1. travelling in australia magazine // 065
Install dimmers for your lights
064 // travelling in australia magazine
Make your next car a hybrid
adventure
Chelsea Sneyd
gets a little
adventurous
while touring
Want to
turn your
annual
leave into
a great
pub story?
Then adventure
touring is your
answer! Offering
experiences
with edge, it’s
great value for
money and adds
off-beat spice
to great Aussie
destinations.
Whirly Bird (NT)
Is there really a more thrilling way to explore
Australia’s remote places than by helicopter?
Flyingsidewaysupgorges,droppinginforadipat
privatewaterfalls,picnickingatlittle-knownrock
art sites and sneaking up on crocs is all in a day’s
workforpilotsatKatherine’sAirborneSolutions.
While touring by helicopter might not be the
cheapestwaytogetaround,itsureashellisoneof
themostexciting!Theirfleetofluxuryhelicopters
and team of pilots with in-depth knowledge of
Nitmiluk’s vast gorge system, ancient history and
captivatingterrainaddswholenewmeaningtothe
term“adventuretouring”.
www.airbornesolutions.com.au
Gee Up! (Vic)
Keentore-createan“Australia”moviemoment;
albeit without Hugh Jackman? A tour that has
perfectly leveraged Aussie outback culture is
SouthAustralia’sGreatAustralianCattleDrive.
Manoeuvring 500 head of cattle on horseback
is no easy task. As the sun filters through the
red dust that’s raised by the herd, it’s hard not
to start belting out the odd cowboy ballad. The
adventure covers a total of 578 km and hoofs it
along the Oodnadatta Track, through William
Creek and all the way to Marree. Although the
end of the day might see you a little saddle-sore
at first, there’s no need for loss of creature
comforts. Superior tent accommodation is
provided,aswellasallmeals,guidedcoachtours,
saddle gear and of course an obedient horse!
www.cattledrive.com.au
Pedal Power (Australia-wide)
Fancy eating and drinking your way across the
country with zero waistline regrets? Two major
advantages of cycling tours is the knowledge that
you’re leaving a very small carbon footprint in
your wake and will return home fitter than when
youleft.Toursrangebetween20to60kmaday,
with most offering a support vehicle for luggage
and riders who are plain tuckered out. There
are trips that criss-cross all over Australia, with
themostpopularbeingtheBarossaValley,Great
Ocean Road and Outback tours. Pass through
scenicroutes,stopatlandmarksandthosespecial
places that only the locals know about. Meals,
accommodation, tour guide and vehicle support
areusuallyincluded,butgenerallyit’saBYObike
affair(althoughyoucanrentoneatadditionalcost
ifyoufindyourselfwithoutwheels).
www.cycletours.com.au
Arabian Nights (SA)
Ships of the desert, camels have become feral
animals in Australia’s outback, but have been
puttogoodusebyafewdesertoperators.There
arecamel-backtoursthroughSouthAustralia’s
Flinders Ranges and they visit places normally
off limits to visitors. Although not extreme in
termsoftheirdemandsonyourbody,exploring
by camel is certainly a novel approach. Rocking
your way gently through ancient surrounds is
pretty carbon-neutral; that is if you ignore the
gas emissions erupting from either end of your
mount!Nightlycampfiresandsleepinginaswag
under the stars all add to the experience. While
weagreethatthereisathingtobesaidforisland
time, camel time is something special as well.
www.pichirichicameltours.com
Legging it (Vic)
Walking is one of the few modes of travel that
allows you to become one with the terrain. The
Great Ocean Walk is one of Australia’s most
popular hikes as it passes through a region of
surreal natural beauty. It’s one thing to jump
in a car and drive to the 12 Apostles, but
quite another to walk there and get a feel for
the coast’s shipwreck history along the way.
Walking tours around Australia usually include
meals,accommodation,tourguidesandvehicle
support, and are perfect for birders or those
wanting to vacation at a leisurely pace.
www.bothfeet.com.au
Wet and Wild (Vic)
In the heart of the Snowy Mountains, a wild
riverbubblesandboils,snakingitswaythrough
the high country and ever-downwards towards
the coast. Presenting the ideal opportunity for
canoeists to battle the rapids and pass through
lush rainforest, the river can be tackled on a
white-water adventure that spans four days and
seesyoucampingoutinpicturesquesurrounds.
www.adventurecanoeing.com.au
Drive-thru (NT)
MountBorradaileisasubtropicalsavannahlocated
inArnhemLandintheNorthernTerritory.The
areaisbelievedtohavebeeninhabitedbyAboriginal
people for up to 50,000 years and has some of
thebestexamplesofAboriginalartinthecountry.
