Our Small Group Tour and Conference to Central Australia runs from 31 March to 7 April 2021 and see us continuing our travels in Australia… this time visiting the red heart of the continent.
It wasn’t long ago that European explorers competed fiercely against one another to map the vast interior of the country.
Now, just over a century and a half later, it is your turn to follow in the footsteps of Bourke, Wills and Stuart, and many other brave explorers by retracing part of their journey and in doing so creating your own incredible adventure.
Do not hesitate to give us a call. One of our expert team is available and would be happy to answer any questions you have.
1300 668 149 or +61 3 9545 0906
With a group size guaranteed to not exceed 26 people – this is truly a small group tour the likes of which we’ve built our reputation on.
Your 8-day itinerary will blend our accredited medical and pharma education seamlessly with a specially created itinerary hosted by our carefully selected guides.
Starting in Alice Springs, enjoy a ‘Welcome to Country‘ performance and the opportunity to network with your fellow participants before settling into the first of your conference sessions.
While in Alice Springs, you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service headquarters on a specially arranged tour.
Here you’ll learn about the history and the activities of the RFDS’s pilots, engineers, doctors, and nurses, and the experiences of the patients that are carried and cared for each day.
Leaving Alice Springs behind, you’ll travel first to Standley Chasm. Located in a private flora and fauna reserve, surrounded by the West MacDonnell National Park, you enjoy a guided walk through the 3 metre wide but 80 metre deep gorge where the traditional owners, the Arrernte people will explain the significance of the region and provide an insight into their spiritual connection to this ancient land.
From there, you’ll journey to Ormiston Gorge… a great place for a cool dip and to see an interesting variety of native fauna and flora including a number of relict plant species from Central Australia’s tropical past.
Kings Canyon is the next stop on your itinerary – but not before we leave the sealed roads behind and hit the Mereenie Loop. It’s an alternate and much more scenic way of getting to our destination and one of the advantages of using the purpose-built 5-star Mercedes Benz 4WD coaches in this part of the world. There won’t be a river, creek, or track that we can’t access.
Inside the air-conditioned vehicle, each guest will be allocated their own reclining seat… with business-class style legroom, while the USB charging points at each seat and satellite communication will mean you’re never out of contact with loved ones at home.
During your two-night stay at Kings Canyon, you have plenty of opportunities to enjoy either the guided 6km Rim Walk or the shorter 2.6km Canyon Floor guided walk. Whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed to be blown away by the beauty of the area.
Uluru is the final stop on your Central Australia itinerary with 3 nights at the luxury 5-star Sails in the Desert Resort.
We’ve got an event to remember planned for your first evening – kicking off with the magical ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner. It begins overlooking Uluru as the sunset, includes a premium bush tucker menu, and ends with some stargazing while sitting comfortably by the campfire.
Also on the itinerary while based at Sail in the Desert is a trip out to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) where you will have the chance to admire the stunning rock formations on another of the specially arranged guided walks. You’ll then return to Uluru to meet one of the traditional owners of the land and learn about the local Anangu culture.
The last full day of your Central Australia itinerary includes the final 2 conference sessions and some free time before visiting artist Bruce Munro’s global phenomenon ‘Field of Light’ which features 50,000 slender stems crowned with radiant frosted spheres, spread across an area the size of 7 football fields.
Departing the resort before sunset, you and the other Amaco participants will head to an exclusive dune top location affording majestic views of Uluru. Enjoy drinks and canapes as ‘Field of Light’ gently illuminates, and the 50,000 glass spheres come to life. After your host provides some insights into this remarkable installation, you welcome to head off to explore the stunning display via the dedicated pathways. Return to the resort for your Farewell Dinner.
In these COVID times, we understand the concerns of our participants and have carefully selected operators who we know will be able to maintain the high standard we expect of them.
Uncompromising cleaning and hygiene practices are already a feature of every Amaco tour and this hasn’t changed. If anything, we’re more fastidious now and ensure that additional cleaning, sanitising, and hygiene practices have been implemented in all areas with particular emphasis on high touch points and hard surfaces.
All the transportation and accommodation we will be using have been carefully selected and are fully equipped with all that you will need. Hand sanitising stations will be available in all public areas and personal hygiene kits will also be provided where appropriate.
We certainly hope that you can join us as we travel through Central Australia from 31 March to 7 April 2021.
Remember… this tour is limited to 26 people. Places will be allocated in the order that completed registration forms and deposits are received.
