South Australia Discovery

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
DISCOVERY
18 - 29 June 2022
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
DISCOVERY
18 - 29 June 2022
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
DISCOVERY
18 - 29 June 2022
Tour Summary

Amaco Small Group Tours invites you to join us for an in-depth tour discovering the remote regions of South Australia on our South Australian Discovery Small Group Tour & Conference departing 18 June 2022.

South Australia’s vast remote country includes breathtaking outback scenery, stunning flood filled lakes and jaw-dropping views of the Flinders Ranges. 

You’ll begin your journey in Adelaide, the South Australian capital with a Welcome Networking Dinner. This isn’t a city-based conference, so you’ll leave big-smoke life behind and begin your Outback South Australian adventure the next morning.

Journey through the Southern Flinders Ranges amongst 600-million-year-old mountain peaks and enjoy spectacular views over the Spencer Gulf before arriving at the historic town of Quorn, the setting for many iconic Australian films. Here, you’ll board a privately chartered heritage train for a rail journey along the original Ghan route – travelling between Quorn and Port Augusta on the Pichi Richi Railway.

In Port Augusta take a guided walk through the Arid Lands Botanical Gardens. You’ll continue on travelling through the rugged landscape to the world-famous desert underground mining settlement of Coober Pedy – Australia’s opal capital. The backdrop to many movies, you will spend 2 nights in Coober Pedy, famous for its sun-baked lunar landscape, fascinating history and quirky lifestyle.

The best way and most comfortable way to traverse and appreciate the extraordinary landscape of this remote region is by air. You’ll board an Amaco chartered scenic flight crossing some of the world’s largest stations towards the ever stunning Lake Eyre. You’ll pop in for a spot of lunch at the William Creek Hotel (current population 3) and be one of the lucky few who have the opportunity to explore the Anna Creek Painted Hills. Deep in the South Australian outback, the fragile lunar landscape is a recently discovered and rarely accessed section of the pristine Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park – located within Anna Creek Station, the world’s largest working cattle station.

Continue your aerial journey with a spot of afternoon tea at Mount Eba Station before arriving at the legendary outback town of Maree, which is located at the junction of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks.

From here it’s back on the road as the journey meanders into the Flinders Ranges.

Travel via Farina located on the old alignment of the Great Northern Railway and continue to the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. Arkaroola features rugged mountains, towering granite peaks, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes. You’ll explore the area on a guided Scenic Ridge Rim 4WD Tour.

Arkaroola also has one of Australia’s largest privately-owned Astronomical Observatories. You’ll enjoy an intergalactic experience not normally available to anyone but astronomers and scientists, enjoying the best astronomical ‘seeing conditions’ in the Southern Hemisphere. Free of atmospheric and light pollution, it’s a rare chance to ‘tour the universe’ under the best of conditions.

Board your next Amaco chartered flight to Wilpena Pound leaving the dusty bumpy track to more rugged travellers. You’ll get a bird’s eye view over Arkaroola and Wilpena Pound as you fly over the vast Flinders Ranges arriving at the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.  Spend two nights in the National Park, which forms part of South Australia’s largest mountain range. Enjoy a guided walk into Wilpena Pound to Wangara Lookout and learn about the Hills family history.

Venturing beyond the Flinders Rangers you’ll head to the stunning Eyre Peninsula visiting Arno Bay and the Tumby Bay Silo Art before ending our itinerary in Port Lincoln for 3 nights.

Known as the seafood and aquaculture capital of Australia and also called the “Seafood Frontier”, it boasts the largest fishing fleet off any Australian town or city. Sink your teeth into the Eyre Peninsula’s legendary oysters on a Coffin Bay Oyster Farm tour and enjoy freshly caught local seafood samplings on a cruise of  Boston Bay.

You’ll end the trip with an excursion to Whalers Way, a privately owned piece of land on the tip of the Southern Eyre Peninsula. It offers some of the most spectacular, accessible and dramatic coastal views in the state.

Your 12-day itinerary will blend our accredited medical and pharma education seamlessly with a range of authentic experiences.

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 coaches, planes, vehicles, and lodges we will be using 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 South Australia in June next year.

Remember… this tour is limited to 34 people. Places will be allocated in the order that completed registration forms and deposits are received.

Why Travel With Amaco Small Group Tours?

  • All Inclusive Travel Packages
  • Small Groups
  • Hand-picked Tours & Activities
  • 25+ Years Experience

Got a Question?

