On Track Tours: Adventure tours: Central Australia

On Track Tours

Central Australia - Flinders Ranges

16 days: Motel and cabin accommodation.

Photo: Coastal cliffs, Great Australian Bight

Day 1
Perth - Kalgoorlie After leaving Perth, we travel to Cunderdin where we have morning tea and visit the museum in the original pumping station for the Goldfields pipeline. From there our tour takes off though Merredin, Southern Cross and the historic town of Coolgardie before we arrive in Kalgoorlie, our stop for the night. (Museum entry included in the fare.)

Day 2
Kalgoorlie - Laverton Today we start with a tour of Kalgoorlie, including the Super Pit and a chance to see the enormity of open-cut mining today. Then, back in time, we visit the Two Up Ring and time for a quick toss of the coins. We leave Kalgoorlie and head out to Menzies, Leonora and the Sons of Gwalia Mine. In the afternoon we drive on to Laverton for our accommodation.

Day 3
Laverton - Great Victoria Desert This morning we leave the bitumen and head into the remoteness of the Great Victoria Desert, passing through Cosmo Newbury and Warburton.

Day 4
Great Victoria Desert - Yulara Today we travel through the impressive range country of the great Gibson Desert, named after Alfred Gibson who, as a member of the Giles expedition that first explored this desert, was lost while trying to find water. We call in to the Giles Weather Station and then drive past the Docker River, stopping at Hull River for lunch. Our lunch spot is by a cave in which it is thought that Henry Bell Lasseter's body, his copious notes and diary were found in 1931. Lasseter was a gold prospector who claimed that he had found a rich gold reef west of Alice Springs. Unfortunately, he was unable to find it again, despite several attempts, the last ending in his death. His story is now one of legend and many people have since tried to locate 'Lasseter's Reef.'

In the afternoon, we come out of the desert and take our first look at the stunning Olgas. Then to Yulara where we stay for two nights.

Day 5
Uluru We spend all day today at Uluru, previously known as Ayers Rock. You can walk around it if you wish, but be sure to take water and wear comfortable walking shoes, as it is a distance of 11 km. The walk is well sign-posted with information about various aspects of the rock. You can also visit the National Park Display and information centre. If you wish you can take a flight over Uluru.

We go back to our accommodation for a rest before returning to Uluru for a spectacular sunset viewing and our evening meal.
(The flight over Uluru is not included in the fare. It is approximately $180 per person.)

Day 6
Yulara - Kings Canyon A day of stunning red central desert Australian landscape, especially at Kings Canyon where we spend most of the day. You will have time to walk through the Canyon or you may wish to take a helicopter ride over it. (Helicopter flight is not included in the fare.)

Day 7
Kings Canyon - Alice Springs We are off early today to travel though 'Albert Namatjira country', and past Hermannsburg, established by Lutheran missionaries in 1877 as a mission for the local Arrernte people. Namatjira was born in the mission and taught to paint by a watercolour artist. The result was a unique collection of paintings which, while using European techniques of painting, reflects the beauty of the Central Australian landscape from the perspective of one with close spiritual and cultural ties to the land.

Alice Springs is where we stay for the next three nights.

Day 8
Alice Springs Alice Springs was first settled in 1871 as a waterhole for camel trains and as the site for a telegraph station for the Overland Telegraph. In 1929, the Ghan railway linked Alice Springs to Adelaide. Alice Springs is now midpoint for the Ghan Railway between Darwin and Adelaide.

This morning we will visit the original Telegraph Station and then we will drop you off in town. You may wish to visit the Art Gallery and see a small collection of Albert Namatjira's paintings, the art centre and the Strehlow Research Centre that features a very informative exhibition on local Aboriginal culture. The very adventurous among us might like to take a balloon ride, weather permitting. (Lunch and the balloon ride are not included in the fare. Spinifex Ballooning has balloon trips for approximately $200 per person.)

Day 9
Alice Springs Today we visit two beautiful places; Stanley Chasm, where we have lunch, and Simpson Gap. We return to Alice Springs in the afternoon for more free time.

Day 10
Alice Springs - Coober Pedy Back on the road today as we cross the South Australian Border on our way to Coober Pedy. Our accommodation for the next two nights is in the side of a hill where the temperature is a constant comfortable 22-23 degrees. Perfect for a good night's sleep.

