CWM4 Special - Uluru, Kings Canyon and West MacDonnell Ranges Special
Duration: 4 Days, 3 Nights

Leaving Alice Springs at 7:00am, we travel south along the Stuart Highway to Erldunda. Next to the roadhouse is a large fenced off section housing the massive Echidna and Frill Neck Lizard which were used in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony. We leave Erldunda and travel onwards where we visit the viewing area of Mt Conner, a distinctive flat topped monolith rising 300m above the surrounding sand plains that gives a magnificent view of the area.

From Mt Conner we travel on to Yulara, where we have lunch break before taking a tour of The Rock (Ayres Rock/Uluru). It is one of the great wonders of the world; a sandstone monolith which stand 348 metres high, with most of it's bulk below the surface. We then continue on to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) which is a massive group of 36 spectacularly weathered rock domes, before heading back to Uluru to see the changing colours of The Rock as the sun goes down, and enjoy champagne and refreshments before returning to Yulara for your overnight stay.

Overnight: Sails in the Desert, YULARA(BB)

Departing Yulara at 7:30am we travel to Curtain Springs Station and onwards through spectacular desert oak clad dunes to Kings Creek Station. Here we take a break before heading on to Kings Canyon, where you can enjoy a 2 hour walk up into the floor of the canyon called the Creek Walk, or you can enjoy a 4 hour walk up to the rim of the canyon and around it to the other side, observing spectacular views of the weathered rock faces of the Canyon and nature's "Garden of Eden" before heading onwards to our destination at the Kings Canyon Resort.

Overnight: Kings Canyon Resort, KINGS CANYON (DBBL)

We leave Kings Canyon at 8:00am and travel the Mereenie Loop unsealed road through some beautiful desert country, more appealing than the longer sealed highway. During our journey we encounter an endless amount of changing scenery as we traverse Gardiners Range and other highlights before turning off to travel to Gosses Bluff, arriving at a historic location for us to enjoy.

It is thought to be an impact crater formed by a huge comet crashing to Earth, leaving an impact surface of 5km in diameter. Here we will enjoy a picnic lunch before travelling to Tyler's Pass lookout to view the impact crater of Gosses Bluff.

Leaving here mid afternoon we travel to Redbank Gorge, a very narrow gorge with cathedral-height walls towering above very deep and very cold waterholes. There is a 20 minute walk from the carpark to the gorge which is nestled at the base of Mt Sonder in the West MacDonnell National Park, and is a refuge to many threatened species of plant and animal.

We leave Redbank Gorge and travel to Glen Helen where it appears that the MacDonnell Ranges parts to let the Finke River continue it's journey on to the Simpson Desert. It provides another permanent waterhole at the base of the gorge which is very good for swimming. Here we will stay overnight and enjoy the striking backdrop of the red towering gorge walls while eating and resting. You will also be able to see some of Namatijira's painting on the walls in the Namatijira Restaurant.

You will have the options to do helicopter flights and swim in the gorge.

Overnight: Glen Helen Resort, GLEN HELEN (DBBL)

We depart Glen Helen at 9:30am and travel to Ormiston Gorge, where we find more spectacular geology and landforms with towering red walls in the gorge and a near permanent waterhole estimated to be around 14 metres deep at the southern end. The area is renowned for it's spectacular views and variety of native fauna and flora.

We take a morning tea break before departure to the Ochre Pitts, which the desert Aboriginal people used as a mine for the rich mineral Ochre. You will notice the rock formation of the earthy colours which looks like a painting with the colours of Ochre oozing from it. These colours are the raw materials used for paintings and for ceremonial body decoration.

We travel further east to Ellery Creek Big Hole where we view a spectacular waterhole which also cuts through a gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges as a result of huge floods over the years. The floods have unlocked some amazing geology and is recognised internationally as a world geological site.

We proceed into Standley Chasm which has been gouged into the tough sandstone through the West MacDonnell Range by floods over the years by Angkerle Creek; a tributary of the Finke River system. The deep red cliffs on either side rise up to 80 metres above the floor of the chasm, and when the sun shines directly into the chasm they turn a fiery red. The walk into the chasm is along the creek with spring fed pools of water, creating a lush gully floor of many species of ferns and cycad palms. Here we will enjoy a relaxed lunch in all the beauty of the gorge.

We leave Standley Chasm and travel further east to Simpsons Gap, one of the most prominent gaps in the West MacDonnell Ranges. At dawn and dusk it is renowned as a place to see the Black Footed Wallabies. It is also an important spiritual site to the Arrernte Aboriginal people where several dreaming trails and stories cross. It is a stronghold for rare and relict plants.

We conclude our journey leaving Simpsons Gap later in the afternoon and travel the remaining few kilometres into Alice Springs arriving at your accommodation at the All Seasons Oasis, approximately 4:00pm to conclude our tour.

Tour departs at 7:00am from Alice Springs on Monday 14th May 2012 with a minimum of 4 passengers.

INCLUSIONS: - 4WD air-conditioned deluxe transport - All accommodation twin share private facilities - All breakfasts and dinners - Aussie BBQ's - Morning and afternoon teas - All National Park entries - Experienced driver guide Tour Cost: AUD $2,750.00 Adult (twin share) $670.00 Single Supplement TOUR CODE: CMW4 Special Note: Accommodations are subject to availabilities and may be changed without notice.

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