Flinders Ranges Exploration

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1 Highlights Discover dramatic gorges & diverse wildlife in Mount Remarkable National Park Wander the rim of the awe-inspiring natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound (Ikara) Stay on a sheep station & relax around evening campfires Walk sections of the Gammon Ranges, Mawson Plateau & Heysen Trail Bushwalks around Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary Explore ancient geographical landscapes in Bunyeroo Valley & Brachina Gorge Visit the historical village of Burra Two tour leaders give a choice of varied walk options Spanning 400km, the Flinders Ranges are one of Australia s most captivating arid mountain chains. Renowned for their natural, cultural and geological significance, the Flinders are rich in cultural heritage and famed for craggy peaks, river red gums, quiet gorges and abundant wildlife. Our overland journey explores the length and breadth of this ancient part of the world. We loop back in time (1600 million years) deep into geological history. Melrose, our first stop, includes walks to nearby Alligator Gorge in Mount Remarkable National Park. At Wilpena Pound (Ikara) we confront the full majesty of the ranges via a network of backtracks and memorable walks from our base at Rawnsley Park Station. Pushing north, past the Gammon Ranges, our walks delve into the mountain labyrinth and mineral marvel that is Arkaroola. Then, crossing back west, the legendary Prairie Hotel is the base for forays into the mighty Parachilna and Brachina gorges, home to Yellow-footed rock wallabies and vivid heart of Heysen country. Immersing ourselves in midnineteenth century we end our travels soaking up the history of Burra. DETAILS Price: Twinshare / person (ex Adelaide) Advanced Early Bird: A$4,150 until 24/11/2017 Early Bird: A$4,350 until 05/01/2018 Regular: A$4,650 Single Supplement: A$600 Note: For single people who prefer to share, we will try to find a suitable roommate, but if this is not possible the sole-use surcharge will apply. Minimum Group size: 8 guests Special Interest: Wildlife, Botanical, History, Geology For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 1

2 WALK RATING Moderate: 5-18km per walking day with some shorter or longer offtrack options (some challenging options due to rough tracks). Age is not necessarily as important as your fitness and recent walking experience, and anyone of reasonable fitness should be able to join this tour. We reserve the right to be flexible with the itinerary to allow for unforeseen circumstances including weather conditions and group fitness. INCLUSIONS 8 nights twin share accommodation 3-4 star motels, cabins, guesthouses with private facilities (1 night shared) Meals include 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 8 Dinners All transfers as listed in itinerary National Park and entry fees Professional tour leader assisted when required by local guides Pre-departure material including background & personalised A-Z tour information and destination tour companion EXCLUSIONS Airfares & taxes to start / from end of tour Airport transfers Heavy or excess baggage Travel insurance Personal expenses e.g. drinks (water, alcohol, tea & coffee), laundry, telephone, or optional tours / excursions TOUR LEADER Graeme McGregor is a geographer with a passion for discovering our natural and cultural environments, especially through walking. Some of Graeme s early roles included teaching geography; establishing and operating the Grampians Field Studies Centre at Dunkeld; planning for the Grampians and Point Nepean National Parks in Victoria, and planning and management of numerous national parks and reserves in Queensland and northern NSW. Graeme is the author of many park management plans and schools educational material on soil conservation and land use planning. Graeme s most recent work was with the SA National Parks and Wildlife Service on Kangaroo Island where he lived for more almost five years, finding time to discover the wonders of Kangaroo Island and other areas of SA. He recently returned to live in the Northern Rivers of NSW. Graeme is passionate about our natural and cultural environments and enjoys nothing more than sharing it with others. FAQ S How & when to book? Our biggest message to you is BOOK EARLY!! Many tours book out very quickly so the moral of the story is the early bird catches the worm! To qualify for any of the early bird prices, you simply need to send a completed booking form and deposit of A$400 per person per tour, by the early bird dates listed at the front of the tour itinerary. We offer A$500 discount per person if you book by the Advanced Early Bird date and A$300 discount per person if you book by the Early Bird date. If your deposit arrives after any of the early bird dates, the tour balance will be at the regular price. To place your booking, simply visit to pay your deposit and book online, or complete a Tour Booking Form, and post / fax / it to us with your deposit. Once you have booked on a tour, we will stay in contact with regular mailings (see below). What information and contact can I expect? When you send your initial deposit, we will contact you to confirm your booking. Once the tour has been confirmed to depart, a comprehensive information pack will be sent to you, including a Tour A-Z, suggested packing list, medical questionnaire, balance of payment invoice, and pre / post accommodation options. We can assist you with flight arrangements but please don t book flights until our office contacts you to confirm that your tour has been confirmed to depart. The final mailing is sent out approximately three weeks before departure and includes final tour documents, address list for family and friends, meeting points, and any final travel information. What is the group size? We specialise in small group travel with an average group size of around guests. Please see the front page for details on the minimum group size for this particular tour. All tours need a minimum number of passengers to operate at the price listed in the itinerary. If the minimum number is not reached, a tour may still operate with a surcharge. How fit do I have to be? When you are assessing your ability and agility to participate, age is not necessarily as important as your fitness and recent walking experience. Please read the tour walk rating and the day by day walking descriptions in the itinerary to determine if the tour is suitable for your fitness. If you have any queries, we are happy to put you in touch with either the tour coordinator or tour leader to discuss your fitness in more detail. What gear and equipment do I need to take? Because we focus on half and full day walks, returning to our accommodation in the afternoon, you don t need to carry any more than a daypack with rain wear, sunscreen, drinking water, camera and lunch. A few tours include an overnight hike where you will need to carry personal gear for the journey. We recommend hiking boots on most of our tours as they offer good ankle support and grip. A detailed packing list is included with your tour s information pack. Quentin Chester is an accomplished traveller, writer, photographer and guide. A regular contributor to Australian Geographic and Wild magazines he has also co-authored two books - The Kimberley: Horizons of Stone and Australia s Wild Islands and authored three volumes of wilderness-inspired essays. Quentin has a diverse background as an outdoor guide and interpreter with stints leading Himalayan treks, Kimberley cruises and nature-based tours in Flinders Ranges and on Kangaroo Island. Now also an award-winning photographer, Quentin s work is widely published in magazines and is exhibited on Kangaroo Island and in Adelaide. Quentin is a confirmed islophile who, since 2009, has made Kangaroo Island his home. He is also a regular guide at Cape Willoughby lighthouse. For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 2

