Sample Itinerary: The Canning Stock Route
This tour is promoted as a group tour only and is a sample itinerary from the many that could be made available from Austour. It is the ulimate 4x4 drive Australian Outback Adventure. Let Austour plan a special group tour (minimum 10 days) along this famous outback stock route.
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Tour Duration: 23 days
Departs: Alice Springs
Concludes: Alice Springs
Tour Code: CSR-23
Day 1 - Sat - ALICE SPRINGS - PRE TOUR MEETING
Passengers arriving today will be met on arrival and transferred to Heavitree Gap Outback Lodge. Evening pre-departure get together and convoy briefing meeting.
Included Meals: D
Accommodation: Motel
Day 2 - Sun - ALICE SPRINGS TO GOSSES BLUFF
Today we commence our adventure and to test our vehicles on varying road conditions. We will detour to visit spectacular Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen. Tonight camp near Gosse Bluff – a world renowned comet crater.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 3 - Mon - AYERS ROCK RESORT VIA MEREENIE & KINGS CANYON
Our journey along the Mereenie Track through the West MacDonnell Ranges is quite spectacular. Today is the ideal opportunity to sample the road conditions ahead of us and to test out packing, travelling and driving skills. Soon this will be a bitumen road. You may well be one of the last few thousand to join the convoy experience on this dirt road track. A stop at Kings Canyon Resort and a brief detour into the Canyon itself and the Canyon base walk. Then it's on to Uluru arriving in time to view sunset on The Rock.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 4 - Tue - GILES WEATHER STATION IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Passengers joining us at Ayers Rock must be ready to depart the Resort at 8.00 a.m. We will briefly visit Uluru and the N.P. Interpretative Centre before our journey west to the WA border and beyond. We will visit Lasseter's Cave, where this eccentric miner camped after his alleged discovery of a reef of gold. A detour is made to the Docker River Aboriginal Community. Then on through the Petermann Ranges to WA and Giles. Tonight we will camp in the comfort of the Giles Caravan Park near this isolated Meteorological Station.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 5 - Wed - WARBURTON COMMUNITY & MISSION
A morning inspection of the Meteorological Station, where the local staff will provide us with an insight into their daily routine. See the Len Beadell grader that opened up the network of outback roads in the 1950's and 60's including the infamous Gunbarrel Highway. Giles and the road network were so important to the Rocket Testing activities at Woomera and the atom bomb testing that occurred at this time. We will journey this afternoon to Warburton and visit another Aboriginal community. A camping area here could be our overnight stop.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 6 - Thur - HEATHER HIGHWAY A LEN BEADELL ROAD
The Heather Highway shows us a new dimension in corrugated roads. We will detour to Mt Samuel on the original Gunbarrel Highway for a panoramic view of the vast Outback. Photograph the Beadell tree blazed by Len during his road making expeditions across this remote Outback region. We will camp at Beadell Camp at an idyllic bush camp location, our first of many bush camps.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 7 - Fri - GUNBARREL HIGHWAY - A MUST BY 4WD
Majestic Mt Beadell is our first stop. Mulga scrub, spinifex plains and stands of desert oaks and the signpost "Windy Corner" where the Gunbarrel Highway and the Gary Highway meet remind us of our isolation. Good water and a freshen up at a bore restored by the Geraldton Historic Society is a welcome relief before our arrival at isolated Carnegie homestead, the last pastoral lease east in WA and 1200 kilometres from Curtin Springs. Crossing this isolated area of the Australian Outback, a challenge, that has now been conquered.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 8 - Sat - CARNEGIE STATION
A day at Carnegie Homestead is most welcome. Relax on their green lawns, read a book, do the washing, talk to station hands, clean up, work on the vehicles and prepare for the challenges of the Canning.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 9 - Sun - CANNING STOCK ROUTE
Leaving Carnegie we visit one more isolated station property Glenayle Homestead, owned by the Ward family. Later we will pass the Ward Range, named in recognition of this pioneering family. We join the Canning Stock Route at Well 9. It was here that the explorer Alexander Forrest held back a native attack in 1874, his rock fort can still be seen. Inspect and photograph Wells 9, 10 and 11. Our destination is Well 12 with 23 sand dunes to cross! A dry bush camp tonight. Don't forget to count the sand dunes yourself to verify our estimates.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 10 - Mon - SAND DUNE COUNTRY
