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