A relaxed scenic drive from Melrose to Wilpena Pound with a variety of feature stops along the way

Features

• Roam the streetscape of Quorn, scene of classic movie making
• Back road scenic diversion into Warren Gorge in search of the Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies
• Following parts of the Hans Heysen 1200kms walking trail toward Wilpena Pound
• Exploring the historic ruins of Kanyaka Station and early settler life
• A visit to the Jeff Morgan Gallery with its spectacular, panoramic circular vista of the Flinders Ranges
• More back roads winding beneath the scenic grandeur of Wilpena Pound

Accommodation

Luxury ensuite resort accommodation for 2 nights

Meals

Cafe/coffee shop M/Tea

Village al fresco Lunch and tailgate A/Tea

Evening restaurant dinner and breakfast

Travel

Driving: 247kms in 5 relaxed stages throughout the day

Walking: Casual roaming at various feature stops and serendipity moments

A delightful trail walk this morning followed by an afternoon of scenic driving, exploring the beauty and magnificence of the Flinders Ranges

Features

• Relaxed walk through Wilpena Pound Gap to an elevated platform, to view the inner Pound
• Learn of early settlement and Aboriginal connection to the Pound
• Back road journey through the scenic gorges of the Flinders Ranges
• Chance viewing of “delightfully coloured” and endangered Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies
• Visit the valley and shepherd’s hut ruins where celebrated artist Hans Heysen found inspiration for his creative works
• Glorious sunset over the Ranges

Accommodation

Luxury ensuite resort accommodation

Meals

Resort restaurant based breakfast, lunch and dinner

Morning walk sustenance and tailgate A/Tea

Travel

Driving:  122 kms in  6 relaxed stages during the afternoon with many scenic stops

Walking: Optional easy grade 7.8kms 3 hr morning walk to view Wilpena Pound. Roaming at afternoon features and serendipity moments

Today you journey through the ranges to an historic copper mining town, then a convulsed ancient landscape to remote Parachilna for lunch, then onto an historic pastoral station to view the earliest evidence of life

Features

• Pass through the northern reaches of the Flinders Ranges with towering bluffs and rocky crags rearing upwards and backwards
• Learn of the exploits of Thomas “pegleg” Blinman and cattle duffer Joseph Wills, the brutality of life in the outback in the 1800’s
• Visit the now sleepy historic ex-copper town of Blinman
• Test your taste buds with classic chef-prepared feral food at the jewel in the outback - Prairie Hotel
• View the 555 million year old fossil evidence of the earth’s first animals and life from which we all descended

Accommodation

Deluxe ensuite rooms at remote Prairie Hotel, Parachilna

Meals

Tailgate or village hotel M/Tea

Lunch, dinner and breakfast at iconic Prairie Hotel

Travel

Driving:  97kms in 4 relaxed stages on back roads to Parachilna

Walking: Roam at various feature stops

You leave the bitumen and follow the gravel toward the outpost towns of Lyndhurst and Marree, taking in  Aboriginal and Afghan history, early settler and railway endeavours. Pass through the southern intersections of outback adventure tracks, the Strzelecki and the Birdsville.

Features

• History abounds at Beltana around the Thomas Elder land and sheep empire
• Here was the nursery of Camel importation and exploration across Australia leading to 600,000 creatures now running wild
• Extensive salt bush country emerges and beyond the vast gibber plains await
• Slag heaps remain in memory of South Australia’s open cut coal fields
• The contribution of Afghan Cameleers opening up the desert lands is not forgotten
• The great northern rail line laid down in 1882, now long abandoned, was forerunner to The Ghan, now linking Adelaide to Darwin
• The fully restored and functional underground bakery in the desert ruins at Farina is a complete surprise
• Visit the striking palette of rich earthy colours at the spectacular ochre pits of our First Peoples, once supplying their trade across vast distances

Accommodation

Comfortable, detached hotel ensuite cabins for 2 nights

Meals

Tailgate M/Tea and fresh delights at a unique underground bakery

Counter lunch, a restaurant dinner and breakfast at historic Marree Hotel

Travel

Driving:  193kms outback travel toward the desert lands, enjoyed in 5 relaxed stages

Walking:  Roam at various feature stops and serendipity moments

A remarkable day journey to the lowest point in Australia, the extensive salt sink and surreal experience of Lake Eyre

Features

• Pass through the 5,600kms long wild dog or Dingo Barrier Fence crossing Australia
• Arrive at an amazing place and space, eerily empty and devoid of life, ready to capture all your senses
• Discover there are two lakes south and north connected by the Goyder Channel
• Heart of a 1.3 million sq kms drainage basin, one of the largest in the world
• Cause of great excitement and adventure when it floods from monsoonal rains in Australia’s far north
• Scene of one of nature’s greatest transformations with Pelican and waterbird migrations in pursuit of a flooded harvest and breeding frenzy
• The 5 metre deep crust in the lake’s centre enabled Donald Campbell’s world land speed record of 650kms/hr in 1963/4
• Seeing is believing. Experience the void. Gaze into infinity.

