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Day 1 : Perth (D)
This evening meet your Outback Discovery crew and get together with fellow travellers during your welcome dinner.
Overnight Stay: Perth
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Day 2 : Perth – Kalgoorlie (B,L,D)
Settle in aboard your Outback Discovery vehicle for the first day of our crossing of the world’s largest island continent. We’ll drive west into the wheat belt and through the small town of Meckering that made world news in October 1968 when an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale caused widespread destruction but no loss of life. At the Cunderdin Museum you’ll see displays depicting the earthquake and many artefacts showing the pioneering spirit of the district.
Two Night Stay: Kalgoorlie
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Day 3 : Kalgoorlie (B,L,D)
The gold rush town of Kalgoorlie includes the ‘Golden Mile’, said to have been the richest square mile of gold bearing earth in the world. Enjoy an orientation tour including the infamous Hay Street. At the Miners Hall of Fame you’ll have the opportunity to pan for gold, watch how gold is poured or even put on your hard hat and go down a mineshaft. We then visit the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
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Day 4 : Kalgoorlie – Norseman (B,L,D)
This morning we visit the Superpit and travel to the nickel mining town of Kambalda where we will visit Red Hill Lookout for a panoramic view of the nickel operations and Lake Lefroy, one of many huge salt lakes in the west of the Nullarbor Plain.
Overnight Stay: Norseman
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Day 5 : Norseman – Eucla (B,L,D)
Today is the start of our two day journey across the Eyre Highway. Our first stop is Balladonia. In July 1979 pieces of Skylab crashed to earth and at the Balladonia Hotel’s museum we’ll see memorabilia and actual debris from Skylab. From Balladonia we round a bend that marks the start of the longest straight stretch of road on earth, just under 150 kilometres in length. We’ll take a break at Cocklebiddy and continue on to Madura, where the road descends steeply and is bounded by an escarpment to the north and the seas of the Great Australian Bight to the south.
Overnight Stay: Eucla
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Day 6 : Eucla – Streaky Bay (B,L,D)
The adventure continues today as we cross the South Australian border to the most picturesque section of the Nullarbor trip. For many kilometres the country to our left is endless, flat saltbush and to our right sheer cliffs drop into the sea. We’ll stop at the Head of the Bight to see ancient cliffs ranging in height from 40-70 metres above the pounding Southern Ocean. The landscape begins to change and sheep properties start to appear until we reach Ceduna at the end of the Nullarbor Plain.
Overnight Stay: Streaky Bay
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Day 7 : Streaky Bay – Port Lincoln (B,L,D)
This morning we drive to Point Labatt Conservation Park to a cliff top platform where you’ll view a mainland breeding colony of Australian sea lions. We’ll continue along the Eyre Peninsula passing through Elliston, a pretty coastal town situated on the shores of Waterloo Bay. With a harbour three times the size of Sydney, Port Lincoln is today’s destination.
Two Night Stay: Port Lincoln
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Day 8 : Port Lincoln (B,L,D)
Enjoy a locally guided tour of Port Lincoln this morning. Tour the city sights, view a spectacular coastal panorama and encounter the rich history of the town. Visit Mikkira Station and Koala Park, a former Head Station of the first sheep run south of Port Lincoln, settled in 1842. Visitors may view the restored original homestead and old gardens or simply relax and admire the abundant and varied birdlife which nest in the Manna gums, where koalas may also be easily found. Visit a winery and the beautiful Roseview Gardens before returning to your accommodation for dinner.
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Day 9 : Port Lincoln – Adelaide (B,L,D)
Today we travel along the coastline of the Eyre Peninsula and Spencer Gulf. We pass through quiet coastal towns of Tumby Bay, Arno Bay and Cowell. We will continue through the towns of Port Augusta and Port Wakefield before arriving in South Australia’s capital, Adelaide. Our drive into the city passes generous boulevards, historic churches and elegant architecture which reflect South Australia’s strong European heritage.
Overnight Stay: Adelaide
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Day 10 : Adelaide – Barossa Valley (B,L,D)
This morning after breakfast we will do a brief city tour of Adelaide before heading to Haighs Chocolate Visitor Centre for a tasting. Continue on to the Barossa Valley to visit the historic Seppelt Winery which was founded in 1851 and is a national treasure. Head to the Angas Park Fruit Company which, since it was established in 1911, has grown into one of the most successful dried fruit companies in Australia. Afterwards we will continue to enjoy wine tasting at one of the Barossa Valley’s well known wineries.
Overnight Stay: Barossa Valley
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Day 11 : Barossa Valley – Wilpena Pound (B,L,D)
Today we farewell the wine country and depart for the Flinders Ranges and the outback. On the way we’ll call in at the historic copper mining town of Burra where a local guide will escort you on a tour of the town. Continuing due north we pass through Peterborough and Hawker, after which you’ll see the beginnings of the beautifully coloured ridges of the Flinders Ranges. From here we follow the line of the ranges to Wilpena Pound.
Overnight Stay: Wilpena Pound
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Day 12 : Wilpena Pound – Arkaroola (B,L,D)
Wilpena Pound is the centrepiece of the Flinders Ranges National Park, recognised as one of the finest landscapes in Australia. It is rich in wildlife that have adapted well to the rugged mountains and gorges. After breakfast we’ll take a short transfer up the ridge for spectacular views across the pound. We visit the old mining town of Blinman. The crumbling ruins of old cottages and the Blinman mine now form an historic town set in a sparse hilly landscape. We continue on to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.
Two Night Stay: Arkaroola
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Day 13 : Arkaroola (B,L,D)
Today is a day of adventure and exploration. Travelling in a specially constructed open-top 4WD vehicle, you’ll take a guided Ridgetop Tour of some of the most spectacularly rugged country on earth. Our local tour guides will share their knowledge of Arkaroola’s 1,600 million year geological history as you navigate the steep slopes of the famous Ridgetop Track. After dinner take in the millions of stars at the Arkaroola Astronomical Observatory.
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Day 14 : Arkaroola – Broken Hill (B,L,D)
We drive south across the flood plains of one of Australia’s many large salt lakes, Lake Frome. As we make our way across Frome Downs Station, we’ll go through the longest manmade structure on earth ‘The Dog Fence’, built to stop dingoes savaging sheep flocks. We’ll travel along the Barrier Highway into New South Wales and on to Broken Hill, site of the world’s richest deposits of silver, lead and zinc which led to the establishment of BHP.
Two Night Stay: Broken Hill
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Day 15 : Broken Hill (B,L,D)
Today we start at the outback ghost town of Silverton. Spend time strolling around the restored gaol, art galleries and the celebrated Silverton Hotel. At the Day Dream Mine you’ll get a feel for life back in the early mining days. We then visit the Silver City Mint and Gallery to view the Big Picture, the world’s largest acrylic painting on canvas. Later we’ll take a drive out to the spectacular Living Desert Sculptures.
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Day 16 : Broken Hill – West Wyalong (B,L,D)
We gradually begin to leave the outback behind for more populated country along interesting back roads through Menindee, Ivanhoe and Hillston. Our destination today is the historic gold mining town of West Wyalong.
Overnight Stay: West Wyalong
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Day 17 : West Wyalong – Sydney (B,L)
After we leave West Wyalong, we pass through the gold mining town of Grenfel. From the coal-mining town of Lithgow we take the Great Western Highway over the Blue Mountains, stopping for photos at Katoomba’s iconic Three Sisters. We’ll arrive in Sydney late this afternoon, where it will be time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travellers (please book your flights from 7pm onwards).*Check transfer entitlements with your Travel Agent. For passengers who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
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