Distances and Drive Times
How to get here and, once you’ve arrived, helpful hints on how to get around and be safe while doing so.
Getting here and around
Rex Airlines (Regional Express) operate services between Adelaide and Coober Pedy (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Alliance Airlines provides daily return services from Adelaide to Olympic Dam. Private charters are also available, or if you fly your own aircraft going by air will be an unforgettable experience.
Personalised scenic air tours depart from Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne to Port Augusta and include visits to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, lnnamincka, Birdsville, Arkaroola, Wilpena Pound, Coober Pedy and Andamooka. Wrightsair, Kirkhope Aviation, Arid Air, Bush Pilots, Chinta Air, Helivista Helicopter Services, and Aus Air Services are just some of the flight operators who’ll pick up charter passengers for flight tours that include many outback destinations.
Experience the Ghan with Journey Beyond, on the rail trip of a lifetime. Travel between Adelaide and Darwin on the all-inclusive Outback Spirit journey. The return service from Darwin to Adelaide includes a fascinating day trip around Coober Pedy.
The Indian Pacific also departs once a week from Sydney to Perth and return, with stopovers in Adelaide.
National coach service Greyhound and South Australia-based Premier Stateliner operate coach services to the region. Premier Stateliner departs daily from Adelaide, stopping at Crystal Brook, Port Pirie and Port Augusta.
Gulf Getaways also provide bus tours of the Flinders Ranges. Genesis Transport and Removals runs a bus service from Adelaide to Copley twice weekly, the only bus service in the Flinders Ranges.
Most people visiting the Flinders Ranges and Outback choose a self-drive holiday. Many roads are sealed, so you don’t necessarily need a 4WD to see the key attractions under normal weather conditions. However, a vehicle with good ground clearance is recommended on unsealed roads. If you have a 4WD, always drive with caution and according to road conditions at the time. Check road conditions before you travel: phone 1300 361 033, visit www.dpti.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads, or drop into an accredited visitor information centre.
Car hire companies operate out of Coober Pedy, Port Augusta, Roxby Downs, Copley, Blinman and Hawker. Check company hire policies before taking your hire vehicle on unsealed roads.
Caravans and motorhomes are a great way to tour the Flinders Ranges and Outback. For your safety, ensure caravans and motorhomes stick to sealed roads unless they’ve been specifically designed with off-road capabilities. The road from Hawker to Blinman is sealed, but the road to Arkaroola is unsealed. Access with a 2WD vehicle with reasonable clearance and conditions is easily achievable. Please note that rest stops on the Stuart Highway are for temporary stops only. No overnight stays are permitted. Visit www.dpti.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads before venturing into the far north of the state.
Dumped sewage in the outback is an environmental disaster for the people and animals living here. Please follow the Aussie Travel Code, and use one of the many sewage dump points (listed further on this page). As a courtesy to other visitors, please keep dump areas clean and remember to follow the RV’s Code of Conduct when travelling.
Public Access Routes
Public access routes (PARs) are unsealed roads that are open to the public but located on private properties. PARs are often used by livestock and with farm machinery, semi-trailers and road trains.
Take care of native animals on these roads during the day and avoid travelling at dawn, dusk or night. Also take into account communication needs, food and water, and ensure your vehicle is well-equipped and suitable for rough terrain. Be aware that unsealed road conditions can change rapidly with rain, flooding, wind and high traffic periods, so keep an eye on the weather and always notify a friend or relative of your travel plans.
For information on PARs, call 1800 678 447 or download the 4WD Tracks and Repeater Towers brochure at www.southaustralia.com/plan-your-trip/maps-and-brochures/.
Another good information source is www.bom.gov.au.
Touring the Region
By booking an organised tour from Adelaide or from several locations within the region, you get more time to relax and discover ancient wonders and hidden secrets. Plus, you’ll be informed by those who live and work here, get your questions answered, and have someone else do the driving and map reading.
You’ll see more of the region, get closer to nature and discover the secrets of the past in hidden fossil beds and ancient Aboriginal Dreamtime stories. Take a once-in-a-lifetime aerial tour of spectacular Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, or go off road on a 4WD tour exploring the outback stations, nature and geological sites. Or, what about an extended outback and coastal adventure where you can experience sleeping in an Aussie swag?
Some small group tours link up the tri-states coming in from Alice Springs, Broken Hill in New South Wales or Outback Queensland. However you choose to get here, an organised tour will take you to places others can only dream about.