’s surreal, moonscape scenery of fossilised shells and cracked grey clay. It’s little wonder this otherworldly setting has starred in films like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.

The afternoon brings a different kind of spectacle at the Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club, where dirt fairways and oil-soaked putting greens make for one of the quirkiest courses in the world. After a few swings, head to the Big Winch 360º for an immersive cinematic journey along South Australia’s Explorer’s Way – a show as vast as the outback itself. Dinner is served here tonight, accompanied by sweeping views and stories as unique as the people who call this remarkable place home.

Desert Cave Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner

Just when you think the landscapes can’t get any more dramatic, South Australia raises the bar once again. Lake Hart, a vast, gleaming saltpan, once nurtured a small community in the 1930s – today it lies virtually deserted, its stark beauty a reminder that in the outback, nature always has the final say.

This immense, isolated expanse is also home to Woomera, the world’s largest military land base. Established by the British in 1947, it has served as a testing ground for atomic bombs, ballistic missiles, and satellite boosters – a little-known chapter of Australian history that you’ll come away with a new appreciation for.

As the day draws to a close, the barren landscapes give way to the sheltered waters of Port Augusta, your harbour-side resting place for the night.

Majestic Oasis Apartments

Breakfast

The Barossa needs little introduction. As one of Australia’s oldest and most celebrated wine regions, it’s a place where generations of winemakers have perfected their craft. Today, you’ll savour some of the region’s finest at Lambert Estate, where award-winning vintages are paired with sweeping views over rolling vineyards – the perfect backdrop to a leisurely lunch. Cheers to that.

With your heart, mind, and spirit enriched by the natural beauty, rich history, and warm hospitality of South Australia, you’ll return to Adelaide in good time for your onward flight, carrying with you the taste and memories of a region that truly lives up to its reputation.

Breakfast, Lunch