Corner Country, Birdsville & the Simpson Desert

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DAY 1 - Friday 01 August

Our first day finds us travelling north from Sydney, taking in the beautiful vineyard and farming country of the Hunter Valley. Lunch near Merriwa and then on through Gilgandra to our first overnight stop at Warren (overnight Macquarie Valley Motor Inn - 530 km)

DAY 2 - Saturday 02 August

Departing Warren, we follow the "crystal highway" north stopping at Byrock for an interesting walk and morning tea at an important aboriginal site before moving on to Bourke for a picnic lunch alongside the Darling. Leaving Bourke we head for Comeroo Station near the Qld border where we will enjoy an interesting outback experience complete with campfire and camp oven dinner (overnight Comeroo Station - 440km)

DAY 3 - Sunday 03 August

Staying at Comeroo gives us early morning access to Currawinya National Park with its unusual fresh and salt water lakes and abundant bird life. Bilby's were released into Currawinya this year from the captive breeding program. In the afternoon we follow the Paroo River north to Eulo visiting a date farm, mud springs and Lake Bindegolly N.P. (more bird watching) before reaching Thargomindah for our overnight stay (overnight Oasis Motel & Bulloo River Hotel - 250km)

DAY 4 - Monday 04 August

From Thargomindah we follow the Adventure Way West stopping at historic Noccundra Hotel and waterhole for morning tea. Our lunch stop is on Cooper Creek at the famous Bourke & Wills Dig Tree before reaching our destination at Innaminka (next two nights Cooper Creek Cabins & Innamincka Hotel - 420km)

DAY 5 - Tuesday 05 August

Today we visit Coongi Lakes and relax around Cooper Creek. This evening you have the option of a cruise at sunset (optional tour)

DAY 6 - Wednesday 06 August

Following the Cordillo Downs Road we head for Birdsville visiting either Haddon Corner and Betoota (OR Cordillo Downs and Cadelga Ruins) depending on road conditions at the time before heading west to Birdsville (next two nights Birdsville Hotel - 410km)

DAY 7 - Thursday 07 August

A relaxing day in Birdsville visiting John Menzies museum and enjoying the history and ambience of this remote outback town.

DAY 8 - Friday 08 August

An early start (depending on conditions) as we head into the Simpson Desert Conservation Park to tackle "Big Red", a large sandhill west of Birdsville that marks the edge of the Simpson Desert. After lunch we join the Birdsville Track, which was developed in the 1880s as one of the first north-south cattle routes. There are many artesian bores, which provided water for travelling stock and the remote homesteads. (Please note our itinerary today is dependant on the local weather conditions) It is then a short run to our remote stop at the Mungeranie Roadhouse, a little oasis in this harsh area. Unwind this evening in the artesian 'hot tub' with a glass of wine is an ideal way to end this exciting day (overnight Mungeranie Roadhouse - 480km)

DAY 9 - Saturday 09 August

Time for walking or birding around the dunes and wetlands of Mungeranie before continuing along the Birdsville Track to visit historic Marree (Hergott Springs followed by lunch and a walk at Farina Ruin. Enjoy a stop at the Aboriginal ochre quarries near Lyndhurst before reaching our overnight destination of Leigh Creek (overnight Flinders Outback Resort - 270km)

DAY 10 - Sunday 10 August

Today we head east through the Gammon Ranges National Park to Arkaroola. The geology and landforms of the northern Flinders are quite different from the southern sections, and the area is rich in minerals and fossils. Time will be spent exploring the spectacular gorges (next two nights Arkaroola Sanctuary - 220km). A visit to the private observatory can be arranged after dinner, subject to suitable conditions.

DAY 11 - Monday 11 August

This morning you may join the famous Ridgetop Tour, an excellent way of seeing the geology, vegetation and wildlife of this fascinating area. For safety reasons these tracks can be used only by Arkaroola's own vehicles on scheduled tours. In the afternoon we will explore some of the relics of copper processing and, later look for the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby (175km; short easy walks)

DAY 12 - Tuesday 12 August

An early start today as we head north to Mt Hopeless and join the Strzelecki Track (pioneered in 1870 by Harry Redford) on our way to Tibooburra. We leave the track near Merty Merty and head on a roller coaster ride across the red dunes of the Strzelecki Desert stopping at Camerons Corner and Fort Grey on the way (next two nights at the Granites Motel Tibooburra - 560km)

DAY 13 - Wednesday 13 August

The full day is spent in the eastern sections of Sturt National Park, which comprises former grazing properties. Pastoral history, wildlife and a wide range of environments make for an interesting day. We travel over floodplains, gibber country, sandhills and rocky gorges, as well as the spectacular "jump-ups." (180km, some easy walking)

DAY 14 - Thursday 14 August

Heading south from Tibooburra we learn more of Sturt's History with a visit to Depot Glenn and Pooles Grave. We also travel through the historic gold mining town of Milparinka before reaching the unique opal-mining village of White Cliffs and get to know its residents - opal miners, jewellers, artists and outback characters (overnight Underground Motel - 260km)

DAY 15 - Friday 15 August

On the homeward run now we head south to the old river port of Wilcannia and on to Ivanhoe. We make a brief visit to Willandra National Park to gain an insight into the history of the wool industry and station life early this century. We continue via Hillston, centre of a rich irrigation, wool and wheat growing area, to Lake Cargelligo (overnight Lachlan Way Motel with dinner at a nearby hotel - 560km)

DAY 16 - Saturday 16 August

The early risers can enjoy the sunrise over the lake, storage for the water of the Lachlan River, before we head home through Condobolin, Parkes, Orange, Bathurst and over the Blue Mountains. The closer settlement, agricultural activity and vegetation contrast markedly with our experiences of the past two weeks (555km)

Includes travel, twin share accommodation with en-suite facilities, all meals and comprehensive notes.