Old Andado Homestead & From

LUXURY SMALL GROUP 4WD ESCAPES

AN ADVENTURE INTO THE SIMPSON DESERT 3 DAY/2 NIGHT PRIVATE CHARTER Premium & Safari Services

Tour code: G4 29 17 Highlights include: From Alice Springs to Historic Old Andado Homestead – Simpson Desert and The Geographic Centre of Australia. • This tour is a luxury small group adventure. • Travel is in a top of the range 4WD vehicle. • Minimum 4/ maximum 4 clients • A very experienced driver guide • A fully inclusive charter with a range of services • The choice of Premium or Safari Services

AUSTOUR

BORN IN THE OUTBACK PAGE 63 3 DAY/2 NIGHT OLD ANDADO HOMESTEAD & SIMPSON Luxury Small Group 4WD Private Tour Charter

Tour code: G4 29 17 Introduction: It was from Old Andado Homestead in 1932 that a scientific expedition, led by Dr C.T. Madigan of Antarctic fame, set out to cross the Simpson Desert for the first time. This homestead was then one of the most isolated station properties in Australia. In the 1960’s it was taken over by Mac and Molly Clark and their family. Molly a nurse in Adelaide had married Mac Clark, a station manager of properties on the Track. Due to a brucellosis epidemic in the cattle industry it resulted in the property being liquidated. In January 1987, Molly secured a Crown Lease over 45 square kilometres of land around the old homestead, re- naming it ‘Old Andado’ and securing it as a National Heritage property Day 1 Alice Springs - Wadi Trees – Old Andado Homestead Depart Alice Springs in time to meet incoming flights from southern cities then you are on your way. Pass Santa Teresa Aboriginal Community and church mission; Allambi Station and stop for a picnic lunch on the fringe of the Simpson Desert. Molly created her own direct route from Old Andado Homestead to “The Alice”, which became known as ‘Molly’s Track’. She followed the sand dunes north, tracked across creeks and eventually came out on station tracks from Allambi and then journeyed into Alice Springs. Molly’s red 4WD was frequently seen rushing backwards and forwards. Your arrival at Old Andado Station will be just before sunset, settle down for a meal, sit around the campfire, chat and then have a good night’s sleep under the southern stars. Meals: Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner Accommodation: Premium = Budget Cabins 2 star & Safari = Camping/tents Day 2 Exploring Old Andado Station & Surrounds Browse through the station that Molly restored - look at the records, pictures, hear the stories and you to will fall in love with this iconic building and it’s history. Spend the day walking up the sand dune and walking your way into the desert to be completely isolated or take time out to read a book under a mulga tree. A short afternoon journey by 4WD will be extremely interesting and you will visit en route the Mac Clark Conservation Reserve – the second reserve in memory of the family. Here you will see the , commonly known as, ‘Wadi Trees’ and ‘Wadi Wood’ one of the rarest and most beautiful trees in the arid regions of Australia. It grows predominantly in this reserve. Meet the volunteer caretakers looking after Molly’s home. Meals: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner Accommodation: Premium = Budget Cabins 2 star & Safari = Camping/tents Day 3 Farewell to Old Andado Homestead Alas you say farewell then journey west passing New Andado and New Crown Stations. Detour to visit the Lambert Marker which identifies the absolute centre of the Australia. Before this location could be determined the coastline of Australia needed to be accurately mapped, it had never been done before. Areas of land were they islands or were they part of the mainland and what tide level – there are parts of the Australian coast that have 30 metre daily tides. A short journey from here takes us to the Stuart Highway and a small settlement called Kulgera, a freshen up a coke or a beer at the local pub and a 2.5 hour journey into Alice Springs through Erldunda and Stuart Well. Meals: Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Tea Accommodation: Nil Small Group Touring Private Charter Prices: Refer www.austour.com.au/G4 and pages 3 and 4 of the Austour Catalogue.

Austour Small Group Luxury 4WD Touring is also available from: Darwin, Alice Springs, Uluru, Melbourne, Sydney, Blue Mountains, Gold Coast, Fraser Island, Brisbane, Cairns, Port Douglas, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Hobart, Launceston, Perth & Broome. Check our website for more information www.austour.com.au

Toll free call 1800 335 009 Ph: (03) 9770 2145 www.austour.com.au Email: [email protected] AUSTOUR ABN: 88 004919706 PAGE 64 BORN IN THE OUTBACK