Iconic Australia

 

Day 1: Your Cairns airport transfer will take you directly to our joining hotel, ready for an early start tomorrow. Today you will meet your crew for your tour briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 2: Leaving the Coral Sea behind we ride the twisties of the Gilles Range as we ascend onto the Atherton Tablelands. We cross the Herberton Range and ride onto the geological phenomenon of the Undara Lava Tubes, the world’s longest lava tubes.
Days 3 & 4: We have a fascinating guided tour of the lava tubes before we ride onto the spectacular Cobbold Gorge. We spend two nights here allowing us time to tour the Cobbald Gorge and relaxing in this wonderful Gulf Savannah location.
Day 5: Another remote riding day as we cross through a vast empty landscape known as the Savannah, before arriving at the prawn capital of Australia, Karumba, on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Day 6: Leaving Karumba behind we hit the dirt after Normanton. The ride continues on more dirt from station bore to station bore through a landscape of termite mounds and golden Savannah. We round the day off with a “Bush Camp” beside the beautiful Gregory River, real Australia!!!
Day 7: Heading off road again we cross the Gregory River, lined with palms and ferns, on our way to the UNESCO listed Riversleigh Fossil site. The afternoon is spent canoeing at the incredibly spectacular Lawn Hill Gorge before riding to our overnight stop at the wonderful Adel’s Grove.
Day 8: We ride south today, initially on dirt, through a spare golden landscape of spinifex and ancient escarpments. Tonight’s destination is “rough and ready” cowboy city known as Mt Isa where we have a chance to visit the extraordinary “Hard Times Mine”.
Day 9: Barkley Homestead is a remote but busy roadbouse providing services for the nearby cattle stations, trucking industry, road crews and tourists. Its our first and only fuel stop after crossing the border into the Northern Territoty en route to Tennant Creek.
Day 10: A short ride today to get us into Tennant Creek located on the historic Stuart Highway. Famous for Indigenous artwork, there will be time to visit the nearby Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre
Day 11 & 12: We shall visit one of the territories most recognizable rock formations the Devils Marbles and the quirky Barrow Creek Hotel before arriving in the heart of Australia at Alice Springs. This thriving outback town is surrounded by red rock rugged ranges and is synonymous with the “outback”. We have a rest day in “the Alice” allowing us time to visit the wonderful Road Transport Hall of Fame (optional), Royal Flying Doctor base (optional) or simply relax by the poolside.
Days 13: Leaving Alice Springs mid morning we arrive at the spectacular Stanley Chasm late morning to catch the most spectacular time of day when the noon day sun briefly illuminates the chasm turning the towering canyon walls a bright red colour. Continuing on through the scenic West MacDonnell Ranges National Park we arrive at our overnight stop of Glen Helen Homestead Lodge mid afternoon allowing us time to visit the stunning Glen Helen Gorge on the Finke River.
Day 14: We ride the dirt of the iconic Mereenie Loop Road today that traverses ancient landscapes of red walled canyons, valleys, red desert sands and spinifex before arriving at the spectacular Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park
Days 15 & 16: We spend the morning enjoying the “Rim walk” around Kings Canyon before an easy ride through an stunning endless desert landscape before arriving at one of the greatest natural spectacles on earth, Uluru located in the geographical heart of Australia. We spend two nights here allowing us time to visit the “rock” and also the nearby Kata Tjuta, a striking group of domed rock formations 30k west of Uluru.
Day 17: Today takes us, via the pavement, back to Alice Springs stopping en-route at the remote Curtain Springs and Erldunda Roadhouses. We will get great views of Mt Connor, which many people mistake for being Uluru.
Day 18: Retracing our route back up the Stuart Highway we will overnight in Tennant Creek.
Days 19: This is the setting for the famous book by Jeannie Gunn, “We of the Never Never” and is an incredible landscape of towering ferns and hot springs, not to mention the nearby traditional “Aussie” pub. We have the opportunity to enjoy the hot springs that Mataranka is famous for.
Day 20: Continuing north on the Stuart Highway we reach the sub tropical town of Katherine where we shall visit the amazing 20 million year old Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) and enjoy an included cruise.
Day 21: Today’s ride on the Victoria Highway is truly amazing as we are surrounded by rugged cliffs and escarpments which provide the perfect backdrop.
Day 22: Lake Argyle is our destination, which is Western Australia's largest and Australia's second largest man-made freshwater reservoir. We will visit the Durack homestead, a reminder of the colonial history of the pioneering Durack family. The scenery surrounding Lake Argyle is absolutely breathtaking.
Days 23: Halls Creek is a town situated in the East Kimberley region of WA and the only sizeable town on the highway for 600kms. Located at the northern end of the Canning Stock route, Halls Creek is a support hub for cattle stations and the local indigenous community.
Day 24: Fitzroy Crossing is located deep in the heart of the Kimberley. Situated on the banks of the mighty Fitzroy River, our overnight lodge has fifty acres of natural bushland with shady trees, a refreshing pool and a fully licensed bar and restaurant.
Day 25: En route to Derby, we will visit Tunnel Creek National Park, which has one of the Kimberley’s most interesting cave systems and makes a great place to see bats, freshwater crocodiles and bird life.
Day 26: Our final ride takes us into Broome, the Kimberley’s western gateway. The white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean add to the diversity of landscapes and tracks that we have covered in the last amazing month that took in so much of what makes iconic Australia.
Departure day: Spend some time in Broome exploring this amazing destination, or fly home, the choice is yours.