Restrictedaccessmakesself-driveimpossible,but
when you’re travelling through a culturally rich
landssuchasthese,youreallydon’twanttobedoing
so without the benefit of local knowledge. The
traditional land owners of the Mount Borradaile
areahavegrantedMaxDavidsonhonorarycustodian
statusandaccesstosomeofAustralia’smosthistoric
sites,andasaguide,MaxisaTerritory-toughsortof
bloke.Davidson’s4WDtoursaremorethansimply
trekking around by car, as Max will also have you
hooking barramundi from croc-infested waters,
swimminginrockpools,eatingbushtucker,getting
aclosesniffofgiantwaterliliesandtakinginapiece
ofwildcountrythatfewevergettosee.
www.arnhemland-safaris.com
Grow Wings (Qld)
Outback Queensland is home to cattle farms
and iconic towns; it’s a vast area where a pair of
wings should really come with the territory. Air
Adventure Australia has tailor-made itineraries
thatdropinforacuppaatcattlestations,explore
the Carnarvon George, allows passengers to
canoe the Lawn Hill Gorge and visits the Great
Barrier Reef for a snorkel with Nemo. One
of the best – and longest - scenic flights in the
country,nothing’simpossibletodowhenyou’ve
RoadUnderoff Down&
pic: airborne solutions
pic: TOURISM NT
pic: TOURISM NT
pic: TOURISM NT

2. adventure
travelling in australia magazine // 067
Recycle old mobile phones
066 // travelling in australia magazine
Avoid bleached products
packedyourownsetofwheelsandwings.What’s
betterstillisthattherearenocheck-inhassle;just
luxuryandaself-determineditinerarythatallows
you to see more of Australia on your terms!
www.airadventure.com.au
Mix it up (NSW)
Adventuretouringdoesn’tmeanyouhavetolimit
yourselftojustoneactivityormodeoftravel;there
are tours that allow you to combine a number
of skills to keep even the most die-hard traveller
challenged.RiverDeepMountainHighoffersBlue
Mountain Adventure Packages that are two and
three-dayadventure-fests,withadifferentactivity,
each day. As the saying goes; what goes up must
comedown,sowhynottryyourhandatalittlerock
climbingandabseiling?Canoeing,mountain-bike
riding and bushwalking all offer different ways to
explore the iconic Blue Mountains.The variable
activitiesofferadifferentperspectiveofthelandand
allowyoutopushyourpersonallimitsthroughout
thisoff-the-beaten-trackjourney.
www.rdmh.com.au
Rugged luxury (WA)
To witness the Kimberley Coast’s rugged
coastline and access locations inaccessible by
road is to explore one of Western Australia’s
most remote regions in a way that most of us
canonlydreamof.Orion’sExpeditionCruises
areratedamongthebestintheworld,butthat’s
not to say they pamper-down the experience to
a generic level! Rather, the adventure becomes
a true expedition, with on-board scientists
and experts to explain the natural and cultural
history of the terrain. This is untamed land, so
travelling by sea keeps it safe and comfortable;
a perfect mix of adventure and silver-spoon
living. www.orionexpeditions.com
Rev Heads (Tas)
Roadtripsareusuallythefirstadventuremostof
usget,andwhenyoungthey’retakenwithMum
orDadbehindthewheel.Buthowmuchcooler
is the journey when undertaken by motorbike,
especiallywhentheterraindemandsunrestricted
views! Moto Adventure Tasmania specialises
in renting motorbikes and offers self-guided
packages or guided tours. Itineraries stop in at
quaint pubs, take in some of Tasmania’s most
exquisitenaturalattractions,aswellastheclassic
goodies of Port Arthur and Cradle Mountain.
Sostraponyourleathersandhoponthebackof
oneofthese purring babiesto take a ride across
Australia’s most scenic isle.
www.motoadventure.com.au
Big Blue (Qld)
When most people speak of the Whitsunday
region,theyinstantlyassociateitwithsailing.While
it’s true that the Whitsundays are one of the best
sailingdestinationsintheworld,themultitudeof
shelteredcovesandunpopulatedbaysalsomakeit
oneofthebestforkayaking. Asmantarays,turtles
and tropical fish glide below, the beauty of the
islandsunfoldsallaround. TheAussieSeaKayak
Company will see you calling in at Whitehaven
Beach, stopping off at Daydream Island and
SouthMolle,aswellasvisitingplaceswhereyours
will be the first footprints on the golden sands.
Toursincludefood,kayak,campinggearandtour
guides,andtrainingmakesparticipationpossible
forkayakersofeverylevel.
www.ausseakayak.com.au
Taste of the Wild (NT)
When time’s not on your side and you know
you’re unlikely to pass this way again, there really
are only two options: join a guided sightseeing
tour or rent a car and go it alone, and at some
stage, most people have done both. But beware
of short-changing yourself by attempting a DIY
tour, as a lack of local knowledge means you’re
likely to miss the secret places and off-beat trails.