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

info@amacotravel.com.au

Destination

Outback South Australia

Duration

12 Days / 11 Nights

Value For Money

All Inclusive Travel Package

Start & End Location

Start: Adelaide, South Australia

Ends: Port Lincoln, South Australia

Start Date & Time

18th June 2022 @ 7:00pm

End Date & Time

29th June 2022 @ 9:00am

Registration Fees

Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $795 pp

Travel Packages

Amaco Family Price (for previous Amaco Conference Participants): $8,995 pp*

Early Bird Price (if booked before 18 January 2022): $8,995 pp*

Standard Price (if booked on or after 18 January 2022): $9,995 pp*

Single Supplement (if travelling alone): $2,995

* Price is based on two people sharing a room.

Price Includes

  • 1 x night accommodation at Crowne Plaza Adelaide (18 June 2022)
  • 1 x night accommodation at Standpipe Hotel Port Augusta (19 June 2022)
  • 2 x nights accommodation Desert Cave Hotel Coober Pedy (20/21 June 2022)
  • 1 x night accommodation Marree Hotel (22 June 2022)
  • 1 x nights accommodation Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (23 June 2022)
  • 2 x nights accommodation Wilpena Pound Resort (24/25 June 2022)
  • 3 x nights accommodation Port Lincoln Hotel (26/27/28 June 2022)
  • 11 x Breakfasts, 10 x Lunches, 11 x Dinners
  • Quorn Historical Town Tour (19 June 2022)
  • Pichi Pichi Railway Private Train Charter (19 June 2022)
  • Arid Lands Botanical Garden Guided Walk (19 June 2022)
  • Woomera Rocket Range (20 June 2022)
  • Umoona Opal Mine Tour (21 June 2022)
  • Coober Pedy Town Tour (21 June 2022)
  • Scenic Charter Flight Lake Eyre (22 June 2022)
  • Scenic Charter Flight Anna Painted Hills (22 June 2022)
  • Painted Hills Landing & Exploration Tour (22 June 2022)
  • Scenic Charter Flight to Mt Eba Outback Station (22 June 2022)
  • Mt Eba Outback Station Visit (22 June 2022)
  • Scenic Charter Flight to Marree (22 June 2022)
  • Arkaroola Walking Tour (23 June 2022)
  • Astronomy Observatory Tour (23 June 2022)
  • 4WD Ridgetop Tour (24 June 2022)
  • Scenic Charter Flight Arkaroola to Wilpena Pound (24 June 2022)
  • Wilpena Pound Tour (25 June 2022)
  • Hawker Panorama Gallery (26 June 2022)
  • Silo Art Tumby Bay Visit (26 June 2022)
  • Boston Bay Wine Tasting (27 June 2022)
  • Boston Bay Cruise & Seafood Tasting Tour (27 June 2022)
  • Fresh Fish Place Tour & Tasting (28 June 2022)
  • Oyster Farm Tour (28 June 2022)
  • Whalers Way Tour (28 June 2022)

Gold Amaco Standard Inclusions

  • Small Group Size - Will not exceed 34 people
  • Airport transfer as detailed in the itinerary for group arrivals and departures
  • Beverages service (wine, beer, soft drink and mineral water) with all included lunches and dinners
  • Services of specialist guides and naturalist throughout itinerary
  • All applicable entrance fees, taxes, gratuities and porterage throughout the itinerary
  • Amaco staff escort
  • Hassle free luggage management
  • Tips to guides and drivers

Price Excludes

  • Domestic Airfares to and fro the conference
  • Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, mini bar, room service, laundry and business communications
  • Meals and beverages not specified in the itinerary
  • Travel, optional tours & excursions not included in the itinerary
  • Travel Insurance
Itinerary

Day 1 (Saturday 18 June 2022) Arrive in Adelaide, South Australia

After arriving in Adelaide 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 at the hotel followed by a 3-course dinner. Here you will have the opportunity to meet other participants and their partners as well as your Amaco hosts.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza Adelaide

Included Meals: Welcome Networking Drinks & Dinner

Day 2 (Sunday 19 June 2022)Journey on Pichi Pici Railway to Port Augusta

This morning depart Adelaide and travel north to the historic town of Quorn, a true outback railway town it’s been a popular backdrop for famous films including Gallipoli, and most recently Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner.

It’s also your boarding point for the exclusive train journey on the Pichi Pichi Railway. Watch gum-lined creeks, blue bush-studded hills and ancient rocky outcrops roll past at the relaxed pace of years gone by travelling the old Ghan railway. The Ghan travelled this way from 1923 to 1956, and on the northern part of this route until 1980.

Arrive in Port Augusta early afternoon where you’ll have time to visit the Arid Lands Botanic Garden and learn about the flora and fauna of the outback.

Overnight: Standpipe Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 (Monday 20 June 2022)Into the SA Outback to Coober Pedy

We leave Port Augusta and venture to Woomera for our first stop this morning, best known for the Woomera Rocket Range. Learn about the famous Len Beadell who surveyed the site and walk amongst the rockets and planes left behind by the British.

