STUARTS COACHES presents a 15 Day Tour of the FLINDERS RANGES & THE SA OUTBACK OCTOBER 2011 The Flinders Ranges in the northern part of South Australia are colourful and rugged. For 40,000 years this place has been special for Aboriginal people who followed its dreaming trails and trade routes stretching from the sea to the centre of Australia. Then, with European settlement, came the folly of thinking that rain would follow the plough as shown by todays deserted towns and farms. With its special gorges, cool waterholes and towering peaks much of the land has been set aside as sanctuaries and parks. The colours, the vastness, the stories and the wildlife will have you agree this is indeed a special place. DAY 01 (D): NOWRA TO BALRANALD: Monday 03 October 2011 Welcome to our 14 day tour to the Flinders Ranges and the South Australian Outback. This morning we take the Hume Highway and travel through Wagga Wagga, across the Hay Plains and onto Balranald for our first overnight stay on tour. We settle into our motel and freshen up for dinner (lunch own cost & dinner in motel). Balranald Motor Inn (03 5020 1104) DAY 02 (BD): BALRANALD TO BURRA: Tuesday 04 October 2011 After a hearty breakfast we continue our journey, passing through Mildura, crossing over the border into the Riverland region of South Australia. We ll have a stop for lunch at a suitable spot (own expense) before travelling onto Burra in the mid north region of the state. It was here that Copper was discovered in 1845 saving South Australia from bankruptcy and employing Cornish and Welsh miners. Very quickly a town developed with a community of 5000 in 1851 (Adelaide s population was 18,000 at that time). Today the whole town is on the State Heritage Register preserving its great historical value and mining heritage. We arrive into town and check into our motel (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch own cost). Burra Motor Inn (08 8892 2777) DAY 03 (BLD): BURRA TO WILPENA POUND: Wednesday 05 October 2011 This morning we enjoy a locally guided tour of Burra before the next leg of our journey to Peterborough where we have the opportunity to visit Steamtown for an insight into this railway town. This afternoon we travel through Orrorroo and Cradock, marvelling at the change of scenery as the Flinders Ranges come into view. We have a brief stop in Hawker, where we take fourteen easy steps and we are on top of Wilpena Pound! At the Jeff Morgan Gallery we allow internationally acclaimed artist, Jeff Morgan to take us on a virtual reality trip that will blow our mind. Imagine being 1,168 metres above sea level and getting a 360 degree bird's eye view of the beautiful Flinders Ranges and landscapes way
beyond. It's an amazing circular painting, 30 metres in circumference with over 4,000 hours of painting time dedicated to it. A privilege to experience and a work of art not to be missed! It s not far to Wilpena and to our accommodation at the Wilpena Pound Resort Motel. High quality accommodation, a visitors centre, park information, tourism interpretative centre and outdoor deck area provide a base from which we explore the Flinders Ranges. The resort has a pool and is powered by the largest (photo voltaic) generating system in the southern hemisphere. (breakfast and dinner in hotel / lunch provided). Wilpena Pound Resort Motel (08 8648 0004) DAY 04 (BLD): THE FLINDERS RANGES: Thursday 06 October 2011 After breakfast we meet our local guide, Bill McIntosh, for a tour of this stunning National Park. Bill is a fifth generation owner of a sheep property called Gumcreek Station located on the northern boundary of the Flinders Ranges National Park. We will visit Gumcreek Station for a picnic lunch but first we will explore some of the Park. The Flinders Ranges are well known for their wildflowers but it s the dramatic gorges and spectacular peaks that are the real highlights of this beautiful part of Australia. We will visit two gorges today (subject to weather conditions) Brachina Gorge and Bunyeroo Gorge. We then head to Gumcreek Station for lunch. Weather permitting we will enjoy lunch near the Wockerawirra Creek under a tree known as the Kekwick Tree. This tree was named after Wiiliam Kekwick, an explorer who travelled through this area with John McDouall Stuart. Local legend has it that Willam Kekwick died in this area and was buried under this tree. Mid afternoon, we return to the Resort for some free time. Some of us may wish to drop in at the National Park HQ to visit the Interpretative Centre. Others may like to take a walk up to the lookout, or take the shuttle (small charge) or just relax at the resort. Perhaps an optional flight as the views of the Southern Flinders and the Pound itself are truly spectacular. (breakfast & dinner in resort / picnic lunch supplied). Wilpena Pound Resort Motel (08 8648 0004) DAY 05 (BLD): WILPENA POUND TO ARKAROOLA: Friday 07 October 2011 The Northern Flinders are not as well known and are a little more difficult to get to than Wilpena Pound but the effort is worth it! After some free time this morning for a leisurely walk, we travel north, out of the Flinders Ranges National Park, through Blinman (where we stop for lunch), via Chambers Gorge and onto Balcanoona. This afternoon we arrive at Arkaroola in the Gammon Ranges National Park. Largely unknown, Arkaroola is one of Australia s true tourism gems. