Explorers Way

Flinders Ranges and the Outback

The Explorer’s Way is probably the most beautiful road trip route South Australia has to offer. It leads through the breathtaking outback, past the hotspots of South Australia, such as Wilpena Pound—an incredible natural spectacle that I would like to tell you about today.

Would you like to explore the South of Australia and all its beauty and diversity? What could be better than a road trip? You sit in the car while an incredible landscape passes by outside the window, and you can stop whenever and wherever you want. The Explorer’s Way, a 3,000-kilometer route between Adelaide and Darwin, runs right through the middle of Australia and is the perfect way to see as much as possible during your trip. The southern part of the route takes you past picturesque vineyards, the breathtaking rocky cliffs of the Flinders Ranges and the Australian desert to the world-famous Ayers Rock – an indescribable experience! I will now introduce you to all the stops you pass along the way in more detail.

Preparation – Before you set off…

You can rent a car in the city centre or at Adelaide airport to accompany you on your road trip. With enough planning, you can easily set off on your own. If you prefer, you can, of course, also book a guided tour. Depending on how long you want to stay at each stop, a tour of South Australia like the one I’m introducing to you today takes around five days. Of course, you can also add a few more days by driving further north.

When travelling through the deserted outback, as beautiful as it is, it is important to take a few precautions. Remember that normal cell phones have no reception, and you should get a satellite phone in an emergency. It is also a good idea to have a small supply of food, drinks and petrol on board in an emergency. You must stay on the signposted roads during your journey. Finally, especially in the warm months, adequate sun protection in the form of a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen is a must. You can find tips for preventing sunburn in my travel magazine.

From Adelaide to Clare Valley

I have already introduced you to the South Australian metropolis of Adelaide in detail in my travel magazine. How convenient that your road trip starts here and you can spend a few days in this beautiful city before heading out into the wilderness. The first leg of your trip only takes two hours, and then you reach the Clare Valley, one of the best wine regions in Australia.

What could be better than stopping for lunch and tasting a glass of the delicious wine produced in the region? I recommend the Skillogalee Winery and Restaurant for an excellent meal. Even if you are not a wine connoisseur, you should not miss out on a little taste of the regional specialties during your trip to South Australia.

Flinders Range – the absolute highlight: Wilpena Pound

After another 3.5 hours, you reach the Flinders Range, a mountain range almost 500 kilometres long with everything you could hope for, from a road trip through Australia, from high peaks and deep gorges to unique flora and fauna. The Flinders Range also includes the undisputed highlight of the Explorer’s Way: the Wilpena Pound. A natural hollow has formed here over millions of years, with a diameter of around 100 kilometres.

“In view of this miracle, you will feel very small”

Such natural spectacles are really what makes South Australia so unique! The only way to fully appreciate Wilpena Pound is to take a scenic flight, but there are, of course, many ways to explore Wilpena Pound and the surrounding area for free. The region has excellent hiking trails that take you to the edge of the crater. You will feel tiny in the face of this immense wonder, an experience that will stay with you for a long time.

It is worth staying for two nights and making the most of this opportunity to be surrounded by unique nature. The region has even more highlights to offer, such as Lake Eyre. This is the largest lake in Australia. But only actually, because it is rarely completely full. In the dry season, salt residues remain in its bed, making it a wonderful attraction. Sometimes, the residues are pink in colour and sometimes so bright white that they reflect the sunlight, as in the picture below – an incredible sight.

The Explorer’s Way takes us to Coober Pedy

The landscape north of Wilpena Pound, through which you will continue after your stay in the Flinders Ranges, is shaped by its mining history. An eight-hour drive takes you through the outback to Coober Pedy. In this town, everything revolves around the opals mined there, found in such large quantities nowhere else in the world. In the museum, you can learn more about the history of this extraordinary little town. If you feel like it, you can even search for gemstones in one of the mines still in operation and thus actively participate in an important part of South Australian history.

Whether or not you are interested in opals, you should visit Coober Pedy. This town is so unique because of the precious gemstones and the underground caves in which the inhabitants live to escape the heat above the earth’s surface. All of life in Coober Pedy takes place underground. You often encounter the so-called “dugouts” when looking for suitable accommodation. So don’t miss the opportunity to try out life underground for yourself!

Our journey ends at Ayers Rock

From Coober Pedy, it is another nine hours until you reach Ayers Rock, the symbol of Australia. Even though it is technically no longer in South Australia but in the Northern Territory, you shouldn’t miss a visit if you are already so close to it on the Explorer’s Way. Uluru, as it is originally called, is one of those places everyone has to see at least once! It is difficult to put into words, but there is something magical about seeing the bright orange tones at sunset. You can find detailed tips on how to behave respectfully towards the Australian Aborigines, for whom Uluru is sacred, and even more exciting information in my report on Australia’s Outback.

Continue north

aborSuppose you decide not to end your journey yet but to continue north. In that case, the Explorer’s Way will take you past many other places worth seeing, such as the King’s Canyon and the town of Alice Springs, through incredibly beautiful national parks and the seemingly endless desert of the outback until you finally reach the town of Darwin and have crossed the entire continent, from the southern to the northern coast – a pretty impressive distance to cover on a road trip along the Explorer’s Way! I’ll tell you more about the onward journey towards Darwin another time…

Beautiful South Australia

Would you like to hop on a plane straight away to explore the beautiful South of Australia on a road trip along the Explorer’s Way? Or are you still unsure whether this is your best travel method? Then take a look at my travel magazine for more South Australia inspiration – and if you’re still feeling adventurous, look at my deals that will take you to Down Under at a reasonable price.