Start: Alice Springs
Ends: Uluru (Ayers Rock)
31 March 2021 @ 7:00pm
7 April 2021 @ 9:00am
Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $795 pp
Amaco Family Price (for previous Amaco Conference Participants): $4,995 pp
Early Bird Price (if booked on or before 25 January 2021): $4,995 pp
Standard Price (if booked on or after 26 January 2021): $5,495 pp
Morocco Single Supplement (if traveling alone): $995 pp
After arriving into Alice Springs, you will be met by Amaco staff and our local operators and transferred to our group hotel. Following check-in, you are free to relax in your room or begin enjoying the area surrounding the hotel.
Enjoy Networking Welcome Drinks & Dinner at the hotel where you will have the opportunity to meet other participants and their partners as well as your Amaco hosts.
Overnight: Mercure Alice Springs Resort
Included Meals: Welcome Networking Drinks & Dinner
Conference Sessions 1 & 2 will take place this morning at the Mercure Alice Springs Resort. Morning tea and lunch are included for delegates and non-delegates.
In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of Alice Springs including a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Anzac Hill, before returning to the hotel to relax and freshen up.
Enjoy dinner at the Barra on Todd Restaurant this evening.
Overnight: Mercure Alice Springs Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we depart Alice Springs and travel the Mereenie loop through the West MacDonnell Ranges to Kings Canyon.
Enjoy the scenic drive and visit Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge along the way.
Check in to the Kings Canyon Resort late afternoon where you will spend the next two nights.
Dinner at the resort this evening.
Overnight: Kings Canyon Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today enjoy the wonders of the majestic Kings Canyon. Several walks are available, including the spectacular 6 km rim walk. This walk features breathtaking views of the Watarrka National Park before descending into the ‘Garden of Eden’.
For those seeking something a little less arduous, there is also one available along the canyon floor which is considered quite straightforward and is 2.6km in distance.
Upon returning to the resort this afternoon, there is the opportunity to take helicopter flights over Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park. The 15-minute flights cost approximately $150 per person.
Dinner at the resort this evening.
Overnight: Kings Canyon Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we depart Kings Canyon for Uluru.
Pass through Kings Creek Station and enjoy an informative talk and lunch at Curtin Springs, before arriving at the award-winning Sails in the Desert Hotel, part of the Ayers Rock Resort.
Enjoy a familiarisation drive around Uluru before returning to the resort and getting ready for this evening’s unique ‘Sounds of Silence’ dining experience under the stars.
Offering the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours, the evening begins with canapes and chilled sparkling wine served on a viewing platform overlooking the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the sun sets and darkness falls, listen to the sound of the didgeridoo and enjoy a premium bush tucker inspired buffet incorporating native bush ingredients.
Afterward, relax by the campfire and listen to the resident star talker decode the southern night sky.
Overnight: Sails in the Desert Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, early risers will experience the sun rising over Uluru and the colours of dawn spreading across the landscape.
After breakfast, head off to discover Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and admire the stunning rock formations on a guided walk into Walpa Gorge following which you’ll return to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and enjoy a guided tour around the base of Uluru, which stands 348 metres above the desert plains. During this tour, led by one of the traditional owners of the land, you will learn about traditional Anangu culture and be able to marvel at one of the largest monoliths in the world!
Dinner tonight will be in the Ilari Restaurant at the resort.
Overnight: Sails in the Desert Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Conference Session 3 & 4 take place this morning at the resort. Morning tea and lunch are included for all participants (delegates and partners).
Later this afternoon you’ll begin to prepare for your visit to artist Bruce Munro’s global phenomenon ‘Field of Light’. Aptly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku (Looking at lots of Beautiful Lights), ‘Field of Light’ features 50,000 slender stems crowned with radiant frosted spheres, spread across an area the size of 7 football fields.
Departing the resort before sunset, you and other Amaco participants will head to an exclusive dune top location with majestic views of Uluru. Enjoy drinks and canapes as Field of Light gently illuminates and the 50,000 glass spheres come to life. After your host provides some insights into this remarkable installation, you’ll head off to explore the stunning display via the dedicated pathways.
You’ll return to the hotel for your Farewell Dinner which will start around 9pm.
Overnight: Sails in the Desert Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a relaxing morning before your transfer to the airport, or to your accommodation if staying on in Darwin. Time to say goodbye, until we meet again for your next outback adventure.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Given everything that has happened in the travel industry of late – you’re correct to be vigilant about where you spend your travel dollar.
