10 DAY FULLY INCLUSIVE TOUR
MONDAY 20TH JUNE TO WEDNESDAY 29TH JUNE
An exciting Outback Adventure awaits! Our spectacular 10 Day Central Australia tour departs Melbourne travelling overland through three states to finish in Alice Springs. Along the way we stop at the outback town of Coober Pedy for 2 nights, where many live and work underground hunting the elusive Opal – and to escape the heat, 2 nights among the spectacle that is Uluru, finishing the tour exploring the sublime Western MacDonnell Ranges outside The Alice!
TOUR MAP
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Mildura, Renmark, Burra, Port Augusta, Woomera, Coober Pedy, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), The Field of Light Exhibition, Royal Flying Doctor Base, Old Telegraph Station, Earth Sanctuary - Quandong Homestead, Western MacDonnell Ranges, Standley Chasm, Glen Helen Gorge and Homestead, Ormiston Gorge and Simpsons Gap.
FLIGHTS
Alice Springs to Adelaide
Adelaide to Melbourne
MULTIPLE NIGHT STAYS
2 nights in Coober Pedy and Yulara
3 nights in Alice Springs
TOUR COSTS
Twin Share Room First Tour: $5,695 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 2 - 10 Tours: $5,595 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 11 - 20 Tours: $5,545 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 21+ Tours: $5,495 per person
Single Room Supplement: $1,080 per person
Deposit: $500 per person
As a thank you for travelling with O'Shannessy's Quality Tours, you will automatically receive a saving on the total tour price for your second and subsequent tours.
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours will match single travellers who wish to twin share, with another single traveller of the same gender.
However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost).
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours will match single travellers who wish to twin share, with another single traveller of the same gender.
However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost).
MAP
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ITINERARY
DAY 1: mondAY 20th june, 2022
MELBOURNE TO MILDURA
With personal pick up from home, our chauffeurs will take us to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew for our amazing 10 day tour from Melbourne to Central Australia. We begin our journey via Ballarat and Donald, and continue across the Wimmera Plains and through the Victorian Mallee to Mildura for our first night away.
OVERNIGHT: Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn, MILDURA
With personal pick up from home, our chauffeurs will take us to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew for our amazing 10 day tour from Melbourne to Central Australia. We begin our journey via Ballarat and Donald, and continue across the Wimmera Plains and through the Victorian Mallee to Mildura for our first night away.
OVERNIGHT: Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn, MILDURA
day 2: tuesday 21st june, 2022
SOUTHERN FLINDERS RANGES
Today we drive along the Riverland from the Sunraysia to Renmark in South Australia to Morgan, once a very busy maritime port. Leaving the Murray, we head for the Southern Flinders Ranges calling at historic Burra. This afternoon we take the scenic drive through the North Mount Lofty Ranges to Port Augusta.
OVERNIGHT: Standpipe Golf Motor Inn, PORT AUGUSTA
Today we drive along the Riverland from the Sunraysia to Renmark in South Australia to Morgan, once a very busy maritime port. Leaving the Murray, we head for the Southern Flinders Ranges calling at historic Burra. This afternoon we take the scenic drive through the North Mount Lofty Ranges to Port Augusta.
OVERNIGHT: Standpipe Golf Motor Inn, PORT AUGUSTA
DAY 3: wednesday 22nd june, 2022
WOOMERA TO COOBER PEDY
We start our journey north on the Stuart Highway to Pimba, before detouring to Woomera. Until 1982, Woomera was a prohibited area for travellers. These days, we are welcomed with an interesting Visitors Centre. The town was built by the British and Australian Governments as the headquarters for the Maralinga and Emu Field - nuclear rocket and atomic bomb test sites. After lunch, we re-join the Stuart Highway and drive to Coober Pedy to check in for the next two nights accommodation.
