Flinders & Gawler Ranges

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DAY 1 - Saturday 06 September

An early start from Sydney will have us over the mountains and stopping at Hartley for morning tea and a tour of this historic village. A short stroll at Evans Crown Nature Reserve on our way to our lunch stop in another historic town - Carcoar. On to Cowra and a visit to enjoy spring flowers at the Japanese Gardens. Our route then follows the Olympic Way travelling between the Conimbla Range on the west and the Illunie Range on the east to our overnight stay in Young (overnight Goldrush Motel Young - 420 km)

DAY 2 - Sunday 07 September

According to plant ecologist Dr Suzanne Prober, Monteagle cemetery contains Australia's best intact example of understorey plants in box woodlands - and 'in spring the 4 hectare site unveils it jewels in hues of yellow and purple with waves of wildflowers'. This is our early morning destination. We then travel west to Rankin Springs following a 'birding route' across the Weddin Mountain Range and the Lachlan Range staying overnight in Hillston. Side trips to bird-breeding lakes may be made depending on local conditions (overnight Motel Hillston - 352 km)

DAY 3 - Monday 08 September

From Hillston we are in the wide open spaces of the Lachlan flood plain. We stop at Willandra homestead for morning tea - an oasis in an otherwise featureless landscape. On to Ivanhoe and then across the Darling River floodplain to Menindee Lakes and Kinchega National Park (overnight at Burke & Wills Motel Menindee, Dinner at Maidens Hotel - 366 km)

DAY 4 - Tuesday 09 September

Today is spent in the Menindee area. Within Kinchega National Park we visit the historic woolshed and travel some of the internal tracks on the Darling flood plain and around the Menindee Lakes system to experience the differing environments. The birdlife can be spectacular at this time of year. Late in the afternoon we head to Broken Hill (next two nights Desert Sand Motor Inn)

DAY 5 - Wednesday 10 September

Time to enjoy and explore this unique inland mining centre. Lots of history, galleries and museums. We will also visit Silverton and enjoy a sunset experience at the Sculpture Symposium and Living Desert Area.

DAY 6 - Thursday 11 September

Leaving Broken Hill this morning, we follow the Barrier Highway through Cockburn and Olary to Yunta. We pick up back roads heading north west to the Flinders Ranges and our destination at Wilpena Pound (next two nights Wilpena Pound Resort)

DAY 7 - Friday 12 September

An early morning walk in 'the Pound' and then an afternoon following geological trails in the many gorges and valleys which make the Flinders so special.

DAY 8 - Saturday 13 September

Following the Flinders Ranges south, we divert to places of interest like Kanyaka Ruins, stopping for morning tea at Quorn and wending our way to Port Augusta through Pichi Richi Pass. Our route continues west to Iron Knob, where once again we head 'bush' following outback roads through the Gawler Ranges to our destination, Mt Ive Station (next two nights Mt Ive Station)

DAY 9 - Sunday 14 September

Mt Ive is a working sheep station, so there is a lot to see and do. The highlight today will be a visit to Lake Gairdner - Australia's second largest salt lake. The southern end of the lake is surrounded by ranges. There are other geological highlights to visit and birding at this time of the year is usually excellent. Hairy nosed wombats are also usually active in these warmer months, so a nocturnal excursion is definitely worthwhile.

DAY 10 - Monday 15 September

From Mt Ive we head south through Gawler Ranges National Park on our way to the Cape Labatt sea lion colony on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula. We will also stop at Murphy's Haystacks and spend the afternoon exploring the spectacular coastal scenery around Sceale Bay and Point Westall en route to Streaky Bay (overnight Streaky Bay Hotel Motel)

DAY 11 - Tuesday 16 September

Continuing our exploration of this west coast of the Eyre Peninsula, our first stop is Elliston for morning tea and then on to Coffin Bay for lunch and an afternoon of exploring this wonderful National Park and coastal area (next two nights Hilton Motel, Port Lincoln)

DAY 12 - Wednesday 17 September

Discovered and named by Matthew Flinders in 1802, Port Lincoln is a thriving regional community surrounded by spectacular coastal scenery and an economy based firmly on the surrounding marine environment. Visits to Whalers Way, Mikkira and Lincoln National Park.

DAY 13 - Thursday 18 September

Following the East coast from Port Lincoln we visit fishing villages - Tumby Bay, Port Neill, Arno Bay and Cowell. We also stop at Whyalla, with time to visit the Australian Arid Lands Botanical Gardens, on our way to Port Augusta (overnight Standpipe Golf Motor Inn - 345km)

DAY 14 - Friday 19 September

From Port Augusta we travel south to explore the Yorke Peninsula. Our first stop is Port Broughton then on through Moonta and Maitland to historic Port Victoria - the last of the windjammer ports. Our afternoon will be spent in the southern section of Yorke, checking out the lighthouse at Corry Point and following the coast through Innes National Park around to our overnight stay at Edithburgh, where we can look east across St Vincents Gulf to the lights of Adelaide (overnight Edithburgh Seaside Hotel Motel)

DAY 15 - Saturday 20 September

Our tour exploring the natural history of the Flinders and Gawler Ranges, and the Eyre and Yorke Peninsular ends today as we travel north along the east coast of the Yorke Peninsula. We pass through Point Vincent, Ardrossan and Point Wakefield on our way to Adelaide and our return flights home, or overnight stay in Adelaide for those continuing on to Kangaroo Island.

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