Down South & Outback 2012-2013

Itinerary

Day 1 Melbourne to Port Campbell Via Great Ocean Road.

From Melbourne we head west stopping at Bells Beach and the coastal towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay. The afternoon brings us to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. (D)

Day 2 Great Ocean Road to Grampians National Park.

We’ll take time to explore several natural landscapes including The Arch, London Bridge and the Bay of Martyrs. Then we’ll travel to the Grampians National Park. (B, D)

Day 3 Grampians National Park to Adelaide.

We head to Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre and learn about Dreamtime, then to South Australia and its capital, Adelaide. (B, L)

Day 4 Adelaide.

Take a free day to explore Adelaide and its nearby attractions. (B)

Day 5 Adelaide to Quorn (Flinders Ranges).

From Adelaide we travel through the Clare Valley towards the Flinders Ranges stopping for lunch at a local winery. After taking in the spectacular view from the top of Mt Remarkable we’ll enjoy a pub meal and drinks with the locals. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Quorn (Flinders Ranges National Park).

We enter the National Park for a hike through the Flinders Ranges. Heading back to Quorn we’ll visit the Yourambulla Caves home to some early Indigenous rock paintings. In the evening we’ll all relax with a friendly Aussie barbecue. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Quorn to Coober Pedy.

First up is Port Augusta and the salt lakes before we leave civilisation behind for Coober Pedy. We’ll head below the surface for a tour of an underground mine & museum. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Coober Pedy to Marla.

Before leaving town we’ll take a local tour and visit an outdoor opal fossicking site! On the way north we’ll stop at the Breakaways before spending the night in outback Marla. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Marla to Uluru (Ayers Rock).

We have one destination in mind: Australia’s Red Centre, and specifically, the rock. We’ll visit Kata Tjuta before we return to see the sunset at Uluru. Wrap up tight in your swag (Aussie bedroll) because tonight we sleep under the stars. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Uluru (Ayers Rock) to Kings Canyon.

We’re up early today for the sunrise over Uluru, a base tour of the landmark and a trip to the Cultural Centre. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Kings Canyon to Alice Springs.

Prepare for some serious walking today, as we’ll be on foot for the first half if it. We cover the short distance to Watarrka National Park (home of Kings Canyon) and begin our climb of the stairs up the towering sandstone cliffs. Then we’ll complete the rim walk into the centre of the Canyon and the start of proceedings at Kings Creek. We head back to Alice Springs where our trip sadly comes to a close. (B, L)