Outback Beds Tours

Australian Outback & International Tours

Previous Tours

South Australia’s Three Peninsulas

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Three Peninsulas brings together some of South Australia’s most distinctive coastal landscapes. The journey begins on the Fleurieu Peninsula with McLaren Vale, Victor Harbor and a cruise through the Coorong to the Murray Mouth, then continues to the Yorke Peninsula for secluded beach-house accommodation and the cliffs, beaches and heritage of Innes National Park.

Crossing Spencer Gulf to the Eyre Peninsula, the tour explores Port Lincoln, Coffin Bay, Streaky Bay and the far west coast, with seafood, oyster farming, national parks, sea lions and whale watching at Fowlers Bay. A final inland journey leads to the Clare Valley for historic Martindale Hall, local wine and a relaxed farewell before returning to Adelaide.

The Best of South Australia

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This South Australian journey begins with secluded coastal accommodation on the Yorke Peninsula and a day among the cliffs, beaches and heritage sites of Innes National Park. It then turns inland to the Clare Valley, combining historic Bungaree Station and Martindale Hall with celebrated wineries, regional food and the stone village of Mintaro.

The landscape becomes increasingly dramatic as the tour enters the Flinders Ranges. From Gum Creek Station, explore Wilpena Pound, Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges and the old copper town of Blinman before travelling north to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary for a ridge-top four-wheel-drive experience, optional scenic flight and exceptional night skies. The return journey passes through historic Burra before concluding in Adelaide.

Kangaroo Island and the Limestone Coast

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This richly varied journey follows the Great Ocean Road from Avalon to Apollo Bay and Port Fairy, combining dramatic coastal scenery with the forests, waterfalls and historic lighthouse of Great Otway National Park. Crossing into South Australia, the route continues through Mount Gambier, the Coonawarra wine region, Naracoorte Caves, Robe and the Coorong before reaching the Fleurieu Peninsula.

The final days are devoted to Kangaroo Island. From a beach-house base at Emu Bay, the tour explores Seal Bay, Flinders Chase National Park, Admirals Arch, Remarkable Rocks and the Dudley Peninsula, with local wine, honey, seafood and memorable dining experiences along the way.

Japanese Temple, Mountain Forest and Food Tour

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Our 2025 cycling tour to Japan offers a dynamic road trip cycling from one town to another in fully escorted, small group led by English speaking guide. Our tour is 7 days and 6 night plus travel to and from Japan. It is designed to allow a short break from Australia and takes the Easter and ANZAC Day public holidays.

The tour has been carefully planned and has been based on the idea of experiencing interesting aspects of Japanese culture while we ride. This tour has a particular focus on high quality meals but also incorporates temples, culture, nature, onsens, life in rural Japan and exercise. We will be biking through less travelled areas in the rural mountain region north of Tokyo. Our route takes us through wonderful scenery and enables us to experience traditional Japanese culture and food along the way. We will be visiting historic towns and will be staying at long established hotels and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) with relaxing onsens. We are hoping that you will discover the heart of Japan on this epic ride.

Take in the spectacular scenery of mountains, high country and rural farmland and villages (some still using thatch on their roofs) as you ride through Japan’s beautiful central alps. Our food will focus on eating high quality Japanese foods, staying in hand picked Japanese ryokans (traditional inns) and relaxing after the days’ ride in hot natural spring onsens. Some of the food that we will be trying will include keiseki dinners which feature dozens of dishes incorporating local produce, seasonal ingredients and regional specialties. Some of the unique dishes will include shabu-shabu and sukiyaki using the finest Nasu wagyu beef. In the Nasu mountains we will eat fresh river fish which will be grilled, sautéed or prepared as sashimi. We will also be tasting locally produced cheeses, ice creams and home made soba noodles and tempura. We will be riding through many areas where these food are grown or made. North of Tokyo is called the Kanto region and is known as the rice bowl of Tokyo. Rice = sake = many famous brands to taste. We will also be serendipitously cycling past a craft brewery, and finally, we will have the opportunity to taste the surprising local wine.

