Eyre Peninsula & Flinders Ranges Camping Tour
Lonely Planet voted South Australia the #5 region in the world at the Best Of Travel Awards in 2017 and there are some great reasons for that! On this 6 day camping adventure from Adelaide you will see why. Explore the 540 million year old Flinders Ranges and head to the wild Eyre Peninsula for some world class wildlife experiences such as meeting some great white sharks and playful sea lions.
Highlights
- Southern Flinders Ranges – Alligator & Warren Gorges
- Dutchmans Stern hike
- Learn to surf lesson & sandboarding adventure
- Koala’s and native wildlife at Mikkira Station
- Spectacular coastal scenery of the Eyre Peninsula
- Swim with wild Sea Lions & Dolphins (OE)
- Shark Cage Dive with Great Whites (OE)
Sleep Under the Southern Skies
When we say “camping adventure” we mean it! During the day you are going to see and do a lot but when the sun goes down you’ll sleep Aussie bushman style in swags under the billions of stars that make up the Southern Skies and kick back around the campfire with a beer and sharing stories with your new friends.Sleep under the stars surrounded by Koalas in nearly every tree. You even get the chance to see endangered Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby in Warren Gorge.
Participation and involvement is required from our passengers. Accommodation on tour is a mixture of national parks, campgrounds, bush camps (no facilities). When camping, we use individual swags provided by Nullarbor Traveller and passengers need to bring their own sleeping bags. (Our wet weather option is 3 person dome tents shared by a maximum of 2 people per tent)
Pick up locations and times: 6.45 YHA Adelaide at 135 Waymouth Street, 6.55am, Adelaide Bus Station at 85 Franklin Street
Passengers are advised to arrive 15 minutes before departure.
Returns: Monday +/- 8.00pm, Adelaide. As a recommendation, please do not book flights out of Adelaide after your tour until the Tuesday.
Optional Activities
While everything on our tours is included in the price such as transport, accommodation, food and entry and national park fees, there are a few optional extra activities that we leave up to the passenger to decide if they want to do.
Swim with sea lions and dolphins - Baird Bay $180 p.p.
This is an amazing experience - you may have swum with dolphins at other places around the world but the interaction that you will have with the sea lions and dolphins at Bairds Bay will leave you breathless. Bairds Bay is a very sheltered bay on the Eyre Peninsula and passengers board the boat for a short ride to our first stop which is to swim with sea lions. This takes place in approximately 2 metres of water. It is a natural experience and the sea lions come into the sheltered lagoon to interact with us.
After this, we head further out into the bay to swim with the dolphins. This happens in four metres of water but is still within the sheltered bay. The tour is 3-4 hours, wetsuit and snorkel equipment is provided at no additional cost. We will need to know your intentions upon booking to give updated numbers to the operator. Payment is done on the day to the operator but must be booked in advance as places are limited.
Great White Shark Experiences in Port Lincoln
Adventure Bay Charters From $389pp - $564pp
This is Australia’s first Advanced Eco-certified White Shark Tour. Sustainable and responsible, Adventure Bay Charters use rock music to attract the sharks, which also makes for a great vibe on the boat for your tour. They also have the only Aqua Sub, dry glass viewing platform with 360-degree views of the Great Whites in their natural habitat. This allows you to come face to face with the sharks and the cage divers whilst staying dry! If you are feeling brave you can upgrade on the day to have the ultimate thrill of plunging into the Southern Ocean with the sharks, from within the safety of the cage.
This full day tour to the Neptune Islands departs at 6.30am and returns at 6.30pm. It includes all equipment, breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. You also receive a selection of free images which they will email to you within a couple of days.
Cost structure
- Full Day Tour/Aqua Sub Access - $350pp (at time of booking)
- Cage Dive - $175pp (paid on board)
- $39 ‘Department of Environment Fee’ is payable on the day regardless of which option you choose (payed at reception)
If you opt to enter the cage but do not see any Great White Sharks you will not pay the $150 Cage Entry fee, just the $350 + $39.
Calypso Star Charters Shark Cage Diving $532pp
Calypso Star Charters was established in 1990 and have a proud history of providing safe and exciting Advanced Eco Certified Shark Cage Diving. They are the only one-day Shark Cage Diving South Australian tour operator who is permitted to use natural fish berley (chum) to attract the sharks. This sustainable practice provides passengers with the best possible chance of sighting and interaction close to the vessel and cage, which will enhance your incredible experience!
The full day’s charter boards at 6.30am and it takes about 2.5 hours to get out to the Neptune Islands. No diver experience is required. All food and equipment is supplied and MV Calypso Star 2 is the only Shark Cage Diving vessel fitted with a Gyroscopic Stabiliser, increasing guests’ comfort throughout the day.
Please note the $532 rate is inclusive of a $37 Department of Environment Fee.
On days of nil sightings of White Sharks, all guests will be refunded $100 and provided a $200 voucher off a future tour.