Visiting South Australia - help with logistics
 

I'm in the very early stages of planning a trip to SA, and I'm a bit lost. We're most interested in the wine region and walking in National Parks, reserves, etc. I've always wanted to visit Cooper Pedy, but I'm not sure we can fit that in, as we're looking at a short visit of about 8 days.

I'm under the impression that flying into Melbourne and driving from there to Adelaide, and then flying out from Adelaide is the best way to see some of the scenery in between, such as the Grampians, but I just can't get a handle on the logistics or how much time is needed.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who can offer some guidance, as I'm not even sure where to start.

BTW - we'll be coming from Perth

I can't be of great help as our month in Aus. was planned by a friend who lived in Sydney for 3 years. We flew between Adelaide and Melbourne having spent the bulk of our time in the McClaren Vale/Barossa areas and used Melbourne as a departure point for our 2 weeks in Tasmania.

However, as I have culled many tips from your trip reports, I feel you should know that if you overnight near McClaren Vale you want to stay at Willunga House. Rosie and Kingsley are by far the most fun, interesting,gracious B&B hosts we have ever encountered. Also the best beds and the best breakfasts. The town of Willunga itself doesn't have a lot going on, but it is well located for wine tasting, is close to many good restaurants and the beach. We rented bikes one day in McClaren Vale to overcome the results of 2 full weeks of wine tasting and dining out!

I am sure that you will receive great input to your query.

Flying to Melbourne may not be a bad option Mel depending on just how much scenery Vs wineries you want to mix in.

Grampians are about 1/3 way from Melbourne to Adelaide and so in general terms, you can think of a 250 km. drive from Melbourne and then another 500 to Adelaide or something like a 1000+ km. round trip from Adelaide to get as far as the Grampians and back.

Of course there'll be quite a bit of variation depending on just how much you want to meander about for you have wineries south of Adelaide, McClaren Vale region and then across the hills towards Lake Alexandra, Strathalbyn area and then to far south east of SA Yyou have the Coonawarra area and then the riverland region, Barossa a little NE up in Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley further north, about 100 km. north of Adelaide.

So a kind of longer loop out of Adelaide could allow you to just about take in all those regions, and choose from the Coorong [a bit barren in some ways], Mount Gambier Lakes, Glenelg River/Princess Margaret Rose Caves, a bit of Vic south coast [perhaps far west end of GOR] and then Grampians and of course Adelaide Hills, and other than some very flat country either side of Lake A, along the Coorong and up about the Vic/SA border, there's some nice undulating open country driving with very little traffic.

I'd say 5-7 days would about cover something like that without rushing too much and depending on how many wineries you want to visit.

Alternately, driving from Melbourne you'd have the option of covering some wineries heading out west of Melbourne to Gisborne and around Mt. Macedon and Hanging Rock area and then head across to Ballarat to pick up the Western Hwy, maybe stay first night at Sovereign Hill which does a dinner show called "Blood Under the Southern Cross", based on events at Eureka Stockade and Miners Rebellion.
You can peel off from Ararat heading west to get to Halls Gap which is Grampians central and then decide whether you head back to Western/Dukes Hwy that'll take you in through Adelaide Hills to Barossa or head south down to Glenelg Hwy and then pick up the other wine regions I've mentioned and then travel north up through the Barossa to Clare before looping back to Adelaide.

So you'd probably end up driving about the same distance as the loop from Adelaide and maybe include some different things, ie. Mt. Macedon Vs dropping of some coastal bit, say 6-7 days needed.

If you want to get Coober Pedy included, I'd reckon it's a fly up and back from Adelaide job - have a look at www.rex.com.au and under their products they have what is called a backpacker pass but it's for anyone with an other than Aussie PP and something like $450/mths flying might even work out to be reasonable value - you might even want to fly Adelaide - Mt. Gambier - Melbourne before doing drive back and then getting a flight up to CP but getting flights with the pass may not always be a certainty and would be more something you might want to try if you were not so confined with days.

My wife and I did a wonderful trip to SA three years ago (Aug 2006). Weather was nice, not too cold - one night with frost (Flinders Ranges).

Day 1: Flew to Adelaide from the Gold Coast. Rented a car, walked around town, ate dinner with friends in the evening. Stayed at the Director' Studio Hotel (2 nights).

