AUSTRALIA'S LONGEST SHORTCUT CYCLING ADVENTURE

ITINERARY
DAYS 1-4
PERTH – SOUTHERN CROSS – TOWARDS MENZIES
We kick off Australia’s Longest Shortcut Cycling Adventure with a train trip from Perth to Southern Cross. The Prospector is the name given to the train service that operates between Perth and the Kalgoorlie Goldfields.  It was Australia’s fastest train in its time and marked the transition from narrow to standard gauge lines in country travel for Western Australia as well as the introduction of ‘luxury-style’ meal services and comfort.

The town of Southern Cross sits on the dividing line between the Western Wheatbelt and the Eastern Goldfields. Originally a gold mining settlement.  Southern Cross is the oldest town in the region. It was never the site of a lucrative gold rush however, as only reef gold and not alluvial gold was found here.  The discovery started the greatest gold rush in Western Australian history. Today, Southern Cross mainly produces oats, barley, wheat, sheep and gold although the low rainfall of the region often makes the land marginal for agriculture. From Southern Cross, we have three nights of bushcamping as we take head towards Menzies.

DAY    START           FINISH              DISTANCE         MEALS
1           Perth           Southern Cross       379 km (Train)            D
2   Southern Cross     Bushcamp                 88 km                       BLD
3      Bushcamp             Bushcamp                88 km                       BLD
4      Bushcamp             Bushcamp                88 km                       BLD

DAYS 5-8
MENZIES – MALCOLM
Menzies is almost symbolic of the classic gold rush towns established across WA’s ‘golden mile’ in the late 1800’s. The town lies to the North of Kalgoorlie and was founded in 1894, at
one time having a population of 10,000. By 1905 most people had moved on and today Menzies is considered pretty much a ghost town.  It was at this point the town’s largest population level was reached at about 10,000 and Menzies itself included a town hall, two breweries and 13 hotels! The town however, was not to last and after the fashion of most gold mining settlements died only shortly after itsboom.  Just 11 years after its township was officially established, Menzies was reduced to the ghost town it remains today.

We enjoy a rest day here at Menzies, before a short ride to Morapoi Station, an Aboriginal pastoral lease. The station provides outback camping, bush tucker tours, and children’s
school and youth camps. We’ll have time this afternoon for a cultural experience ($99 at own expense) where you’ll sample bush foods and visit traditional country, and tonight’s dinner is three-course and bush-food inspired, and cooked by the crew at Morapoi.

DAY     START               FINISH       DISTANCE         MEALS
5          Bushcamp               Menzies               88 km                    BL
6          Menzies                 REST DAY                                                B
7          Menzies             Morapoi Station     55 km                   BLD
8      Morapoi Station        Malcolm              63 km                   BLD

DAYS 9-13
MALCOLM – LAVERTON - TJUKAYIRLA
Laverton is a town built on mining and currently experiencing its second lease on life due to the discovery of nickel in the region in the late 1960’s. Originally a gold mining settlement,
Laverton was named for a Dr. Laver although there is some debate over if this was the Dr. Laver who passed through the area with John Forrest in 1869 or if he ‘rode in on a bicycle
and set up the local practice’. Regardless, it was a good to have a doctor in town as Laverton quickly became known as the
wildest town in the west.  Although once claiming a population of about 3500, by 1957 the last mines had closed and Laverton seemed to be on the downward spiral of most gold mining towns. Fortune changed in 1969 when nickel deposits were discovered about 28 km northwest of the town and with this new resource came the revitalisation of the township.  Today, Laverton also acts as a good starting point for those wanting to 4WD across the Great Victoria Desert to Uluru.

DAY       START                FINISH            DISTANCE        MEALS
9              Malcolm                Laverton                110 km                     BL
10           Laverton              Bushcamp           70 km (unsealed)   BLD
11           Bushcamp            Bushcamp           70 km (unsealed)    BLD
12           Bushcamp            Bushcamp           80 km (unsealed)    BLD
13           Bushcamp            Tjukayirla           80 km (unsealed)    BLD

DAYS 14-17
TJUKAYIRLA – WARBURTON
Tjukayirla claims to be ‘the most isolated roadhouse in Australia’ and once you have visitedyou’ll have to agree with them, as their closest neighbours lie 175 km to the northeast.
Tjukayirla Roadhouse takes it name from the Tjukayirla Rockholes . The Zoo Breakaway, a good example of desert breakaway country, is a short walk across the main road from the rockhole and is well worth the walk. At times dingoes, emus, kangaroos and camels as well as a large variety of birds can be seen around the Roadhouse. If there has been recent rain, take some time to walk around and see the many different varieties of wildflowers there are.

