Red Centre to Kangaroo Island: 11-Day Small-Group Tour with All Meals, Scenic Flights & Iconic Outback Experiences

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The Accommodation – From Uluru’s iconic Sails in the Desert to the world’s first underground hotel

A tour this unique deserves accommodation to match – which is why we have handpicked the very best hotels along the way.

A vision on the Northern Territory’s horizon, Sails in the Desert – part of the prestigious Ayers Rock Resort group – is a perfect oasis on the doorstep of Australia’s greatest natural wonder: Uluru. Surrounded by endless plains, rolling dunes and an air of profound tranquility, here you can discover the country’s heart while enjoying a reprieve from the desert heat by sheltering under the iconic shade sails and taking a plunge in the gumtree-lined swimming pool.

Desert Cave Hotel in Coober Pedy is the world’s first underground hotel, created using opal mining tunnelling machines. Relax in the cool, dark and airy rooms, offering respite from the outback heat, and enjoy drinks at the unique underground bar.

Right at the entrance of Wilpena Pound, Ikara Safari Camp is the ideal accommodation for Flinders Ranges explorers. Enjoy luxe glamping in a modern tent with ensuite bathroom, a soft king bed, reverse-cycle air conditioning and private decks.

Ranked in the top 10 hotels in Adelaide on Tripadvisor and exquisitely designed with boutique style in mind, Majestic Roof Garden Hotel is a hidden gem in the heart of Adelaide’s cultural scene. The incredible facilities will make it hard to leave: there’s the eponymous rooftop terrace, where you can drink in the gorgeous views of the East End and rolling Adelaide Hills, and the award-winning Culshaw’s Restaurant, showcasing the finest seasonal South Australian produce with a 100% South Australian wine list.

The Experiences – Two scenic flights, insider outback experiences, Kangaroo Island visit and so much more

The Northern Territory and South Australia are famous for their iconic line-up of nature-based adventure — and on this incredible 11-day tour, you’ll experience the very best of the regions with curated, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Watch as darkness transforms into a bloom of soft light and colour on arrival at the renowned Field of Light Uluru by artist Bruce Munro. Inspired by desert seeds springing to life after the rains, this monumental art installation is made up of 50,000 spindles of light, breathing and swaying in beautiful ochre, deep violet, blue and gentle white.

Visit the quirky town of Coober Pedy – Australia’s opal capital, boasting a sunbaked lunar landscape, stop at The First and Last Pub in The Northern Territory and the Most Central Pub in Australia – Kulgera Roadhouse, and witness a breathtaking sunset at Kanku-Breakaways Conservation. Then, discover Australia’s smallest town, William Creek, home to fewer than 16 people. Upon arrival, meet Mr. Trevor Wright, a quintessential outback character dubbed ‘Minister of Most Things Worth Knowing’, who will tell you all about life in William Creek.

Discover ancient Indigenous sites in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and sip fine wine in Clare Valley, one of Australia’s oldest wine regions. Take a scenic flight over the rocky outcrop of Anna Creek Painted Hills, landing at Mount Eba Station, renowned as the geographical centre of South Australia, then marvel at the natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound from above on a second scenic flight.

Unearth the rugged and multihued beauty of Kangaroo Island, a nature-based sanctuary where you’ll walk among endangered sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park and hike through Flinders Chase National Park to see the Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch.

End your tour in Adelaide, where you can acclimatise to city life as you reflect on 11 days of otherworldly outback and nature experiences.

Your tour begins at Ayers Rock Airport, Uluru (AYQ) and ends at Adelaide Airport (ADL). Please arrive by 11am on Day 1.

Roundtrip flights between Adelaide and Kangaroo Island are included. All other flights must be purchased separately. Do not book flights until the tour is confirmed. See Fine Print for details.

July and August departures only: we recommend booking flights to depart on Day 11 after 12.30pm.

September departures only: we recommend booking flights to depart on Day 11 after 5.30pm.

Arrival transfer is available on the first day only. A private airport pick-up will meet you at Ayers Rock Airport. Upon arrival at Adelaide Airport on Day 11, you must make your own arrangements for your onward journey. Please book any flights to depart after 5.30pm on Day 11.

You MUST complete your booking form within 48 hours of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements.

Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements. Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.

Important Destination Information:

Telephone: +61

Currency: AUD

Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas.

Language: English

Day 1: Arrive Uluru

On arrival at Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ), meet your Luxury Escapes driver-guide and transfer to your accommodation, Uluru’s iconic Sails in the Desert. Your adventure begins this afternoon, as you travel to the mystical domes of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). On the way, enjoy panoramic views of the southern side of Kata Tjuta before arriving at the base of Walpa Gorge. Spend time exploring the gorge and the unusual conglomerate rock formations. The walking trail through Walpa Gorge follows the natural creek bed between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.