Accommodation

Comfortable, detached hotel ensuite cabins

Meals

Picnic tailgate tea breaks and lunch provided by our friends at the Marree Hotel

Travel

Driving:  198kms return on outback road and sandy tracks to Lake Eyre

Walking:  Travel breaks and surreal roaming on iconic salt encrusted Lake Eyre

Journey along the Old Ghan Railway and legendary 615 kms long Oodnadatta Track toward William Creek, located in the centre of the world’s largest cattle station of 6 million acres

Features

• Discover mounded springs percolating up from the depths of the Great Artesian Basin below, following a 2 million year water flow from its source in the Great Dividing Range.
• Follow the vital Aboriginal Song Lines, Explorer and Afghan Camaleer pathways across the desert lands
• Pass by restricted access, Aboriginal homelands and pause at the remnant rail sidings of the Old Ghan Railway
• What possesses a former mechanic to turn artist and create out of waste, a post-apocalyptic sculpture park in the desert, for you to view and contemplate
• Gibber plains give way to crimson sand ridges, outliers from the Simpson Desert
• After lunch, free time to relax or if you wish, join a scenic flight over Lake Eyre or the Painted Hills of Anna Creek Station, a selection of flights on offer at your discretion and cost
• Embrace the sense of isolation and adventurous spirit of 4WD travellers, drawn to the outback from far and wide

Accommodation

Basic but comfortable, air-conditioned, ensuite transportable cabins

Meals

Tailgate M/Tea

Lunch, afternoon refreshments, dinner and breakfast at the isolated William Creek Hotel

Travel

Driving:  199kms with several stops at natural and historic features along the way

Walking:  Roam at various feature stops and serendipity moments

Head west this day across cattle station holdings as big as small countries to discover Coober Pedy, acknowledged as Australia’s Opal Capital

Features

• Journey through the vast Anna Creek Station, and far reaches of the old Woomera rocket testing range
• One of the loneliest roads, described as “occasionally maintained” with a bit of traffic now and then
• Here the local mail run is 600kms long, twice a week, serving 6 stations and 2 villages
• Remember the desert lake with a big name and it’s fabled story
• Visit the strange if quirky landscapes of opal mining spoils surrounding Coober Pedy, evidence of treasures beneath, set down 150 million years ago
• Join a guided tour through an old Opal Mine exploring its tunnels and rooms
• The cosmopolitan population of underground dwellers boasts 45 nationalities
• If you care to invest there are a number of outlets to inspect and purchase exquisite opal jewellery

Accommodation

Chance in a lifetime to sleep comfortably underground in a deluxe Coober Pedy Motel room. Every convenience except no window views.

Meals

Tailgate M/Tea near Lake Cadibarrawirracanna

Lunch and Dinner at local family style restaurant

Continental breakfast underground

Travel

Driving:  A relaxed morning drive of 168 kms to Coober Pedy in two easy stages

Walking: Rest and relax, enjoy the journey

Today you’ll pass through the striking Painted Desert region few Australians are aware of, before joining a sealed highway run to the Marla Roadhouse and Motel

Features

• Journey through the “Breakaways” landscape with outstanding views of country laid down more than 80 million years ago and featuring the “Salt and Pepper” hills
• Here were the feature settings for movie classics “Mad Max”, “Thunderstorm” and “Ground Zero”
• Alongside the Wild Dog Barrier Fence discover a blackened moonscape sparkling in gypsum and petrified wood
• Pass through 2 million acres of desert grazing lands, another two stations held by the Anna Creek Station owners the Williams Cattle Company
• The Painted Desert located in Arckaringa Station offers spectacular breakaway land forms rich in many colours, bold and beautiful
• The Stuart Highway Run is the life vein for transport and tourism linking the Northern Territory and South Australia, following the discovery pathway of early explorer John McDouall Stuart.

Accommodation

Comfortable but basic ensuite highway motel units

Meals

M/Tea, A/Tea  and Lunch all picnic tailgate style

Roadhouse restaurant dinner and breakfast

Travel

Driving:  367 kms at relaxed pace through the desert in 5 comfortable stages

Walking:  Casual roaming at feature stops plus an optional 2.5 kms return walk with a modest climb on warn trails in the Painted Desert

Today you’ll enjoy an easy highway run into the Northern Territory for an early motel stop where you can rest and undertake any “make-good duties”. Later in the afternoon we’ll share a briefing on the Uluru / Kata Tjuta visits ahead.

Features

• Highway travel with shared stories relating to the true location of the centre of Australia
• Further story telling on the exploration accounts of John McDouall Stuart and Charles Todd and the establishment of the Overland Telegraph Line
• Learn of the achievements and legend of Len Beadell grading a 1350kms straight track through three states across the desert wilderness, from nearby Victory Downs. Eventually to be known as the notorious “Gunbarrel Highway” it passes through the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (not normally accessible by the general public)
• Settle in for some background to the geological history and cultural significance of Uluru / Kata Tjuta as a prelude to your visit.

Accommodation

Comfortable spacious ensuite motel units with desert gardens and wildlife surrounds.