Day 2: Toured the lovely Barossa Valley by car, visiting several wineries. Lunch in Tanunda. Stopped at the incredible Whispering Wall Dam (where you can stand several hundred feet away from someone and hear them whisper as though they were sitting next to you)

Day 3: Drove north from Adelaide, visiting wineries in the beautiful Clare Valley. Had a great lunch at the rustic Skillagalee winery. Continued north through increasingly arid, yet beautiful terrain into the Outback. Stopped for a beer at the Cradock Hotel. A classic old pub, it is one of the only remaining occupied buildings in the ghost town of Cradock, just south of the Flinders Ranges, which at this point are jutting up on the horizon. Continued on to Wilpena Pound (Flinders Ranges), checking in at the Wilpena Pound Resort for 3 nights.

Day 4: Took a 4WD tour (operated by the resort) on private property outside the Pound (a huge circular cliff formation). Fantastic views of the Pound and nearby ranges. In the afternoon, we took a scenic flight over the Pound and adjacent ABC ranges. Absolutely magnificent scenery! Toward sunset, we walked from the resort up to a lookout on the edge of the Pound with great views across to the other side, some 5 miles away.

Day 5: Climbed St Mary's Peak on the edge of the Pound, one of the premier hikes in the Flinders Ranges. Fantastic! Returned to the resort via the interior of the Pound - lots of wildlife, mostly 'roos. Total hiking distance: about 15 miles.

Day 6. Up early for the long drive to Coober Pedy via Quorn and Port Augusta. Arrived in this crazy town just before sunset. Stayed at the Desert Cave Hotel (underground room!).

Day 7: Explored around town in the AM, then took a great 3-4 hr tour in the afternoon organized by the hotel. Toured an old and a modern opal mine, the golf course (no grass - oil is used to mark the "greens"), an underground Serbian Orthodox Church, and a very interesting graveyard. For sunset, the tour took us out of town to the Breakaways, a line of cliffs with a spectacular view over the surrounding moonscape (Mad Max was filmed there). Also saw part of the famous dog fence, the longest fence in the world.

Day 8. Drove all the way to the McLaren Vale, just south of Adelaide. Dinner again with our Adelaide friends. Overnight at a very clean, friendly and pleasant B&B in the McLaren Vale.

Day 9: Explored the McClaren Vale (a few more wineries!), the Adelaide Hills (including the quaint town of Hahndorf and the Mt Lofty Lookout over Adelaide. Late afternoon flight back to the Gold Coast.

A great trip and an itinerary I'd highly recommend...

Ralph

Thanks for the heads up on Willunga House PJ, I'll take a look. You too Bushranger for pointing out the distances...1000+ km is more than we want to drive.

Ralph, I was hoping you'd chime in, as I recall you mentioning a trip to Coober Pedy. Your itinerary sounds like a great combination of wineries, hiking and sightseeing and just about perfect for our 8-9 days, all the better since we're talking about the same time of year. Did you have any issues renting a car? Here in WA, car rental companies have some restrictions on driving into the Outback.

Perhaps I'll just have to leave the Grampians for another time.

Appreciate the ideas...

Willunga also has the most wonderful Saturday morning Farmers Market that is really worth the trip . We went there first , bought a dozen freshly shucked oysters and ate them whilst buying things for a picnic lunch later that day .

The auto hire restrictions are usually [and Australia wide]standard cars for sealed roads Mel, hence need to take a tour of some description for locations involving getting off the black stuff or paying extra for hiring a 4WD.

If 1000 km. is more than you wanted to drive, you had better get www.travelmate.com.au or something up for you're looking at a tad under 500 km. just to Wilpena in Flinders Ranges, just on 700 km. from there to Coober Pedy and Coober Pedy back to Adelaide is going to be over 850 km.

To keep to under 1000 km. you're really looking at confining yourself to a closer circuit about Adelaide, there being some interesting areas about the Mt. Lofty ranges, Remarkables NP not too much further north than Clare and Victor Harbour and Fluerieu Peninsula in the south.

Mel; We had no issues renting a car to take to Wilpena and Coober Pedy - sealed roads the whole way, though I was tempted in a couple of places to deviate onto dirt.

Our trip did involve a lot of driving (note Bushranger's distances), but there was a lot of beautiful and/or interesting countryside to see. The stretch from Port Augusta north to Coober is pretty straight and flat with very few cars (sometimes we'd go for 20 mins before seeing another vehicle) - you can make very good time.