This evening, enjoy an unforgettable ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner in a private dining setting in the desert. As the sun dips behind the many domes of Kata Tjuta (Olgas) and Uluru (Ayers Rock), sip champagne while listening to the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo. After a gourmet barbeque dinner, the lanterns will be dimmed. Hear the sounds of the outback while an astronomer takes you on a tour of the southern night skies. View the stars through an onsite telescope before returning to your hotel for a refreshing night’s sleep.

Accommodation: Sails in the Desert

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Uluru

Rise early and experience acclaimed artist Bruce Munro’s Field of Light, a once-in-a-lifetime event in Uluru. Under the cover of darkness, wander through 50,000 magical handcrafted frosted glass spheres of light, in colours of ochre, deep violet, blue and gentle white. Then make your way to the dune top, where you’ll be served tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Watch in awe as the sun rises in the distance behind Uluru, flooding the landscape, including Kata Tjuta behind you, with light. As the landscape brightens, the Field of Light will dim for the day. There’s a chance for some amazing photos from this unique raised location that allows you to view both Kata Tjuta and Uluru in all their natural glory. Later, return to your accommodation for a two-course lunch at Gecko’s Café including a glass of wine. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Tonight, join your fellow travellers for a three-course dinner including a glass of wine.

Accommodation: Sails in the Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Uluru — Coober Pedy

After breakfast, journey to the quirky town of Coober Pedy – Australia’s opal capital, boasting a sunbaked lunar landscape (journey takes approximately 7.5 hours). En route, stop at The First and Last Pub in The Northern Territory and the Most Central Pub in Australia – Kulgera Roadhouse, where you can enjoy an ice-cold beer and a delicious lunch. Known for underground living, opals and spectacular sunsets, Coober Pedy is unlike anywhere else.

Your home for the next two nights is the Desert Cave Hotel, the world’s first underground hotel. Opal mining tunnelling machines were used to grind through the hard desert sandstone to create quiet, cool, dark and airy rooms that are spacious, modern and utterly unique. Tonight, enjoy dinner and a glass of wine at Umbertos Restaurant, located within the hotel.

Accommodation: Desert Cave Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Coober Pedy

After a leisurely breakfast, the remainder of the morning is at leisure. There is time to shop for opals and souvenirs or to simply relax in the hotel bar. Enjoy lunch at the Crystal Café before your afternoon tour.

Early afternoon, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby and depart on your private Desert Cave Experience & Sunset Tour. Join your guide for a walk around the historic Coober Pedy cemetery, which tells a story of the colourful and often eccentric residents who have shaped the town of today. Another breathtaking sunset is in store for you when you journey to the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, a site significant for the Antakirinja Matuntjara Yankunytjatjara people, whose name for the area is Umoona, meaning ‘long life’. Enjoy sundowners as the sun slowly sets on the horizon. Tonight, another incredible three-course dinner with a glass of wine awaits you at Umbertos Restaurant, before retiring to your room.

Accommodation: Desert Cave Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Coober Pedy — William Creek

After breakfast, transfer east to William Creek, Australia’s smallest town, with a population of less than 16. William Creek is about a two to three-hour drive and is located on the well-known Oodnadatta Track. Upon arrival, meet Mr. Trevor Wright, a quintessential outback character dubbed ‘Minister of Most Things Worth Knowing’. Trevor has lived in the area for over 30 years and will share his colourful stories of life in this remote outpost on a guided tour.

Enjoy lunch and a glass of wine at the William Creek Hotel before boarding your Airvan, a single-engine aircraft, for a bird’s-eye view of the Anna Creek Painted Hills – an extraordinary rocky outcrop. Land at the Painted Hills and take a guided walk through this ancient terrain. Look for fossils, evidence of the inland sea, and admire the contrasting colours and characteristics created by the oxidised minerals within. A 30-minute scenic flight from the Painted Hills is Mount Eba Station, renowned as the geographical centre of South Australia. Once a stopover for fuel and provisions on the Old Stuart Highway, the station was established in 1874 and at one time stocked 30,000 sheep and cattle. There’s time for a wander to admire the old homestead and visit the shearing shed before returning to William Creek in the early evening. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the William Creek Hotel, inclusive of a bottle of wine per couple.

Accommodation: William Creek Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: William Creek — Wilpena Pound

Continue towards Wilpena Pound, the amphitheatre that forms the centrepiece of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. Wilpena Pound is an immense, crater-like fusion of stark purple ridges and overhanging bluffs, strewn with tough and colourful vegetation, and in jarring contrast to the flatness of the surrounding plains.

Ikara Safari Camp, part of Wilpena Pound Resort, is the ideal base for Flinders Ranges explorers. The resort nestles unobtrusively against a backdrop of rugged mountains, right at the entrance to Wilpena Pound. The resort offers a range of magnificent 4WD tours and scenic flights, walking tours, horse riding treks as well as numerous bush walks and a variety of Indigenous cultural tours (charges apply).