Meals

Tailgate M/Tea and casual roadhouse lunch

Motel / tavern restaurant for dinner and breakfast

Travel

Driving: 250 kms sealed highway drive crossing into the Northern Territory

Walking:  Rest and relax, enjoy the journey

A prompt departure for Ayers Rock Resort and an early lunch. Afternoon walk/s at Kata Tjuta followed by restaurant dinner and feature evening visit to the Field of Light spectacular.

Features

• Brief road stop moments to enjoy views of the Desert Oaks, Mount Conner, red ridges and salt lake.
• Brief visit to Curtain Springs Station roadhouse with history story telling and viewing the native bird aviaries.
• Drive to and enjoy select walk/s at Kata Tjuta recalling our previous afternoon’s briefing
• Special evening visit to the Field of Light. Coach departure to be advised.
• Prepare for an early start to the following day - a sunrise guided Uluru Base Walk

Accommodation

Quality ensuite rooms at Desert Gardens - Ayers Rock Resort for 2 nights

Meals

M/Tea at Curtain Springs Station

Cafe Lunch at Ayers Rock Resort

Dinner at Resort restaurant

Day pack - carry continental breakfast on following day Uluru Base Walk

Travel

Driving:  248 kms sealed highway drive to Ayers Rock Resort

Walking: Casual roaming during the Curtain Springs Station roadhouse stop and at the Desert Oaks roadside park.

Guided afternoon walk options at Kata Tjuta

Valley of the Winds Karingara L/O and rtn  5.4 kms - 2.5 hrs

Walpa Gorge Walk 2.6 kms - 1 hr

A special day of connection, the natural history, the culture of the Anangu People, Tjukurpa the guiding foundation of their culture, the magnificence and spirit of Uluru.

Features

• Guided natural history and cultural walk around base of Uluru - 10 kms / 5 to 6 hrs
• Pre-dawn departure to walk - enjoy a close up sunrise on Uluru
• Afternoon visit to Cultural Centre, adjoining Uluru - free time
• Rest period - prepare for celebration “Sounds of Silence Dinner”. Coach departure to be advised.

Accommodation

Quality ensuite rooms at Desert Gardens - Ayers Rock Resort

Meals

Continental Breakfast supplied at start of walk to be carried in your day pack,

Lunch at Resort Cafe

Special “Sounds of Silence Dinner” in the desert

Travel

Driving: Nominal local access only

Walking: 10 kms flat walk on easy trail - Uluru Base Walk

Today you travel to another of the Central Australia geological and scenic wonders, Kings Canyon

Features

• 4 hour travel between Uluru and Kings Canyon taking in the George Gill Range
• Background story telling of the early competing explorers Ernest Giles and William Gosse
• Background to the locally adopted names Lasseter, Luritza, Watarrka.
• A visit to the remote Kings Creek Station
• A travelling brief on the geological wonders of Watarrka / Kings Canyon
• An introductory brief on the Karrke Aboriginal cultural experience

Accommodation

Standard ensuite rooms at Kings Canyon Resort - 2 nights

Meals

Tail gate M/Tea at rest stop

Lunch at Kings Creek Station cafe

Refreshments and restaurant dinner at Kings Canyon Resort

Travel

Driving:  305 kms on good sealed road with three rest breaks

Walking:  Rest and relax, enjoy the journey.

Late afternoon free time resort based Ridge Walk - 45min to 1 hr

A fulfilling time in Watarrka National Park and completion of the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, followed later by a visit to a local Aboriginal community for a special cultural experience.

Features

• Early start in cool of the day for the iconic Rim Walk
• Strange geological formations
• Evidence of an inland sea
• Descent into the Garden of Eden
• Afternoon visit and connection with the Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience

Accommodation

Standard ensuite rooms at Kings Canyon Resort

Meals

Walking sustenance

Restaurant breakfast and dinner

Poolside, light sandwich lunch

Travel

Driving:  Nominal local access only

Walking:  Optional 6kms / 3 to 4 hr Kings Canyon Rim Walk with initial challenging climb on formed stone steps (approx.1000)

A busy closing travel day packed with scenic and cultural highlights. Time too, to reflect on the variety of experiences enjoyed in your 15 day / 3,200 kms journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs

Features

• An adventurous back road drive along the Mereenie Loop to Hermannsburg through Aboriginal Lands
• Free roam the art galleries, grounds and buildings of the historic Hermannsburg Mission
• Visit the crater site of an enormous comet which impacted the earth 142 million years ago, now a sacred site of the Western Arrernte People
• Brief visits and short strolls to feature gorges and water holes along the West MacDonnell Ranges including the colourful Ormiston Gorge
• Learn of the geological upheavals that folded and formed the ranges 1000 million years ago
• Dry sandy river beds with occasional water holes here are some of the most ancient in the world
• Time to remember the great Aboriginal artist as you travel the Albert Namatjira Drive into Alice Springs

Accommodation

End of tour accommodation pre-arranged with tour guests - not included in tour

Meals

Restaurant breakfast

Tailgate M/Tea and A/Tea

Early cafe lunch at historic Hermannsburg Mission

Travel

Driving:  A busy travel day to conclude the tour. 469kms completed in 5 stages with feature based rest breaks

Walking: Roaming at various feature stops