Outback Explorer: Uluru to Adelaide

There’s something starkly beautiful about the Australian outback. The pindan soil, silvery gums, horizon-busting skies, vast swathes of sun-baked nothingness. This is your backdrop as you cross from the Northern Territory into South Australia, ready to get deep at your destination. Coober Pedy, known as ‘the opal capital of the world’, is all lunar landscapes at the surface, and psychedelic colours underground. Locals not only mine rainbow hued opals in a vast network of subterranean tunnels, but also live here, go to church here and send their kids to school here. You’ll get to stay at a hotel built into a rocky hillside right in the heart of this quirky town.

It’s hard to imagine landscapes more dramatic than those you’ve experienced so far. But nature ups the ante at Lake Hart, a vast saltpan that sparked a community in the 1930s. Today, it’s all but deserted, adding to the ethereal atmosphere. The vastness of the South Australian outback was no doubt one of the reasons why it was chosen to become the world’s largest military land base. Believe it or not, Woomera has been a testing base for atomic bombs, ballistic missiles and satellite boosters. Mull over that en route to SA’s natural harbour of Port Augusta.

The Wadlata Outback Centre was created to decode some of the countryside you’ve been traversing over the past two days. Come face-to-face with giant ripper lizards, journey back in time to when dinosaurs roamed this land, and meet some of the people who first owned, explored and settled the region – as well as some of those who live here today. There are fossils and more opals, and interactive exhibits; have you ever tried Morse code? All this outback is thirsty work. Thankfully the Clare Valley is on the horizon. Gather in the cellar door at historic Knappstein Wines to find out just why their riesling takes home so many awards. Their other drops are pretty tasty, too.

While your AAT Kings journey comes to an end, we seriously hope you have plans to linger in (and around) the South Australian capital, ready for your next Adelaide tour. From its wineries to its epic Central Market, there’s a reason why this part of the state attracts some of Australia’s most innovative bakers, makers, growers, producers and vintners. Dig in!