EXPERIENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITHOUT ROUGHING IT
Issue 3 : January 2007

Seasons Greetings to all!! 2007 has come with a rush, with planning and marketing of our winter expeditions well advanced.

New equipment designed specifically for our remote area travels has been tried and tested since our last Newsletter, with terrific results.

After many months of behind the scenes work we have completed and taken delivery of our presentation folder, including DVD, which will enable us to approach the wider domestic and international market with confidence. At a glance we are now able to showcase our unique business to interested parties and then follow up with high-class material relating to specific expeditions.

Don't forget our alliance with the Ballina RSL Club – if you are a member, you may be entitled to a member discount, ranging from 2.5 to 10 %, depending on the trip. If you are not a member, maybe the time has come to join and receive not only potential discounts with us but substantial additional benefits through the Club.

Best wishes for the coming year. We hope that our newsletter helps to inspire thoughts of remote area adventure by way of small group travel, for all age groups.
What's been happening?

Accommodated Outback Experience


We ended our winter expeditions with our fully accommodated Outback Experience. 3.5 / 4 Star motels in town, country pubs, a working cattle station in the Strzelecki Desert, shearers quarters on a remote sheep station, and sleeping in a dugout motel were just some of the highlights of this, our favourite experience. Some great pre dawn photography in the Strzelecki (while our expeditioners slept!) enabled us to present a CD of images at the completion of the experience, which was viewed with enthusiasm by all. Our party took literally the meaning of one of our mottos, ‘we arrive at our destination at stubby o'clock'.



Christmas Forays


Several groups gave us the opportunity to host them for their Christmas get together with a difference. We chose an area in close proximity to a waterfall on a working macadamia farm. Jo worked some magic with her Christmas menu and produced a 5 course feast during the course of these afternoons. Plenty of champagne, red and white wine, good company and plenty of Ho Ho Ho and frivolity steered the afternoons to a predictable conclusion. How come when people travel with us for lunch they absolutely refuse to leave the dinner table until after 5pm??



Christmas Lightup


Lightup once again proved popular, with an evening of champagne and Jo's 'choc attacks', interspersed with the occasional viewing of the best Christmas lights in the area. This is a girls only affair (is that possible??) and a tradition we continue to enjoy (Jo enjoys the cooking, I enjoy taking the girls around!). Thanks ladies for the wonderful evening, at least we actually got to see the main attractions this year before they turned the lights off!!



Accommodated Outback Experience

Great Rotary Outback Rumble

 

Flinders Ranges & Corner Country Experience

 

31 March – 14 April 2007
(book NOW!!)

5-19 MAY 2007
(book NOW!!)

16 June – 30 June 2007
(book NOW!!)

Fully accommodated, no camping. Stay in remote pubs, a desert cattle station, shearers quarters on a working sheep station, visit towns such as Tibooburra, White Cliffs (underground motel) and Broken Hill (visit Royal Flying Doctor Service, Pro Hart Gallery, underground mine etc).


Click here for more information

3 nights hotel/motel accommodation, 11 nights camping (for Explorer travellers only)

2 weeks in the true Outback of Australia, travelling with either The Explorer Experience ‘desert wagon’, fully catered and all equipment supplied, or travel in your own four wheel drive in a tag-a-long environment with Opposite Lock Ballina providing a break down service. You need to contact me NOW if you are considering this expedition as I am arranging an information afternoon 1st week in February.


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7 nights camping, 8 nights hotel/motel accommodation

The central Flinders Ranges is one of the oldest landscapes on earth, an area of breathtaking beauty, rich history and Aboriginal Dreamtime legend. From the natural enclosure of Wilpena Pound to the awesome ruggedness of the gorge country, your experience will be unique, complete and satisfying. Follow in the footsteps of Captain Starlight, cattle thief and one of Australia’s most experienced stockmen!


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Outback Art Experience

Christmas in July

Opera at The Channon

26 May – 9 June 2007

13 – 15 July 2007

22 July 2007

13 nights in shearer’s quarters, 1 night motel accommodation

Record the ochre sunsets, chiselled gorges, and stunted and gnarled red gums of the true Australian Outback in the medium of your choice: pencil sketch, charcoal, digital or film image, water colours etc. This is your opportunity to be at one with the outback landscape, enabling you to indulge yourself in peace and quiet, far from the quickening pace of today’s civilisation.

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Kings Plain Castle Murder Mystery Night

This is the only Christmas in July weekend we will arrange this year. The visit to the Castle was such a hoot in ’06 we just have to go back! The highlight of the weekend will be the murder mystery on Saturday night, dress up and all!!

Reserve your seat NOW, this weekend will go quickly!

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Haven’t got the details yet but this will be another terrific day at the Opera. We have our own big tent this year to protect us from the weather (been escaping by the skin of our teeth over the last couple of years!!). This day is pre booked from last year, I will follow up as we get closer.

Click here for more information