New Maria Island and Saffire Freycinet Experience

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An investment by Australian Walking Holidays in spacious new sleeping tents with decks is a fine upgrade for walker comfort. The Larapinta Trail is now even more extraordinary with the newly upgraded tents enhancing the ultimate Australian outback walking adventure, The Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort.

The tents are the perfect addition to the three award-winning semi-permanent campsites that were launched in 2013. It’s truly a great place to enjoy the magnificent views of the West MacDonnell Ranges at the end of each hiking day.

Well-ventilated and open, with enough space to stand up in, the tents are 2.2m high with large floor-to-ceiling windows – bringing the outdoors in and allowing you to relax on the new private deck areas. The tents have been selectively placed around the exclusive campsites to ensure maximum privacy and best use of the views.

The team at Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC) celebrated their first ever national awards win and were recognised for their eco credentials at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2015 held in Melbourne last month.

The company won a Gold medal for Ecotourism and a Silver Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism for their Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, Cradle Mountain Huts Walk – both Great Walks of Australia – and the new Wineglass Bay Sail Walk.

With their deep commitment to preserving the environment in which they operate, the Company was humbled to receive this recognition for their work in offering guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the pristine Tasmanian landscapes in the northern and southern regions of the state.

Tasmania took home a record twenty wins across all the categories – seven gold, nine silver, three bronze and Bruny Island Cruises was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Read more at http://www.etbtravelnews.com

 

Image: accepting the award (L-R): Brett Godfrey, owner Tasmanian Walking Company (TWC); Ros Young, Director of Sales and Marketing TWC; Heath Garratt, General Manager TWC and Rob Sherrard, owner TWC.

4 Day Flinders Ranges Long Weekender

 

Our new package makes your Arkaba Walk experience even easier than before. The Long Weekender now includes a one way flight from Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges with your return trip by scenic road transfer through the Clare Valley wine country. Immerse yourself in one of Australia’s great walks and discover ancient outback landscapes, abundant wildlife and the chance to sleep under the stars.

You’ll roam wild and free just like our celebrated wildlife on this all new private Arkaba Walk package in the majestic Flinders Ranges. The walk covers 45km over four glorious days through an ever-changing landscape and a private wilderness sanctuary, and now we’ll take care of your transfers from Adelaide. Too easy.

 

Price

$2,375 per person twin-share

When

The Arkaba Walk departs every Thursday and the Flingers Ranges long weekender is available for walks departing May – August 2016.

Inclusions

Your four-day Flinders Ranges Long Weekender package includes all meals, drinks, support vehicle with luggage transfer between camps, two nights in deluxe swags on one of our famous star beds, one night in the 1850s Arkaba Homestead plus transfers from Adelaide. You’ll fly one way from Adelaide – Port Augusta, while returning by a scenic road transfer with lunch in the picturesque Clare Valley.

For more information or to book visit the Arkaba Walk website; call us on 1300 790 561; email arkabawalk@wildbushluxury.com or BOOK NOW.

Travel journalist Andrew Bain experienced the Larapinta Trail first hand staying at World Expedition’s new Larapinta campsites. Below he perfectly summarises the architectural prowess of these exceptionally crafted eco campsites designed by Neeson Murcutt Architects.

Bain describes the campsites to be unique like no other. “Its design was inspired by Arnhem Land sleeping platforms and Bedouin tents, following a walk along the Larapinta Trail in 2005 by its architects, Rachel Neeson and husband Nick Murcutt, who worked collaboratively on the design until Nick – son of the great Glenn Murcutt – died in 2011, aged 46, midway through the project. The camp near Simpsons Gap has been named Nicks’ Camp.”

Rachel Neeson adds “essentially the idea was to bring an element of comfort without taking away at all the fact that you’re camping. We wanted it to be true to the idea of camping. You want people to be able to enjoy the trekking along the Larapinta Trail by day and arrive into the campsite to totally relax in the back to nature environment.”

Bain highlights the functionality of how in this fragile desert ecosystem, sustainability is a keystone of the camps. “Both have waterless composting toilets, while grey water from the hot showers and the kitchen sinks is trapped, filtered and run through absorption trenches to an evaporation point.”

“Cardboard waste is taken away, crushed into briquettes and used as fuel on the campfire, while camp lighting (and USB and 12-volt chargers built into the frame of the communal tent) is powered by a solar panel.”

To find out more visit the website, call us on 1300 720 000 or email enquiries@australianwalkingholidays.com.au

 

THIS EARLY BIRD OFFER IS NOW CLOSED.
Please check direct for availability and prices for the 2016 walking season.

The Scenic Rim Trail is praised as “one of the great walks of Australia”. Enjoy a spectacular four-day guided walk that explores the stunning Scenic Rim region of Queensland’s High Country; a collection of mountains, ridges, rain forests and ancient volcanic plateaus set in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and surrounded by World Heritage listed national parks.

Your stay includes:

• 3 night’s luxury accommodation, including 2 nights at Spicers Canopy and 1 night at Spicers Peak Lodge
• Gourmet dining and select beverages
• Hiking day packs
• Experienced guide over 4 days
• Porterage of luggage
• Return transfers from Brisbane (set pick up and drop off locations)

From $1832 per person, twin share.

Terms & Conditions apply:

• Walk must be booked prior to 31 October 2015.
• Valid for walks departing between March and October 2016.
• Not valid with any other offers.
• Direct bookings for new reservations only.
• Subject to availability.
• Offer is based on 20% discount off the 2016 published rates.

For more information or to book visit the Scenic Rim Trail website; call us on 1300 101 149 or email reservations@spicersretreats.com