A Luxury Journey Through the Australian Outback

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Travel Type: Luxury
Features: Luxury, gourmet dining, unique experiences
Budget: $$$$

HERE’S THE PLAN

Let us guide you on a luxurious adventure along the Explorers Way through the heart of Australia—in style and comfort.

Looking for an alternative to flying? Travel in first-class by train with the Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin, or Vice Versa, and discover Australia’s spectacular Red Centre.

ADELAIDE TO CLARE VALLEY

Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime through Australia’s iconic centre from your starting point in the beautiful South Australian capital. Adelaide offers a luxurious urban stay before your desert adventure, with elevated accommodation at EOS by SkyCity, Marriott, and Sofitel. Take time to explore the city’s cultural precinct, including the Art Gallery of South Australia and the National Wine Centre, which showcase the state’s artistic and viticultural heritage.

The city's culinary scene is equally impressive, with restaurants gaining widespread acclaim. Indulge in the flavours of Africola, Fino Vino, and the well-established Magill Estate Restaurant. Stroll through the vibrant Central Markets, browse the boutiques of Rundle Street, and swim at one of the metropolitan beaches such as Henley Beach for one last taste of the sea.

Your first stop along the Explorers Way is in the Clare Valley, one of the state’s premier wine regions and home of resiling. Sample the area’s boutique cellar doors, including O’Leary Walker, Pikes, Paulette Wines, Grosset, or Skillogallee with Clare Valley Wine Tours. As the day draws to a close, indulge in a culinary masterpiece at the Watervale Hotel. Their degustation menu is a celebration of the region's flavours, perfectly complemented by local wines. For a truly unforgettable experience, immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the outback at the heritage-listed Bungaree Station. This unique style of accommodation offers a glimpse into authentic Australian life, where vast landscapes, starry nights, and warm hospitality create an unforgettable escape.

Expert tip: Did you know Kangaroo Island is only a 40-minute flight from Adelaide? Why not treat yourself before travelling into Australia's Red Centre, to some time at the impressive Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island or relax in solitude at Sequoia Lodge in the nearby Adelaide Hills.

CLARE VALLEY TO IKARA-FLINDERS RANGES

After Clare, wind through Melrose, the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges, and once past Hawker, you soon arrive in the Ikara-Flinders National Park, a place of wonder and ancient meaning for the Adnyamathanha people. The main attraction is the 8000-hectare stone crater at Wilpena Pound, which creates an awe-inspiring natural amphitheatre. Explore the Mars-like terrain with an intimate and all-inclusive fully hosted experience offered by the Arkaba Homestead, a private conservancy. Safari walks and drives reveal remarkable wildlife (look out for kangaroos, wallabies, emus, echidnas and more!) and marvel in the breathtaking views of the surrounding Elder Ranges. As part of the Luxury Lodges of Australia, Arkaba is the perfect place to sip on your evening nightcap, lounge in the outdoor pool and watch the light as it fades on the stunning Chace Range. Alternatively, stay at Rawnsley Parks Eco Villa where you can really immerse yourself in the national park with a guided 4WD tour or a scenic flight to get a bird’s eye view of what’s below.

Expert tip: For a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, indulge in a heli-camping experience with friends, taking in the full spectacle of Rawnsley Bluff and Wilpena Pound before landing at the awe-inspiring Chace Range to spend the night. Perch yourself cliff-top and feast your eyes on otherworldly sunset views. A guide will help you set up your swag for the night and prepare your two-course camp oven dinner. Fall asleep under a blanket of stars, before waking up to a bush breakfast as the sun rises from behind the range.

EXPLORE THE FLINDERS RANGES

Flight options: Fly from Rawnsley Park to Wilpena Pound, Lake Eyre, and Arkaroola with Chinta Air.

Traverse the Flinders Ranges from one end to the next, choosing between the sealed highway or an adventurous private flight. Whatever your mode of transport is, your journey leads to Parachilna, a tiny town of just five residents that has starred in several Hollywood films. Immerse yourself in authentic Outback hospitality at the Prairie Hotel, where you'll meet locals and fellow travellers while enjoying a unique tasting menu showcasing native Indigenous ingredients. From a ‘feral antipasto’ featuring roo pastrami to a feral feast banquet with a selection of quirky meat cuts, the Prairie is Australia’s most bizzare – but tasty – dining destinations. And if you can’t get enough of the food, consider booking one of their very comfortable rooms to stay overnight. Just a short 30-minute drive away, Nilpena National Park offers a remarkable glimpse into Earth's prehistoric past. Here, you can explore Ediacaran fossils—extraordinary evidence of the planet's earliest animal life.You have the option to charter a flight from Leigh Creek, Hawker, Port Augusta or Broken Hill to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – an official Dark Sky Sanctuary. This isolated location is known for its rugged mountains, towering granite peaks, and the shy and endangered Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby. Get lost in the cosmos on Akraroola’s Sleepout Tour, where you’ll fall asleep beneath a blanket of stars and wake up to panoramic alpine peaks, dusted with ochre red dirt instead of snow. Begin your glamping adventure by meeting your expert guide at the village base before climbing aboard the open LandCruiser for a scenic rollercoaster 4WD ride to your campsite. Upon arriving at your campsite, your swags will be ready for you, and dinner will be a gourmet BBQ before the light show begins.

