An update about a great adventure destination for beginner travellers to the outback, news about sat phone hire for the Simpson Desert, some unique tours out of Alice Springs, and Qantas flight specials.
[powerpress]In this week’s outback travel news update:
00:53 – Feature destination: the Oodnadatta Track
02:23 – Five essential tips for travelling the Oodnadatta Track
03:58 – Book sat phones now for the 2013 Simpson Desert season
04:32 – Unique tours from Alice Springs
05:04 – Qantas outback summer flight specials
Feature Destination: The Oodnadatta Track
Oodnadatta Track is a great introduction to outback driving and bush camping for beginners.
It’s a big, smooth track (really, it’s a good gravel road), with plenty to see and do along the way.
We especially recommend it for families, as there’s plenty of places for the kids to swim, some great campsites, and lots of old railway and Overland Telegraph buildings to explore along the way.
The Oodnadatta Track is just over 600 km long; starts in Marree and finished in at Marla – and it’s a real alternative to the Stuart Hwy if you’re travelling to or from the Northern Territory.
5 essential travel for the Oodnadatta Track
- Although we’ve seen 2WD vehicles on the Track, we recommend that you take a 4WD, just in case there’s been some rain, or you’re planning on a side trip to the Peake Telegraph Station ruins or Lake Eyre
- At a minimum, carry 2 spare tyres OR have the ability to patch and repair – and make sure you know how to change a tyre
- Always carry spare radiator hoses and fanbelts. Even if you don’t know how to change them, some one will always come along who DOES know how to change them, and having the spares will save you an expensive tow truck recovery
- Hire a sat phone OR have a UHF radio installed. There are UHF repeaters along the Oodnadatta Track which are monitored and you’ll be able to call for help if you need it
- Water – make sure you’ve got 10 litres, per person, per day, and a little spare in case you need to top up your radiator.
2013 Simpson Desert Satellite Phone Hire
Satphone hire is available from Mt Dare Hotel for Simpson Desert Crossings.
It’s advisable to book now for the winter 2013 season. There are only 15 satphones available, and they book out quickly.
Satphones can be returned at the Wirrari Information Centre Birdsville (they can also be hired there).
The cost is around $140 for 4 days hire.
More information: Mt Dare Hotel.
Central Oz Tours
If you’re looking for something different when you visit Central Australia, take a tour with Al Barnett of Central OZ Motorbike tours.
Al’s one of the best known tour guides in Alice Springs, and he’s been running these tours for 20 yrs.
You can take a ride on a Harley, or design your own 4X4 adventure.
No matter what, you’ll experience the outback with a real local and see places that many other tours don’t even know exist.
Contact Al: http://www.centraloz.com/ or phone: (+61) 0407105899
Qantas Summer Flight Specials
Qantas have some great summer specials for travel to Alice Springs and Uluru between 14 Jan 2013- 28 March.
You can fly from Sydney to $249 each way from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.
Details here: http://www.qantas.com.au/
Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you next week!
Thanks for sharing this.