Simpson Desert Tour Alice Springs to Adelaide via Chambers Pillar Mt Dare Dalhousie Birdsville Track Lake Eyre 10 days

10 days Simpson Desert Tour Alice Springs to Adelaide – or 8 day option

Itinerary as 10 day tour to Birdsville then 2 options –  fly out Day 8 from Birdsville (Rex airlines) to Brisbane or other options.

Day 1 – Alice Springs to Chambers Pillar – Depart 8 am for a special and rare opportunity to visit the Ewaninga Aboriginal rock art site, then Maryvale Cattle Station and Titjikala Aboriginal Artists in the community. We leave Titjikala and cross the Hugh River, travelling through Maryvale cattle station, then from a high vantage point view Chambers Pillar and the sandhills rolling into the Simpson Desert. We arrive at Chambers Pillar and enjoy an afternoon walk around this special place (which has more than 1 pillar). We make camp here for the night under the stars. LD

Day 2 – Departing Chambers Pillar we travel the Old Ghan Railway route and visit Rodinga Siding, one of the last built and most Northern fettlers cottages on the Old Ghan Line. We visit the historic Bundooma Railway Siding after crossing the Finke River, the site of a few famous Old Ghan bridges and river washouts, to arrive in the active Aboriginal community and ex Ghan stop of Finke. Its then on to Lambert’s Centre of Australia, Charlotte Waters (an old OTL Telegraph Station), NT/SA border crossing, then Mt Dare Hotel for overnight camp or accommodation upgrade option. BLD

Day 3 – We enter Witjira National Park and visit Bloods Creek Bore preserved cattle yards from bygone days and Oppossum Waterhole. Arrive at Dalhousie Springs, a vast area of natural springs outpouring from the Great Artesian Basin – Dalhousie Springs is a series of 60 natural artesian springs from the Great Artesian Basin. Swim option at Dalhousie Springs in 38-43 Deg C water. Enter the Simpson Desert Regional Reserve – Overnight camp on the edge of the Simpson Desert. BLD

Day 4 – Heading into the Simpson Desert we cross the floodplains of Spring Creek Delta then moving into numerous salt lakes and higher sand dunes. Spectacular views from the top and great feeling of nurturing by nature within the dunes. We travel over and between the sandhills. Great photo opportunities, maybe a dingo or two to see, sunsets and sunrises and wildflowers. Enjoy the campfire at our remote desert camp BLD

Day 5 – 6 - We cross more salt lakes, and plenty of sand dunes, but also travel parallel to the dunes for a different perspective of the landscape. We visit the Approdinna Attora Knolls, high gypsum hills with a great lookout over the desert. Take a break at Poeppel's Corner marking the meeting of QLD, NT & SA borders. Overnight under the stars in our remote camp.

Day 7 – We cross the Eyre Creek and traverse the largest sandhill, Big Red – originally known as Nappanerica Dune, on the western edge of Lake Nappanerica, and the eastern edge of The Simpson Desert. Overnight accommodation in the Birdsville Hotel. BLD

Day 8 – Optional morning Lake Eyre, Goyder Lagoon & Simpson Desert flights (book early). Enjoy the iconic outback town of Birdsville, once a custom post for cattle heading south to Adelaide markets, now centre of an organic beef export industry, full of fascinating outback experiences. Have a cuppa at the Hard Road Café, check out the airport adjacent the pub, and the historic sights of the town including the marked tree at Camp LXXVI of the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860. View the now historic thermal power station running on hot water from the Great Artesian Basin, or take a joy flight over the Simpson and Goyder Lagoon area. 7 Day tour ends here with flights (own cost) from Birdsville to Brisbane or elsewhere. After lunch we depart and travel due north through Channel Country and the Diamantina Shire HQ at Bedourie, crossing several creeks and water holes often hosting wetland birds including Brolgas. Arrive Boulia for overnight at Australia Hotel or Boulia Desert Sands Motel. BLD

Day 8– This morning, time to check out Birdsville and
unquie features of this once bussling town which was a customs post for
cattle heading down the track. Consider an optional flight over Lake Eyre, Goyder Lagoon & Simpson Desert. (book early). We visit the historic Burke and Wills camp tree by the Diamantina River After lunch we head past the famous Birdsville Race Track and down the Birdsville Track to Mungerannie for overnight. BLD

Day 9 – This morning we cross the Cooper Creek, and flood plain, visit old station ruins including Lake Harry. 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.
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). On return to base, we
see some of the sights of Marree, this once 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 visit the shores of Lake Eyre and Lake Eyre
National Park and connect with the wonder of the bird and plant life
revitalised by recent flooding rains in a permanent waterhole. Overnight
in Marree with a few yarns around the campfire or at the local pub. BLD

Day 10 – 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 (now
closed), 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 via the Pitchi Ritchi Pass to arrive in Adelaide around 6pm. BL

This fully inclusive tour is by small group luxury 4WD travel.

Book Now – places limited