Set out early from Canberra, fueling up and grabbing coffee and breakfast pastries at Two Before Ten to hit the Hume and Sturt Highways before the heat builds. Plan your first stretch to Wagga Wagga (roughly 2.5-3 hours) for a mid-morning leg-stretch at the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens and a quick look at the Willans Hill lookout; it’s a pleasant, shady stop to reset and enjoy river views before the long run west.
Continue across the Riverina with a scenic lunch stop in Balranald or Hay — try a pub meal at the Balranald Hotel or pack a picnic to eat by the Murrumbidgee — then push on through to Mildura, crossing into Victoria and watching the landscape shift to red soil, irrigated citrus groves and the Murray River corridor. Expect to arrive in Mildura mid-to-late afternoon; check into your accommodation, then wander along the Mildura riverfront and the Paddle Steamer Ruby — a great time for photos and to scope evening dining options.
For dinner, choose from riverside restaurants like the River Deck Cafe or the Indian Restaurant Spice Prince for a relaxed meal with Murray River views, followed by a sunset stroll along the riverfront to see the lights on the historic wharf. If you have energy left, stop by a local cellar door such as Trentham Estate or Buronga Hill Wines for a twilight tasting of regional whites and fortifieds, or simply rest early and recharge for a full day exploring Mildura tomorrow.
Wake to a leisurely riverside breakfast at the River Deck Cafe or Two Rivers Restaurant, then join a morning paddle-steamer cruise on the Murray aboard the PS Ruby to learn about the river’s history and see the black box and red gum riverbanks up close. After the cruise, stroll through the Mildura Arts Centre and nearby galleries to sample local art and grab a coffee before heading out to the nearby Murray-Sunset National Park if you crave a short nature diversion.
Spend the afternoon on a relaxed wine loop: visit Trentham Estate for a tasting of their fortifieds and whites, then cross the river to Buronga Hill Wines or Nick's Creek Winery for cellar-door tastings and a light lunch among the vines. If you'd rather stay in town, rent a bike to explore the riverfront trails and stop at the Mildura Visitor Information Centre to pick up maps for tomorrow’s longer drive.
Return to the riverfront for sunset — dine at the Riverdeck Bar & Grill or Optus Stadium (alternative local favourite) for fresh Murray River fish and regional produce, followed by a nightcap at Mallee Country Wines cellar door or a casual stroll along the lit wharf. Wind down early to rest up for your scenic run west toward Port Augusta tomorrow, or catch a live-music night if the local calendar has an event.
Leave Mildura after an early riverside coffee and a takeaway pastry from Two Rivers or River Deck Cafe, topping up fuel and supplies before heading west on the Sturt and then the Sturt Highway/Barrier Highway route. Stop at the photogenic Murray River crossing near Wentworth and stretch your legs at the historic Wentworth, visiting the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers and the local museum for a quick dose of riverfront history.
Continue across the flat Riverland and into South Australia with a lunch break in Renmark or Berri — try a riverside pub meal or grab regional produce from the local bakery — then follow the Barrier Highway through sleepy outback towns like Waikerie and Morgan, pausing for photos of the changing red soil and saltbush plains. Break again at Port Wakefield or Port Pirie if needed, then approach Port Augusta as the landscape opens toward the Flinders Ranges; check into your accommodation and take a short walk along the waterfront to watch the late-afternoon light on the Spencer Gulf.
Dine at one of Port Augusta’s hearty local eateries such as The Standpipe Hotel or The Woolshed for a classic pub meal and local wines, and if the night is clear, head up to the Wadlata Outback Centre lookout for panoramic sunset views over the gulf and ranges. Wind down early or join an evening stargazing talk if available — Port Augusta’s clear outback skies are a perfect prelude to tomorrow’s Flinders Ranges explorations.
Start with breakfast at The Standpipe Hotel or The Coffee Club, then drive a short way to the Wadlata Outback Centre for a hands-on introduction to the Flinders Ranges’ geology and pioneer history — the interactive displays and lookout deck give excellent orientation and photo opportunities. If you prefer fresh air, join a guided morning walk with a local operator (check with the Visitor Information Centre) to explore nearby saltbush flats and learn about Indigenous connections to the land.
After lunch at the Woolshed or a picnic by the Spencer Gulf, head out on a half-day drive into the eastern approach of the Flinders Ranges: stop at the iconic Old Ruins Lookout and the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail for short walks and fossil-rich scenery, keeping an eye out for yellow-footed rock wallabies. Alternatively, book a cultural tour with an Adnyamathanha guide to visit rock art sites and hear Dreaming stories that connect the landscape to its First Nations people.
Return to Port Augusta for a sunset at the Stirling North lookout or the Wadlata deck, followed by dinner at the Arab Steed Restaurant or a pub meal back in town to sample local lamb and South Australian wines. If the sky is clear, join an organised stargazing session or simply step outside to admire the brilliant outback Milky Way — a peaceful, atmospheric end to a day exploring the Flinders gateway.