Bill will be travelling and riding with you but it will also include an English speaking Japanese guide on the cycling days. Our riding will be fully supported with luggage transfers, mechanical support and backup vans. We do not recommend brining your own bike as they can be difficult to carry on Japan’s busy public transport system. The tour includes the cost of bike hire (road bikes or e-hybrid bikes).

Luke’s Food Tour Of Scicily & Sardinia

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Discover the flavours, landscapes and rich cultural heritage of two of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive islands on an unforgettable small-group journey through Sicily, with the option to continue on to Sardinia.

Sicily is a remarkable blend of food, history, architecture and culture, shaped by centuries of Mediterranean influence. From vibrant Palermo and historic towns to local markets, vineyards and coastal communities, the tour combines memorable sightseeing with a strong focus on the island’s celebrated food and wine.

Food is an important part of the journey. Along the way, enjoy regional specialties at restaurants, cantinas and street vendors, together with hands-on cooking experiences during our stay at the villa. Expect everything from arancini, cannoli and Pasta alla Norma to fresh seafood, local wines, traditional desserts and the irresistible Sicilian granita.

Travel is in comfortable minivans with a small group of like-minded travellers who enjoy good food, wine and discovering places beyond the usual tourist trail. Accommodation is carefully selected for its comfort, character and location, with a little luxury included along the way.

For those wanting to extend their Italian adventure, an optional tour of Sardinia follows immediately after Sicily. Less populated and distinctly different from its neighbour, Sardinia offers spectacular landscapes, fascinating traditions and its own unique food and wine culture.

Luke’s Food Tour of Morocco

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My Moroccan adventure is young and fresh, and I’m incredibly excited to be joining Pauline and Bill on this journey through Morocco — a land of colour, intrigue, fascinating culture and, of course, extraordinary food. Together, we’ve created a unique small-group adventure that combines their deep connection with Morocco with my passion for food and food culture.

Bill’s Moroccan adventure began several decades ago. In the hip 1970s, his two older sisters, Pauline and Mary, escaped a cold London winter in search of a warm and exotic week of adventure. As adventures often do, one thing led to another: Pauline married Morad, their Moroccan tour guide — quite the scandal at the time — and went on to live for many years in Tangier in northern Morocco.

Some years later, Bill visited the family in Morocco and soon found himself in charge of three young multilingual children, the keys to a Renault 4 and a house helper who spoke no English. Pauline had just “popped over to Paris” to arrange new passports for the children, while her husband Morad left to lead a month-long tour.

And so Bill’s own Moroccan adventure began.

Pauline was gone “quite some time”, giving Bill plenty of opportunity to master the Renault 4, load up the kids and begin exploring on day trips from Tangier. During those months — and through many subsequent visits — Bill travelled extensively throughout Morocco, immersing himself in its culture, traditions and food.

One of Bill’s great passions has since become cooking Moroccan food, and he has passed that enthusiasm, along with his considerable cooking skills (he made me say that), on to me.

Discover Morocco Through Its Food

Morocco is a big country, but over two weeks we’ll comfortably cover plenty of ground while experiencing some of the best it has to offer. We’ll explore imperial cities, mountains and desert landscapes, with a particular focus on Moroccan food and the culture and traditions surrounding it.

Morocco. Just saying the name conjures up the aroma of slow-cooked tagines, bustling souks, labyrinthine medinas and colourful stalls piled high with spices.

Food will be at the heart of our journey. We’ll explore local food markets, enjoy meals prepared by guest cooks, dine at carefully selected restaurants and even do a little Moroccan cooking ourselves. Along the way, we’ll discover how food connects with family, place, history and everyday Moroccan life.

But this journey is about much more than what’s on the plate.

Morocco is rich in culture and traditions, with centuries of history reflected in its architecture, ancient medinas, markets, landscapes and communities. While Morocco is a relatively liberal Muslim country, visitors should respect local customs, including dressing modestly.

