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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Innamincka and Coongie Lakes
A five day safari expedition into the heartland of outback South Australia,
home of the fifth largest terminal lake on the planet. This area, under
consideration for World Heritage Listing, is home to numerous threatened
or endangered plant, bird and native animal species, and is recognised
world-wide for its biodiversity. The Cooper a wild river in the desert,
is still miraculously unregulated.
The coolibahs and billabongs, the dusty tracks and scarlet sunsets,
the orange dunes and vast floods of the inland have woven themselves into
the stories, songs and poems of South Australia's cultural mythology.
To sit beside Coongie Lakes, on the north-west branch of the Cooper,
is to take a seat at one of the continent's great wildlife spectacles.
Pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants, ducks, grebes, swans, spoonbills,
coots, moorhens, kites, harriers, tems, water rats, tortoise andfish-feed,
mate, quarrel, play and rest almost at yourfeet.
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Day 1
Fly from Adelaide to Port Augusta. Drive through southern Flinders
Ranges.
We drive through the Southern Flinders Ranges via Quorn, Hawker and
Wilpena. On our way north to the old copper mining town of Blinman, a
boom town in the days of copper mining last century, now a hub for tourists
exploring the northern Flinders and Gammon Ranges. From here we slowly
descend the east side of the range through the folded and faulted hills
that were once an ancient sea bed. The rugged Gammon Range comes into
view, painted blue in the midday light as we turn west to Arkaroola. Overnight
Motel. L
Day 2
Arkaroola
Arkaroola is flanked by the rugged ridges of the range and offers a
360 degree spectacle. After breakfast you can either hike until lunch
or take in the Ridge Top Tour along the ridges of the Gammon Ranges with
magnificent views, a geological history and the chance to take in the
flora and fauna of the area. After lunch we depart for Innamincka some
400 km to the north along the famous Strezlecki Track passing desert dunes,
gibber plains, hot springs and the Moomba gas and oil fields before reaching
the Coopers Creek in the Lake Eyre Basin. This area is listed with the
Ramsar Convention as a World Heritage Area. Over night camp at Cooper
Creek. Dine at the Innamincka Hotel. B/L
Day 3
Cooper Creek & Coongie Lakes
We tour along the river with Cooper Creek Cruises looking at the birdlife,
scenery and history. After lunch we drive a 110 kms to Coongie Lakes to
spend the day soaking up the colours, the sounds of the prolific bird
life and the amazing expanse of fresh water as far as the eye can see,
in the driest part of Australia. We walk through this beautiful and unique
wetland and take a drive to the eastern shore to watch the sun set over
the lake. We camp at Coongie Lake to take in the evening and morning mood
of this wonderful place. B/L/D
Day 4
Coongie Lakes & Innimincka
We spend the morning at Coongie then head back to Innamincka to spend
the rest of the day at the settlement looking at the history and life
of the outback. Canoes are available to explore this amazing water-way.
We will look at Aboriginal etchings in the rocks along the way and take
in the wild -life on the water and in the air around us. The desert butts
right up to the river red gums flanking the water. Camp on the Cooper
near the town and dine at the pub. B/L
Day 5
Innamincka to Lyndhurst to Parachilna
We leave this unique wetland in the desert and drive south to Mt. Lyndhurst
visiting Monte Collina Artesian Bore along the way. At Lyndhurst we visit
"Talc Alf", an eccentric sculptor, at his gallery in the desert. We then
pass through Leigh Creek coal fields, Copley, Beltanna to Parachilna,
where we will overnight at the Prairie Hotel which boasts a feral foods
menu. B/L
Day 6
Northern Flinders Ranges to Pt Augusta to Adelaide
This morning we have an easy drive along the west side of
the North Flinders through Brachina Gorge, Hawker and Quorn
to Port Augusta to catch our 4:00pm flight back to Adelaide.
B/L
To enquire about this experience or have it included
in a tailor made itinerary - Just ask!
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Back to Nature & Culture
Duration
5 Nights / 6 Days
Departs
Daily between April 1st to November 30th from Adelaide
Airport.
Cost
Price on Application
Price valid until March 31st, 2006.
Passengers
Min 3
Includes
Breakfast, lunches, dinner on day 3, Accommodation, Passes, Entry Fees, and all touring except optional Ridge Top Tour at Arkaroola (cost from AUD$85.00 per person).
Cost Excludes:
Evening meals except day 3.
Return flight from Adelaide to Pt Augusta.
Please Note:
This tour may be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
or, if roads are closed due to rain, there may be a delay
during the tour. Passengers will be catered for.
Accommodation:
Nights 1 and 5 are at a motel.
Nights 2, 3 and 4 are camping in tents with swags (sleeping
bags, pillows, towels and liquid soap provided).
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