Nullarbor Traveller: 6-Day Eyre Peninsula & Flinders Ranges Adventure

OVERVIEW

Roam the wild landscapes of South Australia and revel in the freedom to live life untamed. Escape to the vast, wide-open spaces of the Eyre Peninsula and Flinders Ranges. The perfect paradox of outback and ocean to awaken your senses and fire your curiosity. Unearth ancient land and lose yourself among 540-million-year-old mountain ranges, sweeping gorges, bushland brimming with wildlife and rich Aboriginal history on one of the best Flinders Ranges tours.

Venture to the Eyre Peninsula, winding from the red dirt to roaring ocean swells as you pull up in Port Lincoln. Here, sample the region's sought-after seafood, learn to surf and add a deeper meaning to your trip by volunteering at a koala conservation project. Then, go off-grid, falling asleep under a sea of stars. If you love aquatic adventures, you can choose the optional extra of swimming with wild sea lions and coming face-to-tooth with a Great White Shark.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Roam the ancient landscapes of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park 
• Learn about Aboriginal culture during a Welcome to Country at Wilpena Pound
• Witness abundant native wildlife from the land, sea and sky 
• Volunteer at a koala conservation regeneration project 
• Plunge into the ocean environment during a surfing lesson
• Soak up the serenity as you travel by ferry across the Spencer Gulf 
• Immersive oyster lease tour and tasting (OE)
• Swim with playful wild sea lions and come face-to-tooth with a white shark (OE)
• Unearth South Australia with your expert guide 

INCLUSIONS

• All National Park and entry fees
• All activities, unless stated as an optional extra (OE)
• All Meals – 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
• Accommodation – Swag Camping
• Transport – Air-conditioned minibus (max 20 people)
• Ferry from Lucky Bay to Wallaroo
• Expert local Guide

 ITINERARY

Day 1: Adelaide to Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

Your nature roaming journey begins as we head north, stopping at Clare for a quick coffee before continuing to Mount Remarkable National Park to hike Alligator Gorge. A must for any Flinders Ranges tour, make a steep descent, then follow a trench of towering bright ochre-coloured quartzite cliffs. After a picnic lunch, travel a bit further north, arriving at Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. So unique are the fossils found in this landscape, geologists had to revise the geologic timeline of Earth's history to encompass a new era called the Ediacaran period.

Arrive at our Wilpena Pound campsite for a Welcome to Country in the Adnyamathanha people's language. Enjoy Aboriginal songs, traditional stories, and local information as you are welcomed to the Flinders Ranges. Enjoy dinner by the campfire and roll out your swag for your first night under the billions of stars of the Milky Way.

Today we drive approximately 450km (5 hours), with stops along the way. Swag camp in the camping area at the Wilpena Pound Resort, which has toilet and shower facilities.

Day 2: Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

Wake to the sounds of birdsong, and after breakfast, set out on the Hills Homestead Walk. Wander through the tranquil Pound Gap into Wilpena Pound and follow Wilpena Creek through tall river red gums and pines. Head up Wangara Lookout for panoramic views of the Pound and keep your eyes peeled for echidnas in the underleaf. Breath deep and take in the magic all around you.

Return to camp for lunch and a dip in the resort swimming pool to cool off. This afternoon we will set out on the Arkaroo Rock Trail, with impressive views over the Chace Range. Arkaroo Rock is a significant cultural site for the Adnyamathanha people and has an incredible example of Adnyamathanha rock art depicting the Yura Muda (Dreaming or creation story) of Ikara.  

Back at the resort, relax and soak up the serenity of this ancient landscape and fall asleep with shooting stars overhead.

Day 3: Flinders Ranges to Port Lincoln

Say farewell to the Flinders Ranges and visit the Jeff Morgan Gallery in the tiny town of Hawker to see an incredible 360-degree immersive panorama of the region. Travel through to Port Augusta for lunch and see some impressive silo art at Cowell. Come late afternoon, arrive in the Seafood Capital of Australia, Port Lincoln. Take a look around the town to get your bearings and stretch your legs before heading to
our campsite. 

Travel around 500km today and set up camp for three nights at Bayview Park, which has shower and toilet facilities.

Day 4: Port Lincoln and surrounds

Surfing is a way of life in Australia, so today, pull on a wetsuit for a two-hour learn-to-surf lesson. The turquoise and calm water of Fisheries Bay is the perfect place for beginners to perfect their skills. Those not wanting to surf will be able to relax on the beach or swim. Next, take a 14-kilometre scenic coastal drive along Whalers Way and admire the breathtaking coastline and cliffs shaped by the force of the Southern Ocean for millions of years.

