Tour Description
Opals and Ore
(Combined Departure)
Six Days: 27th May – 1st June 2025
Twin Share: $2559 per person. Sole Use: $2949 per person.
- Home pick-ups & set downs (most metro areas – please contact us for details)
- Picnic-style morning teas & all meals
- All accommodation & admissions to all attractions
- Experienced & informative tour driver/guide.
Join us on an extraordinary journey through South Australia’s opal heartland, where we uncover the hidden treasures of the outback. Explore the world-renowned Coober Pedy, famous for its underground homes, opal mines, and the breathtaking landscapes of Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park. We also discover the historic opal fields of Andamooka, where we visit dugouts and opal showrooms showcasing exquisite locally mined gems. With stunning outback scenery and rich mining heritage, this tour offers a truly unique and unforgettable experience.
Day One – TUESDAY 27 MAY 2025
Departing Adelaide, we begin our journey north into South Australia’s vast outback. Our first stop is in Roseworthy, where we pause to enjoy morning tea and stretch our legs.
Continuing our drive, we travel through the picturesque Clare Valley, one of Australia’s premier wine regions, known for its stunning vineyards and charming historic towns. Passing through Auburn and Clare, we admire the heritage architecture and scenic countryside before arriving at the Old Stone Hut Bakery. This historic bakery is famous for its mouth-watering homemade pastries, and we enjoy a delicious lunch while soaking in the country hospitality.
In the afternoon, our journey takes us into the Flinders Ranges, where we stop at Melrose, the oldest town in the region. Nestled at the base of Mount Remarkable, this quaint township is a gateway to the rugged ranges and offers a fascinating glimpse into South Australia’s pioneering past. From here, we travel through Wilmington continuing on Main North Road towards Quorn.
By late afternoon, we arrive at our accommodation at the Great Northern Lodge (08) 8648 6940. We have time to check into our rooms before meeting together for dinner.
Post-dinner, our adventure takes us to the mesmerizing Quorn Silo Light Show, an enchanting display that lights up the night with vibrant, artistic projections. This spectacular end to our day highlights the unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness that defines our journey through this remarkable region.
Day Two – WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2025
This morning after breakfast. we set off from Quorn, travelling a short distance south to Port Augusta, where we will have the opportunity to stretch our legs before heading north along the Stuart Highway towards the heart of opal country.
We stop at the railway settlement of Pimba. Here, we take a break to enjoy morning tea, soaking in the atmosphere of this quiet desert junction.
Back on the road, we continue towards the outback town of Glendambo. With a population of just a few dozen people, this settlement serves as a true outback roadhouse, where we enjoy our lunch.
The afternoon drive showcases the dramatic, ever-changing landscapes of South Australia’s interior, where ancient rock formations and vast plains highlight the raw beauty of the region. By late afternoon, we arrive in the world-famous Coober Pedy.
We check in for two nights at the Desert Cave Motel (08) 8672 5688, a unique accommodation carved into the rock, offering a glimpse into the underground lifestyle. After freshening up, we gather together for dinner.
Day Three – THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025
This morning, we set off to explore the breathtaking landscapes of Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, a striking expanse of rugged terrain where dramatic rock formations rise from the desert, creating an almost lunar-like landscape. Along the way, we pass the Dog Fence, the longest continuous fence in the world, stretching over 5,600 kilometres from Queensland to South Australia, built to protect sheep and cattle stations from roaming dingoes.
Returning to Coober Pedy, we take a guided tour of Tom’s Working Opal Mine, where we gain insight into the challenging and often rewarding world of opal mining.
We enjoy our lunch in Coober Pedy, followed by a visit to the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, an underground attraction that showcases the history, geology, and cultural significance of opals in the region. Here, we learn about the formation of opals over millions of years and explore the museum’s displays, which include fossils, Aboriginal artefacts, and a reconstructed underground home.
In the afternoon, we continue our tour of Coober Pedy’s unique underground buildings, an architectural response to the extreme desert climate. We visit the Serbian Orthodox Church, one of the town’s most impressive subterranean structures, featuring intricate carvings in the sandstone walls and a serene, atmospheric interior.
To end the day’s explorations, we experience The Big Winch 360°, an immersive cinematic journey that brings the outback to life through stunning visuals, storytelling, and aerial footage.
We return to our accommodation, where we gather together for dinner.
Day Four – FRIDAY 30 MAY 2025
After breakfast, we depart our hosts at Coober Pedy and make our journey towards Roxby Downs. Our first stop is Glendambo, where we pause for morning tea.
Continuing on, we arrive in Woomera, a town with a remarkable and somewhat mysterious past. Once a top-secret military testing site, Woomera played a crucial role in missile testing and space research, making it one of the most fascinating places in South Australia’s outback.We take time to explore the Woomera Heritage and Visitor Information Centre, where exhibits and artefacts detail the town’s intriguing history.Outside, we visit the Rocket Park, where a collection of rockets, missiles, and aircraft stand as reminders of Woomera’s unique legacy.
Following our visit, we enjoy lunch before continuing our journey towards Roxby Downs. This modern, purpose-built mining town was developed in the 1980s to support the nearby Olympic Dam mine, one of the world’s largest known deposits of copper, uranium, gold, and silver.
We check into the Roxby Downs Motor Inn (08) 8671 0071, where we have time to settle in and unwind before gathering for dinner, reflecting on the day’s travels and discoveries in South Australia’s extraordinary outback.
Day Five – SATURDAY 31 MAY 2025
We begin the day at the Roxby Downs Cultural Precinct, where we watch insightful films about the Olympic Dam Mine, one of the world’s largest ore deposits, and the Arid Recovery Centre, a conservation reserve dedicated to protecting native species and restoring the delicate outback ecosystem.
Next, we journey to the nearby opal mining town of Andamooka, renowned for producing the Andamooka Opal, a gem of such distinction that it was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. With a local guide leading the way, we explore this fascinating settlement, visiting historic “dugouts”, underground homes built to escape the harsh outback climate, and stopping by an opal showroom to admire exquisite locally mined gems.
After a relaxed lunch in Andamooka, we make our way to Pimba for a brief comfort stop, taking in the vast, open landscapes of the outback one last time.
From here, we continue south to Port Augusta, where we check into the Standpipe Motor Inn (08) 8642 4033. With time to unwind before dinner, we reflect on the day’s discoveries.
Day Six – SUNDAY 1 JUNE 2025
After breakfast, we farewell our hosts, and begin our journey home, traveling south along the picturesque Spencer Gulf to Port Pirie. Here, we pause for morning tea, taking in the charm of this historic port town.
By late morning, we arrive in Port Broughton, a coastal retreat nestled at the northern tip of the Yorke Peninsula. This scenic town is a favourite among holidaymakers, offering a relaxed seaside atmosphere and picturesque views of the gulf.
Continuing our travels, we pass through the renowned ‘Copper Triangle’—the historic mining towns of Kadina, Wallaroo, and Moonta. These towns played a vital role in South Australia’s mining boom and still retain their proud Cornish heritage.
In Kadina, the largest town on the Yorke Peninsula, we stop for lunch and enjoy the opportunity to soak in the town’s rich history and welcoming country charm.
The final stretch of our journey takes us along the Copper Coast Highway, passing through Port Wakefield and Two Wells before reaching the outskirts of Adelaide.
As we return home, we reflect on the incredible experiences and landscapes we’ve encountered throughout our travels, from rugged coastlines to historic towns, making for a truly memorable journey.
