11 days - 10 nights - FULLY ESCORTED TOUR
Between 7 & 11 tours conducted each year since 2010 during months Feb to September
The tour will be in our comfortable 6 seat Twin Engine Beechcraft Baron 58 aircraft cruising at an average speed of 180kts – 335kph (but there will be no hurry it’s an adventure)
To allow fuel requirements and your travel comfort we will take only 4 passengers on the tour.
Day 1 - Our first stop will be Kalgoorlie, visiting quake damaged Boulder, The Goldfields Museum, Super Pit etc. with accommodation at the famous Palace Hotel and evening dinner at ‘the Balcony’ restaurant.
Day 2 - will begin with a 2 hour flight along the Trans Line to Forrest – comfort stop & refuel – then another 2 hours across the Victoria Desert to Coober Pedy ‘The opal capital of the world’ offers some unique sight seeing and experiences including the Umoona Opal Mine, Catacomb underground church and the rocky outcrop known as the Breakaways.
Day 2 & Day 3 we stay at the 4 star Coober Pedy Comfort Inn Underground Motel.
Day 4 – starts with a 30 minute flight to William Creek taxiing right up to the back door of the famous William Creek Outback Hotel. Population 10 William Creek is one of the smallest towns in Australia & is situated on the worlds largest working cattle station 24,000 sq kms, Anna Creek Station, part of the Sydney Kidman & Co empire. The timber & corrugated iron pub, dating from 1887, is like a giant visitors book, a must see place.
The word from William Creek is ‘water levels down – but still looks great’
After a light morning tea at William Creek a 2 hr flight over Lake Eyre to Birdsville via Belt Bay Warburton Groove, Goyders Lagoon, Clifton Hills, Alton Downs & Pandie Pandie.
Day 4 - Overnight Birdsville staying at the historic Birdsville Hotel
Day 5 - starts with breakfast at the Birdsville Bakery, visit the nearby Historic Birdsville Hospital, Blue Poles Art Gallery &….. other places of interest?? then a 2.0hr flight to Longreach via the Diamantina Channel Country arriving Longreach late morning.
Day 5, Day 6 & Day 7 overnighting at the Albert Park Motor Inn - Longreach.
Longreach the heart of cattle country is a major tourist destination in central Queensland and will give lasting memories of Australia’s outback history from many attractions including Kinnon & Co Heritage Centre, The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the Qantas Aviation Museum; both can consume a day each.
Day 8 – Depart Longreach late morning for 2.0hr flight to Innamincka via the major flood plains and channel country of the Cooper Creek & The Burke & Wills Bridge on the Strzelecki Track.
After refueling and afternoon tea at Innamincka we fly via the Moomba Gas Fields to Arkaroola.
We arrive at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary Resort, in the Flinders Ranges SA, late afternoon staying at Mawson Lodge for 2 nights (Day 8 & Day 9) Arkaroola is an archeological treasure offering spectacular scenery, several interesting ground tours & weather permitting an informative evening observatory tours. See website – Arkaroola Resort
Day 10 – We depart Arkaroola to Leigh Creek on through the Flinders Ranges, over Lake Torrens, Lake Gairdner then on to Ceduna. Overnight at Ceduna sampling some of the biggest oysters you have seen.
Day 11 – Early start for 2hr flight via Great Australian Bight (may see some whales) to Forrest – comfort stop & refuel – then 2hrs to Esperance. From Esperance we fly along the spectacular southern coastline to Albany arriving approx. 2.30pm
The total planned distance is 3425 nautical miles (6343 kilometers) & flight time of say 23 hours. The maximum flight time (in the air) on any sector is 2 hours
Some days will be longer than others but traveling over the daily distances intended I believe you will find the itinerary to be comfortable, relaxed & interesting.
Although we can charter in almost all weather All flying during these tours is in daylight hours and only when weather is forecast to be fine or at worst light scattered showers. We want you to see as much as possible so we try to avoid cloud and excessive altitudes. In the event that we encounter bad weather we would extend our ground stay at that particular location. There is no extra cost for the flight just the extra nights’ accommodation.
Air travel costs;-
Including extensive cockpit introduction and familiarization $5,995 per person
***Plus : pay accommodation individually as we go - approx - $850 (Twin Share) or $1236 (Single Sup).
Overnight locations include: Kalgoorlie, Coober Pedy, Birdsville, Longreach, Arkaroola & Ceduna. Full Details can be forwarded upon request - Please contact Ian on 0428 922 838
***Meals, beverage and any ground tours are at own expense, transfers, taxi or hire car costs will be shared x 4
***Your travel bag to a maximum of 10kg should include:- light daytime slacks or shorts - long sleeve shirt/s – jeans, windcheater & spray-windbreaker jacket for the cool desert evenings - hat – sunglasses – sunscreen & insect repellant – lightweight boots or slip on footwear - Stubbie holder & a camera.
Payment schedule - Deposit $2,000 at time of booking (so accommodation can be confirmed and avgas ordered) & the balance of $3,995 -14 days prior to departure.
Booking a tour – we can only reserve a tour position upon receipt of your deposit.
***In the unlikely event that we cannot tour on your tour date you have the option to re-schedule to another available date or have an immediate full refund of monies paid without deduction.
If you are unable to travel for some genuine reason, health or similar, other than ‘I’ve changed my mind’ you will receive an immediate refund of all monies paid less any penalty we suffer on booked accommodation due to your cancellation.
Thank you for your interest and I hope you can join us.