OVERNIGHT: Desert Cave Hotel, COOBER PEDY
We start our journey north on the Stuart Highway to Pimba, before detouring to Woomera. Until 1982, Woomera was a prohibited area for travellers. These days, we are welcomed with an interesting Visitors Centre. The town was built by the British and Australian Governments as the headquarters for the Maralinga and Emu Field - nuclear rocket and atomic bomb test sites. After lunch, we re-join the Stuart Highway and drive to Coober Pedy to check in for the next two nights accommodation.
OVERNIGHT: Desert Cave Hotel, COOBER PEDY
DAY 4: thursday 23rd june, 2022
COOBER PEDY
We start the day with an opal-cutting demonstration and town tour, including inspection of an opal mine, an underground house or “dug out” and a church. Did you know that the Coober Pedy Golf Course is the only golf course in the world with reciprocal rights to St Andrews in Scotland??!! We’ll also have time for some retail therapy for anyone interested in opals. This afternoon we head to the nearby “Kanku - Breakaways Conservation Park” - a stunning natural landscape that has featured in a number of movies such as Mad Max 3, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Ground Zero. Returning to town, we have some free time to relax, or perhaps some more opal shopping.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Desert Cave Hotel, COOBER PEDY
We start the day with an opal-cutting demonstration and town tour, including inspection of an opal mine, an underground house or “dug out” and a church. Did you know that the Coober Pedy Golf Course is the only golf course in the world with reciprocal rights to St Andrews in Scotland??!! We’ll also have time for some retail therapy for anyone interested in opals. This afternoon we head to the nearby “Kanku - Breakaways Conservation Park” - a stunning natural landscape that has featured in a number of movies such as Mad Max 3, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Ground Zero. Returning to town, we have some free time to relax, or perhaps some more opal shopping.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Desert Cave Hotel, COOBER PEDY
DAY 5: friday 24th june, 2022
YULARA AND ULURU SUNSET STRIP
An early start for a travel day as we head for the border and into the Northern Territory. At Erldunda, we turn west onto the Lasseter Highway to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. There is an air of excitement in the coach as we draw closer to Uluru. Upon our arrival, we check in to our accommodation before heading to Sunset Strip to enjoy the spectacle of the changing colour of Uluru as the sun sets behind us. Dinner will be a little later this evening at the Resort.
OVERNIGHT: Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel, YULARA
An early start for a travel day as we head for the border and into the Northern Territory. At Erldunda, we turn west onto the Lasseter Highway to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. There is an air of excitement in the coach as we draw closer to Uluru. Upon our arrival, we check in to our accommodation before heading to Sunset Strip to enjoy the spectacle of the changing colour of Uluru as the sun sets behind us. Dinner will be a little later this evening at the Resort.
OVERNIGHT: Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel, YULARA
DAY 6: saturday 25th june, 2022
ULURU AND KATA TJUTA
We have a magical day in store. Uluru is located in the World Heritage Listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It rises 348 metres from the desert floor and has a girth of 9.4km. It’s the world’s most famous monolith with at least two thirds of the Rock lying beneath the surface. We spend some time at the Cultural Centre and take a drive around the Rock, stopping for photo opportunities. Early afternoon we visit the nearby Olgas, called by the Aboriginal people Kata Tjuta. Here we can take a walk into the beautiful and overwhelming Mount Olga Gorge. Returning to the resort, we enjoy dinner, but our day isn’t over yet as we are in for a special treat – a unique outback experience. We will be seeing internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro’s once in a lifetime staging of The Field of Light. This is the biggest Field of Light exhibition to date and it is held at Uluru. We have the chance to wander through 50,000 slender stems crowned with frosted-glass spheres that will bloom as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland. This display is for a limited time, making the experience that much more memorable.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel, YULARA
We have a magical day in store. Uluru is located in the World Heritage Listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It rises 348 metres from the desert floor and has a girth of 9.4km. It’s the world’s most famous monolith with at least two thirds of the Rock lying beneath the surface. We spend some time at the Cultural Centre and take a drive around the Rock, stopping for photo opportunities. Early afternoon we visit the nearby Olgas, called by the Aboriginal people Kata Tjuta. Here we can take a walk into the beautiful and overwhelming Mount Olga Gorge. Returning to the resort, we enjoy dinner, but our day isn’t over yet as we are in for a special treat – a unique outback experience. We will be seeing internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro’s once in a lifetime staging of The Field of Light. This is the biggest Field of Light exhibition to date and it is held at Uluru. We have the chance to wander through 50,000 slender stems crowned with frosted-glass spheres that will bloom as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland. This display is for a limited time, making the experience that much more memorable.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel, YULARA
DAY 7: SUNDAY 26th june, 2022
YULARA TO ALICE SPRINGS
