South Australia Outback & Vines Tour

Adelaide is South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital. Its ring of parkland on the River Torrens is home to acclaimed museums such as the Art Gallery of South Australia, displaying expansive collections of Indigenous art, and the South Australian Museum, devoted to natural history. The world renowned Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale wine regions are within driving distance, along with stunning beaches, national parks and riverland, making Adelaide an ideal base to experience South Australia's beauty.

Our rental car range includes the latest vehicles from the top suppliers. From economy hatchbacks to SUVs, we can help you decide on a car suitable for this leg of your trip. Insurance can often be included with a small excess or deductible.

Departing Adelaide, head north along the Northern Expressway. If time allows, you may like to take the exit to St Kilda - home of the Tramway Museum, an adventure playground (which is just as fun for the 'big kids'), and the Mangrove Trail. Here, you can stretch your legs and explore a flooded forest on an elevated boardwalk, meandering through tidal salt marshes and mangroves to a scenic lookout over the Barker Inlet. Continuing along the Port Wakefield Highway towards the top of the Gulf of St Vincent, passing the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary on the coast, and rolling farm plains on the right. Port Wakefield is a great place to fuel up and have some lunch before continuing onto Lochiel. Stop for a photo opportunity at the kaleidoscope of colour, Lake Bumbunga, known to change colours from pink, to white, to blue depending on its salinity. Keep an eye out for Lochie, the Loch-Eel, in the lake.
Hit the road again and head west through Blyth onto the town of Clare, gateway to one of the state's premier wine regions - the Clare Valley.

The town of Clare is best known for its proximity to the Clare Valley, a wine and tourism region home to over 40 wineries, and some of the best-tasting Riesling in Australia. One of the best ways to explore what Clare has to offer is the 35km, Reisling Trail, a bike track that kicks off from the Clare Railway Station. The Reisling trail passes through many cellar doors making it the perfect way to explore the town and visit some of Clare's best wineries. While in Clare we recommend visiting:
Jim Barry Wines - a winery famous for its history, named for the pioneering winemaker of Australian table wine.
Claymore Winery - a unique cellar door offering a mix of wine, music, and football to create an experience.
Reilly's Winery - a heritage cellar door, specialising in vegan-friendly winemaking techniques and offering a long lunch experience.
Sevenhill Cellar - Clare's oldest cellar door renowned for its history and signature wines.

Departing Clare this morning, head north towards the towns of Gladstone and Laura. After approximately 90 minutes you will find yourself in Melrose, the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges. Nestled at the base of Mount Remarkable, the town is a popular spot for bushwalkers and mountain bikers. Grab lunch at the brewery, stretch your legs and enjoy a walk through town, discovering historic landmarks including the Courthouse Heritage Museum, Cathedral Rock and the War Memorial.
Back on the Horrocks Highway, continue on towards Quorn, home of the heritage Pichi Richi steam railway, which runs on the original Ghan route to Port Augusta. From here you will take the Flinders Ranges Way through to Hawker and Rawnsley Park Station - your outback base for exploring the magnificent surrounding landscapes.

The Ikara-Flinders Ranges are a rugged, mountainous outback region of South Australia carved out over 540 million years. The grandeur of the ancient gorges and colourful landscape leaves this area regarded as one of the most spectacular destinations in the world, and offers visitors a myriad of unique experiences. Admire the landscape on foot or by 4WD on outback tracks, marvelling at sheer sunburned cliffs, tranquil rock pools, and vast gorges. These magnificent sights can also be witnessed in their enormity from the air on a fixed-wing plane or helicopter flight from one of the outback resorts.
The renowned Wilpena Pound is the must-see centrepiece of the national park. Measuring 8km by 17km, this natural amphitheatre holds a spiritual significance for the Adnyamathanha people. The Dreamtime legend tells of how Wilpena Pound was formed by the bodies of two giant serpents, who could not move after eating the people who had gathered there for a ceremony.
Visit the many outback towns with interesting histories, ride the historic Pichi Richi railway in Quorn, dine at the famous Prairie Hotel in Parachilna, or sit back and take in the blanket of a billion stars at Australia's largest privately-owned observatory in Arkaroola.