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is blessed with a unique landscape created over 2 billion years ago. The area is an ancient uplifted seabed and is home to the most rugged chain of mountains in the Australian Outback. Now there is quality accommodation and services in this remote location with the upgrade of the 20 room Mawson Lodge in the Arkaroola Village. At night there is a chance to visit Australia s largest privately owned Astronomical Observatory (optional tour own expense). Tours of the Universe from this facility and the new star chairs are quite extraordinary and provide an experience for the traveller that is normally only available to scientists and astronomers (breakfast & dinner in motel / light lunch in Blinman). Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (1800 676 042). DAY 06 (BLD): ARKAROOLA: Saturday 08 October 2011 This morning we take the incredible 4WD Ridge Top Tour driving along mine tracks winding through some of Australia s most rugged mountains. We will visit Crystal Candy
Mountain, Mt Painter, Yundnamutana Gorge and Sillers Lookout with awe inspiring views extending more than 80kms over Lake Frome. The scenery from this pinnacle is so breathtaking that many have compared it to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon! We return to Arkaroola for lunch and then the afternoon is free to enjoy the area. Perhaps just relax at the resort or take a walk to discover some of the spring wildflowers such as wild hops, Sturt Desert Peas and Everlastings. Tonight we have a special treat A Banquet in the Bush. In a secluded setting at the base of Griselda Hill on the high side of Whywyana Creek, we will enjoy our meal in a superb outdoor setting (all meals at Arkaroola Tourist Village). Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (1800 676 042). DAY 07 (BLD): ARKAROOLA TO ROXBY DOWNS: Sunday 09 October 2011 After breakfast, we head north out of the Ranges onto Marree (originally Heggot Springs in the camel train days) where the Oodnadatta Track meets the Birdsville Track. We ll enjoy our picnic lunches here before joining the Oodnadatta Track and travelling to Borefield Road which will take us into Roxby Downs. Roxby Downs is a modern desert oasis with a population of 4500 people with an average age of 29! The town is nestled in the red sand dunes and despite the harsh environment is green and lush, thanks to the abundant water provided by a well on the southern edge of the Great Artesian Basin, 110kms to the north. Our accommodation is in the centre of the town within an easy walk of the main shopping centre (breakfast & dinner in motel / picnic lunch supplied). Roxby Downs Motor Inn (08 8671 0311) DAY 08 (BLD): ROXBY DOWNS: Monday 10 October 2011 After breakfast we commence our local touring. The contrasts between the multi million dollar mining project at Olympic Dam and the opal mining town of Andamooka will astound us. We begin with a guided tour of a mine in Olympic Dam - home to one of the most hi-tech mining operations in the world. The Whenan Shaft, the huge surface "decline" which permits access by miners and equipment to many kilometres of tunnels, 500 metres below and the Metallurgical Plant (the only one of its kind in Australia), are just a few of the features of this giant gold, silver, copper and uranium mining complex. Afterwards we travel 32 kilometres to the east to the opal fields of Andamooka for our lunch break and guided tour. Following our tour we return to Roxby Downs where we have the remainder of the day at leisure (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch in Andamooka). Roxby Downs Motor Inn (08 8671 0311) DAY 09 (BLD): ROXBY DOWNS TO COOBER PEDY: Tuesday 11 October 2011 Today we depart Roxby Downs retracing our steps through to the Oodnadatta Track. We travel through Curdimurka onto remote William Creek for our lunch break (access on this road however is dependent on the weather. If conditions don t suit we will access Coober Pedy via Woomera). This afternoon we make our way west to Coober Pedy. First time visitors, in particular, will be fascinated by Coober Pedy. About 80 per cent of the population lives underground. The reason is that the temperature can rise to 50 C in summer - and it has been known to rise to 60 C! To most outsiders the idea of living underground sounds terribly primitive! (Breakfast & dinner in the motel / lunch at William Creek). Mud Hut Motel, Coober Pedy (08 8672 3003) DAY 10 (BLD): COOBER PEDY: Wednesday 12 October 2011
