TOUR 5 - DUNES, SPRINGS & SALT PANS

Itinerary

Day 1, Saturday - Arrive 11:00am at Strangways campsite. Enjoy the official welcome briefing, settle into the camp and have lunch. Transfer to the herd and meet the droving and farrier team before being matched with your horse. After you get acquainted, you'll spend your first afternoon droving cattle. Return to the camp, where your evening meal will be served. The open fire will be a great place to get to know the members of your group.
(Meals - lunch and dinner)
 
Day 2, 3, 4, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - Each morning after breakfast you will be transferred to the horses where your droving will commence. The cattle will move some 14 kilometres each day, so your droving departure and pick-up points will change. Lunch is delivered to you as the cattle rest and feed.

Take the opportunity to chat to the drovers and farriers during the day. Upon returning to camp in late afternoon, you'll find hot showers, the camp library, and cold drinks at the bar (alcohol is available for purchase). The evening meal will vary from buffet style (served in the on-site marquee) to camp oven meals cooked on the campfire. Dinner is often accompanied by tales from the Outback - including yours!

On days three and four you are invited to join a coach tour to take in more of the highlights and history of the surrounding area (optional). Scenic flights and camel tours are also available at an additional cost.
(Meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner)
 
Day 5, Wednesday - Enjoy breakfast then farewell your Outback home of Strangways campsite at 10:00am.

Getting To & From

TO/FROM ADELAIDE:

Drovers' Express
The Cattle Drive official tour bus service is known as the Drovers' Express. This service has been provided to ensure you arrive at your Cattle Drive campsite with ease and on time. All meals and accommodation are provided, all you need do is sit back and enjoy the scenery. Drovers' Express will collect passengers from a selection of Adelaide city hotels and for tour five will overnight at your selected hotel in Roxby Downs. Use this opportunity to forge friendships with fellow travellers. On the return leg, sit back and reflect on the memories of your tour and the images in your mind that will last forever.

Price per person: A$695 return fare and A$520 one way

Regional Express Airlines (REX)
Flights to and from Olympic Dam are recommended for Cattle Drive tour five. REX operates the following flights:

• Depart Adelaide Monday-Friday 6.30am, arrives Olympic Dam 8am
• Depart Adelaide Monday - Friday 10.25am, arrive Olympic Dam 11.55am
• Depart Adelaide Monday-Saturday 11.20am, arrives Olympic Dam 12.50pm
• Depart Adelaide Monday-Sunday (excluding Saturday) 2.55pm, arrive Olympic Dam 4.25pm
• Depart Olympic Dam Monday-Friday 8.30am, arrives Adelaide 9.55am
• Depart Olympic Dam Monday - Friday 12.25pm, arrives Adelaide 1.50pm
• Depart Olympic Dam Monday-Saturday 1.20pm, arrives Adelaide 2.45pm
• Depart Olympic Dam Monday-Sunday (excluding Saturday) 4.55pm, arrives Adelaide 6.20pm

The following transfers are available:

• Airport transfers to and/or from hotel accommodation operated by Roxby Down Taxi's
• Coach transfers from Roxby Downs to and from your Cattle Drive campsite operated by the Drovers Express at A$100 per person each way

Flight packages including accommodation, tours and transfers are available. For prices and availability, please visit your local travel agent.

Inclusions

• Superior carpeted tent accommodation at Strangways campsite including camp bed, sheets, quilt (duvet), pillow and towel.
• A fully maintained campsite with bathroom facilities including hot showers, hair dryers and flushing toilets.
• All meals stated as per itinerary (full breakfast, lunch, two-course dinner). Australian cuisine featured. Special dietary requests are catered for - r please confirm this at time of booking.
• Non-alcoholic drinks, including soft drinks, tea, coffee and unlimited water.
• Horse riding, including saddle, safety equipment and helmet.
• Guided coach tours on days three and four of your tour featuring surrounding attractions and historic points of interest; this is offered as an alternative option to droving.
• Exposure to Aboriginal and cultural experiences as offered by guides.
• Experienced Events South Australia staff, doctor, professional drovers, farriers, horse tailers and vets.

Optional Excursions

Scenic Flights
With Wrights Air you can take the opportunity to experience the Outback from a unique vantage point. As you move away from the runway you first notice the remoteness of the Australian Outback. See the Oodnadatta Track cutting its way through the sand dunes with the Old Ghan railway line running alongside it. Nothing much has changed in the past 100 years - you are in the real Australian Outback.

All aircraft are designed for maximum viewing pleasure and comfort. All have panoramic windows for excellent views and personal headsets are supplied for listening to commentary on our scenic flight routes.


1 hour scenic flight over Lake Eyre
Lake Eyre comprises two separate depressions. Lake Eyre North is 8,430 square kilometres, while Lake Eyre South is 1,260 square kilometres. Lake Eyre comprises 400 million tonnes of salt and, at 18 metres below sea level, is the lowest point of Australia. Water from one sixth of Australia drains from all directions into Lake Eyre, most of which comes from Queensland through the Diamantina River and Cooper Creek.
Price Per Person A$240


One hour 45 min flight over Painted Desert and Lake Eyre
The Painted Desert is best viewed by air. It consists of approximately 30 kilometres of eroded sandstone hills brilliantly coloured with ochre, yellow, white and orange.
Price Per Person A$350


Coward Springs Camel Tours
One Day Coward Springs Camel Tour (Discover this Oasis in the Outback)
Coward Springs is a well-known spot on the Oodnadatta Track. It features date palms amid local trees, a wetland with birdlife, a bubbling pool and of course camels. Once a thriving railway siding on the Old Ghan railway line, today it is popular for its natural spa - revitalising mineral water, at a constant 29 degrees Celsius (84 Fahrenheit), that feels cool on a hot day and vice versa. The Engine Drivers Cabin, once a near ruin, is now heritage-listed and restored. It houses displays that give a sense of place in detailing  the natural and cultural environments.
 