Our professional guide and interpreter will be Bill’s brother-in-law, Morad, whose local knowledge and connection to the country bring another dimension to the journey.

Together, Morad, Bill and I will lead you on a carefully crafted Moroccan adventure in search of its traditions, culture, architecture, landscapes and — most importantly — its fabulous food.

A Small-Group Moroccan Food Adventure

Luke’s Moroccan Food Adventure is designed as a relaxed, personal small-group experience. The tour includes travel, accommodation, meals and entry to a wide range of sites and activities, allowing you to concentrate on experiencing Morocco rather than worrying about the logistics.

This isn’t simply a sightseeing tour. It’s an opportunity to experience Morocco through its food, people and culture, travelling with hosts who have a genuine personal connection to the country.

Morad, Bill and I are very much looking forward to sharing the adventure with you.

West Australia to South Australia

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Crossing the mighty Nullarbor is quite an experience. Vast, forbidding and raw, the land of 
 ‘no trees’ is home to a plethora of limestone caves, soaring sea cliffs, and endless red sand desert… interspersed with indigenous and pioneering history.

The Southwestern corner of Western Australia is a pocket of lush green forests, farmland, rivers and a rugged coastline contrasting the stark landscapes of the rest of the state. Fertile soils provide foodies with the best fresh produce and world-class wineries, while its waters are rich with marine life. A fascinating colonial history weaves its way through the charming towns along our route, and this part of the itinerary has several fabulous scenic drives.

When we reach the west edge of South Australia, the landscape changes. The drive between Norseman in Western Australia and Ceduna on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is around 13 hours, a distance of 1,200 kilometres, so we’ll have a few stops along the way. We’ll drive the world’s longest straight bit of road, known as the 90 Mile Straight, 146.6 km between Balladonia and Caiguna. We are likely to meet a veritable host of characters. From the feral camels, kangaroos and wombats who call this desert home to the sunburnt holidaymakers, truckies, and adventure-seeking tourists on bikes, there’ll be a smorgasbord of people watching on our journey. One thing is certain; we will surely be mesmerised by a thousand shimmering mirages.

We’ll also be able to watch whales and their calves frolic in the protected bays of the spectacular Great Australian Bight.

The Great Rivers Tour

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The Great Rivers Tour follows two of Australia’s great river systems, the Darling and the Murray, from Outback New South Wales through to South Australia, combining spectacular landscapes, Aboriginal culture, country hospitality, wildlife and, of course, plenty of good food and wine along the way.

Starting in Dubbo, we travel to Brewarrina to visit the World Heritage-listed Aboriginal Fish Traps before overnighting at the award-winning Callubri Station. From here we follow the Darling River through Bourke, Louth, Wilcannia and Menindee, stopping at natural, historical and cultural places of interest along the way. At Menindee Lakes, we join an Aboriginal-guided walk and learn more about the long cultural connection to this remarkable river and lake system.

We then follow the Lower Darling River to Wentworth, where the Darling meets the mighty Murray. After a nature walk to the confluence of the two rivers, we spend some time enjoying the local produce of the region, visiting an almond farm, winery and olive oil producer.

From Wentworth we travel through the north-west corner of Victoria and into South Australia, where we board a luxury houseboat at Paringa for two days on the Murray River. This is a chance to slow down. We cruise some of the quieter parts of the river, swim, read, take a nature walk, watch the abundant birdlife and enjoy dinner and a few drinks on the houseboat.

Further downstream, at the historic river port of Mannum, we join another Aboriginal-guided experience to view ancient cliff art and learn more about the cultural history of the Murray River.

We finish with three nights in the famous McLaren Vale wine region. We spend a day exploring Coorong National Park, including a cruise and short walk towards the mouth of the Murray River, and another day enjoying McLaren Vale and lunch at a local winery.

Along the way we stay at farm properties, meet some fascinating people, enjoy fabulous home-cooked meals and learn a little about what it is really like to live in the Australian outback. There are plenty of opportunities to see Australian wildlife and colourful native birds, but just as importantly, plenty of time to relax and enjoy the journey.