One of the more interesting features in this section of the Outback Way is Camp Paradise, a ridge-top site on the north side of the road. It’s a fantastic place to stop, rest, look for wildflowers, find bush tucker, camp for the night and explore the delights of a dramatic breakaway with elegant views to the surrounding mulga savannah.   Warburton is another isolated community located between the Gibson and Victoria Deserts.  With a roadhouse and township, there is also a private Indigenous community nearby on private land. Warburton is home to red soil, beautiful ranges, spinifex grass, mulga and desert oaks along with amazing desert wildlife. In addition is the extraordinary Warburton Glass and traditional art exhibited in the Warburton Arts and Cultural Centre. Here we’ll have our second rest day of the adventure.

DAY      START              FINISH           DISTANCE            MEALS
14           Tjukayirla           Bushcamp       92 km (unsealed)       BLD
15           Bushcamp           Bushcamp       74 km (unsealed)      BLD
16           Bushcamp          Warburton        85 km (unsealed)     BLD
17          Warburton          REST DAY                                                 BLD

DAYS 18-25
WARBURTON – GILES WEATHER STATION – ULURU
Giles Weather Station was established in 1956, a product of the space race. Originally the domain of the Weapons Research Establishment, Giles was needed to monitor weather conditions for the atomic testing going on at Emu Plains and Maralinga. Later it also provided data to Woomera Rocket Range.
The only staffed station in about 2.5 million square kilometres, Giles is run by a staff of four who come from various Bureau of Meteorology offices around Australia and are assigned here for six-month ‘tours’.  Giles is positioned so it sits below the jet stream that feeds weather from the West and North to the East and South meaning it can act as something of an early warning system for the Eastern states weather forecasts.
Today, the Warakuna Indigenous community lies about a kilometre outside the station and plenty of tourists visit to have a rare chance to look at working remote weather station.

Kaltukatjara is also known as Docker River, an Indigenous community with a population of about 300. Yulara is essentially the gateway to the World Heritage Listed Uluru – Kata-Tjuta National Park area. From here you can visit Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata-Tjuta (the Olgas) and many other iconic Red Centre sites.
Uluru is the world’s largest monolith (solid rock) and is formed from arkose, a coarse-grained sandstone rich in feldspar.

DAY     START           FINISH          DISTANCE              MEALS
18        Warburton        Bushcamp        77 km (unsealed)        BLD
19        Bushcamp          Bushcamp       77 km (unsealed)         BLD
20     Bushcamp     Giles Weather Stn  77 km (unsealed)       BLD
21    Giles Weather Stn    Kaltukatjara  104 km (unsealed)    BLD
22   Kaltukatjara             Bushcamp        77 km (unsealed)      BLD
23     Bushcamp               Bushcamp         77 km (unsealed)     BLD
24    Bushcamp             Uluru (Yulara)   77 km (unsealed)      BL
25   Uluru (Yulara)       REST DAY                                                      B

DAYS 26-32
YULARA – CURTIN SPRINGS – ERLDUNDA – ALICE SPRINGS
Curtin Springs is a working family owned cattle station which opened as a key stop for passing travellers in order to encourage tourism into the Uluru region. The name itself – Curtin Springs – comes from the Prime Minister of the day, John Curtin.

Surrounded by the stunning MacDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs is the gateway to the Red Heart of Australia. With all the facilities you could ask for, ‘the Alice’ as it is affectionately known, is an excellent place to clean up and recharge after our long ride.

Alice Springs simply explodes with cultural experiences with numerous Indigenous Art Galleries gracing the town. For history buffs there is the old Telegraph Station, the history of the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame. Aviation buffs will be delighted by the Central Australian Aviation Museum located in town too. For those of you who can still use your legs, a climb up ANZAC Hill affords great views of the Alice and the surrounding landscape including some of the MacDonnell Ranges. The local Indigenous people call this place Untyeyetweleye and believe it is home to the Corkwood
Dreaming Story.

