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Day 7
Activity Note: Today, our transfer from Alice Springs to our O.A.T. Private Tented Camp will involve a long bus ride, covering approximately 270 miles, over roads that may be bumpy, uneven, and winding. Our total transfer time is up to nine hours, with stops along the way. As we journey deeper into the Australian Outback, temperatures will remain extremely hot, often exceeding 100°F during the day and dropping dramatically at night, sometimes reaching as low as 40°F. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 6am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Morning: Around 8am, we board our bus to begin our journey deep into the Australian Outback for our remote camping experience. Including stops along the way, the entire transfer will take about nine hours. Our first stop, around 8:00am, is at the Alice Springs School of the Air, a school dedicated to enhancing the learning experiences of children in remote Australian areas. Founded in 1951 by Adelaide Miethke, it was originally a way to foster community and education via radio, and has evolved over the years to encompass new technological innovations. We'll leave the School of the Air around 9am, and head to Simpsons Gap, one of the most prominent gaps piercing the West MacDonnell Mountain Range. We will have about an hour to explore this scenic area, where towering red cliffs surrender to an open waterhole, and rust-hued walking paths lead us through large stands of mulga trees and witchetty bushes. You may even catch a glimpse of the Black-footed Rock-wallabies that make their home in this rugged landscape. Afterwards, we continue on through the Honeymoon Gap to Rainbow Valley, where the scenic landscape is dotted with sandstone bluffs layered in multicolored rock, and stands of hardy Desert Oak trees spring from the red clay soil. We'll stop for a picnic lunch in the midst of these beautiful natural surroundings. Lunch: A picnic-style lunch around noon will be served at Rainbow Valley, featuring an assortment of picnic foods. Your lunch will be prepared as you explore the beauty of the Valley around you. Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we will depart our picnic site to complete the longest part of our transfer. The remainder of our drive will take up to four hours with comfort stops as needed along the way, as we are getting deep into the true Australian Outback. Far removed from the tourists and big cities, we’ll drive past flat, sweeping desert vistas with native bush fringing the red-dirt road. This is a great opportunity to spot animals endemic to the region, such as emus or kangaroos. Upon arrival at our campsite around 5:30pm, we will be greeted by a camp host to welcome us to our home for the night. There will be snacks, such as cheese, crackers, fruit, and wine available. You may choose to sit with fellow travelers to enjoy the views and snacks, or retire to your tent to unpack. Our campsite is exclusive to our O.A.T. group and is set among the natural bush. At the camp, you’ll stay in a walk-in canvas tent, complete with two cots. There are shared toilet and shower facilities with running water and a dining area in the common space. The accommodations are simple, yet comfortable, and as night falls, the paths to our shared bathrooms will be illuminated by lights. Around 6pm, we will gather for a viewing of the sunset. As the sun goes down, you have the possibility of viewing native species, such as dingoes, black cockatoos, and other regional bird species. Temperatures will fall dramatically as night approaches, and following our viewing, we will gather for dinner under the stars. Dinner: We will enjoy a traditional Australian barbecue dinner at the main dining area around 6:30pm. Evening: The evening is free for you to enjoy the starry desert sky. Perhaps you’ll sit around the bonfire with your fellow travelers, or maybe retire to your tent. Tonight, you will have the opportunity to sleep under the stars in an authentic Australian swag—a portable bedroll for outdoor sleeping—to experience a one-of-a-kind Australian Outback experience. The stars you’ll witness are quite different from the night sky at home—here you’ll be treated to views of the Southern Hemisphere, including scores of constellations only visible from this side of the world, including the Southern Cross. |
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11/17/22 |
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Overland to the Outback
Meals
included: B L D