Camping Adventure to the Red Centre

Adelaide to Flinders Ranges

Your eight-day outback adventure begins in Adelaide at 5.30 am, where your Storyteller Guide will greet you. After a caffeine stop at the coastal town of Port Wakefield, take in some epic views at Hancock’s Lookout. A little bit further down the road, we arrive at the outback town of Quorn. Stretch your legs while you look at the famous Pichi Richi Railway and some unique silo art. After a lunch stop at Hawker, arrive at Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and embark on a rewarding hike at Arkaroo Rock, a significant cultural site for the local Adnyamathanha people.

This afternoon, arrive at Skytrek Willow Springs Station. This 70,000-acre working sheep station features secluded bush camping and is our base while we unearth the Flinders Ranges. After a tasty dinner prepared by your Guide, kick back and enjoy front-row seats to one of the most spectacular light shows on Earth. The Flinders Ranges is famed for having some of the clearest skies in the Southern Hemisphere. So, what better place to opt for an optional stargazing experience with an expert astronomer and physicist? Take a short drive from camp and, using a 10-inch reflecting telescope, view constellations, globular clusters, nebulae, and the planets Saturn and Jupiter. Experiences range from $90 to $190pp and can be arranged with your Guide on the day.

Tonight, roll out your swag under a blanket of stars twinkling over the ancient landscape.

The driving distance today is approximately 510km.

Accommodation - Swag camping at Skytrek Willow Springs Station

Meals Included - L | D

Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

After breakfast, we’ll travel to nearby Wilpena Pound to meet local Park Ranger and proud Adnyamathanha man, John from Ngai Nhina Yuras. After a Welcome to Country, walk with him in a place where the sun and moon create magic, as you listen to the fascinating stories of the Adnyamathanha People. Learn about Culture and Traditions, Bush Mai (food), artefacts, medicinal plants followed by a cultural smoking protocol.

With a better understanding of Aboriginal culture, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring more of the ancient Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Take in the incredible outback views on the Buneryoo Scenic Drive. And at Brachina Gorge, we might spot some rare yellow-footed rock wallabies if we’re lucky. After bushwalking and connecting with nature, chill out around the campfire with dinner and stories with your newfound friends.

Driving time today is approximately 3 hours.

Accommodation - Swag camping at Skytrek Willow Springs Station

Meals Included - B | L | D

Flinders Ranges to William Creek via the Oodnadatta Track

Today, we are getting off the beaten path and travelling along a section of one of Australia’s most iconic unsealed roads, the iconic Oodnadatta Track. Drive through eerie and moonlike desert scenery as the landscape uncovers highlights like Lake Eyre (Australia’s largest salt lake) and the Mutonia Sculpture Park.

Come late afternoon, arrive in the tiny outback settlement of William Creek. In the middle of nowhere, on the way to somewhere, this quirky town with a population of ten is an icon of the South Australian Outback. Enjoy a cold drink and pub meal in the heritage-listed William Creek Hotel, which opened in 1887. Then curl up in your swag under the stars in the campground.

The total driving today is approximately 500km.

Accommodation - Swag camping at William Creek

Meals Included - B | L

William Creek to Coober Pedy

After breakfast, journey to the famous underground town of Coober Pedy. The opal capital of Australia features a sun-baked lunar landscape, a fascinating history and a unique way of life. Visit the town’s main attraction, Umoona Opal Mine & Museum. Go ‘noodling’ or fossicking and learn about these precious stones during an opal-cutting demonstration.

Afterwards, visit Josephine’s Gallery & Kangaroo Orphanage. The gallery here is a world-class Aboriginal Art Gallery with an extensive range of Aboriginal artefacts and significant works by many of Australia’s best-known Aboriginal artists.

The rest of the day is yours to do whatever you please, and there is plenty to explore. Stay in a unique underground bunkhouse tonight and grab dinner at one of the many underground eateries.

Today, the driving distance is approximately 170km.

