4 Days – Monday 17th to Thursday 20th May 2027
Accommodation: Wudinna, Whyalla
Welcome to an outback expedition into the heart if South Australia’s ancient landscapes. This specially designed four day tour explores the beautiful Gawler Ranges and it’s surrounding geological marvels. Our base for this adventure is the township of Wudinna. With a local population of approximately 660 residents. Wudinna stands as the region’s primary gateway, offering a blend of country hospitality and convenient proximity to the wilderness. Staying in this remote outback setting rewards travelers with unparalleled night views, where clear skies unveil a tapestry of stars, completely free from city light pollution.
By day, the landscape transforms into a wonderful geological gallery. You will marvel at granite outcrops, rocky gorges and distinctive volcanic rock formations estimated to be over 1,500 million years old. The region is famously littered with massive granite monoliths, including Mt Wudinna and the remarkable Pildappa Rock, rightfully celebrated as South Australia’s very own wave rock. Here, you will discover historic human ingenuity, such as the rock to channel precious water runoff into a massive underground tank built for early local settlers. We also visit Tcharkuldu Rock, a site filled with giant granite boulders and unique of internally eroded rocks that have hollowed out over millenia into fascinating, cave like structures. Keep your eyes peeled, as a resident family of wild euros is known to habitat among the rocks. Rich pioneer history also awaits at the Old Paney Homestead and it’s historic Stone Dam, which once provided life giving water for early livestock, giving us a profound glimpse into the rugged lives of Australia’s early pastoral pioneers. Relax and marvel at the majesty of this unique landscape from the comfort of our coach.
Highlights of the tour:
- «Our outback adventure commences promptly at 8.00am. Our first stop is at the historic town of Port Wakefield, where we will enjoy morning tea near the banks of the Port Wakefield River.
- «Drive past the iconic Joy Baluch stature, honoring a fierce advocate for regional South Australia.
- «Pull into the town of Kimba. This iconic break offers the chance to view the famous Big Galah statue and the historic “Half Way Across Australia” sign.
- «As we continue driving, we soon pass Waddikee Rock, pausing to view the historic monument erected at it’s base dedicated to the early explorer John Charles Darke.
- «By late afternoon, we arrive at our final destination for the next two nights, checking into our accommodation split across the Gawler Ranges Motel and the Wudinna Hotel Motel.
- «Visit the spectacular Australian Farmer monument, a magnificent piece of public art, celebrating the region’s agricultural roots.
- «Leaving the town, we drive past historic Minnipa Agricultural Centre before arriving at the Tcharkuldu Rock and the historic Tcharkuldu Reservoir. This location features an incredible collection of giant granite boulders and fascinating natural rock formations, whose cavernous, internally eroded structures offer fantastic photo opportunities.
- «Sit down for a picnic lunch at the Old Paney Homestead. Surrounded by pristine wilderness, we will explore the area, travelling via the homestead grounds, the historic Park Station and the fascinating old Shearers Quarters and Wool Shed.
- «Stop at the impressive Polda Rock and the historic Polda Dam followed shortly by a visit to Mt Wudinna, one of the largest granite monoliths in the southern hemisphere.
- «Arrive in the vibrant hub of Cleve, in the centre of Eyre Peninsula, where you will have the opportunity to explore the local cafes and buy your own choice of lunch. After lunch stop to view the very talented nearby Bonnie and Clyde scrap metal sculptures, created by local farmer and artist Peter Crosby.
- «View the beautiful painted Cowell silos and take a relaxing stroll along the redeveloped foreshore.
- «Stop at the award winning Wadlata Outback Centre in Port Augusta. This interactive centre offers a fantastic, immersive journey through time, explaining the indigenous creation stories, early European exploration and the unique prehistotic origins of the very landscapes we have just spent days exploring.
- «Continuing South along the Gulf St Vincent coastline, we arrive at the historic port city of Port Pirie for a lovely lunch stop.
- «Moving further down the highway we make a stop at Snowtown, where we can view the town’s impressive water tower murals and the famous Big Blade monument, a striking tribute to the region’s wind energy sector
- «Our final comfort stop of the day is at the charming town of Balaklava, offering a last chance to stetch our legs and share contact details with fellow travellers.
- «Our tour concludes as we arrive back at Innovation House. You will disembark with rich memories and a deeper understanding of Australia’s ancient geological outback history.
Inclusions
- « Morning tea provided on Day 1
- « Fully cooked breakfast on Day 2, 3 and 4
- « Lunch on Day 1, 2 and 4
- « Two course dinner on Day 1, 2 and 3
- « Entrance to Museums/attractions listed
- « Fully escorted with a tour host.
- « Deluxe bus travel.