Australia: Journey through a Timeless Land

The Trip

Join us for an immersive journey of exploration and discovery through this timeless land.

Australia is the oldest continent in the world and home to the oldest continuous civilization. Geologic and climatic processes took billions of years to form the Australian outback -- a unique landscape that is intrinsically connected with the rich culture evoking the very essence of Australia.

Our story begins where the land meets sea in Sydney, and then travels to the vast outback of Australia. There we experience the oldest cultural history in the world, where Australian Aboriginals trace their ancestry back at least 60,000 years. Their ability to adapt and survive in this harsh environment is a testament to their ability to understand the landscape and its scarce resources. Hear creation stories from Indigenous custodians on their own country, and witness the storytelling of rock art, which has spanned generations. You will hike through landscapes formed over two billion years, with a wide range of unique flora and fauna.

Sleep in Aussie traditional swags, in comfort, under brilliant night skies.

The Outback is deeply ingrained in Australian heritage, history, and folklore. It is also a land of scorched red desert and spectacular canyon trails, with captivating night skies and constellations seen only in the southern hemisphere. 

Dorothea Mackellar captured the very essence of Australia’s connection to their land with her poem, My Country:

“I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains

Of ragged mountain ranges

Of droughts and flooding rains“

Day 1: Our journey begins where land meets the sea in Sydney, Australia’s first city. We’ll meet at the designated hotel at 11:00 a.m. for introductions and a trip orientation. We will walk through the historic precinct of European settlement in Sydney, to the Royal Botanic Gardens, for a private ranger-guided tour. Learn of the origins of the garden, as well as its links with Australia’s first nations peoples. From the gardens, we make our way to the famous Bondi beach, with lunch at the iconic Icebergs swim club. Following a light lunch at the club we will have an energizing walk along the Sydney Coastal walking path. After returning to the city, you will be treated to a guided tour to the World-Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House. Then we return to our hotel for a welcome dinner and early night.

Day 2: After a buffet breakfast at our hotel, we will be transported to Sydney domestic airport and depart on a direct flight to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Once in Alice Springs, we meet our guides and expedition vehicles for our time in central Australia. We travel to the historic Telegraph Station, which sets the scene for early Australian development. After a light lunch, we may take the opportunity for a short three-mile hike through the adjacent bush. Then we experience the Royal Flying Doctor service -- a service unique to Australia, serving vast areas of the Australian outback. After dinner at our hotel, we move to the Alice Springs Desert Park, for a guided tour through the reserve to observe some of Australia’s nocturnal animals, at close quarters.

Day 3: After breakfast at the hotel, we return to Alice Desert Park to walk through the natural open exhibits of native flora and fauna. This fascinating natural museum visit concludes with a flying raptor display, where you will witness several Australian species flying in their natural environment. Our journey into the Outback will begin, following the West MacDonnell Ranges and the Larapinta Trail — an area of ancient volcanic rock. Enjoy your first experience of this spectacular range with a hike into the gorge at Standley Chasm. We’ll then continue west to our first bush camp site at Hugh River, where we’ll set up our personal swags for the night.

Day 4: After a bush breakfast, we will set off on our first hike: the Ellery Creek Dolomite Walk. This loop provides an intriguing 800-million-year geology lesson. A packed lunch will be provided. We’ll return to our bush camp for a second night under the stars.

Day 5: Following our bush breakfast, we’ll break camp and travel west to Ormiston Pound and Gorge, via the important aboriginal Ochre Pits. These pits have been "mined" for millennia for its valuable coloured ochres, used in traditional ceremonies. Today's hike totals about six miles. We walk first to a saddle in the ranges, pausing to take in the panorama of the Pound — a circular geological formation. The changing landscape and vistas make this walk one of the highlights of the West MacDonnells. We will take a packed lunch break in the midst of the Ormiston Gorge. Returning the hike starting point of our hike, we’ll ride a short distance to Redbank Gorge campsite for our bush dinner under the stars.

Day 6: After our bush breakfast, we will hike in Red Bank Gorge. The gorge offers spectacular views of the West Macdonnell ranges. We will travel on a creek bed to view the remote Petroglyphs in Roma Gorge. The numerous petroglyphs on the rocks date back thousands of years. These were used by the Australian Aboriginals for gatherings to tell locations of waterholes and animals, among other things. We then move on the highlight of the trip: a visit into the crater of an ancient meteor strike, Gosses Bluff/Tnorala. It's an area of great significance to the local aboriginal communities, going back centuries. Gosse Bluff is one of the most significant comet impact zones in the world. The site marks the impact of a frozen ball of carbon dioxide, ice, and dust that slammed into the earth 130 million years ago. We will explore the crater floor, with its plant and bird populations.

Day 7: Layover day. Today we will spend a leisurely day exploring the Rodna Waterhole region, with time for swimming. Rodna is one of five areas around Hermannsburg that was returned to the traditional owners in 1982. We hope to have the traditional owners join us to share their cultural stories, and the landscape around this remote campsite. Afterward, and following dinner, take in the stars from your personal swag.

Day 8: Today we will travel to Palm Valley via the Finke River, and Hermannsburg. Hermannsburg is the birthplace of Albert Namatjira, whose landscape paintings are synonymous with the Australian Outback. Hermannsburg is an important historic settlement and the first mission to Aborigines in Central Australia. After lunch at Palm Valley, we’ll continue toward Kings Canyon, via the Tanami desert.

