Greyhound coaches stop in Coober Pedy en route from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Coaches stop at the petrol station at the corner of Hutchison Street and Malliotis Boulevard.
Coober Pedy bus and coach stop
Manguri Siding
The Ghan train from Adelaide to Darwin stops at Manguri Siding, which is 47km from Coober Pedy. If you are arriving by train you will need to arrange transport between Manguri Siding and Coober Pedy ($99 each way) before departure from Adelaide or Alice Springs.
Robe bus and coach stop
Premier Stateliner coaches stop in Robe en route between Adelaide and Mount Gambier. Coaches stop at the Mobil service station on Main Road near the town centre.
Naracoorte Caves National Park
South Australia’s only World Heritage area is comprised of several caves that feature fragile stalactite and stalagmite formations. The caves have earned their World Heritage listing because of the extensive collection of fossils that have been unearthed here.
Fossils found in the caves provide a unique glimpse into the past and the Wonambi Fossil Centre inside the park has an excellent display featuring animatronic depictions of the extinct marsupial megafauna that lived here around 200,000 years ago.
One of the caves is home to a colony of the rare southern bentwing bat and infrared video cameras have been set up that allow you to view the bat from the Bat Cave Teleview Centre.
There are various tours of the different caves, each with its own unique features.
An hour-long tour takes you to a large fossil deposit in the Victorian Fossil Cave where you get to experience the cave’s World Heritage values.
Alexandra and Cathedral Caves offers a beautiful glimpse of cave decorations.
Tickets for the Alexandra Cave and Wonambi Fossil Centre also include entrance to Wet Cave, which features a self-guided walk that is ideal if you want to explore the cave at your own pace.
Cave tours cost $9 for Wet Cave, $20 for Alexandra Cave and $30 for Victoria Fossil Cave. Entry to the Wonambi Fossil Centre costs $13, although the combined entry ticket to Wonambi Fossil Centre and Wet Cave is better value at $15. Admission to Bat Wonderland (which also includes entry to Blanche Cave) costs $25.
Most of the cave tours are fairly tame, focusing mostly on the caves’ natural history but there are also some excellent value adventure caving tours that operate in Stick-Tomato, Blackberry and Fox Caves. Adventure caving trips cost $60.
Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
The Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park (formerly the Parndana Wildlife Park) is the only attraction in this part of Kangaroo Island but it’s a good one. The park features the island’s largest collection of birds such as black cockatoos, eagles, kookaburras and curlews, and you might come across kangaroos, koalas, bettongs, potoroos and other native wildlife.
Penneshaw ferry terminal
Sealink operates several ferries per day between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. The return fare is $98 per person and $188 for a car.
Wilpena Pound Visitor Information Centre
Warren Gorge
This small scenic reserve makes a nice daytrip from Quorn or a detour en route between Quorn and Flinders Ranges National Park.
The gorge itself is around 300m long and 100m deep and is one of several small gorges in the area.
The main reason to visit is to spot the endangered yellow footed rock wallaby. You can spot the wallaby from your car as you drive around the reserve, but you’ll have better luck if you walk around, as they’re easier to find if you are quiet.
Warren Gorge is around a 20-minute drive north of Quorn and there are no entry fees to the reserve. Free camping is available in the reserve.
Pichi Richi Railway
Railway enthusiasts have restored part of the Old Ghan railway and now operate a number of steam trains between Quorn and Port Augusta.
Prairie Hotel
The Prairie Hotel, across the road from the Parachilna Overflow, is a classic outback pub that is a surprisingly good place to eat. Their specialty is the ‘feral grill’ with camel, emu and kangaroo. They also have cold beer and very good gelati.