Expert tip: From here, continue your adventure and experience the awe-inspiring Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre), Australia’s largest salt lake, from the air. Then, discover the magical landscape of an extinct inland sea at the Anna Creek Painted Hills, located on Anna Creek Station, on a Wrightsair tour departing from Coober Pedy, William Creek, or Arkaroola.

COOBER PEDY TO ULURU-KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK

Once you’ve crossed the border into the Northern Territory, you are officially in the Red Centre where you find the spectacle and culturally significant World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Stay at luxury lodge Longitude 131 to ensure you have incredible views and time to explore Uluru and Kata Tjuta – both thought to be 600 million years old. Take advantage of private touring so you can soak up the landscape and culture of the Anangu people, and dine under the stars at Table 131 with a decadent four-course dinner with matched wines. You can also find five-star accommodation at Ayers Rock Resort Sails in the Desert which boasts extensive dining options, including an unforgettable open-air experience at Tali Wiru, an exclusive al fresco dining experience atop a sand dune with views of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. After dinner, hear stories about the stars and learn about the tools First Nations people used to forage, carry, and cool ingredients they found in the desert.From the resort, explore the base of Uluru on a guided tour with a Traditional Owner to understand the history and cultural significance of this incredible sacred site. Add an extra night’s stay so you don’t miss the Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner. Indulge in canapes and drinks while listening to the Mala story – told through a show of lasers, drones and narration, paired with a gourmet dining hamper.
Expert tip: Once you’ve experienced a walk around Uluru and through the Kata Tjuta, get an aerial perspective with a helicopter ride to see just how impressive these landmarks are.

DARWIN

Continue the Explorers Way to Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park by car, or elevate your journey with a private heli-charter offering breathtaking aerial views. Upon arrival, explore the dramatic 300m high sandstone walls, hidden palms, and expansive landscapes on foot, or opt for a unique perspective on a camel tour.You will find luxurious glamping accommodation at Kings Creek Station. The Drovers Dream offers individual tents with ensuites, private decking, and personal barbeques, allowing you to absorb the stunning views of the George Gill Ranges. For those seeking a more elevated experience, the Dreamtime Escarpment provides self-cook bush barbecue dinners, breakfast hampers, and a fully stocked drinks fridge, complemented by a nearby pool.Alternatively, Discovery Kings Canyon Resort offers deluxe rooms for travellers preferring traditional hotel comfort. The ultimate highlight awaits with the Under a Desert Moon dining experience—an evening of Indigenous-inspired cuisine, carefully paired wines, and storytelling around the campfire beneath the Southern Hemisphere's starlit sky.

Expert tip: To learn more about this sacred Indigenous site, book a guided walk to discover the stories of Priscilla's Crack, Cottrell Lookout, the Garden of Eden and the Lost City.

KINGS CANYON TO ALICE SPRINGS

If you have a 4WD, follow the Mereenie Loop, otherwise take the sealed roads to Alice Springs. Once there, explore stretches of the 161km Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) home of the Arrernte people with a VIP tour. Stop to lounge in the grassy shade of the desert oasis of Ellery Creek Big Hole and appreciate the magnitude of Standley Chasm. Alternatively, take in the ranges all at once by embarking on a sunrise hot air balloon ride with Outback Ballooning. Stay at the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs. The beautifully appointed Premium Rooms here offer stunning views of the MacDonnell Ranges. For dinner, feast on Indian, Malay and Thai inspired dishes at the famed Hanuman restaurant in Alice Springs - conveniently located inside the DoubleTree by Hilton.

Expert Tip: Visit in the early, dry, and wet season to see the landscape come alive with vibrant wildflowers, from the golden billy buttons to the striking crimson of the Sturt Desert Pea.

DARWIN

Flight time: 2 hours. Fly direct with Qantas.
Flight time: 3 hours to Katherine (one stop in Tennant Creek) with Air North.

Skip the drive to Darwin and instead take a flight straight from Alice Springs. Alternatively, continue your road trip or fly to Katherine to experience the majestic Nitmiluk Gorge via helicopter or private boat tour. Stay nearby at the boutique Cicada Lodge and enjoy the peaceful surrounds in style. The next morning, detour 40 minutes out of town for a dip in the deep pools of Leliyn (Edith Falls), before continuing along the highway to Finniss River Lodge. At this family-owned and operated Outback cattle station, drink cocktails with the family’s Brahman cattle, bird watch or take a airboat along the Finniss River floodplain for crocodile and wildlife spotting. Keen fishermen can book a private charter for the chance to catch a famous Territory barramundi.