DAY    START              FINISH           DISTANCE            MEALS
26         Yulara           Curtin Springs       85 km (sealed)             BL
27  Curtin Springs  Mt Ebeneezer       106 km (sealed)          BLD
28    Mt Ebeneezer       Erldunda             57 km (sealed)            BL
29        Erldunda          Stuarts Well        110 km (sealed)          BLD
30    Stuarts Well      Alice Springs          97 km (sealed)            BL
31     Alice Springs         REST DAY                                                     B
32     Alice Springs         REST DAY                                                     B

DAY 33-42
ALICE SPRINGS – GEMTREE – JERVOIS – BOULIA
Get ready for the longest day of the ride! Alice Springs to Gemtree is 137 km on sealed road. Gemtree is located on the edge of ancient gemfields where fossicking for garnets or zircons is a common practice even today. No one is quite sure what the name Boulia means but the most popular explanations includ
'waterhole' and 'clear water', from the language of the local Aborigines. The first Europeans to pass through the area were the ill-fated Burke and Wills. Burke gave his name to the river
upon which the town is located. Wills Creek joins the Burke River some distance to the north. The town was first settled in 1876.  Boulia was a kind of last outpost before the deserts.

The town ‘claims ownership’ over the mildly mysterious Min Min lights. The Min Min lights first appeared near the site of the old Min Min Hotel which is located 73 km east of the town at the
junction of the roads from McKinlay and Winton. The old hotel is now little more than a ruin although the bottles and the nearby graveyard are a reminder that it obviously had a colourful
past.

DAY    START             FINISH            DISTANCE             MEALS
33   Alice Springs          Gemtree           137 km (sealed)            BLD
34      Gemtree            Harts Range         80 km (unsealed)        BLD
35    Harts Range         Bushcamp           66 km (unsealed)        BLD
36      Bushcamp              Jervois              80 km (unsealed)       BLD
37         Jervois         3 Range Views      105 km (unsealed)      BLD
38   3 Range Views     Bushcamp            86 km (unsealed)       BLD
39       Bushcamp         Bushcamp             86 km (unsealed)       BLD
40       Bushcamp         Bushcamp             86 km (unsealed)       BLD
41        Bushcamp             Boulia                 86 km (unsealed)        BL
42           Boulia               REST DAY                                                        B

DAYS 43-46
BOULIA – MIDDLETON – WINTON
Middleton was named after the first white man in the district. He was a member of the 1862 expedition led by John McKinlay.  We enter Matilda Country, best known for its historic connections to the Great Shearer’s Strike, Waltzing Matilda and Dinosaur discoveries. Nearby is Opalton, one of Queensland’s oldest Opal fields and Combo Waterhole.  Also of interest is nearby Lark Quarry where a 93 million-year-old dinosaur track-way is preserved in the rocks. This is the only record of a Dinosaur stampede with a large carnivorous dinosaur chasing groups of Coelurosaurs and Ornithopods, leaving their footprints preserved to this day.

DAY       START           FINISH          DISTANCE              MEALS
43             Boulia          Historic Ruins    79 km (sealed)              BLD
44    Historic Ruins      Middleton        115 km (sealed)             BLD
45         Middleton          Bushcamp          84 km (sealed)            BLD
46         Bushcamp            Winton               84 km (sealed)             BL

DAYS 47-50
WINTON – CORFIELD – STAMFORD – HUGHENDEN
Corfield is a small town, with the resident population only seven strong. With links to the Great Shearer’s Strike, Corfield is better known today as the site of discovery for a dinosaur skeleton once belonging to a 20-30 tonne sauropod that once grazed the area.   Even smaller than Corfield is Stamford, with a population of three! Again, a historic town with links to old coach stops and railway line. Like Corfield, it comes alive each year when annual
races are held here to break up the daily routine. Hughenden also shares in the history of the Great Shearers Strikes in 1891.

The Flinders Discovery Centre in town is a great spot to garner some new information on all things Hughenden. The visitor centre houses ‘hughie’, a 7m long Muttaburrasaurus skeleton
as well as information on all local Dinosaur finds and information on the formation of the nearby Porcupine Gorge. Shearers history too can be found here as well as some local town history.

