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Greetings!
Welcome to another edition of our Newsletter!
Our recent Kangaroo Island and Mungo National Park trips have provided much of the content in this newsletter, with each being great trips with fantastic people!
Our 2019 departure dates have now been set and are listed at the foot of this newsletter. I have a lady interested in the Kangaroo Island departure 25th February, and looking for another person to join us!
Thank you for your continued interest in Desert Sky Tours - Jenny and I take this opportunity to wish you and your respective families a very Merry Christmas, and a peaceful, prosperous and happy New Year!
Cheers........
Howard  |
Mungo National Park
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Our itinerary usually provides a full day trip from Wentworth to Mungo National Park, however on this occasion we had some keen photographers on board and planned to stay overnight at Mungo Lodge to allow more time for sunset photos. A strong wind created a sand storm on the Lunette during the afternoon, making conditions difficult for photos, however that night 7mm of rain fell clearing the air, and next morning conditions had greatly improved!
You can view some of my photos here!
Mungo Lunette - "Walls Of China"
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Canoe The Riverland
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Ruth and Jim Roberts operate a Kayak hire and Dinghy tour operation "Canoe The Riverland" at Murtho, near Paringa South Australia. We met Jim on the return leg of our Mungo trip.
The business operates a number of tours, and we chose the 2-hour guided Dinghy Cruise of the river, creeks and lagoons from the river front property.
The boat has a canopy & padded seats and the tour takes 2-4 passengers.
After enjoying morning tea (yummy biscuits from Paringa Bakery!) in a tranquil setting, we explored further sections of the River, photographing bird life and .......
something which I had not seen before - a goanna swimming! I have seen a number of these reptiles in various locations, but not in the water! He soon disappeared into the reeds.
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Kangaroo Island
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One of the less known attractions on Kangaroo Island is Red Banks on the southern rim of Nepean Bay,near American River.
There are no signs to point you in the right direction, however
the pretty tree lined Flea Castle Road leads into Point Morrison Road. At the end of the road where it peters out are the Red Banks.
There is no infrastructure at this attraction at all and to get a look at the banks, you have to walk out on the narrow strip
on top of this particular section of the cliff, or (as we did), climb down a side of the cliff !!.
This is only suitable for the more agile!
Once down at the water, the views made the effort worthwhile.
AND......another attraction...George's 50,000 Lights!!
If you are on kangaroo island you really should visit George Turners Castle Garden and Lights 1593 North Coast Road,
near Emu Bay and a short drive from Kingscote.
George has painstakingly constructed a timber castle on the property around his family home on the slopes above Smith Bay and strung coloured lights, well, everywhere.
There are walkways, ladders and lookouts and the most amazing and ingenious displays including a Viking ship made of two aluminium dinghies with car hubcaps for shields.
The Vikings themselves are made of Buddha heads wearing horned helmets.
They are amazing and he is always adding something new.
He is open during the day and at night and all he asks for this experience is a small donation to cover his power costs.
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| Wentworth - Broken Hill pipeline | | 
While visiting Wentworth, we noticed the pipeline project to supply Broken Hill with water from the Darling River is nearing completion.
The 270km pipeline is expected to be delivering water by April 2019 at a rate of up to 37.4 megalitres peak daily demand of raw water to Essential Water, the local water provider in Broken Hill. Essential Water will continue to retain responsibility for water treatment and water distribution to its customers.
While the Government is satisfied with its achievements, other groups have been staunchly opposed to the pipeline's construction. Perceptions of water mismanagement in the lower Darling River are among the major concerns for critics.
Despite the controversy, the pipeline will enter its commissioning phase in December and is set to be fully operational by April.
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Cordillo Downs
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The future of the Cordillo Downs Station woolshed, the largest of its kind in the world, is in jeopardy after a freak storm last year.
At 60 metres long, 13 metres wide and 135 years old, it is a reminder of a time when Australia's economy rode on the sheep's back.
Built in 1883, 160 kilometres north-east of Innamincka in South Australia, it once housed 120 stands to shear up to 85,000 sheep that once ran on the property.
But it has seen better days.
A freak storm in late 2017 ripped part of the shed's roof off, with many concerned time is running out to save the historic building.
Station manager Janet Brook said the damage to the shed was significant and repair works were urgently needed to save it for future generations.It is estimated an amount of $200,000 would be required to repair the building.
