5 Days – Saturday 27th September to Wednesday 1st October 2025
Accommodation: Hawker Hotel, Leigh Creek Outback Hotel
The Flinders Ranges are the largest mountain ranges in South Australia, which start about 200 km north of Adelaide. The ranges stretch for over 430 km from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna.
The Far North is a region that covers about 70 per cent of South Australia. It extends across the entire width of the state – about 1200 kilometres (750 miles) – for approximately the northernmost 750 kilometres (470 miles). Colloquially, South Australians regard anywhere north of Port Augusta as the Far North. The Far North is by far the least populated region of South Australia. It’s most well known landmark is Wilpena Pound. The Far North is also known as the Arid Lands as a more descriptive term than desert,
Highlights of the tour:
- «Head north our first stop will be Balaklava, a small farming community in the Mid North, for a comfort stop and morning tea.
- «Travel onward we pass through Blyth, Brinkworth and Gladstone, before arriving at Laura for our lunch, which of course will include a local Golden North Giant Twin ice cream.
- «Leaving Laura we make our way further north, stopping to view the stunning painted silo at Wirrabara.
- «Be treated to a ride on the iconic Pichi Richi Railway. Travel on half-day Pichi Richi Explorer from Quorn to Woolshed Flat and return, passing by scenic landscape and stopping at Woolshed Flat whilst the train turns around. You may purchase light refreshments here, but it is cash only.
- «Return to Quorn where you will have time to wander and purchase your own lunch. Maybe check out the Quandong Cafe for their signature Quandong waffle.
- «Visit Flinders Gin Distillery and you may wish to taste or purchase some of their excellent products.
- «Travel to Kanyaka Ruins, formally a cattle & sheep station in the Flinders Ranges, established in 1852 by Hugh Proby after he emigrated to South Australia in 1851 from Lincolnshire in England.
- «Visit the amazing Jeff Morgan Gallery. See the incredible display’s housed across several large enclosure’s which include the painted panoramas, one of which is the Wilpena Panorama, 3.5m high & 33m in circumference and taking 4,000 hours to complete.
- «We head further north, passing through Parachilna before making a stop for a light lunch at the Bush Bakery & Quandong Cafe at Copley, 600 kms north of Adelaide.
- «Look around Farina, a town finally abandoned in the 1980’s. Today little remains of the township except for ruins and the seasonally operated “underground bakery”.
- «Arrive at Marree, situated at the junction of the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Track. The town was home to Australia’s first Mosque, which was made of mud brick and built by the Afghan cameleers employed at Maree’s inception.
- «Marree was also home of Tom Kruse, one of the men who drove the mail truck from Marree to Birdsville in Queensland, a distance of some 700 kilometres. A large amount of photographs and memorabilia from Kruse’s mail run are on display at the Marree Hotel.
- «Drive around Leigh Creek before travelling onto Beltana Town & Homestead, a town that began in the 1870’s with the advent of copper mining, the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line and The Ghan railway.
- «Cross into the Flinders Ranges with our first stop at Blinman, named after Robert Blinman, a local shepherd and nicknamed Peg Leg, as he only had one leg. You can grab a bite to eat here.
- «Make our way Stokes Hill Lookout for an amazing panoramic view of Flinders Ranges & Wilpena Pound. See the 3D model of the area.
- «Arrive in Peterborough in time for an early dinner thus enabling us to see the “Sound & Light Show” at Steamtown. A great way to hear about the story of this once bustling railway town. See the statue of “Bob the Railway Dog” in the main street.
- «Board the coach for a short journey to Terowie. See the railway siding where General McArthur made his famous “I shall return” speech.
- «Visit the restored home of Sir Hubert Wilkins and his family, who was an Australian polar explorer, ornithologist, pilot, soldier, geographer and photographer. Dick Smith was instrumental in restoring this home from “rubble and ruins”.
- «Stop at Burra, a once thriving copper mining town for a farewell lunch at the Burra Hotel.
- «Our last leg of the journey will include a stop at the stunning and colourful painted silo at Farrell Flat.
- «We will make a comfort stop at Tarlee, before arriving back at Mawson Lakes.
- «This tour will allow you to see the vast outback if beautiful South Australia and you will have ridden on the iconic Pichi Richi train as well.
Inclusions
- « Morning tea provided on Day 1
- « Fully cooked or continental breakfast on Day 2, 3, 4 and 5
- « Lunch on Day 1, 3 and 5
- « Two course dinner on Day 1, 2, 3 and 4
- « Entrance to Museums/attractions listed
- « Fully escorted with a tour host.
- « Deluxe bus travel.