Best of South Australia - The Flinders Ranges, Yorke Peninsula and Clare Valley Departs 25th May 2021 - Blue Dot Travel
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a
Best of
South Australia
The Flinders Ranges, Yorke
Peninsula and Clare Valley
Departs 25th May 2021
Itinerary correct as at Oct 28, 2020, but subject to change. www.bluedottravel.com.au
$6,590 pp
Ex Adelaide, twin-share
Single supp $950
BEST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Our tour into South Australia is designed to give you an insight into some of the best of South Australia,
great wines, rugged sparsely populated coastlines and huge outback vistas. This tour has been crafted to
allow you to enjoy the hidden gems of South Australia, small and unique accommodation properties,
some great restaurants and boutique wineries. Along the way we will take short walks through the
National Parks and guided tours at historical locations, wineries and off road wilderness areas. There is
an optional scenic flight that should be on everybody’s bucket list.
We will travel from Adelaide to the Clare Valley wine region where we will stop for 2 nights to enjoy the
famous wines and food of perhaps South Australia’s prettiest wine region. The Clare Valley is often
overlooked as people bee-line to its more famous cousin, the Barossa Valley.
From the Clare we head to the Yorke Peninsula to enjoy rugged coastal scenery, unravelling rural
landscapes and once again, good food. We stay in the Yorke for 3 nights. Leaving the Yorke Peninsula,
the real outback adventure begins as we travel through the picturesque Southern Flinders Ranges to the
Northern Flinders Ranges. Along the way the landscape is changing from picturesque landscapes and
small stone villages to ruggedly handsome outback scenery with vast rural properties and isolated
homesteads. We end up at a Wilderness Sanctuary in the Gammon Ranges (the northern extent of the
Flinders Ranges. The scenery of the Flinders and Gammon Ranges will be unforgettable. We will spend
5 days in the Flinders and Gammon Ranges.
On the way back to Adelaide we will stop for 2 nights at Burra. We will spend a day exploring this
interesting part of South Australia and finish our outback odyssey with a farewell dinner in a restaurant
that gives us a little bit of Italy transported to Burra.
Day 1, Tuesday 25th May old stone winery and cellar door, stately St Aloysius'
Adelaide to Auburn in the Clare Valley Church, the Seminary building, spacious gardens and the
surrounding vineyards provide a welcoming and tranquil
After an early afternoon arrival in Adelaide we’ll drive
place. Sevenhill was established in 1851 when the Jesuits
through farming country to Auburn in the Clare Valley
planted vines to produce sacramental wine. The Jesuits'
(please have your lunch on the plane). The beautiful CIare
focus on wine has remained, with Sevenhill adding a range
Valley is a small wine growing region two hours north of
of table wines. We will take a self guided walking tour taking
Adelaide. It is at a higher elevation than the Barossa and
in Sevenhill’s significant wine and spiritual sites, including
McLaren Vale wine regions which has made it Australia’s
the underground cellar, old-vine plantings, St Ignatius of
premier riesling growing area. In Auburn we will stay
Loyola Shrine and St Aloysius’ Church with its crypt. Lunch
centrally At the Rising Sun Hotel and neighbouring Terroir.
will be at the Sevenhill pub before we head off to the Yorke
Terroir’s buildings date from the 1860’s and the striking
Peninsula stopping along the way at Sunny Hill Distillery for
Rising Sun Hotel was built a little later. Dinner tonight will
a guided tasting and to soak up their views from the deck.
be at the Rising Sun Hotel. D
Sunny Hill is a paddock to glass establishment, distilling
their gins and whiskeys from the grains that they grow
Day 2, Wednesday 26th
surrounding the distillery. The Yorke Peninsula is Australia’s
May
premier barley growing region. Our accommodation for the
Clare Valley
night is at award winning Redwing Farm. The Farm is a
The picturesque Clare unique experience featuring a variety of self-catering
Valley's winemaking history accommodation. Tonight we will prepare the lamb and other
spans more than 150 foods we purchased at Bungaree Station. B/L/D
years, making it one of
Australia's oldest wine- Day 4, Friday 28th May
producing regions. It is also described as one of the Yorke Peninsula
prettiest in Australia with rolling hills and sweeping valleys.
