Take the road less travelled and experience the unique geological formations of the Flinders Ranges.
The Heysen Trail, stretching some 1200kms from Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges, forms one of Australia’s iconic outback journeys. This new tour surveys Hans Heysen’s works at the Art Gallery of South Australia and his former home and studio, The Cedars. We then explore the trail named in his honour, seeing the landscapes and geological features that inspired his art, journeying from the Clare and Barossa Valleys to Arkaroola and Wilpena Pound. Visit historic ruins left by the first European settlers, observe wildlife and marvel at fantastic arrays of Aboriginal rock art, guided by the sites’ traditional owners. Please note: Small group tour, limited to a group size of only 12.
Days 1–2: Arrive Adelaide. Tour the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Heysens’ studio at The Cedars in Hahndorf.
Days 3–4: Enjoy lunch at a Barossa winery, tour Martindale Hall and follow Clare Valley’s Riesling trail through classic Heysen landscapes.
Days 5–7: Drive to Arkaroola. Walk through Bararranna Gorge and discover Arkaroola’s geological history in 4WD vehicles.
Days 8–10: See the rock engravings at Red Gorge with a traditional owner. Continue to Wilpena Pound, climb to Rawnsley Bluff and tour Brachina Gorge with an Aboriginal ranger.
Days 11–12: Enjoy a farewell dinner in a fine Adelaide restaurant before departure.
The tour begins at Adelaide airport and ends at our hotel in Adelaide. Contact us for quotes, bookings and flight schedules into and out of Adelaide from your destination.
Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D.
Meet you tour leader in the arrivals hall at Adelaide airport at 3pm and transfer to our accommodation at the historic Mt Lofty House in the Adelaide Hills. After time to settle in to your rooms we reconvene this evening for our welcome dinner in the award-winning Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. Overnight Mt Lofty (D)
We travel down from the hills into Adelaide city to the Art Gallery of South Australia and undertake a guided tour focusing on the collection of Hans Heysen’s works housed in the gallery. Born in Hamburg in 1877, Heysen emigrated to Australia with his family in 1883. Attending art school from the age of 14, he sold his first work at 16 and was regularly exhibited in Adelaide, winning the Wynne Prize nine times between 1904 and 1932. Heysen’s deep love of the Adelaide Hills led him to purchase ‘The Cedars’ in Hahndorf where he set up his studio and lived out the rest of his life, making forays into the Flinders Ranges to capture the stunning Outback landscapes of the Australian bush. We make our way to ‘The Cedars’ and take a guided tour of the gallery and its rambling gardens, which served as the family home and studio for his daughter Nora Heysen, also a lauded artist. Overnight Mt Lofty (B)
Departing the Adelaide Hills, we make the short journey north into the Barossa Valley winemaking region and visit Chateau Yaldara, one of Australia’s first boutique wineries founded in 1947 and situated on the banks of the North Para River. We enjoy a relaxed lunch in the restaurant and explore their range of local wines including a tasting of their renowned vintage fortified wine. Following lunch, we head towards the Clare Valley and the heritage town of Mintaro where we take a guided tour of Martindale Hall, a Georgian-style sandstone mansion built in 1879 and featured in the 1975 film, Picnic at Hanging Rock. We continue to our heritage accommodation at Bungaree Station, a working sheep station on 80,000 acres of land. We tour the property’s heritage buildings before enjoying a BBQ dinner with Clare Valley wines. Overnight Bungaree Station (B, L, D)
This morning we take the Riesling Trail, riding bikes approximately 4.5 kilometres along the flat pathway by the old railway line to Sevenhill Cellars, the oldest winery in the Clare Valley. The bus will follow for those not wishing to cycle. Sevenhill was established by Jesuits escaping persecution in Europe in 1851 to produce sacramental wine in their new home, a tradition that continues today. We take a walking tour of the winery’s significant wine and spiritual sites, including the underground cellar, old-vine vineyards, St Ignatius of Loyola Shrine and the crypt and church of St Aloysius. We return to Mintaro for lunch and a walking tour of the old town, and explore some of the locations where Hans Heysen painted in the area. We return to Bungaree for a roast dinner this evening. Overnight Bungaree Station (B, L, D)
Departing early for our seven-hour drive today, the landscape changes from verdant bushland and vineyards to the rocky outcrops and red soil of the Flinders Ranges. We break our journey to inspect the ruins at Kanyaka Station. Established as a cattle station in 1852, it became one of the largest in the district with 70 families working and living here until massive losses through the effects of drought caused the station to be abandoned, leaving only the stone buildings standing desolate and empty. We stop for lunch in the historic town of Quorn which came into existence as an important railhead for the Ghan. We continue to Arkaroola, near the Gammon Ranges National Park, arriving in the early evening and have dinner in the restaurant at the resort. Overnight Arkaroola (B, L, D)
This morning we depart on a seven kilometre walk to Bararrana Gorge on our first foray into Adnyamathanha Aboriginal lands. Although not too strenuous the terrain is rocky and involves climbing up hills, along dry creek beds and over some large boulders. The walk is quite varied and allows us to discover the geological story of Arkaroola, rewarding us with magnificent views over the gorge and surrounding area. After free time for lunch at the resort we set out in 4WD vehicles to explore the waterholes along the Arkaroola Creek system and seek out native birds and other wildlife including the endangered Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby. Dinner this evening is by the campfire with music provided by the traditional owners. Overnight Arkaroola (B, D)