Haven't been to the Grampians - I've seen the pictures and would like to go sometime. In any case I believe they are in Victoria, not a true "South Australian" destination (not that it really matters).

Bushranger -

Here in WA car rental companies generally restrict their cars to a 500 km radius of Perth, although some companies will extend this for an additional fee. We had to do this to take a rental car to Kalgoolie and Esperance. I thought SA might have a similar policy.

Ralph - would you recommend a trip to Coober Pedy? I'm intrigued by the whole living underground thing, and of coure the lure of those opals...but would you suggest it as a place worth going out of one's way for? Most people laugh at me when I even suggest it.

Hadn't heard of the 500 km radius restriction Mel other than with some companies running older vehicles and then it can be even less than 500.

I flew into Coober Pedy quite a few years back and that certainly gives an interesting perspective of outlying diggings making for a lunar landscape effect but CP itself it would like a lot of inland Australia have to be one of the driest dusty ramshackle places you could ever find - think Kalgoorlie which I seem to recall you were not overly impressed with and then consider somewhere about tenfold worse!.

I know of other people who scoff at the idea of going there and though the underground premises are something different, it's hard to get overly worked up about the place, as different as it may be, the reason for my visit having been that it was a convenient stop on the way flying to the centre and likewise if one was doing an inland trek it is about the only choice for a break on way to AS but I doubt that I would make a specific long drive to get there unless I had a hot tip for mining some opal.

And even that could be a sinking market for apparently there are good quality synthetic opals now being produced by China, Japan etc.

Just discovered that Willunga House has new owners. If you go I will be anxious to hear your report.

Mel: I loved Coober Pedy - thought it to be well worth the drive. My wife isnt a big fan of long car trips, and she agrees. Maybe that's because she she got a nice big opal out of the deal, which we purchased from a local miner at a good price. Have to say I was intrigued with the dusty ramshackle underground aspect. Also loved our side trip to the nearby Breakaways - stunning scenery, at least as we saw it in the late afternoon sun and at sunset. Also, enjoyed our stay at the Desert Cave Hotel. The underground rooms are very comfortable, quiet and DARK - best sleep ever.

Correction from my previous post: Just remembered we did not drive all the way from Coober to Adelaide - in fact we overnighted in Port Augusta en route, the next day taking a leisurely drive back to the city via the southern Flinders Ranges, Melrose, Gladstone and the Clare Valley (lunch at another charming winery).

Again I don't think you'll find any problem renting a car to take to Coober from Adelaide.

Thanks Ralph, my research continues...

Hey Mel,

I loved Cooby Pedy - we had a great stop there and as Ralph says The Breakaways are spectacular and is the location where Mad Max was filmed. It's just so different there Mel, the place, the people, the lifestyle etc. And nearby Andamooka is a real eye opener as well.

We had a devil of a time trying to keep our youngest son out of the noodling pits - he was hooked!

I'm just not sure if 8 days is enough to do it all. I'm thinking maybe concentrate on the wineries this trip and maybe a bit of the outback next trip - Flinders Rangers, Wilpena Pound is a wonderful spot and we are hoping to head back there around September this year.

We have friends that have spent some time in a winery on the Fleurieu Peninsula - I'll find out the name of where they stayed - it sounded sensational and will get back to you.

South Australia is a most unusual state IMHO and you'll find the variations quite amazing.

Thanks stormbird - it seems the detractors are people who've never been there! The lack of time is definitely an issue - I'm having a hard time narrowing it down - the Grampians in VIC look promising, wineries are always on our radar and Coober Pedy has always intrigued me - so many places, so little time...story of my life.

My original idea was to combine VIC and SA by flying into Melbourne and out of Adelaide, but there's just not enough time to do it justice and the flights from Perth (at least on Jetstar) aren't making it any easier.

MMMmmm Mel,

Decisions, decisions! The Grampians too, are fantastic and so is the nearby areas. We particularly liked that part of the woods also.

It's tough isn't it? It sounds to me like you're pretty stuck on Cooby Pedy...so maybe just leave it to South Australia this time and make Victoria another trip.

Good luck with the decision making Mel!

Hi Mel,

The place my friends stayed is this one www.chapelhillwine.com.au I believe they stayed in the B&B. Apparently it is extremely well equipped - they just raved about it but I'm not sure if it would fit in with your budget though.
Stormbird

The more I look at Ralph's itinerary, the more I like it. I've convinced myself that I cannot give up Coober Pedy. The Grampians will just have to wait.

