Stage 5: Van-Tastic South Australia

What's so Van-Tastic about South Australia?

Pick up: Melbourne, Drop off: Adelaide

OK, you’ve climbed the bridge and snorkelled the reef. Now it’s time to meet the real Australia…

We’re talking about a wild night in an outback pub with the townsfolk of Parachilna (population four).

We’re talking about a week of hiking around Kangaroo Island, the wildlife haven they’re calling the ‘Galapagos of Australia’.

We’re talking about a month’s work during the crazy ‘Vintage’ season, harvesting grapes in the beautiful Barossa Valley – doing hard yakka, earning good coin and kicking back with the locals.

It’s time to do the stuff that other people are only just beginning to discover… diving with Australia’s fearsome Great White Sharks off Port Lincoln, looking for opals in Coober Pedy, cycling through valleys and vineyards, swimming with sea lions and dolphins in Baird Bay, exploring unrivalled collections of art in Adelaide, driving cattle for a day in the Flinders Ranges, relaxing with a beer on the deck of your own houseboat as you drift down the Murray River, and doing the massive Adelaide Fringe Festival when the entire city becomes the butt of its own jokes….

Our Van-Tastic partners will look after you! Check out these FREE activities on offer for our South Australian team...

	Adventure max – swim with Sharks…! Eyre Peninsula is all about awesome marine experiences! Jump aboard with Calypso Star Charters for the chance to dive in a steel cage to meet Australia’s most fabled and feared native – the Great White Shark! For something a little tamer, but still as awesome, snorkel with tuna and sea lions with Adventure Bay Charters . Nullarbor Travellers will help uncover some of the special places, so jump aboard for a few days touring with them. At Baird Bay you can swim with wild sea lions, which is much like playing with puppies of the sea!!
	Kangaroo Island - Wildlife wonderland Kangaroo Island should have been called ‘Kangaroo and Koala and Platypus and Echidna and Sea Lion and Rare Glossy Black Cockatoo Island’ – but it wasn’t. It is, however, being called ‘Australia’s Galapagos’. Explore the island with the experts, Surf and Sun. Stay on a few days to explore at your own pace, chilling out at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. For some extreme action, KI Outdoor Action are offering an “Extreme Action Quad Bike package" or get out on the water with KI Marine Tours to swim with wild dolphins . Join an adventure Caving tour at Kelly Hill Conservation Park. Enjoy another night, nocturnal tour and fishing trip thanks to Wallaby Bob .
	Outback Adventures When you think you understand planet Earth, it’s time to visit the South Australian Outback. It’s intense. It’s inspiring. And it’s a little insane. Join a 3 day Mountains to Outback Safari in the Flinders Ranges with Heading Bush to find Aboriginal rock art, heart-breaking vistas, and encounter yellow-footed wallabies. Relax a night around the campfire at Rawnsley Park Station and join the jaw dropping Ridgetop Tour at Arkaroola in the northern Flinders Ranges. Tour the Flinders Ranges & Outback's Discovery Centre at Wadlata for a great insight into the region’s history.
	Coober Pedy Opal Adventures A cowboy town that’s as wild as it is weird as it is wonderful. Here’s where you’ll find underground hostels, Martian landscapes (much favoured by Hollywood), hippy cultures, the ‘dog fence’ (the world’s longest manmade structure), a stunning ‘paintbox’ desert called the Breakaways and – if you’re lucky – opals. Join a town tour including a visit to the award winning Old Timer’s Mine , before bunking down underground at Radeka’s, recently voted one of the world’s most unique hostels!
	Fringe it up in Adelaide…. Adelaide really rocks in February & March – it’s when the annual Fringe Comedy Festival (second only in size to Edinburgh) takes over the city. Visit the best of the shows with a Fringe Pass , while recovering at night in the centre of town at Adelaide Central YHA. Then enjoy some beach time at Glenelg (party central) with a couple of nights at Glenelg Backpackers Hostel. While here, swim with wild Dolphins off the beach at Glenelg with Temptation Sailing . Kayak around Port Adelaide with Adventure Kayak SA for up-close encounter with Port Adelaide’s dolphins and ship’s graveyard. Take to the long line of (gentle) breakers on Middleton beach,and enjoy friendly instructions with Surf and Sun. Visit Cleland Wildlife Park where the onus is on ‘park’ rather than enclosures. Walk among kangaroos and emus, then give in to that strange urge to cuddle a koala. Go on – you know you want to..
	Guzzle some wine… Adelaide is surrounded by wine regions. Much like its famous red wines, Barossa is beautiful, rich and fruity. Join a Groovy Grape out of Adelaide – after an hour’s drive you’re in amongst stunning scenery, charming towns, renowned wine labels and (oops) lots of free tastings. Stay on for some more wine explorations at Barossa Valley Farmhouse YHA. South of Adelaide is the Mclaren Vale wine region. Adelaide Sightseeing and Prime Mini tours will take you round to some of the great wineries here for even more tastings!.
	Road Trip! The Great Ocean Road is an action-packed 1000km from Adelaide to Melbourne, taking in the amazing Coorong, Coonawarra Winelands and the 12 Apostles. Learn how to make your own wine at Wynns in the Coonawarra wine region, and try out some adventure caving at Naracoorte Caves.
	Camping Adventures Thanks to Department of Environment and Heritage a Holiday Pass and Kangaroo Island Pass will provide camping and access for all of South Australia’s fantastic National Parks, such as Kangaroo Island, Flinders Ranges and Adelaide Hills.

Where you could go on your Van Tastic South Australian Adventure?

1. Coast and Wildlife The Great Ocean Road is a stunning drive from Adelaide to Melbourne, taking in the amazing Coorong, Coonawarra Winelands (make you own wine!) and adventure caving at the World Heritage Naracoorte Caves National Park. Continue round the coast through the seaside playground of Victor Harbor, before an action packed exploration of Kangaroo Island, and its amazing wildlife and white sandy beaches! .

2. Festival City Adelaide & Wine Regions. Head north from Kangaroo Island onto Adelaide, where you can base yourself to explore the surrounding wine regions of the Barossa, Mclaren Vale, and gorgeous Adelaide Hills. All the while, pace yourself through the myriad events of Adelaide Fringe Festival and close encounters with wild dolphins!

3. Mountains, Sharks and Opals! Then its back on the road for a Road trip adventures to the mighty Murray River before exploring the amazing mountains wildlife and aboriginal culture of the Flinders Ranges. Continue round to the stunning Eyre Peninsula where you will come face to face with the Great White Shark, tuna, dolphins and sea lions…! Finishing up your journey is the quirky and unique town of Coober Pedy, where most people live underground to escape the summer heat.

And because you want to know more...

Visit: www.backpacking-southaustralia.com and www.southaustralia.com