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Great Southern and Red Centre Loop
offered by supplier M06849 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 23
day(s)
Group Size: 4
- 25
people
Destination(s):
Australia
Specialty Categories:
Self Drive
Season: October - November
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 4000 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 6000 US Dollar (USD)
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For 4 successive years during October and November we have now been running our 24 day 4WD Roundtrips from Melbourne. These are tours for a max. of only 4 participants and include many highlights in the Red Centre and the Outback and places that many visitors to Australia never have an opportunity to visit.
This is a 23 day itinerary. For people who wish a more relaxed tour or during our winter months this tour can be extended by 2 days.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 - Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Port Campbell. Freeway travel from Melbourne to Geelong. We then head towards the coast and soon we will be at the start of the Great Ocean Road. This road was carved out of the cliffs along the coastline by returned soldiers after W.W.I. There are a number of lookouts along the road that present you with spectacular views. As we drive through the Otway Ranges we stop to visit a remnant temperate climate rainforest.
Today's destination is Port Campbell. Includes: L D.
Day 2 - Port Campbell, Peterborough, Warrnambool, Grampians N.P. Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and other spectacular Limestone formations adorn the coastline and we go for some easy hikes to visit some of them. We now drive through the fertile coastal hinterland with its dairy farms to Warrnambool. Shortly after we visit an extinct Vulcano with its crater lake that has been made into a Nature Reserve, to get real close to Koalas and Emus. We then continue on, now through sheep country to the Grampians National Park.
This evening at our camping ground we will be visited by the eye-catching Grimnsom Rosellas. Includes: B L D.
Day 3 - Grampians, Wyperfeld National Park. The Grampians is one of Victoria's most spectacular National Parks. We visit the Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the culture of the indigenous people of the area. As we continue we'll visit and hike to a couple of the vantage point that present us with spectacular views. We continue and soon the sheep country changes to huge wheat fields. Our destination is the Wyperfeld National Park or the "Big Desert" Wilderness Park. Includes: B L D.
Day 4 - Wyperfeld, Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley. Driving through the north western Victorian Wheat belt, but often affected by droughts we reach the Adelaide Hills. Our destination today is the Barossa Valley. If at all possible we'll continue on a little further to Auburn in the Clare Valley and stay in a Historic Hotel. Includes: B L.
Day 5 - Barossa Valley, Port Augusta. We stock up with supplies and taste some of the local produce, either here or a little further north in the Clare Valley. Now through undulating country and huge wheat fields, changing later to sheep country, we travel towards Port Augusta, passing the Flinders Ranges to our right. Includes: B L D.
Day 6 - Port Augusta, Coober Pedy. Today will be driving one of our longest daily distance on the since 1986 fully sealed Stuart Hwy.
Tonight we stay at an Underground Motel. Includes: B L.
Day 7 - Coober Pedy, Kulgera (or Erldunda). We take some time to see the town, visit the Opal Museum and underground mine then continue on or way north after detouring to the Breakaways with it's weird and strange looking sandstone cliffs. Our destination today is Kulgera, just over the NT Border. Includes: B L D.
Day 8 - Kulgera, Yulara, Ayers Rock. Here we decide if we continue on sealed roads or take a Gravel Road for most of the distance to Yulara, the Ayers Rock Resort. As evening approaches we make our way to the Sunset Viewing area where we (with many others) await the sunset. While waiting and watching Uluru changing Colours we enjoy various delicacies, washing them down with a good wine. Includes: B L.
Day 9 - Ayers Rock, Olgas. It's an early Morning Call today and while still dark we make our way to the Sunrise Viewing Area at the Olgas. We prepare Breakfast while waiting for the Sunrise. A 3 hour walk through the Valley of the Winds, a snack on your return and we are on our way to Uluru for a walk around it's base or a climb for those who prefer that. Includes: B L D.
