FLINDERS RANGES 2021 O u t b a c k T racks and Trails with Outstanding Accommodation The Flinders Ranges - an Iconic Australian Destination It’s a place where you can get totally lost in another world - you’ll likely see more wildlife than humans. The stunning landscapes unfold around every corner as the unique Australian outback serves up dramatic cinematography right in front of your eyes. The rolling hills and deep gorges are at the surface of an ancient natural geology where time has passed slowly and largely uninterrupted by human interference. It’s an awe-inspiring environment with big blue skies, rich green bush, deep red dirt, glowing sunsets on the long hazy horizons and a starry night sky to rival the best in the world. And in amongst it all is some beautiful accommodation that blends naturally with its environment while providing a truly comfortable and welcoming stay. Oh, and there are some stunning cycling tracks that wind their way through it all too - let us take you there. The Tour at a Glance Dates: 18-25 April 2021 (7 nights) Difficulty Rating: 7/10 Distance: 275 km + approx Average Daily: 39km+ per day approx Bike Type: Mountain or gravel bike (BYO or hire) E-bike: Welcome. A great ride for a MTB e-bike Terrain: Flat to undulating, no extreme MTB terrain Group Size: Small group tour, usually 10-20 Accom: Excellent 4-star outback properties Meals: All meals included + on-road snacks/morning teas Weather: April monthly average mid-20’s Don’t have a mountain bike? No problem – we can source a hire bike for you and can pick it up and return it. No MTB experience required for this tour, just a bit of training in the lead-up (ask us for the training plan). ----------------------- Highlights • The outback experience, without forfeiting comfort • Spectacular iconic Australian landscapes and scenery • Stunning accommodation - each night is an oasis • Famous burning red sunsets • Longer and shorter ride options (or take a day off) • Full-time support and mechanical help (excellent crew!) • Vehicle back-up for transferring luggage, bikes, cyclists • Small group camaraderie with like-minded people • All meals included • AllTrails’ famed meticulous planning and support Join AllTrails in 2021 on a new tour - Outback Tracks & Trails Following our recent popular tours around the rail trails and country lanes of Victoria, this tour offering is dramatically different and exciting, while keeping the same achievable distances and terrain. There are six wonderful days of cycling on this tour and during that time you will cover the best cycling and sights of The Flinders Ranges. You’ll spend time on the famous Mawson Trail as well at the ‘Flinders Ranges By Bike’ cycling route. You’ll be in and out of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park which encompasses some of the most spectacular scenery in South Australia. With rugged mountain scenery, peaceful gorges and a huge array of wildlife and flora, the Flinders Ranges epitomises the best of the Australian outback. Criss-crossing that escarpment are some wonderful tracks and trails that offer spectacular cycling without technically challenging terrain. With the AllTrails support staff and vehicles on hand we make this experience as smooth as possible, while enjoying great accommodation in the evenings along with quality food, charming outback hospitality and long-lasting memorable experiences. Pricing AUD Until 31 Dec After 31 Dec 7-night tour Twin share $4440 pp $4490 pp Single room $5330 $5380 Included: • All accommodation (7 nights) • All meals • Snacks, water and fruit on the road • Support & safety vehicle • Cycling guide and driver guides • Daily maps & directions • Bike mechanical assistance • Rider Pack: jersey, bottle, bag • All National Park and trail entry fees • Rawnsley Park Tour with Afternoon Tea Payment Schedule: • Deposit on booking ($400) • Progress Payment 30 days after deposit (40% of package cost less deposit paid) • Balance 18 Feb 2021 (2 months before the tours begin) Travelling on your own Early bookers can book a twin share package and we will partner you up with somebody else of the same gender travelling on their own. This offer closes on 18 Jan – after this date contact us to see if we can match you, if not the single room price will apply. Travelling with friends $80 pp discount for groups of 3 or more cyclists. Optional Extras Transfers to the tour: Includes cyclist, luggage and bike From Adelaide Central Bus Station* to Rawnsley Park $150pp From Hawker (for those driving) to Rawnsley Park $30pp Transfers from the tour: Includes cyclist, luggage and bike From Parachilna to Adelaide Central