Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in Flood Tour #1

Port Bus presents South Australia’s Far North Clare, Leigh Creek, The Flinders & Gammon Ranges including

***A sightseeing flight over Lake Eyre*** A 12 Day Tour (Tour #1)

This Outback South Australian Tour has some remarkable highlights. In Port Augusta, at the head of the Spencer Gulf, we will be introduced to the Far North region at the Wadlata Outback Centre. Then at Leigh Creek in the Far North we will spend 2 nights with a sightseeing flight to see the “Marree Man” (the world’s largest work of art and one of Australia’s greatest “who-done-it” mysteries in recent times) and Lake Eyre South. We then head into the Flinders/Gammon Ranges for 2 nights at Arkaroola. Largely unknown, Arkaroola is one of Australia’s true tourism gems.

Highlights

11 nights of motel accommodation including Clare Valley, Port Augusta, Leigh Creek & The Gammon (Northern Flinders) Ranges Plus tour highlights including Barossa & Clare Valleys Bungaree Station Port Augusta & the Wadlata Outback Centre Australian Arid Lands Botanical Garden The Marree Man /Lake Eyre South Arkaroola & the 4WD Ridgetop Tour

Itinerary Details

Day 1 (D): Heading Off                                       Sunday 6 October

Welcome to our extended South Australian Tour featuring the Clare Valley, Leigh Creek (with Outback sightseeing flights over Lake Eyre South) and the Flinders/Gammon Ranges in the Far North. Once the coach is loaded and everyone is on board we set off, travelling south to Sydney and then onto Goulburn for our first night on tour.

(Meal inclusions: Welcome dinner)

Mercure Goulburn 2 Lockyer Street, Goulburn Tel 02 48225445– 1 night

Day 2 (BLD) Across the Hay Plain                             Monday 7 October

We have another travel day ahead of us as we make our way to Wagga Wagga and then through to Narrandera on the Murrumbidgee River. We have arranged lunch here before we push through to Hay. The township is located on the eastern side of the Hay Plain and, like Narrandera, it is situated on the picturesque Murrumbidgee River. Hay's history is rich with characters and tales of boom and bust - of isolation and innovation. This afternoon we make a brief stop at Shear Outback, an innovative and exciting interpretative centre devoted to Shearers - those colourful characters of the bush. We then cross the Hay plain to Balranald and onto Euston for our overnight stop.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the motel/Club lunch)

Euston Club Motel, 9 Muray Tce Euston Tel 03 50264244 – 1 night

Day 3 (BLD): Into the Clare Valley                            Tuesday 8 October

Take a short walk for a close-up view of the mighty Murray River – our motel is just meters from the riverbank!! We push onto Mildura this morning for morning tea at Orange World before heading southwest along the Sturt Highway and into the South Australian Riverland. We have a fascinating lunch stop today at the Overland Corner Hotel – on the Murray River, just to the north of Lake Bonney. With the arrival of European settlement Overland Corner, located halfway between Adelaide and Mildura, became a major stopover point for drovers taking stock from New South Wales to the Port of Adelaide. From here we travel through Blanchetown and Taree and into the Clare Valley

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the Resort/Pub lunch)

Clare Country Club Resort, Clare 08 88421060 – 2 nights

Day 4 (BLD): Bungaree Station                            Wednesday 9 October

Just north of Clare is Bungaree Station. Established in 1841 it became the headquarters of an extensive sheep station with 100 thousand merino sheep by the 1880s. Today, over 175 years later, it is an efficient mixed farm run by the descendants of the original founder, G.C. Hawker. Consequently, Bungaree Station is not a museum, but rather a living record of rural Australia since 1841. One of the owners will take us on a most interesting tour of the buildings with family insights into the farm’s history. Country hospitality is at the forefront of our vis it as we are treated to morning tea and lunch of lamb and rosemary pie followed by a sweet treat with tea and coffee. This afternoon we visit Martindale Hall. Step back in time to the days of gracious living on a large pastoral estate late in the 1800’s to early 1900’s where a rumoured 14 servants (4 of which lived in the hall) were on call 24 hrs a day to look after the needs of two people! Such was the extravagant upper-class lifestyle of the wealthy pastoralist!!

