MELBOURNE TO HORSHAM

Welcome to our tour to the stunning Southern Flinders Ranges. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew.  Heading west, we stop for lunch before making our way to Horsham for the night. Before we check in, we’ll have time to view the unique silo art, titled The Yangga Dyata which means ‘Walking on Country’.

OVERNIGHT:  Horsham International Hotel, HORSHAM

HORSHAM TO MURRAY BRIDGE

This morning, we continue our journey towards the South Australian border. Look out for silo art as we pass though Kaniva. Our lunch venue is the Morning Loaf Bakery in Bordertown. This afternoon, we continue on the Dukes Highway through many small farming towns, stopping at Coonalpyn to view the magnificent artwork on the towns grain silo, before seeing the Murray River near Tailem Bend. The last leg of our travels today takes us to Murray Bridge, our base for the next two nights.

OVERNIGHT:  Bridgeport Hotel, MURRAY BRIDGE

MONARTO SAFARI PARK

Today we’re in for a treat as we visit Monarto Safari Park, the largest open-range safari experience outside of Africa and is home to more than 50 species of exotic and native animals. The zoo plays a major role, nationally and internationally, in breeding programs for rare and endangered species. We’ll be joined on board our coach by a qualified guide for a safari tour of the park. After a light lunch we’re in for a real treat! The Lions 360 Experience, the only 360 degree lion experience in Australia. Walk through a tunnel and emerge within clawing range of one of Australia’s largest lion prides. Enjoy a jaw-dropping, absolutely safe encounter, giving a prey’s-eye view into the world of these awe-inspiring predators! After some time to view the exhibits and a poke through the Zoo’s gift shop we return to our hotel with time to freshen up before dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Bridgeport Hotel, MURRAY BRIDGE

MURRAY BRIDGE TO PORT AUGUSTA

This morning, we make our way through the Adelaide Hills to visit the National Motor Museum in Birdwood. The National Motor Museum is an international centre for the collection, research, preservation, education, and display of Australian road transport history. More than a museum, it is a social history of the way we were, the way we are now and the way of the future. After time here to enjoy the museum and reminisce of the times gone by, we continue through to Port Augusta for our overnight stay.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT: Standpipe Golf Motor Inn, PORT AUGUSTA

PORT AUGUSTA TO THE FLINDERS RANGES

Port Augusta is located at the top of the Spencer Gulf. Major transcontinental rail services pass through Port Augusta as do the major east/west and north/south highways. The town was once an important base for arid land explorations to the north and later a busy shipping port. We take a brief look around, then embark on an historical train journey aboard the Pichi Richi Rail. This section of rail line is the original Port Augusta to Alice Springs line which travels through the famous Pichi Richi Pass to the historic township of Quorn. The railway heritage is reflected in the names of some of the old hotels - The Grand Junction and the Trans Continental.  After lunch, we continue north stopping at the Kanyaka Homestead just off the main road, 15 kilometres south of Hawker. Our next three night’s accommodation is in the Flinders Ranges at Wilpena Pound Resort.

OVERNIGHT: Wilpena Pound Resort, FLINDERS RANGES

WILPENA POUND, FLINDERS RANGES

This morning we meet our local guide for an insiders tour of this stunning National Park.  The Flinders Ranges are well known for their wild flowers but it’s the dramatic gorges and spectacular peaks that are the real highlights of this beautiful part of Australia. We will visit two gorges (subject to weather and road conditions), Brachina Gorge and Bunyeroo Gorge. This afternoon we return to Wilpena Pound Resort for a relax. We meet up for Stokes Hill Sundowners to observe the ever changing colours of sunset over Wilpena Pound with refreshing predinner drinks and canapés. Marvel at this vast ancient landscape from a spectacular local viewing location and don’t forget your camera! We head back into the Resort for dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Wilpena Pound Resort, FLINDERS RANGES

MORE OF THE FLINDERS RANGES

This morning, we head to the tiny settlement of Blinman. Copper was discovered here by a shepherd, Robert Blinman in 1859. Blinman, who had a wooden leg and was known locally as Peg Leg, made the discovery when he broke off a chunk of rock he was sitting on whilst watching over this sheep. The mining of copper occurred from 1862 to 1918 when the ore ran out, with a total of around 10,000 tonnes of copper removed. We embark on a tour with Blinman Heritage Mine Tours after extensive excavations have made it possible to tour through the tunnels that were once worked by the Cornish miners. Following our tour we call into Wadna, an authentic aboriginal arts and crafts gallery in the heart of the Flinders Ranges. It has beautiful local paintings, home made handbags and jewellery made from emu feathers and quandong seeds. We enjoy lunch here before we return to Wilpena Pound Resort to enjoy the facilities at leisure or take one of the many easy walking trails within the National Park.

OVERNIGHT:  Wilpena Pound Resort, FLINDERS RANGES

FLINDERS RANGES TO CLARE

Today we leave the Flinders to start our journey back home. However, the South Australian outback has one last offering: Peterborough, with its intriguing railway history. The town became hugely important as a railway link between the iron ore mines at Broken Hill and the iron and steel processing at Port Pirie. In its height, over one hundred trains a day were passing through the town. It is therefore hardly surprising that the "Steamtown" Heritage Rail Centre is a great place for you to enjoy lunch and learn more about this important SA outback town. From here we continue to Clare for overnight.

OVERNIGHT:  Clare Valley Motel, CLARE

CLARE TO MILDURA

Driving to Burra, we will be joined on board this morning by a local expert for a fascinating tour of this charming country town, classified by the National Trust. Copper from Burra’s “Monster Mine” saved South Australia from bankruptcy in the 1840’s. It was the largest metal mine in the country employing 1,000 people. Cornish and Welsh miners flocked to Burra to work for South Australian Mining Association and some set up homes in the dugouts hewn out of the banks of the Burra Creek. After lunch, we continue on to Mildura for our final two night’s accommodation. 

OVERNIGHT:  Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn, MILDURA

EXPLORING MILDURA

After breakfast, we will be introduced to Mildura by our locally based expert for a 

morning of sightseeing. We’ll hear about the Canadian Chaffey Brothers (George and William Benjamin) who arrived in Mildura in 1886 to establish the first irrigation scheme in Australia and hear about life on the river past and present. Our lunch break will be cruising along the river aboard the PV Rothbury. A unique feature of this cruise is travelling downstream through Lock 11, built to bypass the weir across the river. Back on dry land, we head to a lovely olive oil farm, Varapodio Estate, where we enjoy a tour and tastings of their award winning oils. Our final visit for the day is Orange World, a working 50-acre citrus property situated just 8 minutes from Mildura over the Chaffey Bridge. We will enjoy a citrus tour around the picturesque property of avocado trees, numerous citrus varieties and tree grafting areas. There is also an opportunity to travel on the 70-seat tractor train with undercover seating for an informative commentary on a wealth of citrus information with a juicy sense of humour.

OVERNIGHT:  Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn, MILDURA

MILDURA TO MELBOURNE

All good things must come to an end and so this morning we start the final leg of our journey home. We travel through the Wimmera-Mallee with our morning stop at Sea Lake to see the colourful silos.  This afternoon, we follow the Pyrenees Ranges back through Ballarat and on to Melbourne to complete a wonderful holiday!  As usual, our  chauffeurs will be on hand to take us straight to our door – all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours superior service.