Known mainly for his exploration work in Antarctica, Douglas Mawson was a lecturer in minerology and petrology at the University of Adelaide and worked extensively studying the geology around the Flinders Ranges, identifying the first major radioactive ore body in Australia. Our walk this morning follows in the footsteps of Mawson through the Mawson Valley where his geologist student, Reg Spriggs, discovered ancient animal fossils that are over 600 million years old. This afternoon we take the resort’s specially designed open-top 4WD vehicles and navigate the steep slopes and rugged terrain to the Ridgetop Track for a 360-degree panorama over the red granite ranges to Lake Frome and the desert beyond. This evening is at leisure or you may wish to join the resort’s Astronomy Tour. Overnight Arkaroola (B)
We depart Arkaroola early this morning for Red Gorge, an area with a spectacular array of rock engravings. On the walk to the art sites – approximately four kilometres each way – we are accompanied by one of the traditional owners who will interpret the rock art and offer insights into the culture and history of the Adnyamathanha people. After an alfresco picnic lunch, we continue to Wilpena Pound and our accommodation for the next three nights. Overnight Wilpena Pound (B, L, D)
The ancient sedimentary rock that makes up Wilpena Pound forms a natural amphitheatre known to the Adnyamathanha people as Ikara, meaning ‘meeting place’. Today we explore the area around Wilpena Pound with a series of optional walks escorted by the onsite cultural heritage manager who will arrange exclusive access to sites not otherwise accessible to the public. Overnight Wilpena Pound (B, L)
Today we join an Indigenous ranger for a tour into Brachina Gorge passing through 130 million years of history providing insights into past climate and the evolution of early life forms in the region. The gorge is home to many species of birds and reptiles and an important refuge for the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby and was used by the early settlers as a pass for bullock teams transporting their loads across the country. The afternoon is at leisure to relax at the resort or take an optional flight over Wilpena Pound or Lake Eyre. We gather around the camp fire for dinner this evening, our last night in the Outback. Overnight Wilpena Pound (B)
After breakfast this morning we embark on the six-hour drive back to Adelaide. Arriving in the late afternoon we check into our comfortable modern city hotel with time to freshen up before gathering for a farewell dinner in one of the city’s fine restaurants. Overnight Adelaide (B, D)
The tour concludes after breakfast in the hotel. (B)
An indigenous and historical archaeologist, actively involved in research in the Atacama region of Chile.
Christopher Carter is an archaeologist with over 20 years’ experience leading tours to Central and South America, Spain and Ireland as well as within Australia. He is particularly interested in human interaction within landscapes and the formative period of cultural development.
Chris has a BA(Hons), MA and PhD from the Australian National University (ANU). He has worked as a tutor at the ANU and lectured at both the ANU and University of Sydney Centres for Continuing Education. When not leading tours, Chris works as an archaeological consultant and heritage advisor.
Chris’ research interests cover both Indigenous and Australian historical archaeology. He is also actively involved in research in the Atacama region of northern Chile and involved in a number of studies investigating the early settlement of this region. He has had a number of academic papers published in international journals.
As a teacher, Chris has always declared that archaeology cannot be learned in the classroom. Such statements resulted in him taking a group to South America in 1995. He has continued to lead several tours a year ever since. The areas visited have expanded to other regions that reflect the subjects he teaches.
We asked Chris, what part of tour leading does he find most rewarding?
“I love teaching and, as they say, ‘to travel is to learn’ and what better classroom than the wider world. Nothing satisfies me more than to lead people into new areas where they can see how humans have interacted with landscapes over the years – to witness the evolution of both the people and the environments they occupy.
On a recent tour, one member of the group commented that they can now ‘see’ a lot more than they did before. In the past, they had taken so much for granted and never thought about how things changed through time. Their eyes had been opened and they began to think more about what they were looking at. To me, these are the statements that make my job worthwhile.”
Built in 1852 in the style of a British manor house, this designer boutique hotel in the Adelaide Hills has panoramic views to Adelaide and the sea. www.mtloftyhouse.com.au
Heritage accommodation on a working sheep and cattle property close to the Clare Valley. Our accommodation is shared across several historic buildings with shared bathrooms. bungareestation.com.au
Comfortable motel-style accommodation in fully airconditioned rooms, all with ensuites and views over the ranges. www.arkaroola.com.au
The only accommodation located within the Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park. We have booked the larger deluxe Heysen resort rooms. www.wilpenapound.com.au
A modern hotel well situated in the city’s east end close to restaurants and the main shopping precinct, Rundle Mall. www.accorhotels.com
Unless otherwise stated in the itinerary, our tours include the following:
Tours begin either at the arrival airport or the first hotel, depending on the itinerary. If you have booked your international flights with Academy Travel and arrive before the tour commences, we will provide airport to hotel transfers to the closest main city on your arrival, and to the closest airport at the end of the tour. These may be either individual or group transfers.
Our tours do not include the following:
A Grade 3 tour is appropriate for travellers in good health with good mobility, who can comfortably participate in up to 3 hours of physical activity per day on most days.
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