This morning we have the opportunity to view Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Yulara from the air. We reserve several planes for those who wish to take an unforgettable scenic flight of the area. (These flights can be booked with your Tour Director who will have further details. Optional flights are subject to availability and at your own expense). After breakfast we say farewell to Uluru and re-join the Lasseter Highway, through sand dune country, past Mt Connor to Erldunda. This afternoon, we head north crossing the Finke River and enjoy the ever-changing scenery as we near Alice Springs.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
This morning we have the opportunity to view Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Yulara from the air. We reserve several planes for those who wish to take an unforgettable scenic flight of the area. (These flights can be booked with your Tour Director who will have further details. Optional flights are subject to availability and at your own expense). After breakfast we say farewell to Uluru and re-join the Lasseter Highway, through sand dune country, past Mt Connor to Erldunda. This afternoon, we head north crossing the Finke River and enjoy the ever-changing scenery as we near Alice Springs.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
DAY 8: monday 27th june, 2022
ALICE SPRINGS CITY TOUR
Welcome to “The Alice”! We begin today with a view of Alice Springs from Anzac Hill. From here we can see the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, the Stuart Highway, the Todd River, the Ghan Line and the prominent city buildings. We take a virtual journey into 'The World's Largest Classroom' which will leave us enlightened and inspired as we visit the School of the Air, this year celebrating their 70th anniversary. The film and guide presentations reveal stories about the school and its students, sharing a distinctive history, outback lifestyle and world-renowned innovations of this uniquely Australian school. Next we visit Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). We hear the incredible history of one of the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world. Using the latest aviation, medical and communications technology, the RFDS delivers extensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency service to those who live, work and travel throughout Australia. We enjoy some free time this afternoon to relax or go for a swim. We have a special evening planned tonight. Just 15 minutes out of Alice is Earth Sanctuary - a World Nature Centre at Quandong Homestead. We will enjoy a mouth-watering bush BBQ with music and entertainment and experience the spirit of the outback through stories of the aboriginal dreamtime. We will even learn how to cook a swagman’s damper! After dinner we can relax around the camp fire before heading back to the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
Welcome to “The Alice”! We begin today with a view of Alice Springs from Anzac Hill. From here we can see the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, the Stuart Highway, the Todd River, the Ghan Line and the prominent city buildings. We take a virtual journey into 'The World's Largest Classroom' which will leave us enlightened and inspired as we visit the School of the Air, this year celebrating their 70th anniversary. The film and guide presentations reveal stories about the school and its students, sharing a distinctive history, outback lifestyle and world-renowned innovations of this uniquely Australian school. Next we visit Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). We hear the incredible history of one of the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world. Using the latest aviation, medical and communications technology, the RFDS delivers extensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency service to those who live, work and travel throughout Australia. We enjoy some free time this afternoon to relax or go for a swim. We have a special evening planned tonight. Just 15 minutes out of Alice is Earth Sanctuary - a World Nature Centre at Quandong Homestead. We will enjoy a mouth-watering bush BBQ with music and entertainment and experience the spirit of the outback through stories of the aboriginal dreamtime. We will even learn how to cook a swagman’s damper! After dinner we can relax around the camp fire before heading back to the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
DAY 9: tuesday 28th june, 2022
WESTERN MACDONNELL RANGES
A great day is in store as we explore the majestic Western MacDonnell Ranges. The natural beauty in this area is outstanding! After a walk through Standley Chasm with its towering walls, we continue the scenic drive to Glen Helen Gorge and Glen Helen Homestead. This afternoon we have the opportunity to swim in the fresh waterhole at Ormiston Gorge or just relax and enjoy the atmosphere of this special place. We also visit beautiful Simpsons Gap before returning to our accommodation.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
A great day is in store as we explore the majestic Western MacDonnell Ranges. The natural beauty in this area is outstanding! After a walk through Standley Chasm with its towering walls, we continue the scenic drive to Glen Helen Gorge and Glen Helen Homestead. This afternoon we have the opportunity to swim in the fresh waterhole at Ormiston Gorge or just relax and enjoy the atmosphere of this special place. We also visit beautiful Simpsons Gap before returning to our accommodation.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
DAY 10: wednesday 29th june, 2022
ALICE SPRINGS TO MELBOURNE
We say farewell to the Heart of Australia and transfer to the airport to join our flight home to Melbourne. On our arrival we will be met by our chauffeurs who will return us safely home with memories of our unique overland experience to the Red Centre of Australia!