Byfarthemostconvenient,comfortableandsafe
waytotourwhentime’stickingagainstyouiswith
awell-regardedandwell-trainedtouroperatoras
theyknowhowtogetthemostoutofanexperience
whenthepressure’son.CompaniessuchasAAT
Kings offer day-trip Short Breaks from Darwin
and are a great way to vist places such as Kakadu
and Litchfield National Park. They’ll have you
viewingancientrockart,seekingoutcrocsinalily
encrusted billabong and soaring above some of
Australia’s most spectacular waterfalls, all in one
day! While there’s no denying you’ll always get a
greater depth of experience when you plan for a
longerstay,it’sbettertotakeinthetopattractions
withsomeonewho’sskilledthanmissoutonseeing
themaltogether.
www.attkings.com
Hot Air (Vic)
There’ssomethingofanoldworldcharmtohot-
airballooninginVictoria’sYarraValley.Oneof
themostserenewaystoexplorethewine-growing
region,morningdeparturesarecharacterisedby
lift-offs from fields shrouded in early morning
fog. GlobalBallooning’stoursareappropriately
cappedoffwithatraditionalchampagnebreakfast
at Rochford’s Winery on landing, where local
gourmet produce graces the menu.
www.globalballooning.com.au
pic: river deep mountain high
pic: global ballooning
pic: orion expedition cruises
pic: river deep mountain high
pic: evan baily
Ask Haydyn Bromley what’s the best way to
explore South Australia’s outback and he’s
likely give a little chuckle, then offer you a seat
in his Land Rover Discovery 3 hse.
Haydyn’swellknowninthesepartsasamaster
of time travel; he regularly shuttles between
AdelaideandPortAugusta,transportingvisitors
540 million years into the past.
The306kmtriprequiresastopattheWadlata
Outback Centre, which is where they get their
first taste of life beyond the city. Then it’s time
to make tracks and explore one of the country’s
mosticoniclandscapes,theFlindersRanges,in
all of its extensive, surreal beauty.
The rugged terrain holds many secrets and is
hometotheoldestfossilevidenceofanimallife
ever discovered. It is as rich in geology as it is in
Indigenousculture,aculturethat’sexistedhere
for 45,000 years and counting.
LongbeforeHaydynwasevenatwinkleinhis
dad’seye,theAdnyamathanhapeople(meaning
The Rock People) inhabited the region.
Evidence of their existence can be seen in the
rock art and ancient middens that lie hidden
among red-rock gorges and escarpments.
FewwouldmakethemistakeofcallingHaydyn
tongue-tied,ashekeepstheAboriginaltradition
of oral history alive and well. Truth be told, it’s
hard to stop the man once he gets talking, as
one of his great loves is to share with others his
grandfather’s many stories.
Itwasinthismannerthatessentiallessonsinbush
survivalwerepassedonandhowthewisdomcollected
overtheageswasgiftedfromonegenerationtothe
next. Without the stories, the life-giving water of
desertsoaksmayhavebeenlostforever,andalong
withthemthesurvivalofhispeople.
ThisintimateknowledgeoftheFlindersmakes
travelling with Haydyn so insightful and adds
meaningtoalandthatsappearstooimmenseto
comprehend fully in just one lifetime.
Haydyn’s relatives still live in towns such as
Hawker and Quorn and their wide grins and
mutualback-slappingsignalthatyetanotherhas
crossed his path. They’re as welcoming a mob
as you’re ever likely to see, and much like the
towns that they live in, these fellas ooze history
and home-grown country charm.
Stopping frequently at places of interest,
Haydyn’squicktopointoutthingsinthesemi-
arid terrain that others would tend to miss in
passing. With a depth of knowledge that’s hard
to match, he explains the uses of such plants as
theSaltbushandGrasstree,whilekeepingakeen
eye out for endemic species such as the Yellow-
footed rock wallaby, echindnas and goannas.
For keen birders, the Flinders Ranges are
hometodelightssuchasthewedge-tailedeagle,
parrots and large flocks of cheeky galahs.
Haydyn turns the land into an outdoor
classroom and ushers in a new way to see, feel
andunderstandhiscountry.ThroughBookabee
Tours,there’snoneedtoroughit,as4WDtravel,
high-endeco-accommodationandIndigenous-
guided outback touring is done with style.
Each day’s travel ends with a relaxing dinner
andconversationisembellishedbyafieryMilky
Way that swirls overhead. It’s an immersive
experience that engages the senses and leaves
visitors with a deep appreciation for the history
oftheFlindersRangesandtheAdnyamathanha
people’s enduring connection to the land.
time travel in
the outback
Bookabee Tours Australia, SA
con
nec
tor
Bookabee Tours Australia, PO Box 2134, Henley Beach, South Australia, 5022
Ph: + 61 8 8235 9954 or + 61 408 209 593 // Fax: + 61 8 8235 9954
Email: tours@bookabee.com.au // Web: www.bookabee.com.au
pic: satc
pic: satc