16 Day Alice Springs Central Australia Camping Safari - Dep 20 May 2012

Tour Details

Operator

Heritage 4WD Safari Tours

Destinations

Alice Springs, Adelaide, Flinders Ranges, Arkaroola, Birdsville, Oodnadatta Track, Coober Pedy, Wilpena Pound, Port Augusta and Lake Eyre

Departs From

Adelaide

Tour Description

Legend; B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, T = Toilets, S = Showers, L = Laundry, Bc = Bush Camp

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 ADELAIDE – PORT AUGUSTA (D)
Passengers must arrive at Adelaide airport before 11AM, where you will be met by your driver / guide. Boarding your 4WD vehicle we travel north along the Princess Highway to Port Augusta, the gateway to your outback experience. Check in to your hotel and enjoy this afternoon checking out the sights in Port Augusta before dinner.

DAY 2 PORT AUGUSTA - WILPENA POUND (BLD)
This morning we visit the Wadlata outback centre, discover and experience the origins of the Outback. You can enter the "Tunnel of Time" and step back 15 million years to the Green Time where the dinosaurs roamed the land and discover how the Flinders Ranges and the Outback of South Australia evolved. After a visit to the famous Pichi Richi Railway Station at Quorn we head towards Wilpena Pound, the gateway for the Flinders Ranges National Park, where we stay for the next 2 nights. Accommodation upgrade available.

DAY 3 WILPENA POUND (BLD)
Today we explore some of the wonders of the park, Old Wilpena Station, and the Solar power station.Walk along Wilpena Creek past magnificent stands of river red gums with stunning views of the Pound wall in the distance. Optional scenic flights are available over Wilpena Pound (own expense).

DAY 4 WILPENA POUND – ARKAROOLA (BLD)
After breakfast we make our way to Arkaroola, a multi award-winning Wilderness Sanctuary. This afternoon you have the option to take the Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour that showcases the magic of the Northern Flinders Ranges and is a must see experience at Arkaroola. Accommodation upgrade available.

DAY 5 ARKAROOLA – INNAMINCKA (BLD)
An early start today. Travelling north we follow the Strzelecki Track and then onto the township of Innamincka, to enjoy a refreshing beer at the Innamincka Pub. Overnight camping near the pub. Accommodation upgrade available.


DAY 6 INNAMINCKA (BD)
Innamincka is a small township with a permanent population of around 12 people. The area was opened up to white settlement in the 1870s and became home to sheep and cattle holdings, with Innamincka an important stop on two stock routes: the Strzelecki Track to Marree, and the Bore Track to Broken Hill.

Today we visit the monument marking the site of the death of John O'Hara Burke, leader of the ill-fated Burke and Wills Expedition of 1861, and the now famous Dig Tree, and the site of Will's death, and Kings Site, where he was found alive.

DAY 7 INNAMINCKA – BIRDSVILLE (BLD)
This morning we travel on the Cordillo downs track passing through Cordillo Downs, this Station was first taken up in 1875, when it was known as Cardilla, by John Frazer from Victoria. We visit Australia’s biggest woolshed, with once had stands for 120 shearers, before travelling to our campsite near the famous Birdsville Hotel for two nights. Accommodation upgrade available.

DAY 8 BIRDSVILLE (BL)
Birdsville is a small outback town situated on the banks of the Diamantina River between the sands of the Simpson Desert and the gibbers of Sturts Stony Desert. The area is steeped in history, from aboriginal meeting places to European settlement in the late 1870s and beyond. The Birdsville population currently stands at approximately 120. Today we visit the sights of this town, famous for its Birdsville Races.

DAY 9 BIRDSVILLE – CLAYTON STATION (BLD)
Heading south along the Birdsville track we call in to Mungerannie the site of a government well for watering stock which dates back to 1883 on our way to our camp at Clayton Station on the Birdsville Track. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the outback overlooking Clayton Creek.

DAY 10 CLAYTON – MARREE – COWARD SPRINGS (BLD)
Today sees us travelling to Marree, a fascinating tiny settlement in Outback South Australia. Then through Muloorina Station to Lake Eyre South, before travelling on the Oodnadatta track to Coward Springs, once a station on the old Ghan railway line.

DAY 11 COWARD SPRINGS – COOBER PEDY (BLD)
Your choice this morning of an optional scenic flight over Lake Eyre and the Painted Hills, or just relax and enjoy the surrounds of William Creek. With a Population of 10, William Creek is one of the smallest towns in Australia and situated on the world's largest working cattle station - 24,000 square kilometre Anna Creek Station. After lunch as we travel on we view the spectacular land formations of the Breakaways before arriving in Coober Pedy Opal Capital of the World’. Opals were first found at Coober Pedy in 1915, and since then has been supplying the world with the majority of gem quality opal, we get a real feel of the lifestyle by spending two nights in an underground bunkhouse.

DAY 12 COOBER PEDY (B)
Many of Cooper Pedy’s 3,500 plus residents live underground to escape the summer temperatures that can soar to 54 degrees Celsius. Explore the world’s largest opal field from which two-thirds of Australia’s opals are drawn. Alternatively watch the skilled opal cutters and polishers prepare the colourful stones for sale. Overnight in underground bunk house at Coober Pedy.

DAY 13 COOBER PEDY – OODNADATTA (BLD)
Today sees us travelling north on the Oodnadatta Track, to Oodnadatta, a small town surrounded by 3000 square mile cattle stations in arid pastoral rangelands close to the Simpson Desert. We camp tonight at the famous Pink Roadhouse and the heritage-listed sandstone railway station that has been converted into a museum.

DAY 14 OODNADATTA – DALHOUSIE SPRINGS (BLD)
The morning sees us travelling to our camp site at Dalhousie Springs in Witjira National Park. Relax and enjoy these hot, fresh water springs, which are very unique and are an outlet from the Great Artesian Basin. The Dalhousie Springs is a place where you can experience the same simple joys of bathing in a desert pool just like the early explorers, including Ernest Giles, who passed through here in the 1870's before the artesian basin had been extensively tapped by pastoralists.

DAY 15 DALHOUSIE - LAMBERT CENTRE (BLD)
We continue on the Oodnadatta track visiting sites of the historical Ghan rail way to reach our over night stay at the very centre of Australia. The Lambert Centre was calculated as the "centre of gravity" of Australia. Bush camp.

DAY 16 LAMBERT CENTRE – ALICE SPRINGS (B)
Our last day unfortunately has arrived, travelling north on the Stuart Highway via Kulgera, visiting Rainbow Valley before arriving in Alice Springs, where we bid farewell to our new made friends and the end of your Central Australia adventure.