Accommodation - Umoona Opal Mine – underground bunk, multi-share

Meals Included - B | – | –

Coober Pedy to Watarrka/Kings Canyon

Today, we have some distance to cover. Travel north, past the Dingo Fence and the Aboriginal Heritage site, The Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, where you will be mesmerised by the scenery of the Moon Plains. Then, crossing into the Northern Territory, travel onwards to Watarrka National Park, the site of Kings Canyon.

Come late afternoon, arrive at our campsite at the Kings Creek Station. Relax, soak up the serenity, and, on warmer days, enjoy a swim in the pool. Have your camera ready for a stunning desert sunset from the sunset viewing platform before dinner at the Station restaurant eatery and settling in for the night.

Today, we drive approximately 770km.

Accommodation - Swag camping at Kings Creek Station

Meals Included - B | – | –

Watarrka/Kings Canyon to Uluru

It’s an early start this morning for the spellbinding Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which is guaranteed to be one of the most magical experiences of your life. With its 300-metre-high sandstone walls, hidden waterholes, fern forests, chasms, canyons and caverns, Watarrka National Park is central Australia’s answer to an oasis. Take in the 360-degree views and journey through Priscilla’s Crack, made famous by the classic Australian movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert. From there, see the sandstone domes known as the Lost City and the lush greenery and watering hole of the aptly named Garden of Eden.

After lunch, rest your legs on the drive to our final destination, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Late this afternoon, watch an unforgettable sunset over Uluru before retreating to camp for dinner. Then, roll out your swag upon the red Earth and under billions of stars after dinner at camp.

Driving today is approximately 350km.

Accommodation - Swag camping at Ayers Rock Resort Campground

Meals Included - B | D

Kata Tjuta & Uluru

An early start is rewarded with a spellbinding sunrise over Kata Tjuta. Known in Pitjantjatjara, ‘Many Heads’, the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta are a defining feature of the Red Centre, both geographically and spiritually. Towering 546 metres above the surrounding plains, its highest peak dominates the landscape, while its ridges and ravines hold deep cultural significance for the Anangu people. While many of these stories remain sacred, you’ll gain insight into Anangu culture and experience the beauty of their land on a rewarding hike through the Valley of the Winds.

Back at camp, after lunch, enjoy some free time. Cool off by the pool or participate in one of Ayers Rock Resort’s cultural activities, such as a didgeridoo performance or a guided garden walk.

In the afternoon, visit the Cultural Centre to deepen your understanding of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, its unique environment, and the Anangu way of life.

Next, we return to Uluru for the exclusive 90-minute Mala Walk, guided by Anangu Traditional Owners. Gain firsthand insight into Uluru’s cultural and spiritual significance, walking in the footsteps of the Anangu ancestors. Discover ancient rock art, ceremonial sites, and sacred stories passed down for millennia. Engage in meaningful conversations, listen to timeless wisdom, and leave with a deep appreciation for Anangu culture and their enduring connection to Country.

As the day winds down, return to camp for dinner and reflection beneath the vast desert sky. Today, we drive around 180km.

Accommodation- Swag camping at Ayers Rock Resort Campground

Meals Included - B | L | D

Uluru

Rising early, breathe deep and soak up the serenity of a sunrise over Uluru. As the sunlight plays with the landscape, the rock formations change colour before your eyes. Next, it’s time to get close to this natural wonder. At 348 metres high and some 550 million years old, feel a powerful presence the moment you set eyes on it. A guided 10km Uluru base walk is your best opportunity to connect with Uluru and learn its stories. Relax beside tranquil waterholes, take a break under a magnificent Sheoak tree and peer into hidden caves. There are shorter walks available for those not wanting to do the whole base walk.

Your outback adventure ends in the late morning on our return to the Desert Gardens Resort in Yulara. For those departing from Uluru Airport, complimentary transfers are available from the resort. There are also bus transfers from Yulara to Alice Springs. See the Know Before You Go information below to learn more.

The driving distance today is approximately 85km.

Meals Included - B | – | –