Day 11
Coober Pedy Coober Pedy revolves around opal mining so this morning we will go on a mine tour and see how 92% of Australia's opals are processed. Then we visit an underground church and typical resident's home.

The afternoon is free to wander the town or go noodling to look for your own opal amongst the many piles of stones that have been discarded. You never know, an opal might have been overlooked and you could be in luck. If you can't find an opal, perhaps you could buy one at one of the reputable stores in the town. (Tour of the mine included in the fare. Lunch is not included.)

Day 12
Coober Pedy - Hawker Today we travel the Oodnadatta Track, passing by many small settlements such as William Creek that once serviced the Ghan Railway, and Lake Eyre. We have lunch at Marree, which was once a significant town on the Ghan Railway to Alice Springs. In the afternoon we travel through Leigh Creek on the way to our accommodation at Hawker for two nights. (Morning tea is not included in the fare today.)

Day 13
Hawker (Flinders Ranges) This morning we drive through the Flinders Ranges with its spectacular rugged scenery and many varieties of flora and fauna, and visit Wilpena Pound for morning tea and lunch. The views around this area are simply stunning - the stuff of postcards.

After lunch we return to Hawker where the afternoon is free to do as you wish.

Day14
Hawker - Nullarbor We regretfully leave Hawker and the beautiful Flinders Ranges to return home through Ceduna and the start of the Nullarbor. We have the opportunity to take yet more stunning photographs at the Great Australian Bight and then it is on to our accommodation. Tonight is concert night so polish up those recitals for this traditional 'not to be taken seriously' evening of entertainment.

Day 15
Nullarbor - Norseman We are well and truly on the home stretch now. We spend our last night at Norseman in comfortable cabins for a good night's sleep before returning home. (Morning tea and lunch are not included today.)

Day 16
Norseman - Perth Our last day and we head back to Perth through Coolgardie and stop at Southern Cross for morning tea. Then after a lunch stop further on, we arrive back at Perth at approximately 6.00 pm. (Morning tea and lunch are not included today.)

William Creek. Photo: Anne Atkinson

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Central Australia - Flinders Ranges 16 days: Motel and cabin accommodation.		Photo: Coastal cliffs, Great Australian Bight
Day 1 Perth - Kalgoorlie	After leaving Perth, we travel to Cunderdin where we have morning tea and visit the museum in the original pumping station for the Goldfields pipeline. From there our tour takes off though Merredin, Southern Cross and the historic town of Coolgardie before we arrive in Kalgoorlie, our stop for the night. (Museum entry included in the fare.)
Day 2 Kalgoorlie - Laverton	Today we start with a tour of Kalgoorlie, including the Super Pit and a chance to see the enormity of open-cut mining today. Then, back in time, we visit the Two Up Ring and time for a quick toss of the coins. We leave Kalgoorlie and head out to Menzies, Leonora and the Sons of Gwalia Mine. In the afternoon we drive on to Laverton for our accommodation.
Day 3 Laverton - Great Victoria Desert	This morning we leave the bitumen and head into the remoteness of the Great Victoria Desert, passing through Cosmo Newbury and Warburton.