3 ITINERARY TOUR ITINERARY Day 1 Sat 05 May Mt Remarkable National Park, Alligator Gorge Your tour begins at 8.30am when we meet at the Chifley on South Terrace (226 South Terrace, Adelaide). After leaving the city behind we travel to Mt Remarkable National Park, which is generally considered to be the beginning of the Flinders Ranges. Today we walk through Alligator Gorge to The Narrows, the point at which the walls of the gorge are closest to each other. This will prove to be a great introduction to a classic slice of the Flinders with its vibrant colours, geology and distinctive vegetation a taste of things to come. Our day ends with accommodation in Quorn for the night and a welcome dinner. Meals: L, D Walks: 3.3km Moderate walking on maintained historical trails Day 2 Sun 06 May Quorn & Wilpena Pound We depart Quorn on our road trip through classic gateway towns and the semi-arid character of the north is revealed. This has often led to broken dreams for many early farmers, as evidenced at the Kanyanka ruins and cemetery. Before long it s the high country that takes centre stage as the ragged profile of the Elder Range and Wilpena Pound loom into view. A walk up Mt Ohlssen Bagge provides spectacular views of the Pound and ranges beyond, along with the opportunity to do some wildlife spotting. On our return, time permitting, we stop at the visitor information centre. Our base for the next 2 nights is Rawnsley Park. Walks: Moderate to difficult 10km some moderate climbs, irregular surface with loose uneven base. Hiking boots recommended. Day 3 Mon 07 May Bunyeroo Valley & Aroona Today we venture along the road that weaves through the Bunyeroo Valley, one of the finest scenic drives in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. We stop at various points along the drive to explore the gorges and vantage points for spectacular views. We undertake the Wilcolo Circuit walk which gently climbs over the ABC Range and descends along the Bunyeroo Creek, we also explore historic Aroona, one of Hans Heysen s favourite settings for his paintings. Walks: Up to 10km easy to moderate grade trails, some rocky sections. Day 4 Tue 08 May Rawnsley Park to Arkaroola Farewelling Wilpena our journey weaves north via Stokes Lookout and the historic mining township of Blinman. We take our leave of the ranges via Wearing Gorge and venture across open plains to the east. Mt Chambers is a landmark on this sweeping run past Lake Frome with the shadowy forms of Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park beckoning to the north. After a brief stop at the park Headquarters at Balcanoona, our route threads back into the high country and the distinctive terrain of Arkaroola, a landscape unlike any other in the Flinders. Walks: Easy orientation and lookout walks Day 5 Wed 09 May Ridgetop Tour Mawson Valley walk Arkaroola Our day begins with Arkaroola s classic 4WD Ridgetop tour a rollicking ride into some of the most rugged and sensational terrain in the Flinders. A jumble of ancient peaks and domed summits, this is geology at its best with unforgettable vistas of arid highlands and endless open plains beyond. After lunch (own cost) we take to the trail to explore Mawson Valley, a geological wonderland containing some of the oldest rocks in the Flinders. It was named in honour of Sir Douglas Mawson, Antarctic explorer and geologist who spent 25 years from the 1920s describing the geology of the Flinders Ranges. Meals: B, D Walks: 8km circuit moderate For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 3

