Corner Country Outback South Australia Arkaroola Innamincka Dig Tree Strzelecki Oodnadatta Track Lake Eyre Tours 8 Days

8 DAY Corner Country, with Birdsville Track, Strzelecki Track, Oodnadatta Track & Lake Eyre Tour - From Adelaide or Broken Hill to Birdsville, Cooper Creek, Lake Eyre via Coober Pedy, Arkaroola (2 nights, includes Ridge Top Tour, optional heli flight), Wilpena Pound (walk & flight options), Moomba, Innamincka (incl Burke & Wills Dig Tree & Burkes Grave), Lake Eyre (Optional Lake Eyre flight available), Mound Springs, Old Ghan Railway, Brachina Gorge, Parachilna Gorge, Flinders Ranges to Adelaide.  Cameron Corner - Broken Hill options - please Ask. Completes around 6pm

Itinerary – Corner Country Tours via Birdsville Strzelecki Oodnadatta Tracks & Lake Eyre Tour

Day 1 – From Adelaide pickup (or Broken Hill option)  approximately 8 am from the airport or your accommodation for departure via spectacular mountain scenery as we travel via Clare Valley wine country, then the Flinders Ranges to Wilpena Pound. Our journey takes us through rural SA to enjoy picturesque roadside stops for lunch and morning and afternoon teas. Visit historic Quorn & Hawker before arrival at Wilpena Pound resort for our comfy overnight stop. Enjoy a sunset walk with the kangaroos amongst the ancient Red River Gums and relax at the bar before dinner. L, D

Day 2 – This morning we recommend the spectacular optional scenic flight over the pound. There’s time also to enjoy the Wangarra Lookout & Hills Homestead walk into the Pound. We leave Wilpena cross through the Flinders, ABC, and Heyson Ranges via the Brachina Gorge Geological Trail & Bunyeroo Gorge through the ancient rock layers that uplifted to form this spectacular geology, including Wilpena Pound. Stunning lookouts are a highlight of this journey as we wind our way. After a break at the Prairie Hotel at Parachilna on the Old Ghan Railway Line,  for refreshments and viewing the oldest complex life forms -the Ediacaran Fossils, some of the oldest known examples of complex, multicellular animal life on Earth. Heading north via Parachilna Gorge we then pass through Blinman then by traditional sheep stations and plains stretching to Lake Frome, and through into the Gammon Ranges National Park to Arkaroola. Overnight Arkaroola Resort. B,L,D

Day 4 – Today we pass by desert sand dunes, gibber plains and hot springs as we heading north to Innamincka. We pass by Lake Callabonna, where Diprotodon and numerous Australian megafauna roamed in swampy terrain when this was the eastern most shore of Australia. There are many remains of ancient beasties here, and the country makes it easy to imagine this other world of many millions of years ago. At Mt Hopeless (aptly named) we join the Strzelecki Track, we pass Merty Merty homestead and on via the vast oil and gas fields of Moomba and the Delta gas fields to enter the Innamincka Regional Reserve area, and famous Innamincka township on the banks of the notorious Cooper Creek. An optional Cooper Creek cruise (if running) is in order before dinner at the Innamincka pub.

Day 5 – Today we visit the Burke & Wills dig tree, were the ill fated explorers arrived too late for their support party, and did not respond to the message on the tree to dig, where supplies were buried that could have saved their lives. We do though enjoy the prolific birdlife near here and unique flora before heading out on a cruise on the Cooper Creek (if available) - If Coongie Lakes accessible we head out to this remote Ramsar lake system  - overnight Innaminka. BLDDay 6 – The Strzelecki track beckons again and we head down this old cattle droving route to Lindhurst then on to Marree. Arriving in Marree, explore this once thriving railway town that helped save Darwin during WWII with 56 trains per week ! Marree is at the junction of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks, and the path of the Great Northern Railway / Old Ghan for over 100 years, so lots of history here including Aboriginal museum and history, Tom Kruse (Outback Mailman from “Back of Beyond”) and Donald Campbells Bluebird story. Overnight Marree

Day 7 - From Marree we head up the Oodnadatta Track following the route of the Old Ghan Railway and Overland Telegraph Line to historic William Creek on Anna Creek Station (Australia's largest cattle station). We take a 1 hour (optional 2 hours)  scenic flight over Lake Eyre. Our flight allows us to see the latest highlights of the ever-changing vast environment. See the Warburton Groove, the main inflow channel to Lake Eyre, Elliot Price Conservation Park, Halligan Bay, Lake Eyre South and learn of the Marree Man (a 4 km long, giant engraving in the landscape). The day includes a visit to the lake shore and lookout over the vastness of the salt lake. Our adventure on the Oodnadatta Track includes connecting with the wonder of the bird and plant life at various creeks and waterholes on the route. We visit permanently flowing Mound Springs releasing water from the Great Artesian Basin, and restored Coward Springs and Curdimurka Old Ghan Railway Siding. On return to base, we see some of the sights of Marree, this once thriving Ghan Railway town at the junction of the Birdsville Track & Oodnadatta Track. Marree has an Aboriginal cultural centre, Railway Museum and is caretaker for some interesting railway relics, plus the old mail truck used by legendary Outback Mailman Tom Kruse on the run from Marree to Birdsville. Overnight Marree

Day 8 – Today we visit the restored ruins of the old Ghan railway town of Farina, which once supported 300 people. We view the giant Leigh Creek coal mine, enjoy a break at the Quandong cafe at Copley and travel via old Ghan railway towns to Parachilna, and in the foothills of the Flinders Ranges to Hawker and picturesque mountain landscapes to arrive in Adelaide around 6pm, delivered to your accommodation or airport connection. BL

Inclusions

•     All accommodation motel style ensuite 7 nights
•     Delicious meals, including vegetarian options.
•     Genuine small group tour vehicle - usually 4WD GXL Landcruisers
•     Pofessional driver guide
•     All World Heritage and National Park entry fees
•     Contributions of tour price supports AWC nature care programs.
•     Cooper Creek cruise when operating
•     Pick up from, and return to Adelaide
•     Covid safe compliance measures in place
•     Optional Lake Eyre flights

BOOK HERE Or Call 0417 244 600 or 1300 763 188

Exclusions

• Alcohol  - available to purchase at all overnight stops
• Flights to and from departure points.