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the Resort/Lunch at Bungaree station)

Day 5 (BLD): To Port Augusta                                Thursday 10 October

This morning, we travel into the Southern Flinders Ranges and over to the coast via Horrocks Pass. Our lunch stop is at Port Augusta at the top of the Spencer Gulf. There is a wonderful outback interpretative centre here called the Wadlata which provides a great introduction to visitors to the remote north and northwest of South Australia. We have a look through the Centre and a light lunch before a visit to the Australian Arid Lands Botanical Gardens. It’s a stunning story of survival – how the thousands of highly evolved plant communities, have specially adapted to thrive in extreme temperatures and decade lasting droughts.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the Motor Inn/Lunch at Wadlata)

Standpipe Golf Motor Inn Port Augusta 08 86424033 – 1night

Day 6 (BLD): Port Augusta/Leigh Creek                     Friday 11 October

After continuing through the Pichi Richi Pass, we will cross the famed Goyder’s Line that was marked on the map in 1865 by Surveyor General George Woodroffe Goyder to delineate drought affected country. The line became an important factor in settlement planning in this State, being regarded as an indication of the limits of the lands considered safe for agricultural development. As we will see from the many ruins on the Wilochra Plain, many early settlers didn’t take Goyder’s advice! An excellent example is Kanyaka Homestead just south of Hawker. Next is Hawker for lunch and then onto Leigh Creek. This will be our base for two nights. Our sightseeing flight from here tomorrow over Lake Eyre South and the Marree Man will be a highlight of our tour.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the Resort/Pub lunch at Hawker)

Leigh Creek Outback Resort Motel - 08 86752025– 2 nights

Day 7 (BLD): Flying over the Outback                    Saturday 12 October

**Wrights Air – Marree Man, Lake Eyre South & The William Creek Pub**

Just to the north of here is Lake Eyre. The sheer magnitude of the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Region is breathtaking. Our flight crosses over the Dog Fence, the Marree Man, Lake Eyre South to Madigan Gulf, the mouth of Jackboot, Halligan, and Belt Bay, Silcrete and Dalhunty Islands - landing at William Creek for a comfort stop and lunch. Then we return to Leigh Creek via the Anna Creek Painted Hills and Lake Torren. With water in Lake Eyre there is a myriad of colours emblazoned in patterns of ochre and pink algae create an amazing kaleidoscope of colour. With water, the reflections are breathtaking. Wrights Air who has experienced, professional pilots with extensive knowledge  of the South Australian Outback region will provide us with a stunning sightseeing flight. Using their quality, high wing aircraft everyone gets a window seat. It will be a wonderful experience.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast/Pub lunch at William Creek/Dinner in the Outback Resort)

Day 8 (BLD): To Arkaroola                                       Sunday 13 October

We farewell our hosts at Leigh Creek and make our way into the Gammon Ranges to the east. The Gammon Ranges National Park is one of Australia’s true tourism gems. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is blessed with a unique landscape created over 2 billion years ago and is home to the most rugged chain of mountains in the Australian Outback. We have lunch on arrival and then a free afternoon. At night there is a chance to visit Australia’s largest privately owned Astronomical Observatory. Tours of the Universe from this facility and the “star chairs” provide a unique experience for the traveller that is normally only available to scientists and astronomers (entry own cost/depends on local weather conditions).

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast and dinner at the Sanctuary /Light lunch at Arkaroola)

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary 08 86484848– 2 nights

Day 9 (BLD): Arkaroola Ridge Top Tour                   Monday 14 October

This morning, we take the incredible 4WD ‘Ridge Top Tour’ driving along mine tracks winding through some of Australia’s most rugged mountains. Visit ‘Crystal Candy Mountain’, Mt Painter, Yudanamutana Gorge and Sillers Lookout with awe inspiring views extending more than 80 kms over Lake Frome. We return to Arkaroola for lunch and then the afternoon is free to enjoy the area. Take a self-guided walk or perhaps just kick back and relax.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast lunch & dinner at accommodation)

Day 10 (BLD): South through the Flinders              Tuesday 15 October

We have an early breakfast this morning before our travel day ahead. We travel into the Southern Flinders Ranges, spending some time around Wilpena Pound including a stop at Brachina Gorge and the Flinders Ranges Visitors Centre. There will also be time for an optional 30-minute flight over Wilpena Pound with Wrights Air. After a great day of sightseeing, we continue south for our overnight stop in Port Pirie.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner at the motel / packed lunch).

