The Explorers Way - from Adelaide to Darwin in a 4x4
Maybe you think an RV trip through the outback is boring, I can assure you that it is actually a wonderful way to experience this unique environment. In 2016, I drove the Explorers Way with my partner in an old 4x4 nicknamed Koala.
This is one of the classic road trips across Australia, from Adelaide through the red heart to Darwin.
This route combines three unique areas: the wine regions and outback of South Australia, the center with Ayers Rock, Uluru and surroundings and the tropical North. I would like to take you on this special journey of over 3000 km, a journey as typical of Australia as it gets. Because there is so much to see and experience along the way, the trip has been divided into three blogs. This first one covers South Australia.
Adelaide
Adelaide, with its laid-back atmosphere and beautiful beaches, is an excellent place to recover from jet lag. It is also the culinary capital: dinner at Peel St. restaurant is in our top 10 best meals of all time. An exhilarating experience is attending an Aussie Football game at the Adelaide Oval. Fortunately, the friendly Aussies are happy to explain to us the rules of this game, which is a mix between soccer and rugby. Moreover, here you can try a "chiko roll: a savory snack that has become a staple cultural icon at Australian sporting events.
Clare Valley
An hour's drive from Adelaide is the picturesque wine region of Clare Valley. It is not as big a name as Barossa Valley, but the wines are certainly just as tasty, and Victorian villages and beautiful countryside round out the scene nicely. The fresh produce from this fertile area also makes for delicious meals.
The Flinders
The outback begins "only" 4.5 hours drive from Adelaide, here lie the Flinders Ranges. This is a mountain range that suddenly rises from the plains, a spectacular sight. For an outback experience without flying inland or spending a lot of time there, the Flinders are a good option. On the way to this mountain range, the landscape slowly becomes drier. We drive through quirky villages like Quorn, which is known for the native Quandong fruit, or native peach. To be honest, the people and the 1960s atmosphere in the cafe stuck with me more than the Quandong Pie. Since the Flinders is my first outback experience, it holds a special place with me. The Wilpena Pound natural amphitheater can be explored by foot or small plane. Surrounding the visitor center are hundreds of kangaroos. Of course at first we were super excited at every kangaroo we spotted, here you quickly get used to them. The Flinders are a paradise for 4x4 vehicles and classic Australian animals like the yellow footed rock-wallaby. We enjoy driving the paved roads through these beautiful mountains and enjoying the spectacular sunsets.
Oodnadatta
From the Flinders, it is possible to drive a section on the Oodnadatta track, a classic 4x4 outback route. Unfortunately, the dirt road is flooded when we get there. We do drive a bit into the outback from Coober Pedy. The painted dessert lives up to its name. The overnight stay at Arckaringa cattle station in the outback is well worth the detour. Together with a group of Australian travelers who are there at the time, we make a meal over a large campfire, sing songs and recite poems. On this unforgettable evening, we experience our first moonrise. The moon seems gigantic as it slowly rises over the vast outback.
Coober Pedy
Our next stop is Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world. Here, because of the extreme temperatures, more than 60% of the population live underground. It is special to visit a church and a house underground. In this strange landscape, Holland suddenly feels literally, very far away.
As we drive further north, the ground slowly gets redder and then even redder. We leave the state of South Australia and arrive near Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory.