From the relaxing beaches of Adelaide, to balmy Darwin nights, this drive through Australia’s Red Centre has everything you could ever ask for – and a little more!

The Explorer’s Way is one of Australia’s most iconic road trips, and for good reason. This epic journey will see you travel from Adelaide in the south, all the way to Darwin in the Top End, passing through Australia’s burnt red desert and some of the country’s best natural landmarks.

Begin your journey in the beautiful city of Adelaide, full of stunning architecture, and trendy bars and restaurants. The first leg of this trip will see you travel just over three hours to Port Augusta, and along the way you’ll pass through some of South Australia’s quaint townships and coastal havens. For a lunchtime pit stop, visit Port Wakefield and have a bite to eat at one of the town’s local bakeries, or stretch your legs along the Port Wakefield Historical Walk.

For an alternative route that’s sure to impress, detour to the Clare Valley wine region on your way north. Here, you can enjoy some of the world-class wineries for which South Australia is renowned. When you arrive in Clare (about two hours out of Adelaide), be sure to drop by the Clare Valley Wine, Food and Tourism Centre to find out all you need to know about exploring the area. The team at the centre will be able to tell you the best restaurants, wineries and breweries to visit, so you can pick your favourite for a bite to eat and a glass of wine. Our choice is Taylors Wines, whose cellar door is open seven days a week. Here, you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the winery garden with an exceptional bottle of wine and a mouth-watering cheese platter.

If you decide to take the Clare Valley detour, it’ll take you another two hours to drive to Port Augusta, where you can enjoy an evening or two by the water before your trek inland. While you’re in town, be sure to stop by the Wadlata Outback Centre, where you can take a walk through the Tunnel of Time, which will give you an overview of the history of the Flinders Ranges and the outback region.

To find out more about the rest of the journey, read the Autumn 2022 edition of Caravanning Australia!

_{Image: Araluen Art Centre (C) Tourism NT; Shaana McNaught.}