Excitement today as we experience some more sand dune country. Perhaps some difficulties as we negotiate these dunes and learn to cope with this new and interesting terrain. When Canning and his team put down these wells, from 1906, wagon convoys were stopped by these dunes and the camel teams took over. We pass the Ward hills, inspect Wells 13 to 16 all in various stages of decay, it really makes us all aware of the hardship of these droving days and the well sinking team who dug holes up to 30 metres deep to find this precious water. The path of Giles, the early explorer, is crossed today. Dry bush camp tonight.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 11 - Tue - DURBA HILLS
The beautiful Durba Hills are our backdrop as the dawn comes across the Australian Outback. Our challenge is to climb to the highest point known as Canning's Cairn. Our view is forever. Time to walk and explore, perhaps inspect some Aboriginal petroglyphs and some interesting geological formations. Our next stop is Biella Springs, a beautiful walk through a gorge to the spring and our chance to see some traditional art of the desert aborigines. In the afternoon we will visit Killagurra Gorge w here the beautiful ghost gums, red cliffs and rock pools provide an ideal setting for a refreshing swim. The area is a registered sacred site and aboriginal rock art can be readily seen. A short journey to Durba Springs takes us to the place that Dick Smith from Australian Geographic calls his "favourite place in Australia." Here we will camp for two nights.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 12 - Wed - DURBA SPRINGS
A free day to recharge and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful place. Wash some clothes, clean up, walk and explore, discover some Aboriginal art or just relax and fall in love with Durba.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 13 - Thur - LAKE DISAPPOINTMENT
Today we encounter some of our larger sand dunes, the going is tough but interesting. Well 19, the "Lonely Well", is well named and Lake Disappointment our destination typifies the isolation that the early explorers must have experienced. We will detour to the shores of the lake, perhaps see some wild camels and bird life. Savory Creek, crosses the Stock Route near Well 19 and flows into the lake. It is a salt crusted, long expanse of water that can often cause difficulties to Stock Route travellers. Our usual camp is on a sand ridge under desert oaks and overlooking the lake that is particularly beautiful at sunset and sunrise.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 14 - Fri - TALAWANA TRACK
From Lake Disappointment we pass the McKay Ranges, Well 21 and 22 and onto the Talawana Track, another of the Len Beadell tracks constructed in 1962. A brief stop at Shepherd's fuel depot, where fuel in drums from Newman is brought to Well 23. Pass the Windy Corner turn off our destination is Well 26, more sand dunes, isolated Well sites and to our east the Gibson Desert, named by Giles in memory of Alfred Gibson who perished in the region. Well 26 - Tiwa - was reconstructed in the 1980's by a party of volunteers. The windlass, whip pole, well bucket, troughing and timber work are all reproductions of the equipment used in 1908. This is a refreshing stop with plenty of water - bush shower time.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 15 - Sat - WELL NUMBER 31
We are now in the area first visited by the explorer Wells in 1896. Helen Hill, Lake Auld and Thring Rock are sighted as we continue our journey along the Canning Stock Route. Dunda Jinda, an area sacred to the local Aboriginal community surrounds Well 30. Mujingerra Cave, a limestone cave 4 kilometres south of Well 30 has a large pool of clear water, at the end of a tunnel 6 metres below ground. Canning described it as unique water. Well 31 is our overnight stop and is perhaps one of the most picturesque well sites - red sands and ghost gums overlooking a vast salt lake.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 16 - Sun - BLOODWOOD FOREST
This morning we will visit the alternate site for Well 31 that was put down by Snell during his Well reconstruction survey trip in 1929, as it was reported that Well 31 had become salty. However, Canning during his reconstruction trip rebuilt his original well. We cross the Kidson Track, built in the 1960's, to service all exploration in the Great Sandy Desert and an escape route west to the Great Northern Highway. We may visit the Aboriginal community at Well 33 and hopefully arrange for some of their elders to talk to our group and perhaps show us some of their country. A refreshing bush shower by the windmill at Well 33 is an ideal way to complete the day.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 17 - Mon - DESERT OAK FOREST