4 ITINERARY TOUR ITINERARY continued... Day 6 Thu 10 May Arkaroola to Parachilna We depart Arkaroola today and return via Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park and the spectacular eastern edge of the ranges. Our walking highlight is Weetootla Gorge which cuts through the ancient Balcanoona Ranges. We wander past Inland paper-bark trees as well as river red gums and continue through the gorge to Hells Gate. The dark red weathered cliffs of tillite are well-displayed and pebbles embedded in the rock are clear in the water-worn boulders of the creek. Pools of water tend to lie here and encourage the growth of bulrushes, sedges and watercress. Wortupa Creek brings us to the end of the walk. Our driving route then swings west through Italowie Gap and onwards to the township of Copley. From here it s a smooth highway run south to Parachilna, home to the famed Prairie Hotel, our base for the next two nights. Walks: 8km moderate rough off-track walk Day 7 Fri 11 May Parachilna Gorge & Brachina Gorge We return to the heart of the ranges to explore Parachilna Gorge and the high country around the historic mining township of Blinman. Today s walk takes in the scenery from Angorichina Village along the winding terrain of Blinman Creek heading to Blinman Pools. In some places, sheer cliffs rise almost straight up from the creek bed, providing a spectacular backdrop. Majestic River red gums - some are up to 300 years old - provide us with welcome shade along the way. In the afternoon we travel south to traverse Brachina Gorge from east to west, exploring the powerful geological formations of the gorge and its spectacular colony of Yellowfooted rock wallabies. This is also the very heart of Heysen Country the landscapes north of Wilpena that so inspired artist Hans Heysen in the mid-1920s. Walks: 12km moderate mostly off track walk in a rocky creek bed - hiking boots recommended Day 8 Sat 12 May Parachilna to Burra Leaving Parachilna our route heads south to Moralana Scenic Drive, a classic overland track that rambles between the western bulwarks of Wilpena Pound and the colourful bluffs of the Elder Range. Moralana is certainly worthy of its scenic drive moniker. The undulating route (dirt road) roughly follows the course of Moralana Creek, at times winding through thickets of native Cypress pines. There s no shortage of wildlife in this neck of the woods. Kangaroos and emus are commonplace, and it s not unusual to see Wedge-tailed eagles riding the thermals overhead. From here we swing south through Hawker and take the RM Williams Way linking the backcountry towns of Orroroo and Jamestown before making for Burra and our overnight stop. Walks: Easy orientation and lookout walks Day 9 Sun 13 May Burra, Tour End Today we enjoy the sights and stories of Burra one of SA s most pivotal mining settlements in the 19th century. This State Heritage town has a wealth of outstanding historic buildings and offers a rare opportunity for the visitor to appreciate what life in a 19th century copper mining town was like. After lunch (own cost) we head to Adelaide for a mid-afternoon arrival at Adelaide Airport, approximately 3.00pm. Please allow a minimum of two hours after expected arrival time for flight departures. Meals: B Walks: minimal walking today For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 4

5 REDISCOVER EXPERIENCE CONNECT WHY TRAVEL WITH US? InterNATIONAL PARKtours have been leading small group walking holidays since Our like-minded guests bond easily and often create reunions, celebrations and friendships, many of them lifelong. Our tours are active with regular half and full day walks. Aside from walking, we also spend time meeting local people, tasting regional food and immersing ourselves in the culture and history of a destination. Our flexibility enables us to adapt to the likes, dislikes and agility of our travellers, and changing situations such as weather and unforeseen circumstances. In most locations, we stay 2-3 nights and sometimes longer. This allows us to slow down, unpack our bags and enjoy the local atmosphere at different times of the day. Accommodation is comfortable, unique plus locally owned and operated where possible. Our guides are dedicated, informative people who share their passion and knowledge on local history, culture, wildlife & topography. Our journeys are designed to safeguard the ecosystems; benefit the communities we visit and contribute to the sustainability of destinations. Travel is a chance to change your perspective. Nature always provides a new view if we take the time to look. IPT offers great value for money with their programmes. There is minimum spending money needed once on tour and there are no hidden extras along the way. Judy & Peter Hughes I know that you get the blue ribbon extras with IPT and I was in the mood to be spoilt. Judy Potkonen Disclaimer of Liability Although international PARKtours has prepared the Information contained in this itinerary with all due care and updates the Information regularly, international PARKtours does not warrant or represent that the Information is free from errors or omission. Whilst the Information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Information. The Information may change without notice and international PARKtours is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user. Itinerary Updated: August 2, :43 AM Responsible Travel For your protection, we are allied members of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. Your payments are kept in a trust account until required for payment of your tour. We are accredited with ATAS, a national accreditation scheme, endorsing travel agents who have met strict financial and customer service criteria. We also have advanced accreditation with Ecotourism Australia and are members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Serendipity of travel Our guides will work 24/7 on your behalf to make sure that we are doing all we can to ensure your enjoyment. We have planned an intimate adventure, but adventure cannot be guaranteed. If indeed it could then it would lose its appeal. Though we do the best we can to plan a smooth journey, sometimes things change at short notice. Some things may take longer than anticipated, transport and accommodation arrangements may alter, and you may experience occasional shortcomings and be frustrated by the manana attitude; at other times you will be amazed by local efficiency. Tour itineraries may need to be modified but this is done so with your needs in mind and to provide the best tour experience. So, be flexible, surprised and delighted with the serendipity that comes from being open to the unexpected. Your enjoyment of this journey is ultimately up to you. T T F Timbarra Drive Beechmont QLD 4211 Australia info@parktours.com.au