Ralph's itinerary looks good indeed. You certainly wouldn't be disappointed. I think Wilpena Pound was my husbands favourite part of SA. Ooops no the wine...definitely the wine...but apart from the wine.. and I am looking forward to heading back in September as I don't think we did the Flinders Ranges real justice last time.

Already, I can't wait for your trip report Mel!!!

lol stormbird.

I'm now considering adding a few days...thinking we can split the rest of our vacation time into two medium sized trips instead of one short and one long. Looking at the Top End for the second trip, but that presents even more logistical issues. I'm trying to maximize our time here in Australia, but the more I look, the more I find!

We're now thinking about extending the trip to 15 days. There just seems so much to see and do and this may be our only chance to visit SA. I still like Ralph's itinerary, but would be adding time to the areas he visited, plus adding another stop or two. Any suggestions on how best to spend this extra time?

Is there a good place to stop to break up the drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy?

About your only option would be Woomera, roughly halfway between Wilpena and Coober Pedy or Port Augusta.
Bit of a museum there, possibly even a trip to launch area but not much else.

If you really want to get a bit more of the outback experience and can arrange a tour/drive or hire a 4wd, http://www.igawarta.com/ might be of interest.

Hi Mel: it would great to extend to 15 days, which would give you a lot more options. I remember wishing we had had more time in the various places we went. For example, when staying at Wilpena, we heard people raving about Arkaroola, also in the Flinders Ranges, about 200 km away by gravel road. I believe you can arrange a flight to Arkaroola from Wilpena - maybe stay a night or two in the resort there.

Also Coober Pedy - the famous all day mail run tour. You could take an extra day to do that. And then there's Clare Valley and the Southern Flinders Ranges....we just passed through, not having much time to explore. So consider overnighting somewhere in the that area - we loved it.

We did stop in Woomera en route back from Coober Pedy, not really worth the effort, though we didnt have much time at all to explore.

I would love to get back to SA sometime - would love to spend more time in the Flinders Ranges especially.

Another mining place of interest a lot closer than Coober Pedy is also Broken Hill and some interesting trips around there too.

I lived there for about six years and certainly whether it be there or Coober Pedy [more so to there], you're going to be in for a lot of driving through some very ordinary country.

There's a beautiful Gorge at Mt Remarkable NP, accessed from Wilmington if I recall correctly and I think the locals referred to that area as the southern Flinders ranges, but as to Woomera, true there's not much there but there's hardly anywhere else if you're looking for an overnight break, that 1000 km. going to be well and truely blown away!

I'm pretty sure we spent a night at Woomera and did a day trip to Andamooka from there. But we were on a 12 month trip and had a reasonable amount of time. For yourself I would probably just get up to Coober Pedy as quickly as possible. My earlier post of Andamooka being near Cooby Pedy is incorrect I realise - very sorry about that. But Woomera might have to just be a stopover for you.

Okay, I finally got myself a SA map and have put together a sketchy itinerary. I'm still unclear on the driving distances and I'm a bit confused about the various wine regions. We've decided Coober Pedy is non-negotiable, it's a must see for us. Despite all the recommendations to visit KI, (mostly on Trip Advisor), we're going give it a pass.

Here goes:

Arrive ADE mid afternoon, drive to Barossa (or Clare?) - three nights

Drive from Barossa (or Clare?) to Flinders Ranges - three nights

Drive from Flinders Ranges to Coober Pedy - two nights

Drive from Coober Pedy to Eyre Peninsula (unsure of distance/travel time - does this make sense?) - three nights

Drive from Eyre Peninsula to McClaren Vale - three nights

Drive to ADE - one night (8 am flight the following morning so want to be fairly close to the airport).

Coonawarra looks really interesting as well, but too far away considering how much driving we already have.

I'm open to all suggestions - I'm certainly not tied to this itinerary - I feel a bit lost and overwhelmed, so please blast away...

Our main interests are wine regions, hiking, scenery.

Just on distances [if the map don't have them!] www.travelmate.com.au is too easy but main ones
. WP to CP - ~700km.
. CP to Port lincoln say ~ 880 km.
. PL back to PA ~ 340km and then PA to Aelaide ~ 370 km.