Your day at Coward Springs will include a leisurely camel ride into the surrounding landscape where you will begin to get to know the characters of our quiet, friendly camels. You will visit an area that others rarely see. Expect to experience the singular peace of travelling with an animal well adapted to the desert.  Lunch is provided along with billy tea beside a small campfire. At Coward Springs you will get a chance to soak in the natural spa. Take the short self-guided heritage walk to the Engine Drivers Cabin where you can read stories of the past or browse through reference books. Or, if you are a birdwatcher, you may be able to see some usually secretive wetland birds such as Australian Spotted Crakes and Little Grassbirds.

Expect to experience:

• Coward Springs
• Riding a camel through a spectacular landscape
• The peace of the Outback by travelling in a small group (12 maximum)
• The region's birds, plants and Indigenous and European heritage

The camels:

• Are gentle, well trained animals and easy to get to know
• Give you the opportunity to get off the beaten track to places others rarely visit

Your hosts:

• Operate Coward Springs and camel safaris
• Have been working with camels for many years
• Will enhance your experience with their knowledge of local natural and cultural history
  

Price per Person A$199

T&Cs

*Please read the Terms and Conditions below carefully as they incorporate the basis upon which the South Australian Tourism Commission accepts tour, transfer and optional extras bookings.

Terms & Conditions

As these tours operate in remote areas, the South Australian Tourism Commission (hereinafter called the operator), reserves the right to alter, and/or cancel any section and/or parts of the itinerary which may result from road, weather or any other conditions of an operational nature. While every endeavour will be made to keep the arrival/departure times and the campsite locations given in the itinerary, no guarantee will be made that these will be kept. The operator will not be liable for any costs incurred through failure to connect with any other service. Any personal expenses incurred by the participant as a result of any delay, alteration or curtailment of any tour whether caused by weather conditions, mechanical defects or any other natural causes are the responsibility of the participant.

The operator and/or its employees and agents accepts no responsibilities, nor is liable for any act of omission whatsoever (whether inside or outside their control or by neglect or otherwise) for any booking, contract, travel, accommodation or tours which may result in any loss, damage, accident, detention, diversion or theft in regard to luggage or personal belongings, and will be exempt from liability in respect of direct or indirect or consequential loss or damage, death, injury, sickness, irregularity, delay liability and additional expenses, or inconvenience or any other event beyond its control including accident or failure to machinery or equipment, accommodation, transportation or other services, or any acts of God, dangers incident to the outback, fire, acts of government, acts of war or terrorism or other authorities, delays, strikes or cancellation of itinerary or schedule changes whatsoever, howsoever by whosoever caused. Participants will be required to wear a riding helmet while on horseback.

In the result of a break down or other unforeseen circumstances, the operator has the right to substitute the vehicle and /or other mode of transport (i.e. horse and livestock) and/or accommodation other than those advertised at any time.

The places depicted in the photographs and brochures are representative of the country through which tours pass and may not necessarily be visited by these tours. The highlights, excursions and itineraries as set out will be adhered to where possible. The operator or agent in charge of the tour, may make alterations to the itineraries and excursions highlights as they deem fit without any further notification to the participant. Information contained here is correct to the best of the operator's knowledge, and the operator is not liable for inaccuracies herein, or weather conditions that may influence the limits of your tour and the enjoyment of your tour. If for any reason the itinerary is altered and/or different itinerary offered, no refund is payable by the operator.

The operator reserves the right without payment or compensation to the participant, whether before or after the commencement of travel, to exclude any participant if in the opinion of the operator that participant may appear likely to endanger the health or safety or to impair the comfort of themselves and/or other participants and may be asked to leave the tour immediately.

Waiver
I acknowledge that I am fully aware of the risks involved in participating in The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive and hereby undertake to evaluate my own capabilities and capacity to be involved with the event, and should I have any physical or mental condition which has the potential to put myself or any other person at risk, or if I am not sufficiently capable to complete such a tour, I will not participate in those aspects of the tour, conducted by the South Australian Tourism Commission or its agents. I acknowledge that the onus is on me to inform the operator of any of these risks and if I am unsure as to my capabilities I will seek medical advice.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance (including cancellation insurance) to cover any unforeseen occurrences. Your travel agent should be able to assist. Personal travel insurance is not included in the tour price. In booking your tour you acknowledge that personal travel insurance is your responsibility and that the South Australian Tourism Commission accepts no liability for any death, injury, sickness, damage or other loss whatsoever suffered by you. Please note that costs associated with retrieval by the Royal Flying Doctor Service are not covered under standard ambulance cover. If you have private health insurance please ask your insurer if they cover Royal Flying Doctor Service retrieval.

Booking Conditions
All prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of Australian Goods and Services Tax. Please note that all reservations are subject to availability at the time of booking. Any verbal quote given is an estimate only of the price and tour and that will be subject to advice on confirmation of the reservation. Bookings will not be processed or held unless the signed completed booking form is returned.

Deposits and Final Payments
A deposit of A$300 per Tour and A$100 for Drovers' Express is required within seven (7) days of confirmation of booking. You will be notified at the time of your reservation if any additional deposit requirements apply. Payment in full is required 60 days prior to departure date or payment deadline specified in individual package conditions. For bookings made less than 60 days prior to departure date, full payment is required within 48 hours of confirmation.

Cancellations
If a booking is cancelled or terminated at any time all deposits will be forfeited. Cancellations more than 60 days prior to departure and paid in full will forfeit the deposit only.  Cancellations less than 60 days prior to departure will forfeit all monies paid.