Lake Eyre in Flood & the Flinders Ranges
Sunday 08 August – Thursday 12 August, 2010 - 5 DAYS
Price: $2695 pp twin/ share $280 single supplement
Departing Freighter Avenue at 5.00am (for a 9.00 flight departure)
(Please notify office of your preferred pickup point :-Freighter Ave, Richmond Dve/ Bridge St, Clifford Gardens, Transit Centre or the Range Shopping Centre. )
A $200 deposit is required to confirm your booking with final payment due by 1st July, 2010
Price based on Minimum of 30 passengers
Please book early for this unique event as there is a limit of only 40 seats.
During February and March 2010 huge amounts of rain fell in the Channel Country of western Queensland. The inland river system has drained a lot of this water into Lake Eyre. The Diamantina, Warburton, Barcoo and Thompson Rivers are just a few of the creeks and rivers that make up a network of natural drainage that delivers vast amounts of water into two Lakes – Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South. These lakes lie within the Lake Eyre National Park which has a combined area of nearly 10,000 square ks. For the next two years or so the Lakes will come to life and swarm with pelicans, seagulls and other water birds while fish which have laid dormant in the crust of the dry lake for many years, come to life. Our tour will take us to Wilpena Pound located south east of the Lake Eyre National Park. We will stay three nights here for the chance to take a spectacular flight to see this rare event - when Lake Eyre is in flood. Lic T/A 247
Tour Inclusions
- 4 nights accommodation as per the itinerary
- 4 cooked breakfasts, 4 dinners and 3 lunches
- Virgin - BNE/ADL - DJ318/223 via Mel 0900/1300 (Day 1)
- Premier Stateliner Delux Touring Coach – Charter – 5 Days
- Hackney Hotel - Light Lunch (Day 1)
- Wilpena Air - 4 hour flight over Lake Eyre
- Bill McIntosh - half day tours
- Bill McIntosh - morning tea
- 2 x Tour Escort FOC Flights over Lake Eyre
- Virgin - ADL/BNE - DJ224/337 via Mel 1345/1810 (Day 7)
Day 1 (LD): To Adelaide/Clare (Sunday 08 August, 2010)
Welcome to our 5 day Fly/Coach Tour to South Australia and our 2 night stay in the Flinders Ranges a night in the Clare Valley and a night at Port Pirie. ( Fully hosted by a staff member of Peters Coaches )This morning after the completion of our pick ups, we transfer to Brisbane Airport for our Virgin Blue Flight (via Melbourne) to Adelaide (Depart DJ318/223 at 9.00am/Arrive Adelaide 1pm). On arrival our Premier Stateliner Touring Coach will meet us. We enjoy a welcome lunch in Adelaide before our drive north this afternoon to Clare for our first night on tour. (Welcome lunch in Adelaide/welcome dinner in the motel)
Clare Country Club, Clare 08 88421603
Day 2 (BD): Clare to Wilpena Pound National Park (Monday 09 August, 2010)
This morning we continue north passing through the Lower Flinders Ranges. We pass through Melrose and Wilmington on our way to Quorn. From here we cross the Wilochra Plain - a fascinating region with an abundance of history contained in the many remnants that can be seen of the early pioneering days. We arrive at Wilpena Pound Resort late morning – our base for the next 2 nights as we explore the National Park and enjoy a stunning flight over Lake Eyre. Because of the small aircraft that are used for the sightseeing flights over Lake Eyre (everyone has a window seat) we will have to divide into groups. The first group will enjoy the flight this afternoon while the rest of us enjoy some time around the Resort or take a walk into the National Park. (Breakfast & Dinner in the motel/lunch own arrangements & cost)
Wilpena Pound Resort 08 86480004
DAY 3 (BLD): Lake Eyre & The Flinders Ranges National Park (Tuesday 10 August, 2010)
Over the next two days we will have plenty of time to enjoy the Resort, look at the Interpretative Centre or take a walk towards (or even to) the rim of Wilpena Pound. The Touring Coach will also be doing two half day sightseeing tours during our stay. These two tours will be offered twice so that if you happen to be doing the flight one morning, you will be able to take the tour the following morning. The same will apply for the afternoon tour. Our locally based guide Bill McIntosh, who owns a Station just north of the Flinders Ranges National Park – Gum Creek Station – will be our guide on the coach. So if you are flying today the flight times are 7.00am and 12 noon. If you are not flying then you may like to take the morning tour to Gumcreek Station. Bill will meet us at the Resort to conduct a tour to his property situated on Wockerawirra Creek. After morning tea we will explore historic township of Blinman before returning to the Resort for lunch.
This afternoon Bill will again join the coach for the Brachina Gorge and Bunyeroo Gorge tour (subject to road conditions). Again if you are flying this afternoon, the tour will be repeated tomorrow. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner in the Wilpena Resort)
Wilpena Pound Resort 08 86480004
Day 4 (BLD): Lake Eyre & The Flinders Ranges National Park (Wednesday 11 August, 2010)
This morning the same program applies as yesterday. For those who have not done the flight over Lake Eyre the departure times will again be 7.00am and 12 noon. The morning tour to Gumcreek Station and the afternoon tour to the gorges will also be operating. If you have already done these tours, you have free time to take a short walk, explore the Interpretative Centre or simply enjoy the facilities around the Resort. Late afternoon we depart Wilpena and head south to Port Pirie for our overnight stop. (Breakfast & dinner in the motel/Light lunch supplied)
Comfort Inn John Pirie 08 86324200
Day 5 (B): Port Pirie to Adelaide/Brisbane (Thursday 12 August, 2010)
After breakfast this morning we check out of our hotel and return to Adelaide, south along the eastern side of the Spencer Gulf. We head straight to the airport to connect with our flight back to Brisbane. (Depart Virgin Blue Flight DJ224/337 at 1.45pm/Arrive Brisbane 6.10pm) Our Peters Touring Coach will be there to meet us for the transfer home. (Breakfast in the motel/Lunch own arrangements & cost)
All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. We cannot be held responsible for any changes due to closures, inclement weather etc.
