 Red Centre, Alice Springs, Birdsville
(6 days)
An air charter tour of Australia's red centre in less than one week
Day One: Melbourne - Coober Pedy (Opal fields)
Depart Melbourne at 8:00 am we fly 4 hours via Leigh Creek and land at
Muloorina Station on the edge of Lake Eyre. This is a 2000 square mile outback
property and we have a short tour around the station before an early lunch with
the owners. Leaving at about 2.30 we fly over the 180 km long Lake Eyre before
landing at Coober Pedy at about 3.30pm. We are transported to Outback Experience
Underground Motel. After booking in we have a brief town tour. This is
Australia’s most famous Opal mining town where many people live underground to
escape the heat. We see opal cutting, other underground homes, the church and
restaurants etc. Dinner is underground at our motel.
ACCOM: THE COOBER PEDY OUTBACK EXPERIENCE MOTEL.....underground…ensuite rooms
(twin share)
http://www.cooberpedyexperience.com.au/index.htm
  
Day Two: Coober Pedy - Yulara (Ayers Rock)
After breakfast depart Coober Pedy at about 8.30am for a 2 hr flight to Ayers
Rock. As we arrive, we take a scenic flight over the Olgas before landing at
Yulara (25 kms from the Rock). Taking a picnic lunch, we drive out to the
Olga's, tour the base and enjoy a climb such as the walk through the Valley of
the Winds and maybe the Katatjuta Lookout or Olga Gorge. After a picnic lunch,
back to Ayers Rock for a tour of the base (with Aboriginal paintings, caves,
rock pools, etc.). Sunset viewing and drinks at the Rock is a must and so we
arrive back at the motel just after dark. While it is possible to climb the rock
(very tough climb) it is not encouraged now, due to the local aboriginal wishes.
Dinner this night is in the motel licensed restaurant.
ACCOM: THE OUTBACK PIONEER MOTEL …air conditioned twin rooms
http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/outback/
Day Three: Ayers Rock - Kings Canyon
View the sunrise if desired. Then after breakfast we book out and have a
short visit to the Information/Cultural centre before departing for a 40 minute
flight to Kings Creek Station. This is a working Camel station and tourist
complex. Accommodation is in twin share tents with proper beds and eating is
outback style in open air areas. An early lunch then we drive 25 minutes to the
actual Kings Canyon along the edge of the Giles Range. Here we take a 3 hr climb
through the canyon. This is a mighty cleft with sheer walls over 200 metres high
amidst an oasis of palms and rock pools. The first 20 minutes is up a ridge but
has the aid of rock steps. This is probably the toughest bit but not hard in
comparison to Ayers Rock and if you take your time is well worth it. Once on the
top we climb around for about 2 hrs before descending on the other side back to
the vehicle. After the walk we return to the Station for a BBQ dinner and
accommodation. They often have some form of activity on during the
night…..videos of the camel farm or a bush tucker night etc….this depends on the
day.
ACCOM: KINGS CREEK STATION….. twin share tents ( with beds…. and shared
facilities)
http://www.kingscreekstation.com.au
  
Day Four: Kings Creek Station - Alice Springs
An earlier morning start this time as it is often easy at these outback
locations. We have breakfast and then take off at 8am for a 45 minutes flight
over Gosse’s Bluff a meteorite crater before landing at the famous outback town
of Alice Springs. We drive into town in our mini bus ( about 20 minutes) , book
into our motel and then head off for a tour of the beautiful MacDonnell Ranges,
visiting Simpson's Gap, Standley Chasm and Ellery Gorge returning to Alice
Springs late afternoon. The walks here are all relatively easy. Once again we
have a picnic lunch on the way. The walks are basically all along sandy river
beds and some rock creek beds and paths. The maximum walk is 1.5 hrs return (
Standley Chasm). Sunset viewing is normally very good from Anzac Hill just at
the base of the town. We have pre dinner drinks at our motels villas then take a
3 minute drive into town to eat at the Blue Grass restaurant.
ACCOM: DESERT PALMS MOTEL or similar…... twin share villas…with ensuite and
balconies.
Day Five: Alice Springs - Birdsville
We have a cooked breakfast on our balconies with a relaxing start to the day
and then at about 9.30am we book out and drive 15 minutes out to view the
original Telegraph Station. Returning to town there is about 1 hour to wander
the shops of the mall in Alice Springs before we head out to the airport.
Departing for Birdsville at about midday we have lunch in the air during this 2
hour flight over the Simpson desert. Arriving at 2.30 pm we walk one minute to
the hotel and book into our rooms. A tour of the Birdsville Working museum is
planned . This is a fabulous collection of historical memorabilia. A five minute
walk back to the hotel and drinks or a wander around this small town before
sunset and dinner.
ACCOM: BIRDSVILLE HOTEL/MOTEL… twin share rooms..
http://www.birdsvilleraces.com/
  
Day Six: Birdsville - Innamincka - Melbourne
Leaving Birdsville at 8.30 am after a nice cooked in the hotel/motel, we fly
1 hour to Innamincka. This is a remote town on the Cooper Creek near where the
famous Burke and Wills expedition perished. Enjoy a 2 hr cruise down the Cooper
Creek to where one of the expedition perished and then a sandwich lunch at the
local hotel. After lunch, tour the restored Inland Mission bush nursing site
before departing for Melbourne at about 2.30pm. It is about 4.5 hours flying via
Broken Hill for refueling. If time permits while refuelling, a brief visit of
the Royal Flying Doctor Service at the Broken Hill airport can be accommodated.
Then we fly 2.5 hrs to Melbourne arriving around 7:30 - 8:00 pm.
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