CUE007

Australia - New Horizons

It is one of the most important regions in Australia, with landscapes full of surprises and adventure. This region contains nearly half of all Australia’s farms and much of South East Australia’s water. Within its boundaries are Australia’s largest rivers and places where people live underground. There are huge Saharan-like red and white sand dunes you can roll down, quiet waterways to canoe and rivers to fish. In this area, famous movies have been filmed and the world’s oldest intact human skeleton was found. There are places where you can fossick for your own opal and it is the place of origin of the phrase, ‘Beyond the Black Stump’. Blood-red sunsets, clear night skies and vast landscapes contrast with more populated riverine lands.

It is of course, The Murray Darling Basin. It is one of Australia’s significant ‘food baskets’ and it is a region of international importance for its cultural and natural heritage. The region’s dimensions may surprise you – it covers 1,058,800 square kilometres or nearly 15% of the total area of Australia. Little wonder that the landscapes are so diverse!

During this journey you will see and experience many different and amazing things. You will see the variable state of our major rivers and enjoy an evening river cruise where the Murray and Darling Rivers meet. Visit cotton and rice farms and see how rice is milled. Watch milking at a large rotary dairy and join in a range of activities – fishing, yabbying, canoeing, fossicking for gemstones and swimming. Watch the sunset from desert sculptures and stay on a large cattle and sheep station. Sleep underground at White Cliffs, enjoy a unique camel ride and see the Mad Max car at Silverton. You will see one of the world’s largest classrooms – School of the Air and visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service base at Broken Hill.

You will be able to assess sustainability and water issues first hand through this Big Experience, as well as relate your observations and insights to studies now and in the future.

This journey will widen your horizons as you find out more about how people live in remote areas and in difficult landscapes. Spending time with indigenous students and playing sport in a rural school with will undoubtedly be a highlight of the trip. You will learn more about yourself, each other and your unique country on this camping safari tour.

How will agents travel?
Travel is by a custom built safari coach, features include: air conditioning; dark tinted windows for UV protection; seat belts; toilet; reclining seats; and CD/DVD audio visual system. The coach has a VHF radio and satellite phone ensuring safety at all times. The driver is both experienced and a diesel mechanic. The coach tows a safari trailer which houses a fully equipped kitchen, refrigerator, freezer, water tanks and dry food storage, while on top, camping gear and a generator are carried.

Planned itinerary
Day 1 St Leonard’s to Echuca Historic port guided tour, evening ten pin bowling

Day 2 Echuca to Hillston Rice Mill visit at Deniliquin, Ned Kelly’s notorious exploits at Jerilderie, origin of ‘Beyond the Black Stump’ at Hillston

Day 3 Hillston to Cobar Travel on Kidman Hwy – meeting rivers of Murray-Darling Basin, Lachlan & Murrumbidgee, mines of Cobar

Day 4 Cobar to Bourke Guided tour of Bourke by local identity

Days 5 & 6 Bourke Paddlesteamer cruise on Darling River, cotton plantation, rural school experience – classroom / sports with indigenous students

Days 7 Bourke to Trilby Station Large sheep & cattle station experience, fishing & yabbying, canoeing on the Darling

Day 8 Trilby Station to White Cliffs Opal mining town – guided tour includes mine and underground home visit, time to fossick for opals

Day 9 White Cliffs to Broken Hill Orientation tour of the colourful mining town

Days 10 & 11 Broken Hill Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air, Geo Centre, desert sculptures and sunset viewing, Silverton movie making centre and Mad Max car, optional camel rides at Silverton (own expense)

Day 12 Broken Hill to Mungo NP View water storage systems and see where Burke & Wills stayed at Menindee, appreciation of Mungo’s Walls of China in evening

Day 13 Mungo National Park Mungo’s archaeological sites, Aboriginal perspective of Lakes system, wildlife and bush walks, rolling down white sand dunes

Day 14 Mungo NP to Wentworth Mallee landscapes and confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers at Wentworth, late afternoon cruise on the rivers

Day 15 Wentworth to Mildura Perry Sandhills – Saharan-like dunes to climb

Day 16 Mildura Eco-wetlands experience, canoeing on Murray River, cycling activity

Day 17 Mildura to Swan Hill Local dairy farm to watch rotary milking operation from viewing platform

Day 18 Swan Hill to St Leonard’s Via Kerang to view agricultural lands degraded by salinity

Please note that final details of this Big Experience may change slightly.