Arriving at Rawnsley Park Station today, and settle into your Eco Villa accommodation for the evening, tucked away in a secluded spot with breathtaking views. This afternoon is yours to explore the station at your leisure, including bushwalking trails to Alison Saddle or Kangaroo Gap, the exclusive eco villas swimming pool, or relax with a drink on your private verandah as the sun sets. Tonight includes a 2 course dinner at the Woolshed Restaurant.

This morning, watch as the sky comes to life through your over-bed skylight and enjoy the continental breakfast provided for you. If you're feeling adventurous, this morning you can take part in an optional morning tour or spend your day relaxing and exploring the station. At 3pm, you will depart on your 15 minute helicopter flight past Rawnsley Bluff and over the spectacular Wilpena Pound, up to the Chace Ranges where you will spend the night. Your guide will prepare your 2 course dinner as you prepare to spend the night sleeping under the star-filled sky in a quintessentially Australian swag.

Discover two of the most spectacular gorges in the Flinders Ranges – Bunyeroo and Brachina - on this 4WD tour which highlights the best of the scenery in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges. Enjoy breathtaking views of the landscape as you are taken back in time through Bunyeroo Gorge. Your guide will explain the remarkable geology of the area, including 600 million-year-old sea beds preserved in the rock formations. Brachina Gorge presents a unique opportunity to see some of the oldest preserved fossils in the world, which can only be found here, in the Flinders Ranges. Likely to spot the elusive yellow-footed rock wallaby throughout your travels, be sure to keep your camera handy.

Wake to watch the sky come to life as you depart on a guided walk to Rawnsley Bluff. Marvel at the magnificent views as you hike up to the rim of Wilpena Pound - an ancient natural amphitheatre. Along the way, your experienced guides will introduce you to the unique flora and fauna of the region, and explain how the sea floor has uplifted over time to create this incredible landscape.

Wake to a stunning outback sunrise this morning and enjoy breakfast while gazing over the spectacular views of the Elder Range, Ulowdna Range and Wilpena Pound. After breakfast, your experienced guide will walk you down the Chace Track back towards Rawnsley Park Station. Cut by bulldozer by the Gregory brothers several years ago to give them access to the eastern side of the range, the Chace Track begins as a steep decline through the rocky landscape onto plains country, where the station runs Merino Dohne cross sheep. Throughout your walk, keep an eye out for red kangaroos, emus, wedge-tailed eagles and the beautiful Mallee ring neck parrots.
On returning to the station, enjoy your free afternoon to indulge in your luxury eco villa once again. Dinner tonight is a 2 course meal at the Woolshed Restaurant.
This evening, you may choose to embark on an optional 2 hour sunset experience.

Your guide will take you on a 40-minute drive through the station, providing an excellent opportunity to witness native wildlife with the stunning Wilpena Pound in the distance. Gourmet canapes are provided by the Woolshed Restaurant, to be enjoyed with a glass of beer or sparkling wine as you enjoy an impressive 360-degree view from Yaltaordla Hill. Celebrate the end of an exciting day in this special region as the last rays of the sun kiss Rawnsley Bluff and the Chace Range, and welcome the blanket of stars to follow as darkness falls.

Make the most of your last morning at Rawnsley Park Station relaxing over breakfast in your luxury villa. Soak up the rugged landscape views and outback atmosphere of the 12,000 hectare property before getting back on the road to continue your adventure.

Depart Rawnsley Park Station this morning after breakfast and head south through Hawker, and then onto RM Williams Way, named for the entrepreneurial bushman who rose to fame developing an outback clothing company of the same name. The town of Orroroo makes for a nice coffee break and to sit under the shade of its resident 500-year-old red gum tree.
Reach your halfway point in Peterborough and spend some time exploring the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre. Once the busiest regional railway hub in South Australia, you can now take a guided tour of the historic Roundhouse, home to Australia's only triple gauge turntable.
From here, continue south towards the town of Burra, through the stunning Clare Valley pastoral and wine region and onto your destination of Tanunda nestled in the Barossa Valley.

Join a Segway tour through the Seppeltsfield Estate while learning about the history and unique heritage of Seppeltsfield. Traverse through the historic estate as your guide leads you to the Great Terraced Vineyard to enjoy panoramic views of Seppeltsfield and the surrounding Barossa Valley. Enjoy viewing historic listed buildings before continuing through the vines on this 90 minute long experience. This tour begins with a 30 minute training session and concludes with a wine tasting at the Cellar Door.

