Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Adelaide – Clare 145 km (Lunch Dinner Accommodation). Leaving Adelaide, we cycle direct north past massive salt mounds to Two Wells for morning tea, then flat grazing countryside to Mallala and Balaklava, an old country town in lovely surroundings. After lunch enjoy the magnificent undulations, some call them hills through vineyards and eucalypti forest, to the winery centre of Clare.
Day 2: Clare to Melrose 133 km (BLD Camp & Accommodation). Clare is unmistakably South Australia, with its lovely limestone buildings, vineyards left and right as you cycle through these quiet back roads to Yacka. Stunning scenery takes you past historic Gladstone Gaol through Beetaloo Valley and Wirrabara State Forest to Melrose, MTB capital of South Australia.
Day 3: Melrose to Port Augusta 65 km (BLD Accommodation). The century old rugged red gums are a highlight of this area, not seen in such abundance with such variation. We cross the Goyder Line, an invisible line given to the area as a boundary between sustainable and non sustainable land, the northern side supposedly arid.
Day 4: Port Augusta to Woomera 179 km (BLD Accommodation). Passing the beautiful outback botanic gardens, we see Yorkys Crossing and the start of many cattle grids flanked by the Flinders Rangers and Gawler Rangers. The Ghan railway line (caution when crossing) is our constant companion as we weave our way through many salt lakes before Pimba and Woomera.
Day 5: Woomera to Glendambo 113 km (BLD Camp & Accommodation). Woomera, the base where rockets and satellites were launched is now a very interesting township and museum, home of Len Beadell, Woomera founder and great Aussie explorer. We cross rail and grid crossings before venturing out into the treeless plain, just like the Nullarbor, only with a few hills. Explore salt Lake Hart, a massive expanse of white next to the rail track.
Day 6: Glendambo to Coober Pedy 252 km (BLD Accommodation). Cattle and sheep stations surround Glendambo, a tiny town with roadhouse and camp accommodation area. Start at daybreak crossing cattle grid, dodging wildlife and stock. This is real central Australian outback with kangas, emus, flies, lizards and lots more. It’s a serious test to do the complete distance, working and helping each other and pacing yourself. The look alike lunar landscape is a weird wonderful white site, of sandstone mullock heaps from opal mining.
Day 7: Coober Pedy Rest Day (B Accommodation). We stay in the only International underground hotel, with swimming pool and all modern cons. Tours take you to The Breakaways, extraordinary coloured hills and valleys, opal mines, dugouts, museums, drive in theatre (bring your own chair), or simply chill out in a fridge or fossick.
Day 8: Coober Pedy – Cadney 153 km (BLD Accommodation & Camp). Opal mines, like giant ant hills are scattered for the next 40 km, exposing vertical holes one metre wide, up to 100 metres deep. Dangerous when walking off road, great to view while cycling. Wildlife abound, especially when water is scarce, coming to the roadside for green grass from moisture runoff.
Day 9: Cadney – Marla 81 km (BLD Accommodation & Camp). The Homestead is an interesting oasis in the middle of nowhere, with a swimming pool and all facilities. Make the most of these pleasures, share stories with the truckies, fellow travelers and the odd cyclist. They always have an interesting tale, perhaps nearly as coloured as your own. Today its easy with saltbush and gibber stone adding interest to the dry land.
Day 10: Marla – Kulgera 179 km (BLD Accommodation & Camp). The Marla Travelers Rest is another interesting stopover, with nice swimming pool, laundry, supermarket just like home. You need the comforts to recharge your batteries, so to speak. Cycling in this environment is fascinating, allowing you to smell the wildflowers, feel the wind (hopefully a tail), taste the dust, see the landscape and talk about your experience as you crossed the Northern Territory border.
Day 11: Kulgera – Erldunda – Mt Ebenezer 131 km (BLD Accommodation & Camp). The landscape changes to a red sand, with the odd 4WD or mini bus stocking up with fuel and supplies at The Erldunda roadhouse. People will be amazed at the way you have chosen to see the centre. Coaches will pull in, people alight still half asleep, very little chatter, eager to get their coke and chips and in 10 minutes be back in the coach. Cyclists hopefully eat and drink good food, providing energy for the extra experience of self propulsion.
Day 12: Mt Ebenezer – Ayers Rock 190 km (BLD Accommodation). This interesting Aboriginal roadhouse has authentic painting and handwork. The excitement builds as we cycle on a good bitumen road past Mt Conner. Although it looks like Ayers Rock from a distance, it’s a flat top mount, like a mesa in USA, Curtin Springs is lunch, cattle station from early days when a car a week might pass this way to The Rock. The first sight of this monolith is awesome, unbelievable, and it gets better the closer you cycle. “Sounds of Silence” special dinner tonight in the open with a didgeridoo, watching the sunset over Ayers Rock.
Day 13: Ayers Rock (Uluru). Rest Day (B Accommodation). Today you rest from cycling the bitumen, but not from activity. Last night & tonight’s accommodation is five star “Sails in the Desert”. Magnificent accommodation and surroundings. Uluru is inspiring. Fly to Kings Canyon, visit The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) - climb the Valley of the Winds, walk around Uluru, meditate in the outback. This area has unique feelings, absorb it, you’ve earned it.
Day 14: Uluru – Erldunda 120 km (BLD Accommodation & Camp).
Although the total distance is 245 km we offer you 3 choices:
– Ride 85 km to Curtin Springs then transfer to Erldunda
– Transfer to road junction then ride 110 km to Erldunda
– Transfer all the way to Erldunda
Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy.
Day 15: Erldunda to Stuarts Well 109 km (BLD Accommodation & Camp). Back on the main road to Alice with the Erldunda Range on our left a lake on our right and then Palmer Valley on the river. It doesn’t get any better than this until the oasis at Stuarts Well. A stop over for the explorer John McDouall Stuart.
Day 16: Stuarts Well to Alice Springs 92 km (BL) optional accommodation. Stuarts Well to Alice Springs. Our last day on the road, the camels are smiling, the well pumps pumping well, the body’s feeling a bit seedy after the big night, but we’re away. Through National Park, across Hugh River, past the Truck Museum and Through the Gap in the McDonnell Ranges to Alice Springs, half way to Darwin and centre of Australia.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Standard: $4,850 (7 nights accommodation + 8 nights camping + all meals, except 2 dinners)
Deluxe: $5,550 (15 nights accommodation twin share + all meals, except 2 dinners)
Single Supp: $6,950 (15 nights accommodation single supplement, own room, all meals, except 2 dinners)
$150 deposit secures your place
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
Australia
Ecotourism
Bicycle Touring
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