From Eastern Promise to Southern Seclusion

You couldn’t wish for more contrasting cultures than the ultra-modern chic of Singapore and the timeless, wild and secluded outback of South Australia. Which is precisely why, as Austravel’s Product Manager Claire Davidson discovered, Singapore makes the perfect stopover destination for a trip to South Australia…

An ultra clean and modern city, Singapore is a popular stopover destination; think glorious shopping havens with a lively mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and British Colonial history. It’s a fascinating place to visit, and staying on the world famous shopping boulevard, Orchard Road, I was in the perfect location to explore this vast city. A great way to get to grips with the various districts of Singapore is to jump on board an ‘orientation tour’ of the city. In just one morning we discovered the Civic District, the colonial heart, home to the historic Parliament House, Cricket Club and City Hall. At Marina Bay, there’s a great photo opportunity alongside Singapore’s well known icon, The Merlion, with the head of a lion and body of a fish. The National Orchid Garden, set within the beautiful Botanic Gardens, offers an escape from the bustling city streets.

Then onto Chinatown where I would definitely recommend sampling one of Singapore’s national signature dishes, Chilli Crab. Finally Little India is an enchanting area with evocative scents of joss sticks, jasmine and spices wafting by, and where religious monuments mingle with quaint Chinese ‘shophouses’. Intermingled between, and underneath, these districts is a maze of shopping centres joined by underpasses and covered walkways, Singaporeans are not ones to let a tropical downpour get in the way of their favourite hobby. I ventured through six shopping centres in a row without having to step a foot outside! And if like me you get up late and find yourself pushed for time, fear not – the Mustafa Centre is open 24-hours a day. Here you’ll find every conceivable item at some of the lowest prices in Singapore.

A high point of my few days in Singapore was a trip to the world’s first night safari at Singapore Zoo. Here you can see a myriad of nocturnal animals, as they prowl the night in their natural habitat under subtle moonglow lighting (specially designed so as not to disturb). The safari consists of walking trails as well as a tram ride from which you can view hyenas, lions and tigers in complete safety. It’s an amazing and unique experience not to be missed.

Before heading off to Australia’s outback, there’s nothing like a bit of pampering and no trip to Singapore would be complete without a visit to the famous five-star Raffles Hotel. Head to the Long Bar at Raffles, try some monkey nuts washed down with a refreshing Singapore Sling, and follow the tradition of throwing the nut shells on the floor! Time to leave this vibrant, modern city behind to head for the wilds of the South Australia...

The outback of South Australia is often overlooked by travellers.

The word ‘outback’ so often conjures up the well-trodden red earth of the Northern Territory with its iconic landmark, Uluru, that many travellers miss out on other parts. I would thoroughly recommend South Australia and what especially appealed to me was the real sense of being off the beaten track.

We set off in our 4WD from Adelaide and drove through the Clare Valley, stopping off at Sevenhill Cellars Winery (its oldest winery) for some wine tasting. From there we headed north to the Flinders Ranges. We passed through some really quaint towns along the way and on a hot day a Golden North ice cream in the pretty township of Laura was just what the doctor ordered!

The Flinders Ranges National Park is spectacular. According to Aboriginal legend it was shaped by the ancient serpents and giants of the dreamtime, and as you approach you can see why.

One of the oldest landscapes on earth it’s also rich in wildlife and in fact, nowhere else in Australia can wildlife, including emus, kangaroos and eagles, be seen in such close proximity and profusion.

The first night we stayed at Rawnsley Park Station, a 10 minute drive from Wilpena Pound. This huge natural amphitheatre in the heart of the North Flinders Ranges is its crowning glory, a major draw card of the region.

The station was once a working cattle farm that has now been lovingly converted by its owners, Tony and Julie, into accommodation from which to explore its magnificent surroundings. We took the 4WD to Wilpena Pound itself and boarded a light aircraft for an aerial view of the pound.

Explore it by foot if you can, but this way you do see the sheer enormity and scale of this monumental and beautiful landmark and it was probably the highlight of my trip. Getting our breath back we hopped back into the 4WD and headed off to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary further north into the ranges. After arriving and dropping off our bags we quickly set off to catch the sunset from the top of the ridge that surrounds the sanctuary. The sunsets over the orange and red hues of the Australian interior are always a treat and this evening was no exception – with a glass of champagne in hand, we savoured the peace and tranquillity as the sun went down.

Arkaroola is home to some 160 bird species as well as the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby. So the next day we set off to do some wallaby spotting. These charming little creatures (an endangered species) with yellow stripy tails and limbs are one of the most colourful members of the kangaroo family, but very shy and hard to spot.

However if you give it some time (and patience!) sure enough you’ll soon be rewarded with a pair of eyes in a little white-striped face and pointy ears, peering at you from behind a rock! In the evening, we set off to one of the observatories that are dotted around the sanctuary. For its owner, Dougie, it’s a lifetime passion, and the air here is so free of atmospheric and light pollution, that it boasts some of the best astronomical ‘seeing conditions’ in the Southern Hemisphere. Staring through a telescope at the Milky Way, Pluto and the North Star I probably learnt more about our universe in one hour than I have in a lifetime. No doubt due to Dougie’s passion and enthusiasm for his topic, I felt very privileged to be able to take part in an experience normally reserved only for top scientists and astronomers.

After a final drive the next day, via Brachina Gorge to see the fossils and age-old rock formations, it provided a satisfying end to my visit to this remote and beautiful region.