Day Zero: Friday 13th August
Here we go again on another great trip in to the outback with less distances, less cars, less auctions and more fun. You will have more time to catch up with old friends and make new ones. So this event is all about mateship. On this trip we travel to some new places such as the Painted Desert. The whole trip is full of historic places and natural beauty with the trip starting in White Cliffs in outback NSW. White Cliffs is known as Australia’s first commercial opal field. We will stay at the White Cliffs Hotel Motel where we will also have our first dinner. White Cliffs is 645kms from
Dubbo.
Day 1: Saturday 14th August
Today we travel to Milparinka where we have lunch at the sporting ground. Some might remember ( some may not) that we stayed there last DOB and had a great time. After lunch we then travel up the Silver City Hwy via Tibooburra and on to Cameron Corner. Take the opportunity to play golf over three states and enjoy some outback hospitality at the pub before a huge spit roast dinner under the stars.
Day 2: Sunday 15th August
Today we travel up the Strzelecki Track to Motecollina Bore for lunch. This is an oasis in the middle of nowhere. The bird life Is amazing. After lunch we travel further up the Strzelecki track then turn off towards the Flinders Rangers and Arkaroola. This is were the road gets a bit rough and you pass though a lot of creek beds. But as usual the scenery is beautiful as you come up to Arkaroola. This is our longest day at 420 kms but there is still plenty of time to pull up for a cuppa and take in the scenery.
Day 3: Monday 16th August
This is a lay day at Arkaroola. There is so much to see and do at Arkaroola, It contains some of Australia's most spectacular mountain views and offers numerous advanced ecotourism accredited guided tours. There are 4WD trips, astronomy tours, scenic flights and much more. We will have dinner in some beautiful settings. It will be the highlight of the trip.
Day 4: Tuesday 17th August
Today we travel to Marree for lunch. A little bit of bitumen until you get to Lyndhurst then all dirt to Marree. Marree is a true desert settlement receiving an average annual rainfall of only 155 mm. After lunch we head out to Lake Eyre. This is a very interesting place with or with out water in it. We then travel back to Muloorina Camp ground for a wilderness
retreat. Muloorina Camp Ground is part of Muloorina Station which is a 400,000 square hectare property. The owners run 10,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle on it. We will camp next to a wetland created by the constant flow of a bore sunk 543 metres into Australia’s artesian basin. The water boils out at a temperature of 56 degrees celsius.
Day 5: Wednesday 18th August
Today we travel up the Oodnadatta Track parallel to the Ghan Railway. There is a lot of history along the way and this is the real outback. We will have lunch at Coward Springs, an oasis just off the edge of the road. Coward Springs is a restored and heritage-listed railway site, a place to relax and really get a sense of the outback and its history. We will have a BBQ lunch then head back up the Oodnadatta Track to William Creek. We will have dinner at the William Creek Hotel, a pub in the middle of nowhere. William Creek is the smallest town in outback South Australia with a population of just 16.
Day 6: Thursday 19th August
After breakfast we head up to Oodnadatta along the old Ghan Railway. Oodnadatta is famous for The Pink Road–House. The Pink Roadhouse (so-called because it is painted bright pink) is a focal point of the town, providing petrol, a general store, meals, post office facilities and canoe hire. Although they have canoes (also painted bright pink), it is not clear where to use them in the surrounding area unless the local waterholes are recently filled. We will have lunch at Oodnadatta and then head though the Painted Desert. This is nature at its best. There are some great lookouts on the way. We will have plenty of time to take it all in before we get to Arckarinka Homestead. The camp ground is next to the homestead. The facilities are very basic; it only has a million star rating!
Day 7: Friday 20th August
We leave Arckarinka Homestead and head to Coober Pedy. We will get to Coober Pedy at about lunch time. Coober Pedy has evolved into one of the most unique places in Australia and perhaps the world. It is a cosmopolitan town with a population of 3,500 and over 45 different nationalities. Coober Pedy is probably best known for its unique style of underground living. There is a range of underground accommodation (as well as above ground if you prefer). There are authentic underground homes to explore as well as underground museums, potteries, opal shops, an art gallery and, of
course, opal mines. After a big day exploring the town we will have our last dinner together. The dinner is going to be a gastronomic delight. This dinner will wrap up another great trip of fun and friendship and hopefully a few dollars for the Doctor. The next morning we will head home. Coober Pedy is 1697kms from Dubbo, an easy two day trip.