Continue travelling along the Explorer Highway and enjoy a break at the Lake Hart Lookout viewing white salt crystals and the endless horizon. Our final drive brings us through Glendambo to Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world.

We will spend two nights and a full day here to explore this bizarre yet amazing town.

Overnight: Desert Cave Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 (Tuesday 21 June 2022)Coober Pedy

Conference Session 1 & 2 will take place this morning.

After lunch, we begin our tour of Coober Pedy heading underground just like the locals do, with a tour of the Umoona Opal Mine to understand the process of mining opal.

You’ll visit the Church of Saint Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church. The whole complex, with a church, a community hall, a parish house and a religious school, is carved in sandstone between 3 and 17 meters under the natural ground level. 

Your next stop takes you to the golf course, a unique area to be playing golf.

Then try your luck in noodling, meaning you search for opal through the towns mullock piles. Once you have found your first shiny piece, you will understand how easy it is to get opal fever.

Complete the town tour with the views from the Big Winch Lookout, views of the Blower Truck and the first tree ever seen in town. Finish the day with a tour to the Breakaways and a delicious dinner.

Overnight: Desert Cave Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 (Wednesday 22 June 2022)Lake Eyre & Anna Painted Hills

This morning farewell the strangeness of Coober Pedy and board the specially chartered Amaco flight. 

Your aircraft will track over the Oodnadatta Track, Old Ghan railway line and Nilpinna Station. before flying over Lake Eyre where you will see the wide expanse of salt on the lake bed. Your flight continues to the centre of the Lake and the Warburton Groove, Hughes Island and Dulhunty Island where pelicans, ducks, bandied stilts, kites, small cormorants and seagulls gather when the water is flowing. You’ll then head south over Belt Bay to see the deepest part of the lake at 15m below sea level.

The flight continues with a breathtaking trip to view the Anna Creek Painted Hills. These must-see hills cover an area of 30km by 10km and are made of sandstone. Miraculously, the hills are in pristine condition and continue to show off incredibly vibrant colours. No roads exist in this area and it can only be viewed by air which is what you’ll be doing.

We’re also giving you a unique and spectacular opportunity to view one of Australia’s hidden iconic landmarks from the ground. Located on Anna Creek Station, very few people have witnessed the sheer beauty of the Anna Creek Painted Hills let alone walked amongst the colourful landscape. You’ll take a guided walk through these stunning hills, giving you the opportunity to truly appreciate their fragility and perhaps even see some marine fossils. 

Your charter aircraft awaits following the guided walk to fly you to a private landing spot for lunch in the smallest town in Australia – William Creek. 

It’s then off to Mount Eba Station. The owners bring together a unique depth of pastoral property management, merino sheep breeding and a lifetime of wool growing skills and experience. Renowned for being the geographical centre of South Australia; it was once a stopover for fuel and food stores on the Old Stuart Highway. Established in 1874, Mount Eba is an authentic homestead, the original homestead now shearer’s quarters are still standing and operational today. 

You’ll land at the Mount Eba airstrip – which itself has a fascinating past, being used during the Second World War and by Trans-Tasman Airlines. Today the Royal Flying Doctors Service uses Mount Eba Homestead for Bush Clinics.

Enjoy an afternoon tea before arriving at Marree, an outback town located at the junction of the Oodnadatta Track and the Birdsville Track for a night of outback hospitality.

Overnight: Maree Hotel

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 (Thursday 23 June 2022)Arkaroola

After breakfast, we leave the skies behind and hit the road again. You’ll journey today to the most ancient of lands – Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

Arkaroola features rugged mountains, towering granite peaks, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes. On the way, you’ll visit the historic ghost town of Farina before arriving in Arakoola in the early afternoon.

Enjoy a relaxing dinner and then out for an Observatory Tour where you’ll get to explore the Southern Hemisphere night skies.

Overnight: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 (Friday 24 June 2022)Arkaroola to Wilpena by Scenic Charter Flight

The day will begin with an early morning tour on the famous Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour.

Travelling in a specially constructed open-top four-wheel-drive vehicle, enjoy a guided tour of some of the most spectacularly rugged landscape on earth. Your guide will share their knowledge of Arkaroola’s geological history as they navigate the steep slopes and hair raising ascents of the famous Ridgetop Track.

Inspiring images of red granite mountains and golden, Spinifex covered hillsides give way to a breathtaking view across the Freeling Heights, Lake Frome and the desert beyond. Take in this 360-degree panorama as you enjoy morning tea at beautiful Streitberg Ridge, a lofty pinnacle at the end of the Track.  

