8 Day Sydney to Adelaide Outback Journey Itinerary

Welcome to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's big cities. With a glorious natural harbour and a blissful climate, this town is a stunning introduction to Australia.

Sydney Harbour Dining Cruise

Take a Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Harbour tonight and discover Sydney in style. Enjoy spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as you dine.

Accommodation: Sydney - 1 Night

Begin your Sydney to Adelaide adventure with a road trip to Leura, in the heart of the World-Heritage-Listed Blue Mountains region.

The Blue Mountains

Be awed by rugged cliffs, hidden canyons, towering waterfalls and never-ending eucalyptus forests. Outdoor-lovers will delight in the 140 kilometres (87 miles) of walking tracks here. You can wander for miles, surrounded by native bushland and the blue haze which gives the region its name.

Best of the Blue Mountains 4WD Tour

Discover the best of the Blue Mountains on a private 4WD tour. Away from the crowded lookout points, you'll see this spectacular wilderness with an experienced local guide. This personalised sightseeing 4WD tour explores areas that are inaccessible to the tourist buses.

Accommodation: Blue Mountains - 1 Night

Explore the incredible Jenolan Caves, then drive to the Orange region, famed for its outstanding local produce.

Jenolan Cave Tour

Australia's award-winning Jenolan Caves are a genuine national treasure. At 340 million years old, they are the oldest known caves in the world.

The Chifley Cave is packed with examples of the stunning limestone formations for which Jenolan is famous. Take a guided tour and discover one of Jenolan's best examples of exquisite 'spar' crystal. Incredibly, the Chifley cave was one of the earliest places in the world to use light bulbs - as early as 1880!

Orange

From apples and berries to truffles and meats, the Orange region is your go-to destination for delicious local produce. Wander the elegant streets and parklands to work up an appetite: there's an array of cafes and restaurants serving up local gourmet treats.

Accommodation: Orange - 1 Night

Leaving Orange behind, you'll venture into the New South Wales Outback, stopping in at Dubbo's famous Zoo.

Dubbo - Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Taronga Western Plains is Australia's most celebrated regional zoo. Inside the park, you can walk, cycle or drive the 5km circuit, stopping at the animal enclosures along the way. The dedicated, knowledgeable keepers are passionate about the zoo's residents and will even let you feed some of them.

The zoo is a great spot for a picnic, so be sure to stock up on delicious treats before leaving Orange!

Cobar: Discover Australia's Mining Heritage

Driving west from Dubbo, you will soon find yourself in Outback New South Wales. The vast, rugged landscapes will make you feel like you have arrived on another planet.

Cobar was Australia's leading producer of copper in the late 1800s, and gold is still mined here to this day. For a leisurely stroll, follow the Cobar Heritage Walk past the Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes.

Head to the Fort Bourke Hill Lookout for amazing views all the way to the bottom of the open-cut mine. At 300 metres above sea level, it's a spectacular sunset spot and a great place to end your day.

Accommodation: Cobar - 1 Night

Travel onwards to the White Cliffs opal mining region. Here you will be at the Outback heat by sleeping in a unique underground hotel!

Suggested Detour: The Aboriginal Rock Art of Mount Grenfell.

30 kilometres from the highway, Mount Grenfell is worth the extra drive. Here you can see the incredible paintings of the Ngiyampaa people. Now a protected Aboriginal Rock Art site, Mount Grenfell has been their gathering place for many thousands of years.

White Cliffs: Life Underground

White Cliffs boasts Australia's oldest commercial opal field, dating back to the 1880s. Try digging for opals on a mine tour, or take the easy option and buy some locally sourced opal jewellery from the showrooms in town.

Summer temperatures in White Cliffs regularly reach over 40 degrees centigrade (104 Fahrenheit). To escape the heat, 19th-century miners began building their homes underground. Tonight you will stay at the incredible White Cliffs Underground Hotel - it's an experience you'll never forget!

Accommodation: White Cliffs - 1 Night

Today's drive takes you to remote Broken Hill, Australia's first Heritage-listed city.

Broken Hill

It may be isolated, but Broken Hill is something of an oasis in the desert. This friendly Outback city brims with art, history and an array of dining options. Surrounded by national parks and mining heritage, there is much to discover.

Also known as the Silver City, Broken Hill began life as a mining village. You will even find streets named after minerals & compounds like Mercury, Crystal and Sulphide.

Sunset at the Living Desert Reserve

Before sunset, take a 15-minute drive to the Living Desert Reserve. Here you can admire the 12 giant sandstone sculptures carved by artists from around the globe. You'll be rewarded with 360-degree views over the beautiful Outback, painted in gorgeous colours by the setting sun.

Accommodation: Broken Hill - 2 Nights

Begin your day with a guided history walk through Broken Hill, and enjoy a free afternoon to relax at your leisure.

Broken Hill Heritage Walk Tour

The Broken Hill Heritage Walk Tour is a two-hour volunteer-guided tour taking in many outstanding heritage buildings. These include the Post Office, former St Josephs Convent, and the Trades Hall, all of which are on the State Heritage Register. It's a great way to take in the character of Broken Hill.

Free Afternoon in Broken Hill

This afternoon you are free to explore Broken Hill at your own pace. Here are some of our favourite Broken Hill attractions:

•    Dine in the famous Palace Hotel from the movie “Priscilla Queen of the desert”
•    Tour the fascinating Royal Flying Doctor Service's airbase
•    Get your art fix at the Broken Hill Regional Gallery and Pro Hart Gallery
•    Tee off on an 18-hole championship golf course in the middle of a desert!
•    Explore the near-ghost town of Silverton, a once-thriving mining outpost.
•    Take in the views from Mundi Mundi Plains Lookout: the landscape is so vast, it's possible to see the curvature of the earth.

Cross the state border into South Australia and head for Adelaide via the rolling hills and stunning vineyards of the Clare Valley.

Clare Valley

One of Australia's oldest wine regions, the Clare Valley produces many of the country's finest Rieslings. With 50 cellar doors along the Clare Valley Riesling Trail, you're bound to find one you like!

Adelaide

Cosmopolitan Adelaide boasts spacious boulevards, sophisticated architecture and lush gardens. Tonight you are spoiled for dining options: Adelaide's reputation as a foodie destination is well deserved.

Your 8 Day Sydney to Adelaide Outback Journey ends today, and we know you will leave with magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience as you board your onward flight.