Arkaroola and Lake Eyre – an incredible trip to the heart of Australia
Venture into the remote outback wilderness of South Australia
If you’re prepared to travel long distances into the outback, to venture into rarely-visited wilderness, to clamber over rocks on rough tracks and traverse along steep mountain-side trails, this trip will reward you with an outback experience like no other.
Park Trek’s 8-day Arkaroola & Lake Eyre walking tour will take you on some of the best day walks South Australia has to offer, exploring the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and Lake Eyre-Kati Thanda National Park.
From Adelaide our first stop is Wilpena Pound, the spectacular heart of the Flinders Ranges National Park. Then we continue north to Arkaroola in the remote northern Flinders Ranges. Arkaroola is a place of red-rock escarpments, dramatic gorges and towering granite peaks. The geology of this region is fascinating and you’ll learn about how these ranges were formed over millions of years. Walking through the chasm of Chambers Gorge you’ll get up close to an extensive series of rock engravings, part of the heritage of the Adnyamathanha people.
After exploring Arkaroola, we head further north to spectacular Lake Eyre, which holds the lowest natural point in Australia at a staggering 15 metres below sea level. Usually Lake Eyre is a vast, dry salt plain but when it fills with water it becomes the largest lake in Australia.
The sparkling white salt flat of Lake Eyre is a visual highlight. The lake stretches as far as the eye can see and, from the lake shore, we can only guess at its size. From the air however, you can come to understand the scale and beauty of this landscape – while at Lake Eyre you’ll have the option to take a spectacular scenic flight above the lake and it is a highlight that you shouldn’t miss.
We’ll walk to old settlers cottages, along creek beds, through gorges and along mountain side trails with sprawling views of the ranges. The walking here is not too strenuous but this is a remote wilderness region – the trails are rocky and can require careful foot placements. Our accommodation at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is in an isolated location but you wont be short of creature comforts: we stay in ensuite air-conditioned cabins and the Sanctuary even has a licensed lounge bar.
We’ll be covering a lot of distance in our 4WD vehicle to get to these remote areas, but that is part of the experience. Driving across tracts of desert you can come to understand the sheer vastness of our beautiful country. This is a special tour to a very different part of the vast red heart of Australia.
Park Trek’s 8-day Arkaroola & Lake Eyre walking tour
Date: departing 6 May 2020, 27 August 2020
Inclusions: all transport ex Adelaide, accommodation, most meals and snacks, experienced walking guides
Group size: a maximum of 10
Price: from $2950 per person twin share.
