Today is set aside as an arrival day. Own arrangements for hotel connections. Late afternoon we will meet in the foyer of the Hotel Grand Chancellor for a predinner get together. Then we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner where we’ll discuss our plans for the
tour.

Accommodation: Adelaide (en suite rooms). Meals: D.

After an early breakfast in the hotel, we’ll pack our bags and head out of Adelaide, making our way north to the scenic Flinders Ranges. It is a big day of driving but we will stop for birding en route, looking for local specialities including Adelaide Rosella (the yellow-orange ssp subadelaidae of Crimson Rosella). If time allows along the way we can stop in at some wetlands on the Gulf of St Vincent to try for a few species like Spotted Scrubwren, Slender-billed Thornbill, Banded Stilt, Red-necked Avocet and Sooty
Oystercatcher. As we journey north we will keep our eyes open for raptors including Nankeen Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite and the infrequently seen Black Falcon. Once we cross Goyder’s Line, mapped in 1865 to distinguish areas with enough rainfall for crops from areas suitable only for grazing, we will notice a difference in the natural vegetation as drought adapted saltbush becomes more prominent. In the Flinders Ranges, the vegetation changes again with the spectacular mountains creating many microhabitats and leading to a rich diversity of plants and animals. Depending on our arrival time, we might have time to visit the Indigenous cave paintings at Arkaroo Rock. This is a significant cultural site for the Adnyamathanha people of the Flinders Ranges and the walk takes us to a rock shelter with
paintings featuring ochre and charcoal images that depict the Yura Muda (Dreaming, or creation story) of Ikara (Wilpena Pound). Tomorrow we will explore the ranges and immerse ourselves in this spectacular Outback landscape.

Accommodation: Flinders Ranges (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

Today we spend a full day today exploring the Flinders Ranges. The centrepiece of the ranges is Ikara Wilpena Pound, a magnificent natural amphitheater encircled by mountains. Wedge-tailed Eagle often soar over the grassy slopes, and the rocky gorges are inhabited by Elegant Parrot and Grey-fronted Honeyeater. Redthroat, Painted Buttonquail, Red-capped Robin and Southern Scrub-robin, species that have all regularly been seen here. We’ll also look both for the area’s biggest bird, the Emu, and its smallest,
Weebill.

We’ll have ample opportunity to observe and photograph the landscape and its inhabitants,
including three local species of Kangaroo – Red, Western Grey and Eastern Wallaroo or Euro.
Nearby Brachina Gorge offers a chance of Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, the largest and most
colourful of the rock wallabies. We can also travel through ancient time here: the titled rock
strata are the pages of a book hundreds of millions of years in the making.

Accommodation:
Flinders Ranges (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

Today we will head further north to Vulkathunha – Gammon Ranges National Park, a 128,000-ha wilderness zone that nudges the Strzelecki Desert. We will take it slowly, travelling on outback roads and stopping for birding on the way. Species we may encounter en route include Spiny-cheeked and Singing
Honeyeaters, Yellow-throated Miner, Red-backed Kingfisher, Chirruping Wedgebill, the striking Zebra Finch, and Little Eagle. Our final destination is Arkaroola Sanctuary, established by geologist Reg Sprigg, who discovered the first fossils of the Ediacara fauna. Apart from the stunning scenery, Arkaroola Sanctuary is a haven for wildlife and the wide, clear skies make it an excellent spot for star-gazing. If we arrive early enough, we can take a stroll around the village to look for Red-barred Dragon, a handsome lizard restricted to the northern Flinders Ranges and adjacent desert plains.

Accommodation: Arkaroola Village (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

We will spend a full day in this fantastic area. The star of the show here – Short-tailed Grasswren – will hopefully present well for us. This is the first of the two species of grasswren we hope to see on this tour. We will check out spinifex on hillsides and ridges, where this secretive species spends its days. Other birds we may come across in this location include Little Woodswallow, Painted Finch, Red-browed Pardalote, Mulga Parrot, White-browed Treecreeper and the rambunctious Chestnut-crowned Babbler and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. Red Kangaroo and Common Wallaroo (Euro) occur here and we’ll keep
our eyes open for Short-beaked Echidna trundling around.

Accommodation: Arkaroola Village (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

We leave the Vulkathunha – Gammon Ranges today and resume our travel along Outback tracks, this time heading south to the tiny hamlet of Yunta. We will enjoy the dramatic scenery of these incredible landscapes looking for species such as Australian Ringneck, Mulga Parrot, and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill on the way. We will stay overnight at the historic Yunta Hotel, a historic Outback pub established in the late 1800s.
Accommodation: Yunta Hotel (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

Leaving Yunta after breakfast, we head eastwards to New South Wales. Before we cross the border, we’ll stop in at a conservation park where there is a small population of Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. Here we also have the chance of birds like Thick-billed Grasswren, Cinnamon Quail-thrush, White-winged Fairywren and Greater Bluebonnet. Our destination for tonight is Broken Hill. Nicknamed the Silver City after the rich mineral deposits mined here, Broken Hill occupies an important place in Australian popular
culture: Mad Max II and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert were both filmed in and around the town. If time allows, we have a chance to make a detour to the historic town of Silverton.