It’s then goodbye to Arkaroola as you board another Amaco chartered flight to Wilpena Pound. Get a birds-eye view of the Ikara Flinders mountain range. This extraordinary landscape is 800 million years old and has been home to Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years. 

You’ll view its iconic natural amphitheatre, Wilpena Pound, the centrepiece to the Ikari Flinders National Park. This is an extraordinary way to appreciate this magnificent landscape before landing at Wilpena Pound Resort where you will spend the next 2 nights exploring the area.

Overnight: Wilpena Pound Resort

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 (Saturday 25 June 2022)Ikari Flinders National Park

After breakfast head out for a tour of the Ikari Flinders National Park.

Join your guide on a walk into Wilpena Pound to the Wangara Lookout and learn about the Hills family history.

After returning back at Wilpena Pound Resort, you’ll head on a journey to Blinman, stopping at the well-known Cazneaux Tree and Stokes Hill Lookout.

This afternoon Conference Session 3 & 4 take place before dinner this evening.

Overnight: Wilpena Pound Resort

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 (Sunday 26 June 2022)Flinders Range to Eyre Peninsula

It’s an early morning today as you depart the rugged landscape of the Flinders Ranges hitting the highway to the enchantingly wild coastline of the Eyre Peninsula.

Journey south along the coast to the peaceful fishing village of Arno Bay. Enjoy the estuary boardwalk with numerous observation decks as it winds its way through mangroves, samphire and mudflats.

Back on the road, you’ll travel a short distance to Tumby Bay, home of the newest addition to the Silo Art Trail in South Australia. Created with 430 litres of paint the 2200 square metre mural is quite a masterpiece.

You’ll arrive at our final destination Port Lincoln late afternoon. 

Overnight: Port Lincoln Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 (Monday 27 June 2022)Eyre Peninsula

Conference Session 5 & 6 will take place this morning with morning tea.

After lunch, the culinary experience continues.  You’ll head out for a bay cruise and seafood tasting tour. Port Lincoln is situated on the shore of Boston Bay,  a natural deep-water harbour with a size three times bigger than Sydney Harbour. Known as the seafood and aquaculture capital of Australia, also called the “Seafood Frontier”, boasting the largest fishing fleet off any Australian town or city.  

It’s then back on land for a wine tasting and dinner showcasing the regions abundant seafood and seasonal produce.

Overnight: Port Lincoln Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 (Tuesday 28 June 2022)Coffin Bay & Whalers Way

Today’s the day for gastronomic delights from the ocean. Begin with a “Seafood Lovers” behind the scenes guided tour of the multi-fish species processing factory. Learn about the diverse local fishing and aquaculture industries, observe how the fishermen’s catch is received, packed and stored. View the many and varied species of the day.

We then continue to Coffin Bay one of the world’s best oyster growing regions with stunning white beaches and scenery. Take in magnificent views from well-selected lookouts and experience the pristine nature on a beautiful walk in Coffin Bay National Park. Meet the owners of a local oyster farm and embark on a fun and entertaining hands-on shucking lesson. During our tour, you’ll wade out into the water and taste fresh Pacific and native Angasi Oysters straight from the bay. It doesn’t get any fresher than this. 

After an enjoyable lunch at Oyster Headquarters, we journey to the foot of the Eyre Peninsula and travel along the Whalers Way, a 14km long series of unsealed tracks which traverse through private property. There’ll be plenty of photo opportunities taking in the spectacular rugged coastline of the area, with many points of interest and stunning views.

Enjoy our final night together with a 5 Course tasting menu showcasing the Eyre Peninsula plentiful culinary delights.

Overnight: Port Lincoln Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 (Wednesday 29 June 2022)Farewell

Your tour concludes after breakfast this morning with a transfer to the airport.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Travel Options & Extensions

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 very capable hands.

With almost 30 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 all-inclusive packages we provide.

Other operators might discourage you from doing this. Sometimes, it’s because of the added complexity it creates and at other times they’ll try to talk you out of it simply because they don’t have capable or experienced consultants with the breadth and depth of the consultants we employ.

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.

CAN I BOOK MY OWN FLIGHTS?

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 experienced 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 cancellations to your booking. If anything changes with your booking, 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 experienced staff members 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.

CAN I CHOOSE MY OWN CLASS OF TRAVEL?

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.

CAN I VISIT OTHER DESTINATIONS BEFORE OR AFTER THE CONFERENCE?

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.

WHAT ABOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE?

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 and nib-SureSave – 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.

Education

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 with 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 the South Australia Discovery Conference will be selected in the coming months 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 South Australia Discovery Conference will include an Education Activity (formerly Category 2 Activity) affording delegates the opportunity to earn between 16 – 20 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.

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