Pindarie
Situated on the western ridge of the Barossa Valley, this family-run vineyard and cellar door is located away from the hustle of the town, amidst sheep, pastures and vines. Enjoy views of rolling hills with a glass of Rose or Tempranillo.

Gomersal Wines
A boutique winery, Gomersal Wines is renowned for its traditional, rich, full-bodied Shiraz which may be enjoyed with a platter complete with local meats, cheese and chutney. For something different, taste their small batch gins, created in collaboration with a local distiller.

Rockford Wines
Sip and lounge in a cellar door made up of old stone buildings dating back to early settlement of Krondorf. Rockford is passionate about keeping its heritage alive, seen throughout the grounds and in the story telling of the wine. Bookings are recommended.

Grant Burge
Experience the ultimate wine and chocolate tasting with four premium Grant Burge wines alongside hand-made locally produced chocolate from Just Bliss. This unique pairing is enjoyed in the Meshach Cellar Door with impressive Barossa Valley views.

Jacob's Creek
Use a map of the grounds to choose your perfect picnic location before embarking on a culinary tourism experience with a bottle of wine and gourmet produce. If you are short on time, enjoying a tasting inside the cellar door is a welcome event and can be followed with a stroll along the Jacob's Creek walking trail.

Barossa Sculpture Park is located at the base of Mengler Hill Lookout. You will have nice views of the sweeping landscape of rustic vineyards, wineries, and traditional farm houses. Art lovers will enjoy a collection of interesting sculptures created by local as well as international sculptors. Dating back to 1988, the sculptures were originally created as part of the Barossa International Sculpture Symposium, and they can now be seen for free against a backdrop of rolling hills. The artists lived alongside local residents to capture a better taste of the Barossa Valley and its spirit in the artwork. You can wander around the trail, admire the sculptures made from local marble and granite, or have a picnic on one of the grassy spots that surround the hills and the lookout area. 

Begin your experience as you watch your pilot and crew launch the balloon to be ready for take-off! Experience a sunrise like no other, float in a hot air balloon over the gorgeous Barossa Valley as the sun is rising and the stunning light casts the colors across the sky to welcome in the day. Enjoy the mesmerising 360-degree views as you look out over the valley and countryside, sit back, and relax as you soak in the scenery for 1 hour in the air. Once you have landed, be greeted by the crew to pack up the balloon and head back to the office for a delicious breakfast, a glass of champagne, and the chance to chat with your pilot before receiving your 'Balloonatic Flying Certificate'.

Two Hands Wines
This relaxed and intimate cellar door is located in a 19th century cellar door with an adjusting bakehouse and cellar. Book ahead of time to guarantee a spot to enjoy a tasting flight on the sun-filled deck or by the open fire.

Elderton Wines
Owned by a local family, Elderton Wines began over 40 years ago and uses sustainable practices to produce quality wines, including a selections of reds and whites. The cellar door, located in Nuriootpa, is surrounded by vineyards and offers a main tasting room and rooms for private tastings.                 

Penfolds Barossa
Recognised around the world, Penfolds Barossa offers tasting flights and unique experiences such as a Make Your Own Blend where you become a master winemarker for the day. Their Grange wine is a must-try before continuing your journey around the Barossa!

Barossa Distilling Company
Located within the Provenance Building, directly next to Penfolds, Barossa Distilling Co houses a wide selection of gin, all of which may be tasted neat or in a handcrafted cocktail mixed at the bar.

Saltram
This flagship cellar door is surrounded by lush grass and estate vineyards, full of experiences and an inviting atmosphere. Hosted in the original stone winery house, you may enjoy all day dining, classic wine tastings or a heritage tour of the estate.

Yalumba
Within Angaston, Yalumba has large grounds, with lawn games, outdoor seating and picturesque gardens to enjoy while tasting premier wine collections. You may choose to book ahead of time and enjoy a lunch or private tour of the wine rooms.

Depart Nuriootpa via the Sturt Highway, passing by the rolling fields of wheat and vineyards. If you haven't already, take a detour to stop by the Pindarie Cellar Door, taste the multi-award-winning wines, and take in the 180-degree views of the vineyard estate. Continue along the Sturt Highway and take the exit to stop in the town of Gawler for lunch and a walk along the river. Travel for a further 45 minutes to reach your destination of Adelaide.