Our touring begins at the famous Old Timers Mine which offers visitors a window in to the opal mining of yesteryear with a self-guided tour through an original opal mine, hand dug in 1916. Precious opal still remains in the wall so that visitors can see opal in its natural state. The tour helps us relive the development of opal mining practices and appreciate the colourful past of Coober Pedy from a group of dishevelled tents to the modern mining town of today. The complex also incorporates a display dugout (underground home), a Museum, an extensive opal display and a demonstration of opal mining machines. We are then taken on a tour of Coober Pedy including a look at the Golf course (which is the only one in the world with reciprocal rights to Saint Andrews in Scotland) and an underground home. Lunch is included on our tour before we visit the stunning natural landscape of the Breakaways this afternoon. After our evening meal at the motel (depending on the cloud cover) we enjoy a Stargazing Tour (breakfast & dinner in the motel / lunch in Coober Pedy restaurant). Mud Hut Motel, Coober Pedy (08 8672 3003) DAY 11 (BLD): COOBER PEDY TO PORT AUGUSTA: Thursday 13 October 2011 We have an early start today as we travel south on the Stuart Highway to Woomera for a late lunch break (own expense). Woomera is home to the testing site of long range missiles and rockets and remains the largest land based range in the world. We also visit the Missile Park & Heritage Centre showcasing an amazing collection of peace and wartime relics. From here we continue on to Port Augusta, located at the top of the Spencer Gulf. It is a major transport hub with both the Ghan and the Indian Pacific passing through here regularly and the junction for our country s main North/South (Stuart) and East/West (Eyre) Highways. We check into our overnight accommodation and settle in for dinner (breakfast & dinner in motel / Picnic lunch supplied). Best Western Standpipe Golf Motel, Port Augusta (08 8642 4033) DAY 12 (BD): PORT AUGUSTA TO BURRA: Friday 14 October 2011 After breakfast we take a look at thewadlata Outback Centre. This is a multi functional tourist attraction and winner of 6 South Australian Tourism Awards. It is a must do stop in Port Augusta, offering a fascinating introduction to the Northern Regions of South Australia and the Nullarbor. Next, we visit the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden. Arid Lands are home to some of the most highly evolved life systems on earth which, for their specialised inhabitants, are as hospitable and biologically sustainable as any rainforest. We spend some time in the interpretive centre before taking a guided tour of the gardens. Upon arrival into Burra we are met by our hosts who will remember us from our forward journey. The remainder of the day at leisure to relax. (breakfast & dinner in motel /lunch own cost). Burra Motor Inn (08 8892 2777) DAY 13 (BLD):BURRA TO SWAN HILL: Saturday 15 October 2011 Today we have a travel day as we make our way to the Riverland. We stop in Renmark where we enjoy our packed lunches the oldest settlement on the Murray River. It is a large and prosperous town in the heart of an orchard area for limes, olives, apricots, grapes, plums and garlic. The town also hosts a glorious Rose Festival every October. This afternoon sees us travel through Mildura and following the Victorian/New South Wales border we arrive in Swan Hill. We ll have time to freshen up and relax prior to dinner (breakfast & dinner in motel / packed lunch in Renmark ). Best Western Swan Hill Resort, Swan Hill (03 5032 2726)
DAY 14 (BD):SWAN HILL TO WANGARATTA: Sunday 16 October 2011 Today we arrive into Echuca in time to board our morning tea cruise on an authentic Port of Echuca Paddlesteamer. The river port of Echuca/Moama was once the largest and most important port along the Murray, when the river trade was booming before the turn of the century. Today there are a lot of stories to be told about the river boats and the colourful characters who crewed them. Stories too about the customs strife between Colonies that helped shape the free trade provisions of the Australian Constitution. Following our cruise we continue travelling until we reach Shepparton where we make a stop. We have time to stretch our legs and wander the town centre while we purchase our lunch. This afternoon we arrive in Wangaratta where we spend tonight. We ll have time to freshen up and relax prior to dinner (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch own cost). Quality Hotel Gateway, Wangaratta (03 5721 8399) DAY 15 (B):WANGARATTA TO NOWRA: Monday 17 October 2011 Unfortunately our tour has come to an end. After breakfast our travel day home has us driving through Wagga Wagga to join the Hume Highway. We ll arrive home late this afternoon completing a wonderful Flinders Ranges & Outback South Australia holiday. (breakfast in motel / lunch own cost). All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc BOOKING CONDITIONS. No s apply for this tour to proceed. We retain the right to change or amend the itinerary Single supplement will apply if no twin share is available. Passengers rotate in the coach giving forward and window seating One suitcase per person Insurance is advised Balance must be paid when stated Additional charges apply if paying by credit card.