13 day Outback Adventure (Melbourne to Alice Springs)

Tour Details

Operator

Longhorn YOUnique Tours

Destinations

Ayers Rock (Uluru), Alice Springs, Flinders Ranges, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Oodnadatta Track, Coober Pedy, West MacDonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon, Wilpena Pound, Grampians, Halls Gap and Glen Helen

Departs From

Melbourne

Tour Description

To travel through the great Australian Outback is a fantastic experience that everyone should enjoy. Using our extensive experience travelling the area our tour combines the iconic sights that Australia is famous for with interesting places people rarely visit.

We travel "off the beaten track" in our quality 4WD vehicles and see scenery that needs to be seen to be believed. You'll marvel at the colours of the outback as the landscape unfolds before you. Along the way we encounter wildlife and birdlife in their natural settings.

Learn of the first Australians and their relationship with the land and its inhabitants and how they've survived for thousands of years. Hear stories of the early settlers and their battles with nature to survive in this harsh land. We'll also explain how the land was formed and what changes have taken place over millions of years.

Day 1 - We leave Melbourne behind as we head toward the Grampians (Gariwerd) where we’ll look back through history and see the art of Indigenous Australians. Recent investigation has revealed Aboriginals have inhabited this region for up to 32,000 years and that up to 70% of Indigenous rock art in Victoria is in this region with well over 100 sites identified. You’ll also experience some of the magnificent scenery of this ancient mountain range. Tonight we’ll have dinner at a local restaurant where we can get to know each other and talk about the rest of the great journey that lies ahead of us. L.D.

Day 2 - After breakfast we will be driving through the Victorian countryside heading for South Australia making our way through Murray River country The Murray River is Australia’s longest river starting in the Alps and flowing through NSW, Victoria and into South Australia.
Once in South Australia we’ll stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables and pick up other local produce such as dried fruits and citrus fruits from local growers in the Riverina where we’ll spend our second night. B. L. D

Day 3 - Today we head for the Outback and pass through a number of lovely restored towns that were established by farmers and traders in the 19th century. We’ll have a chance to see some beautiful old buildings and you’ll realise how little some things have changed in the outback. At Hawker we stop to visit a local art gallery with its magnificent Panorama Gallery and then head into the Flinders Ranges National Park and Wilpena Pound. Here we will visit ancient Aboriginal rock carvings tonight or tomorrow if time is limited. Tonight we will enjoy the camp facilities of the Wilpena Pound Resort. B. L. D.

Day 4 - Today is a fantastic opportunity to experience something really special. As we leave the resort we travel through ancient gorges carved through these mountains millions of years ago. With luck we might see the rare and hard to find yellow footed rock wallaby as it basks in the morning sun. We travel to Parachilna and visit the town’s old pub for refreshments and from there head for the homeland of the Adnyamathanha people. Here we’ll stay at Iga Warta a cultural venture run by the Coulthard family. You will experience their culture first hand through tours and activities that provide insights into their history, use of plants and how their ancestors lived in this harsh country. Dinner tonight will include bush tucker. B. L. D.

Day 5 - Having experienced the hospitality of the Couthards at Iga Warta it is now time to travel to Maree along the famous Oodnadatta track to William Creek. Along the way we will stop at old ruins and ancient mound springs before arriving at the most “out of the way” pub in Australia. With a population of less than 10 people William Creek really is isolated. Weather permitting you’ll have an opportunity to take a flight over Lake Eyre (optional extra) which is the best way to see this amazing salt lake. Whether it’s dry or filled with water you’ll be impressed by the sheer scale of the lake. Lake Eyre Basin is one of the largest internally draining systems in the world and the ecosystems it supports are varied and often unique. B. L. D.

Day 6 - After breakfast we drive out to see Lake Eyre from ground level and then its back to Willaim Creek to pack up and head along outback tracks to the town of Coober Pedy famous for its opal mining. We’ll pass through the dog fence which stretches 5,614 klms from Jimbour on the Darling Downs and ends west of the Eyre Peninsula on the cliffs of the Nullabor plains. The fence was built in the 1880’s to keep dingoes from the southern States. Once in Coober Pedy we’ll check into our accommodation which is carved into the hillside. You’ll sleep the night underground, a contrast to our previous nights sleeping under the stars. B. L.

