Floodwaters pass by Birdsville and head for Goyder Lagoon on the way to Lake Eyre

Corner Country,
Arkaroola, Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges, Birdsville &
Lake Eyre – From
Broken Hill or Adelaide to Birdsville,  via Strzelecki Track, Arkaroola,
Wilpena Pound, Outback NSW, Lake Eyre (flight included), Flinders Ranges to Adelaide
or Broken Hill. Cooper
Creek, Lake Eyre (flight included), Flinders Ranges to Adelaide. Connection
options to Sydney, Broken Hill, Adelaide or Melbourne.

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 the impressive Lake
Frome, 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

Arkaroola Resort		Ridge Top Tour Arkaroola

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.  A Cooper Creek cruise
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 head for the Coongie
Lakes a Ramsar listed wetlands in the
middle of the desert. We enjoy the prolific birdlife 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 track conditions
willing, we visit Kalamurina
Station,
part of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy for
overnight, or alternatively overnight at
Mungeranie Roadhouse on the Birdsville Track. BLD

Day 7 – Arriving in Marree, we take
a 1 hr 30 min scenic flight over Lake Eyre. Our flight allows us
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

Big Red Sandhill – Simpson Desert	Big Red Sandhill – Simpson Desert	Lake Eyre Flight

Day 8 – Today we visit the
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

Cooper Creek flowing to Lake Eyre Download 6 day Tour Brochure

Corner Country, Birdsville Track & Lake Eyre Tours From Broken Hill or Adelaide to Birdsville, Cooper Creek, Lake Eyre via Strzelecki Track, Arkaroola, Wilpena Pound, Coongie Lake wetlands, Outback NSW, Moomba, Innamincka, Birdsville, Burke & Wills Dig Tree, Lake Eyre (flight included), Flinders Ranges to Adelaide or Broken Hill.   Price includes all meals, NP park entry fees, professional guide, Lake Eyre flight (less $ if flight not required), luxury 4WD transport. Price of $2,995 is for comfy camping OR for 7 nights accommodation upgrade add $495 per room (couple or twin). Rooms are in country hotel or ensuite cabins. May 23-28, 2012 – 6 days / 5 nights September 17-24, 2012 –  8 days / 7 nights From Broken Hill or Adelaide return to Adelaide   Call  1300 763 188 or email with any questions to info@spiritsafaris.com