Birding Corner Country & Red Centre 2010
| Accmdated: | No |
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| No.of days: | 14 |
| Ex: | Sydney - Alice Springs |
| Departure: | 17th - 30th April, 2010 |
| Price: | $2,300pp $2,300pp |
| Deposit: | $250pp |
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Another Outback Track Tours adventure!
Arranged in conjunction with Birds Australia and Birding NSW, join us for a 14-day birdwatching tour through Nyngan, Tilpa, White Cliffs, Tibooburra, Coongie Lakes, Strzelecki Track, Lindhurst Station, Muloorina Station and Coober Pedy to Alice Springs.
Trip Overview
We will see the opal mines set in the richly coloured hills around White Cliffs, the sparse saltpans of the Sturt National Park, the red sand-dunes of the Corner Country. Take a refreshing dip at a natural waterhole at Muloorina Station. Look out over Lake Eyre from the Oodnadatta Track. Stay in an underground bunkhouse at Coober Pedy.
Travelling along the back roads will take us through many different habitats allowing lots of opportunities for birdwatching. In the mixed woodland around Nyngan and Tilpa, we will start to see the first of the inland species such as Major Mitchell and Red-tailed Cockatoos, Cockatiels, Budgerigars, White-winged and Splendid Fairy-wrens and Red-capped Robin
Around the Corner Country we will be looking for Red-browed Pardalote, Gibber Chat, Cinnamon Quail-thrush and White-backed Swallow. There will be several opportunities to find Eyrean Grasswren on the sand-dunes along the Strzelecki. We will visit Coongie Lakes which is listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. At Mt Lyndhurst station we will search for Thick-billed Grasswren, Chestnut-breasted Whiteface and Rufous Fieldwren.
As we move on northwards, we will have the chance of seeing Inland Dotterel, Banded Lapwing, Banded Whiteface, Red-backed Kingfisher, Crested Bellbird and Black and Pied Honeyeaters.
As travel along we will see lots of raptors including Wedge-tailed Eagles and Brown Falcons but we will be on the lookout for rarer species such as Black and Grey Falcon, Spotted Harrier and the majestic Black-breasted Buzzard. There is even a remote chance of seeing the rare and elusive Letter-winged Kite!
Details of Trip
BIRDING GUIDE The Birding guide for this tour will be Jim Valentine, who will lead the group and for expert identification. 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'. We also accept VISA MASTERCARD. All credit card transactions over $250.00 will attract a 3%fee. TRAVEL INSURANCE We strongly recommend travel insurance against loss of possessions accident and cancellation through unforeseen circumstances. Insurance is available at the office if you require it. If weather road conditions or other circumstances necessitate a change in itinerary the decision to make such changes is solely that of the Tour Guide.
Included
INCLUDED IN FARE Travel by airconditioned OTT 4WD vehicle. All meals unless specified denoted as B breakfast L lunch D dinner some assistance with preparation is required. All camping fees. All National Park entrance fees. All camping gear including twoperson tents foam sleep mats tables and chairs. Any additional flights cruises side excursions are optional extras. Note on the itinerary "Bush Camps" do not have facilities "Camps" are at Caravan Parks with full facilities National Park campsites have limited facilities.
Minimum Passengers
12
Itinerary
DAY 1 (17 APR) NYNGAN
Meet your crew at Central Railway Station (Coach Bay 5) at 0645 for a 0700 departure. We travel over the Blue Mountains, via Orange and on to Nyngan, our overnight stay. CAMP: NYNGAN (LD)
DAY 2 (18 APR) TILPA
We travel north-west across the outback through Cobar. Our day ends at Tilpa, where will be staying at a farmstay on the banks of the Darling River. We will spend the afternoon birding.
FARMSTAY: TILPA (BLD)
DAY 3 (19 APR) WHITE CLIFFS
As we travel along outback tracks we will stop for birding at various spots including the Paroo Overflow. Our overnight stop will be at White Cliffs, with its many historical buildings and where precious opal is still mined today. CAMP:WHTE CLIFFS (BLD)
DAY 4 (20 APR) TIBOOBURRA
We will have more opportunities for birding as we travel through remote areas via Milparinka and on to Tibooburra. Have a drink at the local Tibooburra Hotel. CAMP: TIBOOBURRA (BLD)
DAY 5 (21 APR) TIBOOBURRA
Today will leisuely birdwatching around Tibooburra and Sturt National Park looking for the special birds of the area. CAMP: TIBOOBURRA (BLD)
DAY 6 (22 APR) INNAMINCKA
We travel through the remote Sturt National Park with ephemeral lakes and Mitchell grass plains. After we pass through the dog-fence at Cameron Corner we cross over many red-sand-dunes where we will stop to look for Eyrean Grasswren. Tonight we will camp on the banks of the Coopers Creek at Innamincka. BUSH CAMP: INNAMINCKA (BLD)
DAY 7 (23 APR) COONGIE LAKES
After early morning birding along Coopers Creek , we travel to our base camp for the next two nights at Coongie Lakes. BUSH CAMP: COONGIE LAKES (BLD)
DAY 8 (24 APR) COONGIE LAKES
Birdwatching around the campsite and at Lake Coongie. BUSH CAMP: COONGIE LAKES (BLD)
DAY 9 (25 APR) STRZLECKI TRACK
Travel back to Innamincka where we start our journey along the Strzlecki Track. BUSH CAMP: STRZLECKI TRACK (BLD)
DAY 10 / 11 (26/27 APR) LYNDHURST
We continue along the Strzlecki Track to Lyndhurst where will stay for the next two nights to birdwatch in the area including Mt Lyndhurst station. CAMP: LYNDHURST (BLD)
DAY 12 (28 APR) MULOORINA STATION
We will travel north from Maree to Muloorina Station, a private property on the edge of Lake Eyre. There is a beautiful waterhole to have a refreshing swim! CAMP: MULOORINA STATION (BLD)
DAY 13 (29 APR) COOBER PEDY
Today we will travel along the Oodnadatta Track stopping at various natural springs.
We pass by William Creek to arrive at Coober Pedy, our overnight stay in an underground share bunkhouse. BUNKHOUSE COOBER PEDY (BLD)
DAY 14 (30 APR) ALICE SPRINGS
We continue along the Stuart Highway, to Cadney Homestead, Marla and across the SA border into NT. We aim to arrive in Alice Springs by 5pm. Drop offs in town and at hotels can be arranged. (BL)