Mikkira Station Koala Sanctuary is home to the Eyre Peninsula's only wild koala population, and with lots of kangaroos and emus also calling Mikkira home, this is a great place to have lunch and hopefully snap some cute koala pictures.

This afternoon, back at camp, you have the opportunity to participate in a meaningful conservation volunteering experience. They offset their carbon footprint by collecting and propagating native seeds and revegetating the land. What we do this morning depends on the time of year, but you might find yourself collecting seeds or planting trees.

Travel 100km today. Enjoy some free time before dinner back at camp.

Day 5: Coffin Bay (or aquatic experiences)

After breakfast, spend the day unearthing Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay. Then, after a coastal hike along part of the Parnkalla Trail, head to Coffin Bay National Park. Famed for its white sandy beaches and wildlife, spend some time exploring, swimming and relaxing.

A visit to Coffin Bay isn't complete without tasting the region's famous oysters, so you can choose the optional extra of pulling on some waders and joining the Coffin Bay Oyster Farm Tour. Wade out to a semi-submerged tour deck in a working commercial oyster farm and learn about these delicious molluscs from the farmer himself. Get a hands-on shucking lesson and taste oysters plucked straight from the ocean.

Back in Port Lincoln, enjoy a spot of wine tasting at Boston Bay Wines before we head back to camp at Mikkira Station for our last night
together. 

 Alternative Itinerary

Those coming to Port Lincoln to get up close and personal with the aquatic wildlife can opt to have a Great White Shark experience
or swim with the ever-playful Australian Sea Lions. These outsourced activities are not included in the itinerary and must be booked directly with Calypso Star Charters. Please see Optional Extras for more information.

Drive time today is about 1.5 hours unless you are doing the shark experience, in which case it is only 1 hour.

Day 6: Port Lincoln to Adelaide

After breakfast, pack up camp and head to Port Lincoln for a must-do walk up Stamford Hill. Named one of the 40 Great Australian Short Walks, this challenging but rewarding walk has magnificent views of Boston Bay, Port Lincoln and Lincoln National Park.

On the way out of town, take a final look at Port Lincoln from Winters Hill Lookout. Then, stop for a barbecue lunch at Arno Bay as we make our way to Lucky Bay. Our Searoad Ferry will set sail across the Spencer Gulf towards Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula at 2.30 pm. Grab a coffee at the onboard café and relax and enjoy the two-and-a-half-hour cruise across the gulf.  

On disembarking in Wallaroo, jump back on the bus for our last stint into Adelaide, where you will arrive at around 8 pm.

KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK

GENERAL

• To get the most from our adventure tours, you need to enjoy the outdoors and hiking and be able to cope with a range of weather conditions. Our guides work hard and sometimes need a helping hand, so we kindly ask for involvement from our passengers, such as helping with meals and packing up camp.
• A moderate fitness level is required, with walks between 2-9 kilometres on some days. This may involve rough ground and perhaps getting wet.
• Please advise of any special dietary requirements when you book. We offer plenty of variety and do our best to provide fresh products. Snacks, soft drinks and alcohol are not included.
• Due to limited space in the trailer, bags are restricted to 1 × 15 kg backpack/soft travel bag per person, plus one small piece of hand luggage for on the bus.
• As part of our COVID-Safe protocols, all passengers must complete online check-in, including a 'Fit for Travel' self-declaration to confirm they are illness-free. This is mandatory and must be completed at the latest 24 hours before departure.
• This tour requires a minimum of six people to operate. In the unlikely event your departure is cancelled because minimum numbers have not been met, we will transfer all monies paid onto a future departure date. If this is not suitable, we will refund your tour price in full.
• Itinerary changes may occur to ensure we provide the best possible experience. Weather conditions in Australia can change quickly, and our experienced guides will always put the safety of our passengers first. Any itinerary changes will be
  communicated to the group in advance.

ACCOMMODATION & CAMPING

• Camping on this tour is at a mixture of national parks and campgrounds. All campgrounds do have basic toilet and shower facilities.
• When camping, we use single swags. Swags are 'Aussie Bed Rolls' made from sturdy canvas with a mattress built into the swag. Passengers must provide a sleeping bag and pillow to insert into the swag.
• Our wet weather option is tents shared by the group.
• In the unlikely event of an extreme weather event, alternative accommodation may be sourced. In this case, the accommodation costs incurred will be shared 50/50 between Untamed Escapes and each passenger.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

On this tour, there are two optional extras that passengers can decide to add to their tour. You can find all the details for these below. As
these experiences can fill up, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

• The Coffin Bay Oyster Tour can be added to your cart when booking.


• If you would like to choose the alternative itinerary for Day 5 and have a great white shark and/or sea lion experience with Calypso Star Charters, you need to contact them directly to check availability and book.

Please read our full Booking Terms & Conditions before booking.