State: New South Wales
Operator: Australian Eco Adventures
Minimum Price: AUD $ 3,500

This is an extended 19 day round trip covering outback NSW, QLD, NT & SA. A truly unique and interesting exploration of the diversity of outback Australia.

DAY 1 Sunday 20 August
Our first day finds us travelling north from Sydney, taking in the beautiful vineyard and farming country of the Hunter Valley. Lunch near Merriwa and then on through Gilgandra and Warren to our first overnight stop at Nyngan – Gateway to the Outback. (Overnight Outback Motel) 650 km.

DAY 2 Monday 21 August
Departing Nyngan, we follow the “crystal highway” north stopping at Byrock for an interesting walk and morning tea at an important aboriginal site before moving on to Bourke for a picnic lunch alongside the Darling. Time for a look at this fascinating historic town and then it's on to Nardoo Station, our overnight stay just north of Cunnamulla in Queensland. Nardoo is a 110, 000 acre working sheep/cattle property (Overnight Nardoo Station) 460 km.

DAY 3 Tuesday 22 August
After a night under the stars, relaxing in an artesian spa or around the campfire, we can enjoy a lazy start this morning with time to learn about Nardoo and Charleville; one of Queensland's interesting historic towns. We then move on to Tambo – an interesting and delightful overnight stay. (Overnight Tambo Mill Motel) 350 km.

DAY 4 Wednesday 23 August
Our destination today is Longreach but along the way we take time out to visit Blackall's historic woolscour and Barcaldine's Workers Heritage Centre. (Overnight for next two nights Longreach Motor Inn) 432km

DAY 5 Thursday 24 August
Originally a teamsters camp, Longreach has a lot to offer visitors. Today is a free day to explore the township and take optional tours to the Stockman Hall of Fame and the QANTAS Outback Museum. Lunch and optional tours today at your own expense. A dinner cruise on the Thomson River should end the day nicely.

DAY 6 Friday 25 August
An early start this morning should see us in Winton for morning tea and a wander around the new Waltzing Matilda Centre. We will lunch beside the Combo Waterholes (origin of Paterson's verse) near Kynuna and then on through McKinlay (Walkabout Creek Hotel!), Cloncurry and on to the “Isa”. (Overnight Mercure Outback Mt Isa) 630 km

DAY 7 Saturday 26 August
Continuing west through the Barkley Tablelands and following the early droving routes our first stop is at Camooweal for morning tea then on to Barkley Homestead for lunch. We join the Stuart Highway at the John Flynn memorial and head south for our overnight stay at Tennant Creek. (Overnight Bluestone Motor Inn) 650 km.

DAY 8 Sunday 27 August
Heading south along the Stuart highway, we travel through the Devils Marbles following the line of the Overland Telegraph Route stopping at Barrow Creek Station (morning tea) and the geographical centre of Australia, Central Mount Stuart, before continuing on to Ti-Tree (visit Red Sands Gallery), Aileron and our destination for the next three nights. (Next three nights Mercure Diplomat Alice Springs) 500 km

DAY 9 Monday 28 August
A relaxing free day to enjoy the atmosphere of Alice Springs township and take optional visits to places of interest including the Desert Park and the historic Telegraph Station. Lunch today is at your own leisure and expense.

DAY 10 Tuesday 29 August
The MacDonnell's are full of enchanting gorges, leafy rivers, Spinifex slopes, ancient cycads, rare plants and fauna. Imbued with the culture of a thousand generations of people, these desert mountains are the wettest parts of the central Australian deserts, harbouring oases of animals and plants alike. We include visits to Standley Chasm, Simpson Gap, Ormiston Gorge and Ellery Creek with their stunning display of geological history and the Ochre pits where a rare rainbow of coloured ochre is exposed in a small creek bed. Also included if time permitting will be a short walk to Redbank Gorge – a stunning water polished chasm that Redbank creek has cut through the MacDonnell Ranges.

DAY 11 Wednesday 30 August
Depending on weather and road conditions we will travel today to Kings Canyon via either Hermannsburg or Rainbow Valley arriving in time to do a late afternoon Rim Walk or River Walk (depending on your fitness level) at this spectacular Canyon. (Overnight Kings Canyon Resort)

DAY 12 Thursday 31 August
An early start has us at Curtin Springs for morning tea and Kata Tjuta (the Olga's) for lunch. Time for walks at Kata Tjuta before joining our Aboriginal guides at Uluru for walks and a sunset experience. (Overnight Outback Pioneer Hotel, Uluru)

DAY 13 Friday 01 September
Leaving Uluru we first head east to Erldunda then south through Kulgara and the relatively new town (1981) of Marla before reaching the opal mining town of Coober Pedy. (Overnight Coober Pedy Experience Motel)

DAY 14 Saturday 02 September
Time to explore Coober Pedy before heading east through the flat-topped hills of the Stuart Range and on past Anna Creek Station (largest pastoral lease in the world) to William Creek. This is the closest access to Lake Eyre and flights can be arranged for anyone interested. We are now travelling down the Oodnadatta Track and stops at the fascinating mound springs and Lake Eyre should break the journey to our overnight stay at historic Marree (formerly Hergott Springs) (Overnight Marree Hotel) 360km

DAY 15 Sunday 03 September
Heading south from Marree we visit the ruins of the old government township of Farina, then on to the Aboriginal ochre pits near Lyndhurst. From here the country becomes more variable and spectacular as we travel through Beltana, Parachilna and Blinman (tour of old mining site). After lunch we will explore some of the gorges of the Flinders Ranges on the way to our overnight stay at Wilpena Pound. (Overnight for two nights at Wilpena Pound Resort) 275km

DAY 16 Monday 04 September
A relaxing day walking and enjoying the Flinders Ranges close to Wilpena Pound.

DAY 17 Tuesday 05 September
On the homeward leg of our journey now, we travel south through Hawker, Cradock, Orroroo, Peterborough and on to historic Burra for lunch. Time for some walking around this historic mining town before setting off for the historic port of Morgan on the Murray River. A cup of tea and a short walk at Morgan should make the run through Overland corner to Renmark much easier. (Overnight Citrus Valley Motel) 470km

DAY 18 Wednesday 06 September
From the riverland country of Renmark we continue through Mildura, Balranald and Hay (visit to the Outback Shearers Centre) and on to the old river port town of Narrandera. (Overnight Gateway Motel,) 600 km

DAY 19 Thursday 07 September
Our run home today takes us through Junee, Gundagai, Yass and Goulburn arriving in Sydney about 4.30pm.

Notes:

Tour Code: A09
Special Departure Dates: 20 August –07 September 2006
Trip Duration: 19 days
Departs from: Central Station, Sydney
Tour Ends: Central Station, Sydney
Departure Time: 8.00 a.m
Return Time: 5.30 p.m
All Prices: $4180.00 pp twin $995.00 single supplement