Break free Port Pirie 166-172 Warnertown Road Port Pirie Tel 08 86324200 – 1night

Day 11 (BLD): Burra & The Mid North                Wednesday 16 October

We travel through Crystal Brook this morning and then onto Burra. It was here in Burra, in 1845, that copper was discovered. 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. A local guide will join the coach to provide us with an introduction to the town’s mining history. Copper from Burra's “Monster Mine” saved South Australia from bankruptcy in the 1840's. It was the largest metal mine in the country employing 1000 people. Cornish and Welsh miners flocked to Burra to work for the South Australian Mining Association, and some set up homes in dugouts hewn out of the banks of the Burra Creek. Small villages which now form Burra North were established - Aberdeen (Scottish), Redruth (Cornish), Llwchyr (Welsh) and Hampton (English). From here we travel into the Barossa Valley. We have planned a visit to the Barossa Chateau – a stunning building that sits in one of Australia’s most important rose gardens of international significance. Combined with Lyndoch Hill, the overall estate covers an impressive 25 acres, 30,000 roses and 5kms of walkways. The Chateau is also home to one of the largest collections of porcelain in Australia. We enjoy a tour and afternoon tea before heading into Adelaide for our final night on tour.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast & dinner in the Hotel/Pub lunch)

Adelaide Rockford Hotel Cnr Morphett & Hindley Sts Adelaide Tel 08 82118255

Day 12 (B): Heading Home (Thursday 17 October)

All good things come to an end they say, and our South Australian Tour is no exception! We have planned a slightly earlier breakfast this morning prior to our departure. We head back to Adelaide to connect with our flight home to Port Macquarie  (QANTAS Flight QF1928/2171 Departs Adelaide at 10.15am/Arrives Port Macquarie at 3.05pm) to complete a sensational 12-day tour.

(Meal inclusions: Breakfast in the motel)

Tour Inclusions

• 11 nights accommodation
• 11 cooked breakfasts, 11 dinners and 10 lunches
• Narrandera Ex Servicemen's Club
• Shear Outback, Hay – entry & demo (Day 2)
• Orange World, Mildura – morning tea (Day 3)
• Overland Corner Hotel - lunch (Day 3)
• Bungaree Station – tour, morning tea, Swaggies lunch (Day 4)
• Martindale Hall – entry & 45-minute guided tour (Day 4)
• Wadlata Outback Centre - entry (Day 5
• Wadlata Outback Centre - café lunch (Day 5)
• Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens – entry & guided tour (Day 5)
• Kanyaka Ruins on the Wilochra Plain (Day 6)
• Hawker Hotel Motel - pub lunch (Day 6)
• Wrightsair – flight over The Marree Man & Lake Eyre with lunch at William Creek Hotel (Day 7)
• Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – lunch (Day 8)
• Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – “explore the Cosmos” (Day 8)
• Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary – 4WD Ridgetop Tour (Day 9)
• Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary - lunch (Day 9)
• Packed lunch (Day 10)

Tour Inclusions Continued

• Free time at Wilpena V.C. – Optional sightseeing flight over Wilpena Pound (Day 10)
• Burra Visitors Centre - Guided tour of Burra (Day 11)
• Burra Hotel - lunch (Day11)
• Barossa Chateau – GFallery Tour & Devonshire Tea (Day 11)

Please Note

• Travel Insurance is not included
• Price is net and based on a minimum of 20 paying passengers
• Itinerary will need to be re-costed if minimum numbers are not achieved.
• Morning and afternoon teas are not included unless specified.

The itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided. Port Bus reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour. Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Port Bus will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.

Cancellation fees will be levied relative to the amount of notice given:

42 days or more—loss of deposit

29-41 days:  50% of fare plus deposit

30 days before and the Day of departure: 100% of the fare.

$6,519 pp twin share

$7,666 pp single

$1,000 pp deposit

Qanta Flight details

QF1928 Adelaide (ADL) 17Oct24 10:15 1 Brisbane (BNE) 17Oct24 12:10 D Economy

QF2171 Brisbane (BNE) 17Oct24 12:55 D Port Macquarie (PQQ) 17Oct24 15:05 Economy

If you haven’t already done so, please provide us with your QANTAS Frequent Flyer number