DAY      START               FINISH            DISTANCE          MEALS
47           Winton                 Corfield             90 km (sealed)           BLD
48          Corfield                 Stamford          70 km (sealed)           BLD
49        Stamford              Hughenden         65 km (sealed)            BL
50        Hughenden           REST DAY                                                    B

DAY 51-55
HUGHENDEN - PORCUPINE GORGE - OASIS ROADHOUSE - EINASLEIGH
Porcupine Gorge was carved by Porcupine Creek into the soft sandstone which now forms high gorge walls around the creek, displaying millions of years of rock strata.  Wind and water have coloured and sculptured the sandstone to form fluted channels, boulders, potholes and shallow caves. Permanent deep pools, each with its resident turtles, are lined with casuarinas (sheoaks) and melaleucas (paperbarks).  The gorge is filled with the calls of currawongs, parrots and the occasional soaring bird of prey. . The gorge becomes a focal point for many animals in the dry season.  Porcupine Gorge National Park and the surrounding area are a rich cultural landscape, with three Aboriginal groups continuing to maintain traditional connections to country with the park.  The Oasis Roadhouse, located at The Lynd junction, is famous for Queensland’s smallest bar and a population of three.
Einasleigh was once a busy copper mining town back in 1900 when base metal prices soared.

DAY     START             FINISH                DISTANCE        MEALS
51       Hughenden     Porcupine Gorge             58 km                   BLD
52  Porcupine Gorge     Bushcamp                     70 km                  BLD
53       Bushcamp             Bushcamp                     70 km                  BLD
54       Bushcamp        Oasis Roadhouse              70 km                 BLD
55 Oasis Roadhouse      Einasleigh                      75 km                  BLD

DAY 56-57
EINASLEIGH – MOUNT SURPRISE – ALMADEN – CAIRNS
Discoveries of vast deposits of copper, silver, lead and
tin in the 1870s led to the founding of the towns of Mount Surprise, Georgetown, Einasleigh, Forsayth, Kidston and Gilberton.  We join the Savannahlander Train in Mount Surprise for the final day of our adventure. The Savannahlander traces an important railway system that was developed by John Moffat as
part of his vast mining empire in the late 1800s.  Imagine the treasure trove of riches uncovered in this mineral-rich
land during those times. Gold at Etheridge and Hodgkinson, copper at Mt Garnet and Mt Molloy, tin at Irvinebank and Stannary Hills, tin and silver at Emuford, silver and wolfram at
Petford and coal at Mt Mulligan fuelling the Chillagoe smelter.

Today this historic mining train does its duty as a tourism venture, transporting visitors through the fascinating region west of Cairns.  Cairns  began as a port town, sheltered and an important way to move the produce of the region.  Today Cairns is a bustling city with many different attractions including the nearby Atherton Tablelands, Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. There is plenty to see and do, including snorkel or scuba dive on trips out to the reef, visit the city in the rainforest at Kuranda on the skyrail or 4WD into the Daintree Rainforest to visit Cape Tribulation or cruise down the Daintree River to see saltwater crocodiles in the wild.
For cultural enthusiasts the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park offers many different tours and experiences. Cairns is home to the open air Night Markets which open each evening from 5pm.  The cultural mix of the night markets is reflected in
the easy and friendly atmosphere which engulfs the city of Cairns, a great place to celebrate the conclusion of your trip!

Tonight we will get together for a meal (at own expense) to celebrate the end of an amazing journey, and for the night owls, a great chance to kick on and enjoy the nightlife in Cairns!

DAY     START              FINISH            DISTANCE            MEALS
56       Einsaleigh          Mount Surprise           75 km                    BLD
57  Mount Surprise     Cairns Savannahlander train                   B

NULLARBOR CAMPING SAFARI

An epic camping adventure from Adelaide to Perth!  Bush camping in the rugged outback,  get up close to amazing Aussie Wildlife.

Trip Highlights and What’s Included

• Cross the incredible Nullarbor Plain
• Visit Wave Rock
• Explore Cape Le Grand National Park
• Extreme Sand Boarding
• Fitzgerald River National Park
• Enjoy bush camping under the stars
• Farm Stay including Nocturnal Tour
• Indigenous Arts and Crafts
• Plenty of Meals included
• Applicable park entrance fees

Accommodation:
Multi Share, Safari Style
Group Size: 15

Departures:
March, April, May, September, October, November, December 2009

Price:
NZD$ 1,680 - Multi-share

NOTE: Age Restrictions Apply
This is an Open Aged Tour for passengers over the age of 12 years, however travellers over the age of 55 must provide a medical certificate from their physician. This is to ensure that senior travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their tour as the itinerary takes you to remote regions and days can be long through rugged regions, with very basic camping facilities. Children between 12-18 must also be accompanied by an adult.

