One of the popular Banksia Adventure tag-along self-drive 4 wheel drive tours. The Banksia Adventures explorer is provided with a 4WD equipped with a 2-way radio. The tour leader will guide the group through some challenging 4WD tracks, sand dunes, long expanses of beach driving and up through the 'mallee' to the River Murray.
Along the way, you will visit historic homesteads, the Coorong (one of the most important waterbird habitats in Australia) and stay in the historic port of Robe. In Lobster season, you won't need two guesses to know what the popular menu item is around here.
After Robe, it's time to leave the coast and head North. The first target for the day is Naracoorte. The World Heritage listed caves provide a fascinating morning tour. After the 'spelunking' the convoy will trek through the surrounding land, past Bool lagoon, a wetland of international importance and into Coonawarra.

The volcanic 'terra rossa' soil here has given rise to some of the most famous wines in Australia. So, after lunch it's time to let someone else do the driving while the group relaxes on an escorted tour of this wine region. The evening is spent here, so enjoy the fruits of the region.
The third day starts a good day of driving. Leaving Coonawarra, the group heads north through some rugged Conservation Park scenery. You will see what the natural inland landscape of this country really looked like. You will probably see a Banksia as well, the plant named after the botanist Joseph Banks who accompanied Captain Cook to Australia.

After trekking through the region known as 'the mallee', this intrepid convoy finally reaches the meandering Murray River. Driving along its banks brings the group to Portee Station.

Portee Station offers a unique chance to experience the very best of Outback Australia. Built in 1873 amongst 20,000 hectares of a sheep grazing property, this beautiful Australian Homestead is the focal point of the working sheep station. Guests enjoy a superb range of Australian cooking accompanied by fine wines from the Barossa.
There is abundant native fauna including kangaroos, emus and hairy-nosed wombats. The adjoining lagoons and billabongs of the River Murray are home to a multitude of birdlife.

Two nights are spent here giving everyone a chance to relax by the Murray, explore the sheep station, go looking for wombats and soak in Australia.

The fifth day starts the trek back to Adelaide. There are many scenic options for the route home from here, but with the world-famous Barossa right next door, it makes a pretty likely lunch spot. A visit to some wineries (your navigator will have to do all the tasting today) with plenty of room in the back for a few cases of premium red wine, and then back to Adelaide to end this tour of wine (Coonawarra and Barossa), wombats and song (the birds of the wetlands).

Departure: 2001/2002 - departs every 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from the 9th of April 2001 to 24th of March 2002.

Minimum: 3 Adults to operate this tour.

Inclusions: 4WD (Toyota Landcruiser or equivalent); Tour leader; Tour of Polltalloch Station when available (seasonal); One nights accommodation at Robe (bed & breakfast); Naracoorte Cave tour; Half-day winery tour - Coonawarra (includes lunch); One night accommodation at Coonawarra (includes bed, breakfast and dinner); Two nights accommodation at Portee Station (includes bed, breakfast and dinner); Portee Station tour; Maximum group size - 12 persons.

Price: Adult (twin share)-A$2250.00 p.p. Single Supplement- A$290.00 p.p.

Prices include GST and are valid to 31/3/2002.

ESCORTED ALTERNATIVE ( non-self drive) - This is a two passenger option. It is the same tour, but instead you are drive by your own personal 4WD guide. Some would say that this is an even better way of doing it - concentrate on the scenery rather than the road. Maximum 6 passengers.

Price: Adult (twin share)- A$2045.00 p.p. Single Supplement- A$290.00 p.p.

Prices include GST and are valid to 31/3/2002.