Crossing flat spinifex plains with some rocky and corrugated areas. We travel through the great desert oak woodland visiting Bungabinni, an Aboriginal waterhole, which was recently cleared by Peter Vernon of Melbourne and his team of desert explorers. It provides excellent water and is a refreshing stop. Our camp tonight is amidst the desert oaks between Wells 36 & 37.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 18 - Tue - THE HAUTEND WELL
Our first stop this morning is at the "Haunted Well" - Well 37. See the graves of early drovers George Shoesmith, James Thomson and their Aboriginal stockman who were killed by Aborigines in 1911 and the grave of Jock McLernon, an oil prospector, who also suffered the same fate in 1922. Well 38 Wardabunni Rock Hole, Well 39 - only 5 metres deep and Tobin Lake are our morning stops. Near Well 40 is the grave of Michael Tobin, the well borer who was speared during Canning's survey. Well 41 our destination today is another recently restored site with excellent water and is an ideal spot for our overnight camp.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 19 - Wed - SAND DUNE COUNTRY
An interesting start to the day with the challenge of 30 kilometres of some of the highest sand dunes, 16.8 metres, on the stock route will be encountered. Well 42 on the edge of Guli Lake is where Canning obtained water at 1.4 metres. Time permitting Gravity Lakes is worth a visit. Many new tracks have been opened up over recent years to connect the Well sites. Our tour will visit as many sites as practical. Well 46 is a possible camp tonight. We have allowed time on the journey. As you will see, Day 20, is set aside as a free day. Lots of things can happen on an expedition such as this. We may be well ahead of schedule or incidence on the way may have put us behind.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 20 - Thur - OUR CATCH UP DAY
This day will be used along the way or to catch up to put us in striking distance of the Tanami Track. The operational decisions will be made of your crew in the best interests of all travelling on this adventurous convoy.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 21 - Fri - BREADEN HILLS TO TANAMI
Our highlights still to include a visit to Breaden Hills. The impressive flat-topped Southesk Tablelands and Mt Romilly provide impressive views of the surrounding countryside. David Carnegie, the explorer, named these tablelands after his father the Earl of Southesk. Canning chose the Breaden Hills - Breaden Tank - large natural rockholes - for the cattle watering holes. Well 50 and 51 are our last visited Wells on the Stock Route. Billiluna Homestead is passed before we join the Tanami Track. Billiluna was the assembly point for many of the mobs of cattle before they commenced their journey south along the Canning Stock Route. Journey along the Tanami Track, another famous Territory stock route which after 1929 provided access for the Kimberley cattle properties to drive their stock to the Alice Springs railhead. Find a suitable bush camp for our last night together.
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Tent
Day 22 - Sat - TANAMI STOCK ROUTE
A morning journey to the Aboriginal settlement of Yuendumu and a stop at Tilmouth Roadhouse sees our arrival in Alice Springs at approximately 5.00 pm concluding a journey of approximately 4,700 kilometres and 824 sand dunes, give or take a few, and an exciting adventure what is likely to become a world acclaimed Australian Heritage Trail. Congratulations!!
Included Meals: B L D
Accommodation: Motel
Day 23 - Sun - ALICE SPRINGS - LAST FAREWELLS
After breakfast it's clean up time, packing, sorting out, getting ready to catch a plane or to drive home or to settle in to a few extra days in The Alice. Your tour crew will head for home or perhaps their next adventure. It's been a great time and a big adventure!
Included Meals: B
- - IMPORTANT --
This itinerary is to be used as a guide only and has been prepared from information and experiences on previous Austour Canning Stock Route expeditions. Many circumstances necessitate change that can be made prior to departure or during the course of the journey. Kilometres and number of sand dunes crossed are estimates only based on previous itineraries.
KEY: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner; T = Tent; H = Hotel
Additional Information
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For more information, including prices, departure dates, Terms and Conditions and other travel information regarding touring the Australian Outback please visit the Austour Website - www.austour.com.au
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and a Member of the Australian Tourism Export Council
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