14 Day Tour
'Arkaroola, Birdsville & Carnarvon Gorge'
(Sydney - Rockhampton)
Fully
accommodated
Departing Sydney: 1st May 2011
TOUR PRICE: $3190 per person, twin share. Single supplement: $590
PRICE INCLUDES:
• Travel in modern, air conditioned special purpose 4WD coach
• Accommodation - 9 x nights 3 star motel; 2 x nights budget rooms with
en-suite; 2 x nights permanent tents with shared facilities
• Admissions - Ridgetop ride; "Min Min" Centre; Birdsville
Museum; Lark Dinosaur Quarry; Waltzing Matilda Centre; Stockman's Hall Of
Fame;
dinner cruise; National Parks fees
• Most meals as shown: B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
• Numerous morning & afternoon teas
• Services of experienced driver/ guide and tour hostess
• GST
DAY 1: TO DUBBO
Depart Nowra 6:00am with pick-ups at Wollongong 7:00am; Sutherland 8:30am; Strathfield Railway Station
9:30am then via the Blue Mountains (morning tea) and Bathurst (picnic lunch) and to Dubbo for our first night on tour in motel accommodation.
Dinner tonight in the motel dining room. (L,D)
DAY 2: DUBBO - BROKEN HILL
We travel overland along the Barrier Highway through Nyngan, Cobar and Wilcannia to the
Silver City of Broken Hill for our overnight stop. (B,L,D)
DAY 3: BROKEN HILL – ARKAROOLA
Follow the Barrier Highway to Yunta then along little
travelled back roads past Lake Frome and through Frome Downs Station to the
Arkaroola Resort in the North Flinders Ranges. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: ARKAROOLA
Today we enjoy the many activities within the 610
square kilometre wilderness sanctuary with the highlight being the adventurous
4WD Ridgetop ride to magnificent Sillers Lookout. (B,L,D)
DAY 5: ARKAROOLA – MARREE
We enjoy the great scenery of the Flinders Ranges
as we drive via Italowie Gorge to Leigh Creek. At Lyndhurst we visit Talc Alf
and the Aboriginal Ochre Cliffs. Tonight we stay at Marree, the start of both
the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks.
(B,L,D)
DAY 6: MARREE - BIRDSVILLE TRACK -
BIRDSVILLE
Seared
by the relentless sun and scoured by countless dust storms, the 517 kilometre
Birdsville Track is today’s challenge!
A chance to experience the vast empty space and loneliness plus the
desolate landscape of polished stones and sand ridges of the Sturt’s Stoney
Desert.
DAY 7: BIRDSVILLE
Today
is spent in and around Birdsville - Queensland’s most remote town. We drive
a short distance to the west to see the famous “Big Red” sand dune on the
fringe of the Simpson Desert. We also visit the extraordinary Birdsville
Working Museum.
(B,L,D)
DAY 8: BIRDSVILLE
- BOULIA
Today’s route is northbound following the Eyre
Developmental Road through remote country with claypans and the occasional
homestead. Our destination is Boulia which is situated on the Bourke River and
is famous for the phenomenon known as the “Min Min” lights. We visit the
“Min Min” Encounter Centre for a computer generated “Min Min”
experience. (B,L,D)
DAY 9: BOULIA
– LARK DINOSAUR QUARRY – WINTON
We travel through remote cattle station roads to the Lark Dinosaur Quarry
where we are guided through the facility that preserves the amazing evidence
of a dinosaur stampede millions of years ago. Tonight in
Winton. (B,L,D)
DAY 10: WINTON – LONGREACH
First highlight is a visit to the Waltzing Matilda Centre to see results of
the recent one million dollar upgrade to the sound and light show, gallery and
displays. Tonight we enjoy a dinner cruise with entertainment on the Thompson
River. (B,L,D)
DAY 11: LONGREACH
A morning at the famous Stockman’s Hall Of Fame with the
afternoon free. (B,D)
DAY 12: LONGREACH – CARNARVON GORGE
Via Emerald and Springsure to Carnarvon Gorge. Accommodation for the next two
nights is in permanently erected tents with shared facilities at Takarakka
Bush Resort near Carnarvon Gorge. (B,L,D)
DAY 13: CARNARVON GORGE
A full day to enjoy bushwalking in and near the
extraordinary Carnarvon Gorge with it’s towering sandstone cliffs,
rainforests, secluded side gorges and platypus pools. (B,L,D)
DAY 14: TO ROCKHAMPTON
Drive via historic Mt Morgan to Rockhampton arriving approximately 5:00pm. You
will be dropped off at your centrally located accommodation or at Rockhampton
Airport. (B,L)