Amaco is not only a member of AFTA, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents but we are also ATAS Travel Accredited. This means we have met strict industry financial, operational, and management standards and criteria. Only the best industry agents achieve this accreditation meaning that you can travel with us knowing that you’re in safe and capable hands.
With almost 25 years’ experience in planning and running conferences, we understand that participants often want to add additional travel destinations and adventures either before or after the conference and travel packages we provide.
We encourage all participants to make the most of the time away. This might mean departing earlier than the rest of the group and visiting other destinations before meeting up with the main group at the conference or staying on at the conclusion and doing some additional travel.
Either way – our consultants are perfectly positioned to assist you with making these arrangements and will do all the hard work for you – seamlessly combining your personalised itinerary with the group program.
Yes… not a problem. We understand that people may have a preferred Travel Agent they want to use and we don’t have any issues with you doing so. We’ll advise you of suggested arrival and departure times to allow you to make use of our group transfers.
That said though… we do have experiences consultants who are ready and waiting to help… even if that means just giving you a comparison price – nothing wrong with some competition.
We do ask for a copy of your itinerary so that we can double-check it to ensure that it fits with our program and group itinerary.
One word of warning, however, when booking flights independently – as the non-ticketing Agent we’re not notified of any changes or amendments to your booking. If anything changes with your flights, it will be up to your agent to contact you and then for you to contact us.
It is also worth pointing out that even though we’ll have an experienced staff member escorting the group during the conference, as the non-ticketing Agent we are unable to make contact or deal with the airline on your behalf.
We used to include flights in our travel package but found that in many cases the fares were more expensive than the best available daily fares or were not applicable for people who were looking to extend pre or post the main conference travel dates.
We also felt it was unfair on you, as a participant, to unknowingly pay a premium for a more flexible group fare when you are already committed to attending the conference.
By not including the airfare in the package, you are able to work with one of our experienced and knowledgeable Travel Consultants to arrange flights on any airline and from any destination depending on your preferences…. including the class of travel.
In short….. Yes!
You’re encouraged to talk to our experienced travel consultants to learn more about the options open to you either before or after the conference itineraries. We will gladly work with you to put together a personalised itinerary that can include as much or as little as you want.
We believe it is important for your own peace of mind to know that our consultants are all employed directly by Amaco Small Group Tours and are located in our office.
We don’t subcontract out the travel to a third party which means you can be comfortable knowing that whatever arrangements you make through Amaco will be tied together with the conference program to make one continuous, seamless travel itinerary. We’ll put as much care and effort into your extension as we put into the planning of the conference.
Whether it is simply booking some airport transfers with a couple of nights accommodation through to more elaborate arrangements we are perfectly positioned to incorporate any individual travel plans into your overall conference itinerary.
Email or call us so we can put together your perfect itinerary.
Much has been said about the value of travel insurance – especially given the broad-based exclusion policies many underwriters have in place which protects them from claims resulting from pandemics and epidemics.
Amaco provides travel insurance from some of the most reputable companies in the industry including Cover-More, SureSave and AussieTravelCover – and always at competitive rates. Over the last few months, there have been a number of enhancements to the policies available which many of the credit card policies do not include.
Please call our office and we will gladly work with you to obtain a quote from any or all of our insurance suppliers.
Amaco is an Accredited Education Provider for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine.
Each conference we run includes an education syllabus that assists GP’s, pharmacists and health professionals to improve the quality of care they provide to patients and customers while at the same time providing them the opportunity to travel to and experience new and exciting destinations.
Our conference will allow delegates the opportunity to earn CPD points based on the content and time in session. As has been the case with past conferences, we will work closely with participants affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
The content of the education sessions will be relevant to GPs, Medical Specialists, Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses and other health providers. We encourage all attendees to register for the conference sessions.
The Education Committee for our Central Australia Conference will be selected in the first quarter of 2021 with final conference topics to be chosen based on the feedback from our previous conference attendees and with input from the RACGP, ACRRM, and Medical Journals. Suitable speakers will be approached based on the topics selected.
Subject to final accreditation, the Central Australia Conference will include an Accredited Education Activity (formerly Category 1 Activity) affording delegates the opportunity to earn up to 40 points.
ACRRM members can also expect the education program to be accredited and to earn CPD points. RACGP and ACRRM accreditation will be applied for under the triennium 2020 to 2022.
As has been the case in the past, Amaco will work with pharmacy bodies and those affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
We welcome applications from potential presenters and encourage anyone interested to contact us to obtain further information.