Bearing in mind your main interests, I'd be skipping the Eyre Peninsula [bit barren/bleak for most part] and save yourself a heap of driving to give yourself enough time to take in Coonawarra area.

Personally, for myself I'd arrange a flight up to CP and then hire a vehicle, perhaps doing WP first [earlier the better for both if this is all sooner than later to avoid heat/flies] and then Clare/Barossa Valleys on way over to Coonawarra - http://www.australianwineregions.com/Coonawarra [maybe handy] and swing back up via Robe and Coorong to ferry over the Murray at Wellington and around through Strathalbyn wine district to McClaren Vale.

Bushranger has made some really good comments - and do look at travelmate - it is an excellent resource.

I would also skip Eyre Peninsula...unless you plan on driving from the West?

The CP drive is a long and dry one - and I trust you are planning to travel say October not any later - heat is a real challenge up CP way.

If you make CP a short trip from an Adelaide base then for the other travel a nice route might be:

Adelaide to Barossa
Barossa to Clare - and include Burra
Clare to Wilpena with a night at Melrose in great old pub there called North Star Inn - some wonderful gorge walking near here
Wilpena and surrounds - out to Blinman and Parachilna - good pub lunches!

Are you allowed to take a hire vehicle off road as some of the gorge drives are spectacular and quite easy - locals do them in ordinary cars - we use a 4 wheel drive - but have been through in our trusty falcon back in the early days!

You could then drive back to Adelaide via the main road with a detour to Port Augusta to see the Arid Land Gardens and the interpretive centre - this will explain the challenges that faced the erly settlers in all the places you have just visited - or do this on the way to CP if you drive up!


I am not sure about cutting across to the road to the Coonawarra - but the idea of going there and doing the loop bushranger suggested is also great.

Don't discard Adelaide as just the place to land and set off from - give it a couple of days - it is a lovely city and spring will be sprung fairly soon.

Off to work now but will give it more thought tonight - and make contact if and when you do decide to visit here.

Thank you both.

I'd already looked into flights to CP, but they're expensive and really limited, so the scheduling creates other issues altogether.

I had the impression Eyre Peninsula was pretty and a hiker's dream. Is this not the case? Several folks on TA had suggested Coffin Bay and Port Lincoln National Park.

Just yesterday I'd talked myself out of going to CP altogether and concentrating on Eyre Peninsula and the wine regions instead, but now I'm second guessing myself again.

The drive distances are huge, but considerably less if we skip the Eyre.

We're going in early September. I'd planned to visit Barossa first, as we arrive in ADE mid afternoon, so wanted to limit the driving the first day and avoid driving at dusk, which we'd be doing if we headed straight to Flinders Ranges. Unfortunately, that puts us in a wine region on a Saturday, which is more $$ for lodging and fewer lodging options as many places require a Fri & Sat night stay. Can't help that though.

Does the Barossa make a good base for visiting both the Barossa and the Clare? Would it be better to stay somewhere in between the two?

I've never had so much trouble planning a trip. This is driving me nuts.

The fog is beginning to clear. I think I've just about got it.

Eyre Peninsula is creating problems, so it's been ditched. Coober is back on the table, as I really want to see the place.

So...

ADE to Barossa - three nights (allows two full days to explore)

Barossa to Clare Valley - two nights (allows 1.5 days to explore, will include Burra as suggested above)

Clare valley to Coober Pedy (730 km, 8:30-9 hours drive time) - two nights (one full day to explore)

Coober Pedy to Flinders Ranges (714 km, 8:30 drive time) - three nights (two full days to explore)

Flinders Ranges to McLaren Vale (479 km) - four nights. This gives us three full days and time to explore the Deep Creek Conservation Park, Hahndorf, etc.

Alternatively, I might move the fourth night to the Flinders.

McLaren Vale - ADE - one night

Is it necessary to spend a night in Adelaide prior to an early am flight, or can this be done comfortably from McLaren Vale?

Mel,if you decide to go to Burra, see "Breaker Morant" on video first - it was filmed there. The miners' caves in the river bank fascinated me - I wonder if they are still there, 30 years later. And if they still make the best Cornish pasties in Australia?
We loved Coober Pedy - found an opalised shell there in a mullock heap at the back of the underground motel. We also met a man with a set of false teeth made from solid opals. Wish you luck with fossicking.

