Highlights
Kanku-Breakaways, Coober Pedy, Anna Creek Painted Hills
Duration
3 days with optional extension
Regions
Adelaide, Eyre Peninsula, Flinders Ranges and Outback
In the Outback, visitors will experience the quirky opal mining town of Coober Pedy where many residents live underground to avoid the heat. Spend a day touring the town learning about opal, visiting underground dwellings and noodling for opal.
Take a tour further afield to see the Anna Creek Painted Hills or join the mailman as he delivers mail to remote stations and towns.
For those wanting more Outback adventure, head to the Eyre Peninsula and visit the Gawler Ranges National Park and Lake Gairdner, a massive dry salt lake.
Day 1
Adelaide - Coober Pedy
Fly with Regional Express to Coober Pedy, the quirky opal-mining town where many locals live underground to escape the heat. Take a town tour and learn about opal and life in this fascinating community (including an underground home and church), finishing at the stunning Kanku-Breakaways Reserve with its colourful and surreal landforms. In the evening, take advantage of the clear outback skies and participate in a stargazing tour.
Overnight: Coober Pedy
Adelaide to Coober Pedy: 2-hour flight
Day 2
Coober Pedy
There are many touring options including a Down ‘N’ Dirty tour where you can dig for your own opal fortune. On Monday's and Thursday's visitors can join the Outback mailman as he delivers mail to remote stations. Join a Desert Diversity tour of the Painted Desert, an area of spectacular and colourful hills – an amazing sight of rocky outcrops in a flat, desert landscape. Scenic flights over the Anna Creek Painted Hills are also available from Coober Pedy, showcasing a more recently discovered section of the Breakaways country only accessible from the air.
Day 3
Coober Pedy - Adelaide
Before flying out of Coober Pedy to Adelaide, visit one of the opal shops to purchase some of this magnificent gemstone right at the source. There are a number of excellent retail outlets and museums where visitors can learn more and purchase quality pieces.
Overnight: Adelaide
Coober Pedy to Adelaide: 2-hour flight
Day 4
Eyre Peninsula (optional)
The Eyre Peninsula offers superb outback experiences and wilderness areas. The Gawler Ranges National Park is a place to see native animals on a four wheel drive tour. It’s possible to stay overnight in semi-permanent luxury safari tents or gaze up at the clear Outback sky from a sleeping bag. Visit Lake Gairdner, a massive dry salt lake, a surreal environment. The Outback reaches to the coastline so include swimming with wild dolphins and sea lions at Baird Bay or Port Lincoln. Further west, at Head of Bight, Southern Right whales put on an amazing display between May and October when they visit to breed and nurture their young.
Adelaide to Port Lincoln: 50-minute flight
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