Early start for our day trip to Innes National Park at the very
The unique combination of geography, geology and climate
bottom the Yorke Peninsula. Innes NP is famous for its
results in terroir that is perfect for producing world-class
spectacular coastal landscapes, rugged cliffs and sandy
wine. The entire valley is dotted with small boutique
beaches. There are ruins, shipwrecks and light-houses to
wineries. We will spend the next day and a half visiting a
discover, and beaches and wildlife to enjoy. We will spend
few of our favourite wineries and landmarks. Today starts
the day exploring the coastline and doing short walks. We
with a visit to Taylors Wine where we will sample a
will take a picnic lunch to enjoy at a picnic area. It will also
collection of their finest, accompanied by a small tasting
be possible to swim. On the way back to Redwing Farm we
plate of local produce. You will be guided through a series
will stop at Marion Bay Tavern for dinner. B/L/D
of wines learning about the vineyards where the fruit is
sourced and the unique approach to crafting these world Day 5, Saturday 29th May
renowned wines. Next we visit Bungaree Station. Yorke Peninsula
Established by George Hawker and his brothers in 1841,
Exploring the Copper Coast. Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta.
Bungaree became the headquarters of an extensive sheep
The area is named Copper Coast due to the copper mining
station with 100 thousand merino sheep by the 1880s. It
heritage dating back to 1859 when the region was settled
resembled a small village, with its own church, station
by Cornish and Welsh miners. We will spend the day at
store, blacksmith and even the District Council Chambers.
various National Trust heritage sites relating to the mining
It comprises a beautiful sandstone homestead, woolshed,
era and at the fascinating Farmshed Museum where over a
shearers quarters, stable, managers house and staff
century of Australian farming history is also on show. will
cottages. We will take a walk through this 7th generation
take a guided tour of Australia’s most comprehensive
property before ending up at the store for a refreshment
collection of dry land farming equipment. The museum is
stop and to purchase some station lamb for our dinner
owned and managed by the Kadina Branch of the National
tomorrow night. If there is time on the way back to Auburn
Trust of South Australia. In between our travels around the
we will stop at Mitchell’s winery for a tasting and cheese
Copper Coast we will stop for lunch and a guided tasting at
plate. In the evening, our official three course welcome
the Bond Store, a brewery, distillery and restaurant housed
dinner at Terroir. Terroir Auburn boasts a sophisticated
inside the historic bond store in Wallaroo. In the afternoon
dining experience in their 160 y.o. restaurant. B/D
we will return to Redwing where we will relax before having
Day 3, Thursday 27th a light supper. B/L/D
May
Day 6, Sunday 30th May
Clare Valley to RedwIng
Redwing Farm to Gum Creek Station Flinders
Farm, Yorke Peninsula
Ranges
This morning we visit
Early start for a longish drive to the Flinders Ranges
historic Martindale Hall (the
(420km, 4hr 40 mins). We will climb into the Southern
classical Georgian-
Flinders Ranges and take the scenic drive through Laura,
Italianate mansion which
Wirrabara, Melrose, Wilmington and Quorn. We will have
was used as the school in
lunch in Quorn. We will have a short stop in Quorn to buy
the film Picnic at Hanging Rock). Built in 1879–80 for
provisions for dinner before getting back on the road to
Edmund Bowman Jr. at a cost of £30,000 it has 32 rooms
travel onto our accommodation, Gum Creek Station. Gum
and boasts a large cellar of 7 rooms. Edmund surrounded
Creek Station is nestled in the heart of SA’s magnificent
the home with a polo ground, a racecourse, a boating lake
Flinders Ranges. It is located on Gum Creek Station, 480
and a cricket pitch where the English 11 played at least
kms north of Adelaide and stretches along the northern
once. Next visit is Sevenhill Winery. Sevenhill's celebrated
Itinerary correct as at Oct 28, 2020 but subject to change. www.bluedottravel.com.au
boundary of the great Flinders Ranges National Park. The Top and Mawson
Station Lodge is tucked into a ridge top near the homestead Plateau, before tracking
and overlooks a valley of river red gums and native pines. up to the eastern side of
At Gum Creek Station will be immersed in the scenic the Lake. This eastern
grandeur of the ranges and enjoy exclusive access to route gives you that
almost 200 km² of undisturbed country within the station’s unique opportunity to see
boundaries. We will have exclusive use of Gum Creek the orange-red dunes of
Station Lodge. Tonight is a home cooked dinner at Gum the Strzesleki and Tirari
Creek Station, why leave the lodge when we have such an Deserts. The flight takes
expansive view to absorb. B/L/D you over Lake Eyre North’s Madigan Gulf, Hunt Peninsula
to Belt Bay, lowest place in Australia, down Jack Boot Bay
Day 7, Monday 31st May to Lake Eyre South returning via the Oodnadatta Track and
Wilpena Pound and Gorge Country the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges. Chief Pilot, Douglas
Today we will visit Wilpena Pound. Located 429 km north of Sprigg, is an experienced commercial pilot who has spent
Adelaide, Wilpena Pound lies in the heart of the north most of his life in the outback and has a vast and intriguing
Flinders Ranges and is a remarkable natural amphitheatre knowledge of the area. Along the way you will learn about
covering nearly 8000 hectares. It is a huge flat plain the culture, geology and history of the places you fly over,
covered in scrub and trees and totally surrounded by as well as hear some fascinating and entertaining stories. If
jagged hills which form a rim. From the ground it looks like you are not taking the optional scenic flight to Lake Eyre we
a rugged low mountain range which can easily be will have a rest morning and do some short walks from the
traversed. When you reach the top you look across the lodge. In the evening we will all meet together for an
plain and can clearly see the hills around the edges. From astronomy night. The far-northern Flinders Ranges have a
the air it is a remarkable sight. The floor of Wilpena Pound, world class atmospheric transparency index and sharpness
is 200 metres higher than the surrounding country. The due to the arid environment and elevation. The skies are
highest point is St Mary's Peak which is 1188 metres above exceptionally dark due to our distance from any towns with
sea level and will occasionally be dusted in snow in winter. Arkaroola employing a “low light” policy in the evenings.