Day 9: After a bush breakfast, we will go to Kings Canyon. There we will hike the Canyon Rim -- a moderate hike of approximately 5 miles that has considerable climbing, mainly on stone steps. We’ll take time along the way to admire the many spectacular vantage points of this nearly 900-foot-deep gorge. We then will visit the aboriginal community of Wanmara, where we will have a private tour to learn about traditional aboriginal culture and food. This visit will set the scene for visits to come at Uluru.

We’ll then travel to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) is located. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is on the UNESCO World Heritage list for both its environment (1987) and for the global significance of the Anangu living culture (1994). Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is one of the first parks in the world to be managed by a board with a majority of traditional owners. The landscape constantly changes as we pass from sand ridges to salt lakes, revealing a vast display of flora, including spinifex bushes, desert oaks, and fire bush. We’ll stay and dine tonight at our hotel near Uluru.

Day 10: This morning we’ll take an excursion to the nearby Kata Tjuta (Olgas) Ranges. These unique and unusual rock formations are similar geologically to Uluru, but have weathered in a completely separate way. Our hiking path, a 5-mile loop, takes us into the heart of these formations in an area called the Valley of the Winds. This place is sacred to the Anangu peoples, and the powerful ancestors who created this landscape left many special places along the route. We will return to Uluru, where we’ll take a private tour of the base of the rock, guided by a local community member. We will learn about the mystical stories of the aboriginal dreamtime, and the cultural meanings of the many waterholes, caves, and features of the world’s largest monolith. Afterward we’ll have private instruction about the art techniques of the local peoples. We’ll stay and dine tonight at our hotel near Uluru.

Day 11: We’ll have free time in the morning to explore the village or perhaps visit a craft store. In the afternoon, we will fly from Yulara airport to Sydney, then transfer to a nearby airport hotel and have our farewell dinner.

Day 12: The trip ends after breakfast. Depart for the airport.

Getting There

Please arrive in Australia at least a day or two before the start of the trip. Remember that you are crossing the International Date Line, so you will lose one calendar day in traveling. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader. Participants are responsible for travel from home to the designated hotel in Sydney. You will need to get an Australian visa in advance. As of this writing, a single-entry visa is free; however, there is an online application service charge of AUD20.

Accommodations and Food

As specified in the itinerary we will stay in 3- to 4-star hotels and lodges, except when we’re “in the bush,” the Australian term for camping. All hotel and lodge accommodations are double occupancy. Same-gender roommates will be assigned to those traveling alone. While in the bush, sleep in comfort under brilliant night skies in traditional Aussie swags, a sort of one-person canvas sleeping compartment containing mattress, pillow, and sleeping bag. Our luggage will be transported every day by all-terrain (4WD) vehicles. We will also have camp cooking equipment and full camping gear that accompanies us on the trip.

The trip price includes all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners starting from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 12. As specified in the Itinerary, when we are in the bush we will be served delicious, locally sourced cuisine. Vegetarians are welcome! All other meals will be in restaurants and cafes similar in standard to those found in North America.

If you have any questions or concerns about accommodations or meals, please ask the leader before signing up for the trip.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is designed for experienced hikers currently involved in regular hiking activities. Hiking routes will vary in difficulty with walking distances of up to 10 miles, and elevation gains up to 2,500 feet. All walks will be on trails or paths that could have steep, rocky, or boggy terrain. Agility is needed to negotiate rocky trails and traverse small streams without difficulty.

Participants should be accustomed to walking at a pace of 2+ miles per hour on level ground and be able to walk up steep grades at a slower pace without undue fatigue. The hikes are not difficult or rushed for a fit hiker. However, for safety reasons, it is important that everyone be prepared to keep a similar pace. Please call or email the leader if you have any questions regarding your abilities before signing up for the trip. Your enjoyment of this trip will depend on your preparation and general fitness level. Regular hiking is the only activity that will totally prepare your legs, feet, and ankles for this trip.

Equipment and Clothing

The trip leader will provide trip members with a list of suggested clothing and equipment later. You will need the gear you normally use on day hikes. Lightweight, broken-in waterproof boots are the most important item. A day pack with your hiking essentials, including water and a windproof, water resistant jacket to keep you warm should the weather turn unexpectedly. Be sure you have enough extra room for your share of the packed lunches.

References

Maps:

• Hema maps – Central Australia

Books:

• Australian Geographic, Explore Australia’s Outback.
• van Oosterzee, Penny, A Field Guide to Central Australia.
• Lonely Planet, Outlook Australia.
• Bryson, Bill, Sunburned Country.
• Souter, Gillian and John, Best Walks of the Red Centre.
• Thames & Hudson, Aboriginal Australians.

Websites:

• https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2013/11/on-this-day-aboriginal-australians-get-uluru-back/
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2013/06/australia-aboriginals-tradition-cultural-preservation/
• https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/aboriginals
• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/australia-failing-improve-aboriginal-lives-170214170102126.html

Conservation

Australia is one the world’s last remaining large natural areas and one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. Australia is ranked high in the number of endemic mammal and reptile species, and among the top five in numbers of endemic plants, birds, and amphibians. However, Australia has one of the worse extinction records in the world.

Since the arrival of outsiders, more than 200 years ago, Australia has lost 30 of its endemic mammal species (more than 10%) and the loss is continuing.

Loss of species is a major threat to biodiversity in Australia. We will learn the current projects focusing on conservation breeding and reintroducing of threatened species, community conservation, and what is being done to improve the success of the threated species in the Red Centre.

Conservation websites: 

• https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2017/07/31/outback-conservation-case-studies-hope-for-australias-heartland
• http://geographical.co.uk/nature/item/2729-saving-the-outback
• https://www.createrangerparks.org.au/news_outback_papers

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.