Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 10 . ADELAIDE & SOUTH AUSTRALIA
emus can sometimes be seen wandering around the park, but outside the park
kangaroos are heavily culled.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE By car, you can take Highway 1 out of Adelaide to Port
Augusta (3 1 ⁄2 hr.), then head east on Route 47 via Quorn and Hawker (another
45 min.). It’s another hour to Wilpena Pound. Alternatively, take the scenic
route (it doesn’t have a specific name) through the Clare Valley (around 5 hr.):
From Adelaide head to Gawler and then through the Clare Valley; follow signs
to Gladstone, Melrose, Wilmington, and Quorn.
Premier Stateliner (& 08/8415 5555; www.premierstateliner.com.au) runs
five buses every day from Adelaide to Port Augusta for A$35 (US$23) one-way.
The company also runs buses to Wilpena Pound via Hawker and Quorn, leaving
Adelaide at 8:30am on Wednesday and 11am on Friday. Fares each way are A$44
(US$29) to Quorn, A$58 (US$38) to Hawker, and A$63 (US$41) to Wilpena
Pound. Buses return to Adelaide from Wilpena Pound at 11am on Thursday,
7:15pm on Friday (arriving in Adelaide at 5am), and 3:05pm on Sunday.
Heading Bush Adventures (& 1800/639 933 in Australia, or 08/8356
5501; www.headingbush.com) has great trips if you really want to get out and
explore, including a 10-day tour to the Flinders Ranges, the Oodnatta Track,
Coober Pedy, the Simpson Desert, Ayres Rock, the Olgas, Kings Canyon, and
Aboriginal communities. This remarkable trip costs A$1,200 (US$780) or $995
(US$647) with a YHA card—which is less than A$100 (US$65) a day including
meals and bush camping. It focuses on Aboriginal culture.
A budget four-wheel-drive option is with Ozzie’s Bush Track Tours (& 08/
8648 6562; www.aboutoztours.com) out of Quorn. Half-day trips cost A$58
(US$38), full-day trips A$116 (US$76), and 3-day trips A$360 (US$234). The
website has some interesting walking tracks listed if you want to stretch your
legs—but take lots of water and tell someone where you are going!
VISITOR INFORMATION Before setting off, contact the Flinders Ranges
and Outback of South Australia Regional Tourism Association (FROSATA) at
P.O. Box 2083, Port Augusta, SA 5700 (& 1800/633 060 in Australia), for advice
on roads and conditions. I strongly recommend a visit to the Wadlata Outback
Centre at 41 Flinders Terrace, Port Augusta (& 08/8642 4511), an awardwinning
interactive museum and information center. The museum costs A$7
(US$4.55) for adults and A$4.50 (US$2.90) for children and is open Monday
through Friday from 9am to 5:30pm; Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
In Hawker, both the Mobil service station and the post office also act as information
outlets.
GETTING AROUND By Car If you decide to explore on your own using
a rental car, I recommend renting one in Adelaide before setting out.
By Camel Kev’s Kamel Kapers (& 08/8648 4299, or 0419/839 288 mobile
phone onboard camel) offers remarkable 2-hour sunset camel safaris for A$25
(US$16); half-day excursions for A$50 (US$33); and full-day safaris including
a champagne lunch for A$80 (US$52) for adults and A$60 (US$39) for children
under 16. Overnight camel treks are available, and on weekends and public
holidays 15-minute rides cost just A$5 (US$3.25). The tours only run from
March to the end of October and leave from Hawker (call beforehand for exact
pickup spot). Kev is often unreachable, so check with the tourist association for
his whereabouts.