Bus Station $150pp From Parachilna to Hawker (back to your car) $30pp *If catching the Adelaide bus we suggest a hotel within easy walking distance to the station (eg. Franklin Boutique Hotel or Quest on Franklin). Bike hire: Contact us. We can put you in touch with a local supplier and assist with pick-up and drop-off. Indicative prices: MTB $50/day (total approx $400), MTB e-bike $125/day (total approx $1000) Bike transport from/to Melbourne: We can take your bike from our office in Melbourne to the start of the ride and back to our office again after the ride to save you travelling with it. $60 per bike. Ediacara Conservation Park Nilpena Fossil Tour: Visit the National Heritage Listed Fossil Site not accessible to the general public with specialist guides from Dr Mary Droser’s Research Team. Bike packaging carriage: Most cyclists bring their bikes not packaged or in a cardboard bike carton if they are travelling on a plane. If you have a soft bike bag or hard case we can carry them in our vehicles for the duration of the tour for the following fees: • Cardboard carton $0 (no charge) • Soft foldable bike bag ($3/day) $21 • Hard case or unfoldable bag/carton ($10/day) $70 A merchandise rider pack is included in the tour price (cycling jersey, bottle, bag). Getting to and from the tour Getting there AllTrails transfer. The easiest way is to get yourself to Adelaide by Sat 17 Apr and stay at a hotel close to the central bus station eg. Franklin Boutique Hotel or Quest on Franklin. We have a bus leaving early Sunday morning approx 7:30am (5-6 hour drive). Drive your own car. You may want to drive your own car to Hawker and leave it there (contact us for more information). Our bus will go through Hawker on the way to the start of the ride at Rawnsley Park (approx 30 mins from Hawker). Coming Home AllTrails transfer. Our bus transfer will head back to Adelaide after breakfast on Sun 25 Apr. Approx 6-7 hour drive to Adelaide arriving 3-4pm. It is possible to fly out of Adelaide that evening but we suggest evening flights after 6-7pm (and make sure that you have travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances). Drive your own car. Our bus transfer to Adelaide on Sun 25 Apr will stop in Hawker for those who have parked their cars there. Training for the tour For this tour you need to be a reasonable cyclist – not necessarily fast, but consistent. You don’t need to be a MTB specialist or have much MTB experience, although you will need to be comfortable riding on uneven gravel surfaces. We do suggest that road bike cyclists make an effort to do some training off-road. Aim to build your kilometres in training to be on the bike for several hours for two days straight, covering approximately 40-50km each day (off-road). We have a training schedule specific to each ride which we send to you after you place your deposit, however we are more than happy to send this to you earlier when you are considering the tour – just ask us for a copy and we will get it out to you straight away. Training Locations: If you haven’t done much MTB cycling in the past (or even if you have), here are a few places you can go to get in some practice before coming along on our tour. Melbourne: You Yangs, Lysterfield Park Sydney: Wylde MTB Trail, Westleigh MTB Trails, Blue Mountains Canberra: Mt Majura Brisbane: Mt Coot-tha (and more) Adelaide: Belair NP (and more) Perth: Goat Farm (and more) Hobart/TAS: Maydena Bike Park, Blue Derby Itinerary Daily distances are set out below. Shorter distances and support vehicle also available. Meals and Accommodation inclusions. Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D, Accommodation = A Location Distance Date B L D A Arrive Rawnsley Park Station and Loop Ride 16km Sunday 18 April 2021 - - Y Y Rawnsley Park to Hawker 52km or 63km Monday 19 April 2021 Y Y Y Y Rawnsley Park to Wilpena Pound 50km Tuesday 20 April 2021 Y Y Y Y Wilpena Pound to Brachina Gorge 34km Wednesday 21 April 2021 Y Y Y Y National Park Boundary (Nth) to Wilpena Pound 35km or 49km Thursday 22 April 2021 Y Y Y Y Willow Springs Station to Gum Creek Station 48km Friday 23 April 2021 Y Y Y Y Blinman North to Parachilna 40km Saturday 24 April 2021 Y Y Y Y Depart Parachilna NA Sunday 25 April 2021 Y - - - Total Distance Cycled 275km 7 6 7 7 Average Daily Distance 39km Itinerary cont. Arrive Rawnsley Park Station and Loop Ride 16km Sunday Day 1. (arrival day). We will be taking a bus transfer this morning from Adelaide Central Bus Station. It’s an early start so we suggest staying in a hotel within easy walking distance on Saturday night (eg. Franklin Boutique Hotel or Quest on Franklin).