Lunch at own arrangements and cost / Refreshments on flight
We say farewell to the Heart of Australia and transfer to the airport to join our flight home to Melbourne. On our arrival we will be met by our chauffeurs who will return us safely home with memories of our unique overland experience to the Red Centre of Australia!
Lunch at own arrangements and cost / Refreshments on flight
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Complimentary Chauffeur Driven Transfers
Victorian passengers from Greater Melbourne, Bendigo, Torquay, Ballarat, Geelong, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, Phillip Island and selected areas of Gippsland will be picked up from home in a private chauffeured vehicle by one of our professional drivers.
For Victorian passengers not within this pick up zone, or our interstate passengers a quote can be provided for home pickup in extended areas. At the end of your tour, you will be safely returned home with memories of a sensational tour.
Luxury Touring Coaches
Our full size 3 axle luxury coaches have only 34-36 passenger seats allowing you even more personal space and huge leg room. Our coaches are fitted with comfortable reclining seats with aisle arm rests, foot rests, seat belts, panoramic windows with blinds, refrigerator for passenger use, Climate control air conditioning & Road Cam monitors which display the road ahead in real time. Each coach also has a second door for easier entry and exit and touchless hand sanitizer dispensers at each entry to help keep everyone safe. The coaches have full air suspension delivering a smooth and quiet ride which also allows us to lower the coach closer to the ground, making boarding and disembarking even easier.
Flight
Economy flights from Alice Springs to Melbourne via Adelaide included.
Tour Director
Dedicated O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach crew (tour directors) on board to
ensure your travel experience is memorable.
Best Available Quality Accommodation
Ensuite motel accommodation each night.
Attractions
All tours and interest venues as per itinerary.
Meals
Full cooked breakfasts, morning tea and two course restaurant dinners daily, and most
lunches. 3 lunches at your own expense as per itinerary.
No Hidden Extras
O'Shannessy's Quality Tours are fully inclusive.
“... there is always an attraction and wonderful
experience waiting for you in this beautiful, diverse
and delightful part of South Australia ...”
Jaden, Victoria
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY
Receipt of payment of funds will be taken as acceptance of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours conditions of travel for this tour. Prices include GST and all taxes.
Deposit is fully refundable until 61 days prior to departure date.
Balance due on invoice approximately 60 days prior to departure.
Cancellation 60 to 8 days before tour departure date, 20% Refund of Tour Cost.
Cancellation within 7 days of tour departure date, No Refund.
On or after tour date departure, No Refund.
If a tour is cancelled for any reason by O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours before the departure date, all passengers will be offered the option of transferring to another tour of their choice, hold the funds in trust for a future tour or a full refund. There is no time limit as to when this must be used. If a lockdown is implemented while a tour is in progress, our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and ensuring that we get each and every one of them home safely, and therefore we treat every situation individually. Travel insurance is not compulsory, however we highly recommend our passengers take out comprehensive travel insurance with a reputable provider at the time the balance of the tour is paid. Our office can provide contact information for companies we know are now providing travel insurance. It is a condition of travel that all passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID19 unless medically exempt, and confirmation must be provided to our office upon payment of your invoice/booking.