Corner Country Coober Pedy Dig Tree Birdsville Strzelecki Oodnadatta Tracks & Lake Eyre Tour 9 Day

9 DAY Corner Country, with Birdsville Track, Strzelecki Track, Oodnadatta Track & Lake Eyre Tour - From Adelaide or Broken Hill option 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.

Day 1 – From Adelaide pickup (or Broken Hill option) approximately 8 am from 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 a 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 a 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 and pass 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 3 – There’s plenty to do here in this remote,  rugged area, including scenic flights or relaxing walks in the paths by nearby creeks, but the highlight is the Ridge Top Tour.  The 4.5 hour Ridge Top Tour showcases the magic of the Northern Flinders Ranges timeless terrain and unique natural beauty of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Witness some of the most spectacularly rugged country on earth as you travel through Arkaroola’s 1600-million year geological history, as the inspiring images of red granite mountains and golden spinifex hillsides give way to a breath-taking view across the Freeling Heights, Lake Frome and the desert beyond. After a spectacular day, relax by the fireside and share your experiences. Overnight Arkaroola BLD

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 up the track, passing the largest shearing shed in Australia and the ruins of Cadelga Downs station, (alternatively via Haddon Corner, depending on road conditions) over the Queensland border to arrive Birdsville for overnight. BLD

Day 6 – Birdsville is an icon of the outback, attracting outback travellers to connect with the frontier history of this landmark town. Birdsville used to be the customs post for goods and cattle travelling to and from South Australia before Federation. It was the route used by the great cattle drovers, including S. Kidman & Co, and there’s plenty of this history to experience in Birdsville, especially at the local museum, adjacent the tasty treats of the Hard Road Cafe. Today we visit Big Red, the Simpson Desert’s biggest sand hill, and see Burke & Wills marked tree on the  Diamantina River. An optional flight over the Simpson Desert and Goyder Lagoon is available here. We head off south on the Birdsville Track following the spectacular Diamantina River past Pandie Pandie station and Goyder Lagoon. Time and conditions willing, we visit Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary & Station, part of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, before overnight at Mungeranie Roadhouse on the Birdsville Track. BLD

Day 7 – 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. Marree, was once a thriving Ghan Railway town. Marree 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.

We leave Marree and visit the shores of Lake Eyre south and connect with the wonder of the bird and plant life which becomes revitalised after flooding rains. We also see the fascinating Mound Springs bringing water up from the Great Artesian Basin. Overnight in William Creek with a few yarns around the campfire or at the local pub. BLD

Day 8 – From William Creek, take an optional 1 or 2 hour scenic flight over Lake Eyre to see the Warburton Groove, the main inflow channel to Lake Eyre, Elliot Price Conservation Park, Halligan Bay, Lake Eyre South and the Marree Man (a 4 km long, giant engraving in the landscape) After our flight we travel the Moon Plains to overnight at Coober Pedy.We are here in time to visit the Umoona underground opal mine and museum, and check out the intriguing relics that make up quirky Coober Pedy BL dinner own purchase at restaurant

Day 9 - Today we are heading south on the Stuart Highway via desert travel & salt lakes that let you appreciate the remote and vast outback. Witness modern “oasis” outback stations and transport roadhouses of this great Stuart Highway connecting Australia’s north and south. Visit Woomera and the “rocket park” collection of missiles launched from this unique location, the extensive Rocket Range Museum and view the infamous Detention Centre. Travel via Port Augusta, the powerhouse of Spencers Gulf and a cuppa by the water front, then on via rich rural lands of the Gulf of St Vincent to arrive, Adelaide this evening. Tour ends approx 7 pm. B,L