Thanks Carabella. The more I read about SA, the more I want to see and do. I guess I'll just have to think of this as our 'first' trip, hopefully not our 'only' trip.

What pray tell is a cornish pastie?

Not sure where you plan staying in McClaren Vale - you have mentioned Hahndorf - this is in the Adelaide hills - about 15 mins up the freeway from the city - whilst Deep creek is south and a much further drive from Adelaide.

How early is your Perth flight?

The drive to McClaren Vale could take a longer time as you have to come through all the built up areas and traffic will slow you down - maybe look at the map and think about going into the hills and staying at Hahndorf for a night?

That run to CP and back will be a long sit - and not a lot of stopping places - maybe take one night from the Barossa leave later in the morning from Barossa and have a stop on the way at Port Augusta - good Interpretive Centre and Arid gardens there - but not a special tourist town.
There is a great modern motel there and you might want to buy a few supplies to eat and drink on that very long drive.

I appreciate your comments love_travel_Aus.

We're considering staying in McLaren Flat. Our flight leaves at 8 am, so we'd need to be at the airport by 6:30-7 (Sunday).

As it happens, the cottage I'm considering is booked on Saturday night, so staying in Hahndorf might be the answer. I really try to avoid one night stays, but it might make sense here, and we'd rather not stay in the city.

I thought McLaren Vale would make a good base for a day trip to Deep Creek Conservation Park. I'd read somewhere that it's about an hour's drive - does this sound right?

That long haul to CP has been the cause of most of my indecision with this trip, but I really want to see it, so thought we'd bite the bullet and do it in one stretch to maximize our time elsewhere. I suspect it's going to be similar to our trek from Perth to Kalgoorlie last year.

I'll sleep on this and see if it still makes sense in the morning.

Hi again - hurrying to work but this is a thought to re arrange the route and make the last section a little more user friendly:

Adelaide to Clare

Clare to CP

CP to Flinders

Flinders to Barossa - and stay a little south in Barossa to get to Hahndorf and hills area

McClaren Vale or Fleurieu Peninsula - McClaren Flat and those areas are very close to outer suburbs -

Not sure where you are looking for cottages but a few places are often available short term on
stayz.com and beautiful accommodation dot com

There is a fair bit more to see and places to stop between Perth and Kalgoorlie than on the CP run - and CP is very small - and visitors are warned to not go out walking as there is a very real danger of falling down old mine shafts - so think about maybe a day trip or something whilst there - mail run or Painted Desert I think operate from there -

Running to work - happy planning!

Thanks for that. I'll take a look at distances with the rerouting and see how it looks. I'm considering a tour with Merv of Arid Zone tours in CP. Everyone seems to rave about him. I hope that leaves time for opal shopping!

A question about Flinders - I'm debating between staying near Wilpena Pound (Rawnsley Peak Station) and staying at a cottage in Blinman.

Pros and cons of both?

Rawnsley Park is probably the better of the 2 locations.

Blinman is a bit further out and less easy access for other day trips.
It is a very tiny town - and quite isolated.

Rawnsley Park has a range of accommodation options - varying from really basic to gorgeous and luxurious. Their Eco cabins are amazing - the others much simpler.
This is a busier place but still quite spread out - although nnot so much in the camping ground area.
It gets very cold (well - for us) at night there so be prepared.

There are a few walking trails at Rawnsley and a lovely late afternoon ridge walk - I think that is what they call it - not demanding at all, and then lots in the Wilpena Pound park as well.

Our kids used to enjoy the burgers at the Blinman Pub - too much for us!

The Prairie Hotel at Parachilna further up the road - you might have to back via Hawker if not allowed off road - is great to visit - and have food most of the day so you don't need to go out at night.

Rawnsley Park has a restaurant run by a young couple who used to cook at the North Star Inn at Melrose and they were very good then.

mmm - I am envious :)

I've just learned that the roads to Blinman aren't sealed, and that might present a problem with the rental car. The Eco lodges at Rawnsley have been booked for weeks, not an opening to be had for the two weeks we'll be in SA, so guess I'll go ahead and book the motel type accommodation. Probably just as well, as they're quite pricy. I've read good things about the restaurant there, so I'm not too concerned abut being captive. I just need to decide if I want three or four nights there...

Mel..In the Flinders Ranges, did you consider staying at the Wilpena Pound Resort? That's where we stayed and found it quite nice.

Ralph