Day 4 Great Victoria Desert - Yulara	Today we travel through the impressive range country of the great Gibson Desert, named after Alfred Gibson who, as a member of the Giles expedition that first explored this desert, was lost while trying to find water. We call in to the Giles Weather Station and then drive past the Docker River, stopping at Hull River for lunch. Our lunch spot is by a cave in which it is thought that Henry Bell Lasseter's body, his copious notes and diary were found in 1931. Lasseter was a gold prospector who claimed that he had found a rich gold reef west of Alice Springs. Unfortunately, he was unable to find it again, despite several attempts, the last ending in his death. His story is now one of legend and many people have since tried to locate 'Lasseter's Reef.' In the afternoon, we come out of the desert and take our first look at the stunning Olgas. Then to Yulara where we stay for two nights.
Day 5 Uluru	We spend all day today at Uluru, previously known as Ayers Rock. You can walk around it if you wish, but be sure to take water and wear comfortable walking shoes, as it is a distance of 11 km. The walk is well sign-posted with information about various aspects of the rock. You can also visit the National Park Display and information centre. If you wish you can take a flight over Uluru. We go back to our accommodation for a rest before returning to Uluru for a spectacular sunset viewing and our evening meal. (The flight over Uluru is not included in the fare. It is approximately $180 per person.)
Day 6 Yulara - Kings Canyon	A day of stunning red central desert Australian landscape, especially at Kings Canyon where we spend most of the day. You will have time to walk through the Canyon or you may wish to take a helicopter ride over it. (Helicopter flight is not included in the fare.)
Day 7 Kings Canyon - Alice Springs	We are off early today to travel though 'Albert Namatjira country', and past Hermannsburg, established by Lutheran missionaries in 1877 as a mission for the local Arrernte people. Namatjira was born in the mission and taught to paint by a watercolour artist. The result was a unique collection of paintings which, while using European techniques of painting, reflects the beauty of the Central Australian landscape from the perspective of one with close spiritual and cultural ties to the land. Alice Springs is where we stay for the next three nights.
Day 8 Alice Springs	Alice Springs was first settled in 1871 as a waterhole for camel trains and as the site for a telegraph station for the Overland Telegraph. In 1929, the Ghan railway linked Alice Springs to Adelaide. Alice Springs is now midpoint for the Ghan Railway between Darwin and Adelaide. This morning we will visit the original Telegraph Station and then we will drop you off in town. You may wish to visit the Art Gallery and see a small collection of Albert Namatjira's paintings, the art centre and the Strehlow Research Centre that features a very informative exhibition on local Aboriginal culture. The very adventurous among us might like to take a balloon ride, weather permitting. (Lunch and the balloon ride are not included in the fare. Spinifex Ballooning has balloon trips for approximately $200 per person.)
Day 9 Alice Springs	Today we visit two beautiful places; Stanley Chasm, where we have lunch, and Simpson Gap. We return to Alice Springs in the afternoon for more free time.
Day 10 Alice Springs - Coober Pedy	Back on the road today as we cross the South Australian Border on our way to Coober Pedy. Our accommodation for the next two nights is in the side of a hill where the temperature is a constant comfortable 22-23 degrees. Perfect for a good night's sleep.
Day 11 Coober Pedy	Coober Pedy revolves around opal mining so this morning we will go on a mine tour and see how 92% of Australia's opals are processed. Then we visit an underground church and typical resident's home. The afternoon is free to wander the town or go noodling to look for your own opal amongst the many piles of stones that have been discarded. You never know, an opal might have been overlooked and you could be in luck. If you can't find an opal, perhaps you could buy one at one of the reputable stores in the town. (Tour of the mine included in the fare. Lunch is not included.)
Day 12 Coober Pedy - Hawker	Today we travel the Oodnadatta Track, passing by many small settlements such as William Creek that once serviced the Ghan Railway, and Lake Eyre. We have lunch at Marree, which was once a significant town on the Ghan Railway to Alice Springs. In the afternoon we travel through Leigh Creek on the way to our accommodation at Hawker for two nights. (Morning tea is not included in the fare today.)
Day 13 Hawker (Flinders Ranges)	This morning we drive through the Flinders Ranges with its spectacular rugged scenery and many varieties of flora and fauna, and visit Wilpena Pound for morning tea and lunch. The views around this area are simply stunning - the stuff of postcards. After lunch we return to Hawker where the afternoon is free to do as you wish.
Day14 Hawker - Nullarbor	We regretfully leave Hawker and the beautiful Flinders Ranges to return home through Ceduna and the start of the Nullarbor. We have the opportunity to take yet more stunning photographs at the Great Australian Bight and then it is on to our accommodation. Tonight is concert night so polish up those recitals for this traditional 'not to be taken seriously' evening of entertainment.
Day 15 Nullarbor - Norseman	We are well and truly on the home stretch now. We spend our last night at Norseman in comfortable cabins for a good night's sleep before returning home. (Morning tea and lunch are not included today.)
Day 16 Norseman - Perth	Our last day and we head back to Perth through Coolgardie and stop at Southern Cross for morning tea. Then after a lunch stop further on, we arrive back at Perth at approximately 6.00 pm. (Morning tea and lunch are not included today.)