BROKEN HILL & FLINDERS RANGES

This tour combines some of the most iconic destinations in Australia.  Although we cover a fair distance across our vast country, multi night stays (and our flight home from Adelaide) allow us a leisurely pace to explore some fabulous regions.    Our accommodation is at Dubbo (2 nights), Broken Hill (3 nights), Wilpena Pound (2 nights), Port Augusta (1 night), and Adelaide (2 nights).  

Our journey out is broken by a 2 night stay at Dubbo, itself a major regional city with the highlight being our visit to the highly acclaimed Western Plains Zoo.  Our guide will give us amazing insights into the behaviour of the animals on display and bring us up to date with the breeding programs of many of the endangered species.

Broken Hill ‘Beyond the Darling River on the edge of Sundown’ is a vibrant culturally rich, prosperous city in the heart of the inspirational outback.   The amazing colours and magical light of this vast landscape have proved a mecca for artists and film makers alike.  The dark red soils contrasting with clear blue skies during the day and sunsets where the wide horizon glows red and orange leave lasting memories.   Today Broken Hill remains a buzzing and working town and mining is still a major economic driver and in conjunction with agriculture, art and tourism.

The Flinders Ranges offer an amazing landscape with Wilpena Pound being its centrepiece.   To explore the Flinders Ranges is to experience the essence of outback Australia and few remain untouched by its rugged timeless tranquillity.   The pound is a majestic natural amphitheatre formed 800 million years ago, a lost world inside a giant crater.   It is edged with jagged ramparts and features plunging gorges and bush forests.   The Flinders Ranges are homes to nearly half of South Australia’s 3,100 plant species, more than 120 bird, 86 reptile and 20 mammal species.  The vibrant colours of the 800 million year old quartzite and lime stone out crop that is the Flinders, are truly spectacular.  

Enroute to Adelaide, we will explore the Spencer Gulf which offers panoramic views of shimmering waters and dramatic cliffs. Adelaide, Australia’s first planned city is truly a delight.   Colonel William Light has left a wonderful legacy, the city layout surrounded by 900 hectares of wonderful parklands are an urban masterpiece and have been included on the National Heritage List.  Apart from its natural beauty Adelaide is a vibrant, sophisticated and cosmopolitan city that has developed a reputation as an arts centre as well as a gateway to some of the best wine regions in the world.   Located on the coastline of Gulf St Vincent, Adelaide’s beach districts stretch for 30 kilometres.   We will explore Glenelg as well as the rich European heritage so evident in the Hills’ villages such as Hahndorf.  

Features include:

• Tour of Bathurst and a hot lap of Mount Panorama.

• Orange and the fabulous Cook Park

• Award winning Western Plains Zoo

• Guided tour of Dubbo

• Cobar Outback Heritage Centre

• Guided tour of Broken Hill

• Champagne Sunset at the  Broken Hill Sculpture Symposium

• Pro Hart and Absalom’s Art Galleries

• Line of Lode visitors centre

• Whites Mineral Art and Mining Museum

• Royal Flying Doctor Service Base

• Silverton Galleries and Mundi Mundi Lookout

• Wadlata Outback Centre

• Port of Adelaide and Mount Lofty

• Adelaide City Sights tour including the Botanic Gardens, North Terrace Cultural Precinct, Museum of South Australia and the Art Gallery

Includes 10 dinners, 10 cooked breakfasts and 6 lunches, admissions, one way flight from Adelaide to Sydney and luxury coach travel.