Newhaven Birdwatching 2010 - Accommodated with Semi-Permanent Camp
| Accmdated: | Y |
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| No.of days: | 6 |
| Ex: | Alice Springs - Alice Springs |
| Departure: | 29th May - 3rd June, 2010 5th June - 10th June, 2010 |
| Price: | $2,000pp $2,000pp |
| Deposit: | $250pp |
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Experience our semi-permanent camp set up at Newhaven Station for a limited time. Our luxurious tents are extra spacious, including camp beds with sleeping bags and liners included. The camp includes a dining marque and has limited space.
Newhaven Station has many of the characteristics of the remote Great Sandy Desert and yet it is very accessible. The area is extensive, complex and intact. It is home to at least 15 nationally threatened species of animals and plants. It boasts ten vegetation communities and a wide array of landforms, none of which are well represented in existing reserves.
Most intriguingly, however, Newhaven is also the site of one of the latest sightings of a pair of Night Parrots. Habitat suitable for the parrots remains intact and abundant because of the unusually conservative stocking rates and careful management in the past. It is essential that this habitat, which is also favoured by grazing stock, is protected for Australia's most enigmatic bird. If the property were sold elsewhere, we could not be certain of continued good management.
Our Newhaven tours will be led by Allan Richards who had led many tours with Outback Track Tours.
Trip Overview
Newhaven Station is 262,600 ha (approximately 80 x 35 km) in size, and lies 335 km or four hours drive north-west of Alice Springs. It is a rich wilderness of grasslands, woodlands, rocky ranges and salt pans and is home to at least 15 nationally threatened species of plants and animals including black-footed rock wallaby and the marsupial mole.
Newhaven has 260km of farm roads and is a massive area, within which it is easy to get lost. Approximately one third of the property has never been grazed, so much of the land feels like an intact wilderness.
We follow red sandy tracks common in these areas, roads that cut through spinifex country and mulga woodland, past blindingly white saltpans and claypans.
The property is vast and has many flat plains, as well as views of Mt Gurner, Mt Stanley and Mt Cockburn in the west, and the striking Siddeley Range in the NE. There are many bores around the property and the salty pan of Lake Bennett resides.
BIRDS THAT WE HOPE TO SEE:
Grey Falcon, Black-breasted Kite, Bustard, Banded Lapwing, Inland Dotterel, Spinifex Pigeon, Flock Pigeon, Major Mitchell Cockatoo (pictured right), Princess Parrot, Bourkes Parrot, Budgerigar, White-backed Swallow, Ground Cuckoo-Shrike, Halls Babbler, Spinifex Bird, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Dusky Grass wren, Grey Honeyeater, Pied honeyeater and many others.
Details of Trip
THIS TOUR IS ORGANISED BY BIRDING NSW IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUTBACK TRACK TOURS. BOOKINGS can only be confirmed with the payment of $250 deposit. Final payment falls due 45 days before departure. Cheques are to be made payable to 'Outback Track Tours Pty Ltd'. TRAVEL INSURANCE We strongly recommend travel insurance against loss of possessions accident and cancellation through unforeseen circumstances. Insurance is inexpensive and readily available from the office. PLEASE NOTE If weather road conditions or other circumstances make a change in itinerary necessary the decision to change the route is solely that of the Tour Guide. WHAT TO BRING Torch, Water bottle, Binoculars
Included
INCLUDED IN FARE Travel by airconditioned OTT vehicle. All meals unless specified. Guided walks. Accommodation for five nights in twin share semi-permanent camp. Includes camp stretcher beds, sleeping bags and liners. Meals as identified in itinerary as B Breakfast L Lunch and D Dinner. All Camping and Entrance Fees. Deluxe Single tents are available for a single supplement of $200. Note that there are limited single deluxe tents.
Minimum Passengers
10
Itinerary
DAY 1 - ALICE SPRINGS
Today we will arrange collections from CBD accommodation. Please advise your collection point. Crew will be at Heavitree Gap Resort before the tour departs. Collections will start at 8AM. We will travel 300km to Newhaven Station. We will leisurely make our way, making various stops for birding.
Accommodated: Newhaven (LD)
DAYS 2 - 5 NEWHAVEN
Spend the next four days exploring Newhaven Station. Our guide will lead us in our birding across the vast areas of the Station.
Accommodated: Newhaven (BLD)
DAY 6 NEWHAVEN
After a morning of birding, we travel from Newhaven to Alice Springs. Tour will finish at Alice Springs approximately 5.00-5.30pm. For your convenience, we will organise a drop off in the City and one at Heavitree Gap Resort. (B,L)