Heritage South Australia's principal conservation architect Peter Wells said it was up to the owners and lessees of heritage buildings to take "reasonable care" of them.
"This includes carrying out necessary maintenance and repairs to keep a heritage place, including buildings, in a stable condition," Mr Wells said.
"There is no obligation to improve or upgrade a place. The intent is to preserve the fabric of a place to retain its heritage significance."
He confirmed that the SA Heritage Grants Fund was being re-established and expected applications to be called for in early 2019, but did not guarantee funding for the woolshed.
No representative from Heritage South Australia has visited the shed since it was damaged.
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Personalised 4WD trips 2019
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These trips are in a Toyota Landcruiser vehicle with a maximum of 4 passengers:
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW Itineraries 2019 !
Yorke Peninsula
& Southern Flinders
(5 days)
$1650 pp
Ardrossan, Port Julia, Port Vincent, Edithburgh, and Wool Bay. Scenic drive to Troubridge Point and Marion Bay. Innes National Park includes Cable Bay, Cape Spencer and Pondalowie Bay. Corny Point, Warooka and Yorketown.
Moonta and Wallaroo. Banking museum Kadina.
Southern Flinders Ranges, Alligator Gorge, Melrose.
Bridle Track to Port Germein.
Dares Hill Circuit
On Demand
(2 days)
$700 pp
Gilbert Valley, Terowie, Peterborough (overnight and we visit Steamtown's Laser Light Show), Franklyn, Ketchowla, Dares Hill, Mt Bryan, Clare Valley.
Kangaroo Island
Monday 25th February Wednesday 6th November
Penneshaw, Antechamber Bay, Cape Willoughby,
American River, Kingscote, Flinders Chase National Park,
Cape Borda, Admirals Arch, Cape De Coudic, Seal Bay, Emu Bay, Stokes Bay, Snelling Beach, Western River Cove.
Wilson's Promontory
Friday 8th March
(9 days)
$3900 pp
Grampians NP, Halls Gap, Penshurst, Mortlake, Colac, Queensciffe Ferry, Sorrento, Foster, Tidal River, Waratah Bay, Walkerville, Agnes Falls, Strzelecki Ranges, Tara Bulga NP, Grand Ridge Road, Skenes Creek,
The Great Ocean Road, Mt Gambier, The Coorong.
The Sapphire Coast
Wednesday 20th March
(8 days)
$3700 pp
Portland, Great Ocean Road, Otway Tree Top Walk, Apollo Bay, Metung, Lakes Entrance, Eden, Twofold Bay, Pambula, Merimbula, Bega, Victorian coastal towns, Meeniyan, Camperdown, Dunkeld, The Coorong.
The Gawler Ranges
Saturday 7th September
(5 days)
$1995 pp
Port Wakefield, Port Germein, Port Augusta, Iron Knob, Corunna, Siam, Nonning, Mt Ive, Lake Gairdner, Yardea, Hiltaba, Paney Station, The Organ Pipes, Pildappa Rock, Tcharkuldu Hill, Minnipa, Wudinna, Kimba, Wilmington, Melrose, Gladstone, The Clare Valley.
Lake Eyre Monday 29th April
(3 days)
$1795 pp Includes Plane Flight!
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, One and a half hour plane flight over Lake Eyre, Farina Ruins, Ochre Cliffs, Hawker, Orroroo, Terowie, Burra.
 Back O'Bourke
Monday 8th April
Broken Hill, Mutawintji NP, White Cliffs, Wilcannia, Tilpa, Louth, Bourke (accommodation Bourke Riverside Motel), Lightning Ridge, Gilgandra, Cobar, Balranald, Murrayville, Pinnaroo.
The Painted Desert
Saturday 4th May
(9 days) $3900 pp
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, William Creek, Coober Pedy,
The Breakaways, Painted Desert, Woomera, Roxby Downs, Andamooka, Port Augusta, Arid Lands Botanical Gardens, Horrock's Pass to the Flinders Ranges, Orroroo and Burra.
Mungo and Hattah
Kulkyne
National Parks
Monday 1st April
(5 days)
$1950 pp
Pinnaroo, Kow Plains Homestead and Cowangie, Murrayville, Pink Lakes, Underbool, Mildura, Wentworth, Old Zanci Station, Mungo Woolshed, Walls of China, Grand Canyon, Vigar's Well, Perry Sandhills, Paddle Steamer through Lock 11 Mildura, Red Cliffs, Lake Hattah, Lake Victoria, Rufus River, The Riverland.