Accommodation: Broken Hill (en suite rooms) as for previous night. Meals: B, L, D.

We will have a chance to explore the area today, including a visit to Mutawintji NP where we’ll look for the southernmost population of the dapper Hall’s Babbler, typically a bird of Outback Queensland, as well as Square-tailed Kite, Budgerigar, Black Honeyeater, Crimson Chat, Zebra Finch and the chance of a mega-rare Grey Falcon. We can also check out the road to Silverton and other areas on the outskirts of Broken Hill. Depending on conditions and whether there has been recent rain, we may come across nomadic species such as Pied Honeyeater, Little Buttonquail and White-browed and Masked Woodswallows.

Accommodation: Broken Hill (en suite rooms) as for previous night. Meals: B, L, D.

This is a big driving day, so we will leave Broken Hill early. Our first stop will be Menindee Lakes and the Darling River. Depending on water levels there may be a number of waterbirds present as well as the opportunity for Black-breasted Buzzard, Cockatiel, Little Crow and the brightly coloured Orange Chat. After some time in these desert wetlands, we will resume our travels south, heading for the amazing Mungo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed park noted for its archaeological and geological
features. Lake Mungo is the site of some of the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens outside Africa. The habitats here range from mallee woodland through to chenopod shrubland, and contain birds such as Redthroat, White-winged Fairywren, Black-faced Woodswallow, White-backed Swallow, Yellow-throated Miner, and small flocks of garrulous, active Apostlebird, always a delight to watch. We will cross the mighty Murray River and arrive at our destination in Red Cliffs in the evening.

Accommodation: Red Cliffs (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

We will spend the day at Hattah-Kulkyne NP, hoping to spot the increasingly rare Mallee Emu-wren, a tiny, secretive bird that lives among spinifex in older stands of mallee. Other birds we hope to see here are Greater Bluebonnet, Pink Cockatoo, Striped Honeyeater, Striated Grasswren, Splendid Fairywren, Gilbert’s Whistler and Hooded Robin. Two goanna species might be encountered here – Lace Monitor and Gould’s Monitor – as well as other much smaller dragons, skinks and geckos. The mallee is home to Western Grey Kangaroo and Red Kangaroo, and we will almost certainly spot them during the tour. On the way back, we will stop at a reserve that contains remnant Belah (Casuarina pauper) woodland, where we will try for White-browed Treecreeper, Red-capped Robin and Chestnut-crowned Babbler. As we head west towards our next destination, we will check out the river for birds taking advantage of abundant water and River Red Gums. The treed floodplains along the Murray River are home to Noisy Miner, Grey Shrike-thrush, Little Friarbird, Purple-backed Fairywren, Peaceful Dove and Redrumped
Parrot. With luck, we might spot Rakali (Water Rat). After dinner – if our energy levels allow for it! – we can try for Spotted Nightjar along some mallee backroads.

Accommodation: Renmark (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

Once again, we’re off the beaten track and today’s destination is the world-renowned Gluepot Reserve. This huge block of intact mallee, comprising over 51,000 ha, holds such mallee specialties as Red-lored Whistler, Striated Grasswren, Black-eared Miner, Chestnut Quail-thrush, White-browed Treecreeper,
Malleefowl and on occasion, Scarlet-chested Parrot. We’ll spend the day here looking along the various tracks for these and other species like Mulga Parrot, Regent Parrot, Australian Ringneck (Mallee Ringneck, subsp. barnardi), Southern Scrub-robin, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater and Shy Heathwren. The area supports a wide diversity of other wildlife and we might be fortunate to spot Eastern Mallee Dragon, a small agamid restricted to the mallee of SE Australia. Other agamids found here include Central Bearded Dragon and Painted Dragon. We’ll also keep an eye out for Burton’s Legless Lizard, its characteristic pointed snout separating it from other legless lizards and snakes, and for Shingleback, equally unmistakable. Late in the day we will head back across the Murray, by ferry this time, to Waikerie, where we will stay overnight. Waikerie boasts some delightful silo art, depicting Regent Parrot and fish and invertebrates from the Murray region. Among the species painted on the silos is the Ghost or Rain Moth whose Indigenous name wei-kari gives the town its name.

Accommodation: Waikerie (en suite cabins). Meals: B, L, D.

We’ll return to Gluepot Reserve this morning for another look at this remarkable area. Then we’ll begin the drive back to Adelaide, passing through a variety of habitats, with a chance of Musk Lorikeet, Diamond
Firetail, Jacky Winter and Restless Flycatcher on the way. We will arrive in Adelaide in time for dinner.

Accommodation: Adelaide (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

For those leaving this morning, the tour concludes after breakfast. For those joining our new Nullarbor tour, we will meet again for dinner. Spend the day at leisure in the city. The South Australian Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia and Adelaide Botanic Gardens are close to the city centre.

Accommodation: none. Meals: B.