Accommodation: Ikara Safari Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Wilpena Pound

Enjoy breakfast at leisure at Captain Starlight Restaurant, open from 7am, before exploring more than 800 million years of geological history in the ‘Corridor Through Time’. Marvel at the rugged beauty of Brachina and Bunyeroo Gorges, search for yellow-footed rock wallabies and enjoy sweeping views of Bunyeroo Valley and the eastern wall of Wilpena Pound. After lunch (including a glass of wine), view this natural, circular landmark from the air. Take a 20-minute scenic flight, giving you the opportunity to get the best view of the region. Take a circuit of Wilpena Pound, where your pilot will point out the Elder Range, Edeowie Gorge, Heysen Range, Lake Torrens, Bunyeroo Gorge, Brachina Gorge, St Mary Peak and Pound Gap. It’s an extraordinary sight and great for photographers.

Tonight, enjoy a Sunset Spectacular Tour with drinks and canapés. Observe the changing colours as the sun sets over Wilpena Pound and the Flinders Ranges, marvelling at the vast ancient landscape from a spectacular local lookout point. Don’t forget your camera! Return to camp and relax in your extraordinary surroundings with dinner and a glass of wine.

Accommodation: Ikara Safari Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Parachilna — Clare Valley — Adelaide

Continue south today to the Clare Valley region; another top-notch food and wine destination. Situated in the beautiful northern Mount Lofty Ranges, the town of Clare is nestled among wooded hills and orderly vineyards. Visit the nearby heritage towns of Burra and Kapunda, and the valley’s very first winery, Sevenhill Cellars, a sacred site of seductive wine and spiritual character. Built by the Society of Jesuits in 1851, it’s home to some of the world’s oldest vines, which were started with cuttings from nearby Bungaree Station. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, showcasing the best local produce from in and around the region, and savour the flavours of Clare Valley alongside a glass of wine. After lunch, sample some of the valley’s finest wines before arriving at your overnight accommodation in Adelaide, where the evening is at leisure. Relax with dinner and a glass of wine in the hotel tonight.

Accommodation: Majestic Roof Garden Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Adelaide — Kangaroo Island

After breakfast, transfer to Adelaide domestic airport for your flight to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island. Widely acclaimed as Australia’s Galapagos, Kangaroo Island is home to an abundance of native wildlife and spectacular natural attractions. Covering almost 4,500 square kilometres, it is Australia’s third-largest island and offers the best of the mainland on a smaller, more intimate scale. With more than one-third of the island declared Conservation or National Park, visitors can come face to face with prolific bird and animal species such as New Zealand fur seals, koalas, kangaroos, Australian sea lions, ospreys, echidnas and much, much more.

On arrival, your local driver-guide will greet you at the airport. Start the day with a cuppa and some home-baked morning tea before taking a walk down a country track through tall eucalyptus trees, where koalas snooze overhead or wake briefly for a feed. Travel to Seal Bay Conservation Park and take a private tour with your guide among Australian sea lions on a beautiful sandy beach. Watch pups nursing or playing in the surf, see old bulls bearing the scars of territorial disputes and learn about their unique breeding biology. Break for lunch at a private bush camp and enjoy a delicious meal featuring local King George whiting, fresh salads and fine South Australian wines.

Following lunch, head to the North Coast. Walk through the bush with your guide, passing strangely shaped trees and learning what makes that noise or whose tracks those are. Look for small wallabies almost extinct on the mainland, a kangaroo found only on Kangaroo Island and a variety of other birds, plants and animals. Before returning to your accommodation, visit Kangaroo Island Spirits, the home of South Australia’s first boutique distillery and winners of Australia’s best Gin for 2016 and 2017. View and taste a range of high-quality liqueurs and spirits made with native ingredients. Transfer to your accommodation at Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge. Dinner tonight is in the Reflections Restaurant & Bar, where the emphasis is on utilising the best produce the island can provide. A glass of wine is included.

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Kangaroo Island

After a leisurely breakfast, begin the day on the island’s northwest, in an important private wildlife refuge, with Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife. Check out wildlife surveys targeting tiny endangered mammals and get an introduction to the bush. Break for an elegant picnic lunch, featuring marinated poached chicken, fresh salads, cheeses and fantastic South Australian wine, beer, soft drinks and spring water. After lunch, travel into Flinders Chase National Park and explore the massive shapes of Remarkable Rocks, a natural sculpture perched impossibly on top of a dome of granite emerging from the ocean. Evidence of the power of the Southern Ocean swell continues at Admirals Arch – a coastal grotto that provides a haul-out for a large colony of long-nosed fur seals who swim effortlessly through the crashing waves.

Transfer back to your accommodation, where another amazing dining experience awaits you at Reflections Restaurant & Bar (including a glass of wine).

Accommodation: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Kangaroo Island — Adelaide

Following breakfast, meet your local driver-guide in the lodge lobby and transfer to the Kingscote airport (KGC) for your flight back to Adelaide (ADL), where your journey ends.

Meals: Breakfast