Depart Port Augusta early after fueling and grabbing breakfast — try a takeaway pie and coffee from The Standpipe Hotel — and head north on the Stuart Highway, watching the landscape thin into classic red outback plains. Pause at Woomera or Pimba for a leg-stretch and to check out the rocket history displays and roadside signs, and top up supplies at Glendambo before the long stretch to Coober Pedy.
Roll into Coober Pedy mid-to-late afternoon and start with a visit to the Umoona Opal Mine & Museum to learn about opal mining history and see underground life firsthand, then take a guided tour down into an operational mine or visit Moon Plain for stark, lunar-like vistas. Stop at local attractions like the Old Timers Mine and the Serbian Orthodox Church (built underground) to appreciate the town’s unique subterranean architecture and multicultural mining heritage.
Check into an underground hotel or dugout accommodation to experience the cool subterranean comfort, then dine at a local favourite such as John’s Pizza Bar or the Outback Bar & Grill for hearty meals and regional flavors. Finish the day with a sunset drive to the Breakaways reserve or a stargazing spot just outside town — the low light pollution makes for spectacular night skies and a fitting outback finale to your road trip.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Two Before Ten (Canberra) / grab coffee & pastries | $8-20 |
| Drive: Canberra → Wagga Wagga (Hume/Sturt Highways) | Fuel $25-45 |
| Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens | Free (donation optional) |
| Willans Hill Lookout (Wagga Wagga) | Free |
| Lunch stop: Balranald or Hay (pub or picnic) | $12-25 (picnic $0-15 if self-catered) |
| Drive: Hay/Balranald → Mildura | Fuel $35-60 |
| Mildura riverfront & Paddle Steamer Ruby (photo/stroll) | Stroll Free / PS Ruby cruise $30-60 per person |
| Dinner riverside (River Deck Cafe, Spice Prince) | $20-45 per person |
| Cellar door tasting (Trentham Estate, Buronga Hill) | $5-15 tasting fee (often redeemable) + bottles $20-40 |
| Breakfast riverside (Mildura) | $12-25 per person |
| PS Ruby paddle-steamer cruise (if not done Day 1) | $30-60 per person |
| Mildura Arts Centre & galleries | Free to browse; purchases vary |
| Murray-Sunset National Park short visit | Free (park access) + fuel $10-30 |
| Wine loop: Trentham Estate, Nick's Creek, Buronga Hill | $15-40 per person per tasting stop; lunch $15-30 |
| Drive: Mildura → Wentworth (Murray crossing) → Renmark/Berri | Fuel $30-60 |
| Wentworth junction & local museum stop | Free-$5 donation |
| Lunch in Renmark or Berri | $12-25 per person |
| Barrier Highway drive through Waikerie, Morgan; photo stops | Fuel $30-60 |
| Port Wakefield or Port Pirie short break | Coffee/snack $5-12 |
| Port Augusta waterfront walk & Wadlata Outback Centre | Wadlata Centre Free; donations welcome |
| Dinner in Port Augusta (The Standpipe Hotel, The Woolshed) | $18-35 per person |
| Wadlata Outback Centre lookout / Stirling North lookout at sunset | Free |
| Guided morning walk or local operator Flinders intro | $60-150 per person (guided walk) |
| Old Ruins Lookout & Brachina Gorge Geological Trail (half-day driving/walks) | Free to access; fuel $20-50; guided option $100-250 |
| Adnyamathanha cultural tour (if booked) | $120-300 per person (depends on private/group tour) |
| Breakfast / takeaway pie from The Standpipe Hotel (Port Augusta) | $6-12 |
| Drive: Port Augusta → Woomera / Pimba (Stuart Highway stops) | Fuel $20-40 |
| Woomera rocket history / displays (short stop) | Free-$5 donation |
| Top up supplies at Glendambo | Snacks/fuel $30-80 (fuel higher remote price) |
| Drive: Glendambo → Coober Pedy | Fuel $60-120 (long remote stretch, diesel/petrol premium) |
| Umoona Opal Mine & Museum (Coober Pedy) | $12-25 per person (entry/tour varies) |
| Guided mine tour / operational mine visit | $40-80 per person |
| Moon Plain visit (scenic stop) | Free + fuel $5-15 |
| Old Timers Mine (Coober Pedy) | $10-25 per person |
| Serbian Orthodox Underground Church (visit) | Free (donations welcome) |
| Underground accommodation (dugout hotel) | $120-220 per room per night (2 people) |
| Dinner in Coober Pedy (John’s Pizza Bar, Outback Bar & Grill) | $15-30 per person |
| Sunset at The Breakaways reserve (drive/visit) | Park access $10-20 per vehicle / fuel $5-15 |
| Stargazing outside Coober Pedy | Free (organised tours $30-80) |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $1,250-2,800 (per vehicle for 5 days, 2 people) / $650-1,400 per person |