6 Day Eyre Peninsula and Flinders Ranges Tour

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.

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.

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 unique campsite at Mikkira Station. This private property is home to the Eyre Peninsula’s only wild koala population, with over 200 koalas and lots of kangaroos and emus calling Mikkira home. Soak in the sunset before dinner at the campsite.

Travel around 500kms today (6 hours) and set up camp for three nights at Mikkira Station, which has shower and toilet facilities.

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. After a bite to eat, 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.

This afternoon, you have the opportunity for a meaningful regeneration experience. We have various conservation partners in Port Lincoln, and what we do depends on which projects are running at that time of year. You might find yourself removing weeds, planting trees or doing a beach clean-up.

Travel 100kms today (2 hours), and sleep under koala-filled gum trees at Mikkira.

After breakfast, spend the day unearthing Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay. 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 here. No visit to Coffin Bay is complete without tasting the region’s famous oysters, so you also have the option of pulling on some waders and joining the Coffin Bay Oyster Farm Tour.

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 are outsourced activities not included in the itinerary and need to 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.

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.