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Australian Wilderness & Outback Journeys
Private and luxury journeys to The Kimberley, Kakadu, Arnhem Land, Red Centre, Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre...
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Greatest Rail Journeys in Australia
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Go where the spaces are open and the “eyre” is fresh…This is the quintessential Aussie Outback experience.
Delve deep into the rugged beauty and pioneering spirit of the heartland with this deluxe 11-day small 4WD tour of the Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola, Marree, Lake Eyre, The Oodnadatta Track, Coober Pedy, Uluru and Kings Canyon. This is an “ultimate” comprehensive expedition that takes travellers on a journey of discovery, exploration and imagination.
Starting from Adelaide, set out in a modern and comfortable 4WD with a group of maximum 5 travellers into the wilds of South Australia. Driving through the Flinders Ranges and Outback, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were navigating the unexplored face of Mars, where towering ancient cliffs and deep craters border dusty red roads. While in the Ranges, you’ll embark on ...
Starting from Adelaide, set out in a modern and comfortable 4WD with a group of maximum 5 travellers into the wilds of South Australia. Driving through the Flinders Ranges and Outback, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were navigating the unexplored face of Mars, where towering ancient cliffs and deep craters border dusty red roads. While in the Ranges, you’ll embark on an exhilarating 4WD tour of the Arkaroola Ridgetop and marvel at the crown jewel of the region: Wilpena Pound aka Earth’s Bellybutton.
An epic 2-hour scenic flight over Lake Eyre and Painted Hills gives you the ultimate bird’s eye view of Australia’s largest salt lake and the spectacular and recently discovered section of the pristine Breakaways country. The air trip will fill you with a profound sense of isolation. If you’re lucky enough to visit during the rains, look on in wonder as the desert explodes into floodwater and thousands upon thousands of birds.
Delve deep into Coober Pedy to discover a unique outback town where more than half the residents live underground. Visit the underground church, the underground hotel and, of course, the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum that give the town its reputation as Australia’s Opal Capital.
Watch the sunset over Uluru and indulge in an unforgettable ‘Sounds of Silence’ dining experience. Traverse Kata Tjuta’s Valley of the Winds. Hike the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. You’ll arrive into Alice Springs having experienced the very best of the Heartland.
This unique package includes 11-days/10-nights on tour with a small group of maximum 5 people. You’ll stay 10-nights’ in deluxe accommodation on a twin share basis. All meals, transport and guiding included as well as National Park entry fees as applicable.
Experience a sacred and spiritual landscape unlike any other on this deluxe 11-day expedition that hits every hotspot between Adelaide and Alice Springs. You haven’t truly seen Australia unless you’ve gone outback!
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We specialise in bespoke "tailor-made" luxury or private journeys. Please contact us for a "tailor-made" itinerary for your perfect adventure.
This tour is eligible to earn ONLYLUXE reward points.
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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.
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is $1,300pp. Surcharge applies to festival/holiday season.
The departure point is Adelaide, South Australia. The finish point is Alice Springs.
Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Adelaide and Alice Springs.
South Australia has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild winters. Generally speaking, it is hotter to the north in the Flinders Ranges, and cooler further south, on Kangaroo Island. Please be advised temperatures can be extremely hot (plus 40 degrees Celsius) during summer in the Outback. Conversely, temperatures can drop to below 10 degrees Celsius at nighttime during winter.
In the Red Centre, the four traditional seasons are distinct, with temperatures plummeting below freezing during winter nights (June to August) and soaring to well above 40 degrees Celsius in the height of summer (December to January). Meanwhile, the shoulder seasons of April to May and September are mild with some warmer days. Rain is not common in the desert, but it does rain on occasion. Please be prepared for wet and windy conditions on all trips.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.Payment DetailAll pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.Single SupplementAll accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.General Cancellation Policies- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurancePlease Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.LiabilityThe participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.Child PolicyPlease consult travel consultant on age limit.Changes to ItinerariesLocal conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.Changes in PricesWhile we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age LimitsYou need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.Cancellation by The Tour OperatorThe walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.Force Majeure'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.EvacuationsIn rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.Travel InsuranceIn view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.