Press Digest 22nd January 2007

Australia Day, 26 January, is a national public holiday for Aussie’s to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. Get in on the celebrations of a nation through various local events ranging from damper making to thong throwing competitions all centred on numerous community barbecues. Let’s Trek Australia’s 20-day tour delves into Australia’s real diversity. Next departure from Cairns 26th January include a 10% discount (saving £108 p/p) but if that’s too short notice (or you can’t find a thong!) there’s 16th February 2007 (other later departures too).

On the 26th there’s a chance to fill-up on Trinity Beach with an early Australia Day beach breakfast BBQ before heading off to the Outer Barrier Reef aboard a luxury yacht. Later, strike inland for the small Gulfland towns of Normanton and Croydon. From the red dust-coloured mining town of Mt Isa leave the Sunshine State and enter the Northern Territory via the vestigial outback town of Camooweal. Katherine Gorge is next up, and exploration of its primordial waterways by tinny (flat-bottomed boat) is a highlight, before heading to Litchfield National Park. On to Darwin and time to indulge in the city’s restaurants where Aussie tucker often combines with influences from Asia to provide great New World food, compliment with a cold beer or great Australian wine for a fine night out. Next, head to the World Heritage site of Kakadu, Australia’s greatest National Park. Nourlangie Rock has Aboriginal art over 1000 years old and is a superb vantagepoint for sundowner views into Arnhemland. The Yellow Waters Billabong Cruise is great for wildlife and reveals Crocodiles and snakes in profusion. At Manyanaluk, an Aboriginal buffalo station, learn about ‘bush tucker’, spear and boomerang throwing and how to make fire, all these ancient skills shared by indigenous people. The next stop is the gold mining town of Tennant Creek and afterwards to some good photographic opportunities whilst camped near the Devils Marbles. In Alice Springs there’s an optional balloon safari and later, camel rides and guided hikes around Kings Canyon. The tour concludes at Ayres Rock with time to walk around the world’s largest and best-known monolith and to explore the nearby Olgas before an Uluru sunset.

The tour now costs £1,079 p/p (January - was £1,187 p/p) or £1,199 p/p Febuary including YHA, motel and pub accommodation, private transportation, full day cruise to Outer Barrier Reef, overnight at Mataranka hot springs, National Park entrance Fees, Yellow Waters Billabong Cruise, Manyallaluk Aboriginal Experience Bush Camp, Kings Canyon hike, working camel ranch visit, Kata Tjuta Hike (The Olgas) and the expertise of Let’s Trek Australia’s experienced leader.