The pound is 17 km long and 8 km wide and is a Dinner is at the Wilderness Sanctuary lodge. B/L/D
remarkable sight. We will walk into the pond on a National
Park Trail and up to the lookout area (about 3 hours return). Day 10, Thursday 3rd June
We will have lunch at the cafe before we explore the Arkaroola to Burra
surrounding landscape and points of interest particularly the As we start our journey back to Adelaide we have another
Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges. On our way back to our full day drive to Burra (514km, 6½ hours). We will stop at
accommodation at Gum Creek Station we will stop for Cradock pub for lunch. Once we have past Cradock we
dinner at the Prairie Hotel Parachilna. You have probably have left the Flinders Ranges. Our accommodation tonight
seen the Prairie on just about every advert promoting the is at the beautiful Butterworth Mill. Butterworth Mill was built
Australian outback. It is quite an oasis. B/L/D in 1874 as the local flour mill located on a large property in
the historic township of Burra, it has been tastefully
Day 8, Tuesday 1st June renovated into an amazing holiday rental. We will have an
Gum Creek Station to Arkaroola Wilderness Lodge easy dinner locally before an early night. B/L/D
An early start to get to Arkaroola before lunch (204 km 3¼
hr). Located 600km north of Adelaide in the ruggedly Day 11, Friday 4th June
spectacular northern Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola is a 610sq Burra
km multi award-winning Wilderness Sanctuary. It was The Town of Burra is rich with mining heritage and most of
founded in 1968 and continues to operate with a strong its 1840 legacy is still intact. It is a quaint stone village
emphasis on science, education and conservation to untouched since mining ceased before the turn of the 19th
enable us, as custodians, to preserve this priceless and century. The best way to get the whole picture of the history
unique wilderness and its inhabitants into the future. This of Burra is using a Burra Heritage Passport, which gives us
ancient landscape has an extraordinary human history. access to see and explore the township’s key sites. We will
Frequented and featuring in creation stories by Indigenous have a relaxed day visiting the Monster Mine area, Redruth
Peoples for tens of thousands of years the area was later Gaol (used in the film Breaker Morant as the military fort),
brought to the attention of the modern world by the late the underground Unicorn Brewery cellars and the Dugouts.
Professor Sir Douglas Mawson. After lunch we take the Our farewell dinner tonight is at La Pecora Nera - The Black
Ridge Top 4WD tour. Arkaroola features many unique Sheep. Hosted by Italians Paolo and Clare Vitozzi, it’s a
geological monuments, rugged mountains, towering granite place to kick back and enjoy a little piece of Italy
peaks, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes, the transplanted to country South Australia. Here everything
home to a huge range of species of birds, reptiles and revolves around the magnificent wood-fired oven. It’s Italian
mammals including the shy and endangered Yellow-Footed food as it is meant to be – fresh, vibrant and delicious. It’s
Rock-Wallaby. The Ridge Top Tours are 4-5 hours in the closest you can get to eating out in Rome without
duration with several lookout stops along the route. There is leaving Burra! B/L/D
a 30min morning/afternoon tea stop at Sillers lookout.
Dinner is at the Wilderness Sanctuary lodge. B/L/D Day 12, Saturday 5th June
Burra to Adelaide Airport
Day 9, Wednesday 2nd June After breakfast at our accommodation we will be on the
Arkaroola — Optional scenic flight to Lake Eyre road early again to reach Adelaide airport for a late morning
The flying route from Arkaroola to Lake Eyre takes in the flight (165km, 2 hrs). B
wild red granites, gorges and watercourses of the Ridge
Itinerary correct as at Oct 28, 2020 but subject to change. www.bluedottravel.com.au
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