 Coongie Lakes Saturday 18th May Saturday 1st June
(7 days) $3150 pp
Old Strzelecki Track, Innamincka, Coongie Lakes, Cmp LXV, Cameron Corner, Sturt NP, Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Loch Lilly and Quandong Stations, Burra.
Legendary Longreach
& Winton Monday 8th July (12 days)
$4695 pp
Strzelecki Track, Innamincka, Windorah, Lark Quarry Dinousaur Trackway, Winton, Waltzing Matilda Centre, Longreach. Visit The Stockman's Hall of Fame, Qantas Founders Museum, Sunset Cruise on the Thomson River. Barcaldine, The Tree Of Knowledge, Blackall Woolscour, Tambo, Charleville. Cunumulla, Currawinya National Park, Hungerford, The Darling Track to Yantabulla, Fords Bridge and Bourke. A day exploring Bourke visiting Mt Oxley and local attractions and a cruise aboard the Jandra paddle-steamer on the Darling River. Wilcannia via The Darling River Run through Louth, Tilpa and on to Broken Hill. Old Pastoral route to Burra, Adelaide
Birdsville & Innamincka
Saturday 15th June
(9 days) $3900 pp
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, Mungerannie, Birdsville,Innamincka, Cameron Corner, Sturt National Park, Tibooburra,Broken Hill, Old Pastoral route to Burra, Adelaide.
Birdsville & Windorah
Saturday 3rd August
Clare Valley, Leigh Creek, Marree, Mungerannie, Birdsville, Betoota, Windorah, Quilpie, Toompine, Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Bourke, Cobar, Broken Hill.
Flinders Ranges
& Skytrek
Saturday 31st August
Rawnsley Park, Wilpena Pound, Willow Springs Station, Skytrek, Bunyeroo Valley, Brachina Gorge, Blinman, Parachilna Gorge, Moralana Scenic Drive, Melrose, The Bridle Track. Port Germein, Laura, Orroroo, Burra, Eudunda, Kapunda.
Flinders Ranges
&
Arkaroola
Monday 16th September
Rawnsley Park, Wilpena Pound, Bunyeroo Valley, Brachina Gorge, Blinman, Arkaroola, Ridgetop Tour, Nooldoonooldoona Waterhole, Gammon Ranges, Moralana Scenic Drive.
Flinders Ranges & Outback on demand (8 days) $3995 pp
Rawnsley Park, Wilpena Pound, Bunyeroo Valley, Brachina Gorge, Blinman, Arkaroola, Ridgetop Tour, Nooldoonooldoona Waterhole, Gammon Ranges, Moralana Scenic Drive.
Marree, The Oodnadatta Track, William Creek, Coober Pedy,
The Painted Desert, Woomera, Roxby Downs.
 Tumby Bay &
The Eyre Peninsula
Tuesday 8th October Port Germein, Arno Bay, Port Neill,Trinity Haven Scenic Drive, Poonindie, Port Lincoln, Sleaford Bay, Whaler's Way, Tod Reservoir, Cummins, Mt Hope, Point Drummond, Greenly Beach, Dutton Bay, Coffin Bay, Koppio Museum.
Enjoy a Clydesdale Horse and trolley ride!
Return is via Horrock's Pass to Flinders Ranges, Orroroo and Burra.
Head of Bight
&
The Eyre Peninsula Monday 19th August
(9 days)
$3800pp
Port Germein, Arno Bay, Port Neill,Trinity Haven Scenic Drive, Poonindie , Port Lincoln, Sleaford Bay, Whaler's Way, Coffin Bay, Lock's Well, Elliston, Talia Caves, Venue Bay, Murphy's Haystacks, Point Labatt, Streaky Bay, Smoky Bay, Ceduna,
Penong, Cactus Beach, Fowlers Bay,Nullarbor Roadhouse,
Head of Bight Whale Centre, Minnipa, Wudinna, The Gawler Ranges National Park, Kimba, Iron Knob, Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, Wilmington, Melrose, The Bridle Track to Port Germein, Clare Valley.
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Thanks for your continued interest in Desert Sky Tours
Sincerely,
Howard Humby
Desert Sky Tours
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