Day 10 - Ayers Rock, Curtin Springs, Kings Canyon. We try to leave reasonably early and after an hours stop at Curtin Springs, a working Cattle Station. Here you may like to take an optional camel ride.
We continue on through semi desert towards Kings Canyon. Depending on our arrival and temperature you may like to take the 2, 5 to 3 hour self guided hike around the rim of Kings Canyon while we continue to our camping ground and start preparing the evening meal. Includes: B L D.
Day 11 - Mereenie Loop, Palm Valley. If during the previous afternoon it was not possible to hike around Kings Canyon we do that now before setting out along the notoriously rough Mereenie Loop Road towards Palm Valley. We need a permit to travel through the Aboriginal Lands. Includes: B L D.
Day 12 - Hermannsburg, West MacDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs. We now head for the West MacDonnell Ranges, visit Simpsons Gap and finish in Alice Springs and book into our rooms at the Heavitree Gap Outback Resort for 2 nights. Includes: B L D.
Day 13 - West MacDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs. See the town of 'Alice', visit the Historic Telegraph Station and then drive the lengths of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Includes: B L.
Day 14 - Alice Springs, Rainbow Valley, Jim's Place. This morning we get some time for shopping, including new provisions for the next few days. Includes: B D.
Day 15 - Jim's Place to Cadney Homestead and possibly towards the Painted Desert. We should make good time along the Hwy. and will decide at the time if we camp at the Cadney Homestead or continue on into the Painted Desert. Includes: B L D.
Day 16 - Cadney (painted Desert) to Oodnadatta and south along the Oodnadatta Track. We now leave the sealed Stuart Hwy. and on an often rough Gravel Road and through semi desert with spectacular landscape we head to Oodnadatta. This used to be an important railhead on the Old Ghan Line. We camp at William Creek or further along the track. Includes: B L D.
Day 17 - Oodnadatta Track, William Creek, Marree, Farina. The condition of the Oodnadatta Track will very much depend on recent (or current) rain in the area and after heavy rain maybe closed to all traffic.
A little further down the track we make a detour to the famous Mound Springs. Blanche Cup and the Bubbler are the only ones that still produce constant water that seeps up through fissures in the rock below from the Great Artesian Basin.
Further along the Track we stand 12 m below sea level on the 'beach' of Lake Eyre South. We continue, stopping at the partly restored Curdimurka railway siding, take on fuel in Maree and soon after reach our camp ground at Farina. Includes: B L D.
Day 18 - Farina, Copley, Flinders Ranges. Farina was established during the early years of settlement with the purpose of growing wheat in the area. 480 house lots where surveyed and the town developed very quickly.
However after a period of severe draught that lasted several years wheat growing and the town was abandoned and today only the ruins of some of the buildings remain. Includes: B L D.
Day 19 - Flinders Ranges Broken Hill. Early this morning we visit the Sacred Canyon with it's ancient Aboriginal petroglyphs. We will also have time for other walks in this area before we leave those ancient mountains on our way towards Broken Hill. Includes: B L.
Day 20 - Broken Hill. Broken Hill is Australia's oldest Mining Town and up to very recently has been 'ruled' by strong unions. While here we can also visit one of the well known Art Galleries and the Sculptures. Includes: B L D.
Day 21 - Broken Hill, Lake Mungo and on to Robinvale. After visiting some of the sights of this Mining Town with it's amazing history we now continue, mostly on dirt and gravel roads towards Lake Mungo. Includes: B L D.
Day 22 - Robinvale, Swan Hill, Ballarat. We are now back on sealed roads and progress through Swan Hill and Bendigo to Ballarat.
As we leave the river and head south the landscape changes and we drive mainly through wheat fields. Includes: B L D.
Day 23 - Ballarat to Melbourne. After a sight seeing tour of Ballarat we visit the Gold Museum, then head across the road to Sovereign Hill, Australia's most authentic reconstruction of a township from the 1850's with many of the buildings being originals from that time.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
Australia
Self Drive
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