DAY 1: Adelaide to Coodlie Park
Our adventure head north from Adelaide. Depending on the weather conditions we include a bush walk in the southern Flinders Ranges. We stop off along the way to take in typical rural cities and towns. At the end of the first day’s journey we stay either in a bush camping setting or during winter an Aussie farm retreat staying in updated shearer’s quarters.
Camping
(L,D)

DAY 2: Coodlie Park
After a short drive we board the MV Investigator for a 4-5 hr cruise (own cost). It’s a relaxing day viewing and swimming with dolphins and Australian sea lions. Time permitting we head back to Coodlie Park Farm Retreat to view a spectacular sun set at a
secluded beach. Our hosts then conduct a nocturnal spotlighting tour looking for Australia’s National Emblems – Kangaroos, Wombats and Emus.
Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 3: Coodlie Park to Fowlers Bay
We travel further along the West coast of South Australia, and after a learn to surf lesson we do a stop at Ceduna Indigenous Arts and Culture Centre before we check out the surf at one of Australia’s best surf beaches “Cactus Beach’. You can do a coastal walk along some rugged coastline or relax with a book on a remote beach. Later in the afternoon we head for the tiny historical settlement of Fowlers Bay, adjacent to massive sand dunes. We finish off the day with some extreme fun sand boarding.
Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 4: Fowlers Bay to Nullarbor
Leaving Fowlers Bay behind we cross the dingo fence, travel through Yalata Aboriginal lands and drive onto the Nullarbor Plain. In season [June – October] the Southern Right Whales migrate to the Head of the Bight. Up to 100 of these amazing mammals can be seen from the scenic lookouts. Outside of the whale season you will not be disappointed with the spectacular coastline and viewing platforms that showcase the majestic
Nullarbor Cliffs. We stop at the famous wombat/camel/kangaroo road sign and call into old Eucla, a telegraph town buried by sand dunes!
Bush Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 5: Nullarbor to Middle of Nowhere!
We travel through some real outback country and it will certainly give you a sense of the size of the vast and ancient land.
Bush Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 6: Middle of Nowhere to Cape Le Grand National Park
We arrive in Esperence (our first bit of civilization for some time) and while we restock supplies you can look around this beautiful seaside port. We set up camp for the next two nights only metres away from a picture postcard beach in the cape le Grand
National Park, and the sandy beaches and crystal clear water. A late afternoon hike up the granite formation known as “Frenchman Peak’ rewards you with fantastic views of the bays and islands of the Recherche Archipelago.
Bush Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 7: Cape Le Grand National Park
We have another full day to enjoy this beautiful spot and it’s totally up to you how you want to spend your day. There are some stunning coastal walks, you may like to swim, boogie board, snorkel, fish or just relax while lying on a pure white sandy beach (you might have to share the beach with a local kangaroo or two).
Bush Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 8: Cape Le Grand National Park to Porongurup
We leave early and head for the Fitzgerald River National Park, where we will do one of the many walks on offer. We like to keep today flexible as there are so many great spots to visit, the guide will decide the best route on the day. We arrive into our overnight destination at Porongurup and if time permits we sample some award winning wines.
Bush Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 9: Porongurup
The landscape changes dramatically as we head into the heart of the southern Eucalypt forests of W.A. We visit Albany, Frenchmans Bay, the Gap Natural Bridge and Greens Pool. Walk the talk on the tree top walk at the “Valley of the Giants”; a unique structure that takes you up into the canopy of a very ancient and special eucalypts called Red Tingle trees. In the afternoon we climb one of the giant Karri trees that once used as a fire lookout.
Bush Camping
(B,L,D)

DAY 10: Porongurup to Perth
Travel through Augusta, Margaret River and visit WA’s famous surf break, visit some unique cave formations and into Busselton. The last bit of the nearly 4000 km journey
gives you a chance to reflect on the experiences over the last ten action packed days as we head for Western Australia’s capital Perth.
(B,L)