Day 7 -Today we will take the time to look around the town of Coober Pedy. We’ll take a tour of an opal mine and you will have a chance to purchase a souvenir to take home with you. After refueling we head back onto dirt tracks and into the Painted Desert. It’s difficult to explain this amazing landscape as it’s something you need to experience to believe. There are small and large hills with colours that range from ochres and reds to black, white and greys. The landscape is very fragile and protected. We will take a walk to a number of lookouts to maximize the experience and minimize our impact on the environment. We’ll also camp in the desert and experience one of the best sunsets the outback has to offer. B. L. D.

Day 8 - Waking up to the ever changing colours of the Painted Desert as the sun rises is the perfect start to a day. Enjoy a hearty breakfast before we travel to our next stop which will depend on weather. We can travel to Mt Dare and onto Lamberts Centre (the geographical centre of Australia) or we’ll travel along the Oodnadatta Track to Marla and onto the Stuart Highway. B. L. D.

Day 9 - Today we head to one of Australia’s most recognised natural icons. Affectionately known as “The Rock” Uluru is one of nature’s gems and as we watch the changing colours as the sun sets you will start to understand why the local Anangu people have such a great respect for this place. On the way to Uluru we will stop at Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse where you will have the chance to walk through the gallery which displays art and artifacts made by the local Imanpa Community. Many items are also for sale if you’re interested in taking home some local works of art. Once in the campground at Uluru you have the chance to swim or just relax around the pool. Laundry facilities are also available. B. L. D.

Day 10 -Breakfast today is enjoyed whilst we gaze at Uluru and are amazed by the range of colours it displays as the sun rises above the horizon behind us. After this fantastic experience we head for the Cultural Centre where you will experience a journey of discovery as you wander through the Tjukurpa tunnel where many of the mysteries of the Anangu people are explained to you. Hear their ancient creation stories and learn of their love of country. By the end of the visit you will have an understanding of the customs and protocols that the Anangu ask us to respect whilst visiting the park. We can then explore Uluru and you’ll find evidence of the stories of the Tjukurpa. We’ll experience the amazing changing colours as the sunsets on Uluru. Back at camp an Aussie BBQ will provide a fantastic end to the day. B. L. D.

Day 11 - This morning we head off to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) viewing area to watch the sunrise and light up the domes in front of us. Kata Tjuta is a local Pitjantjatjara word meaning 'many heads' and in the dawn sunlight you will understand why. After sunrise we will head off to the Valley of the Winds carpark where we will have a quick breakfast before doing the “Valley of the Winds Walk”. On the walk we will visit 2 magnificent lookouts, Karu and Karingana, both of which provide amazing views. The walk is approx 7.4klms and takes about 3 hours.
After lunch we pack and head off to Kings Canyon. We will camp at Kings Creek Station and after dinner enjoy hearing the stories about the settlement of this area particularly Kings Creek Station. You will also hear about the camels and the important part they played in opening up Central Australia. B. L. D.


Day 12 -Another Aussie breakfast to help us through the day then it’s off to Kings Canyon for the rim walk. It’s a bit of a climb to the rim of the Canyon but once up there and looking at the magnificent towering vertical walls you’ll agree it’s worth the effort. The changing scenes as we walk around the rim are staggering and as we climb down to the “Garden of Eden” and make our way along tracks that wind through ancient ferns and river gums you’ll realise how precious water really is in this dry environment. The walk takes about 3 hours but is thoroughly enjoyable and you’ll be glad to sit back and enjoy a snack when we finish. A quick stop to refuel, then we travel along the Mereenie Loop and through the West MacDonnell Ranges. On our way we’ll stop at lookouts and we’ll take the short 4WD track into Gosse Bluff. This crater is of great significance to the Western Arrernte people and also to scientists. You’ll hear why both find it so interesting as we park in the middle of the crater. From here we move to the Western MacDonnells where we have a choice of camps. B. L. D.

Day 13 - The drive into Alice Springs lies before us today. Namatjira drive runs alongside the Macdonnell Ranges and has many interesting places for us to visit. Redback Gorge, Ormiston Gorge and Serpentine Gorge are all worth visiting as is the Ochre Pits where you can see the range of colours the Aboriginals use in their artwork. The Ochres taken from these pits were used as a trading commodity with other Aboriginal clans for hundreds of kilometers. If it’s hot we’ll take a dip a Ellery Creek Big Hole to cool us down before we visit Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap then it’s into “Alice” for a bit of city life. You will be dropped at your accommodation and we will meet later for dinner to celebrate the end of our journey. B. L.