Len Beadell was probably our last great explorer, spending months at a time in areas of Australia that a white man had never stepped before. He and his Gunbarrel Construction party established a network of roads that opened up the centre of Australia to all types of ventures, from mining to pastoralism and eventually tourism. They were built as part of the atomic research conducted by the British Government in the 1960’s and consumed many years of Len’s life which he eventually wrote about in a series of humorous books. These books are well worth reading.

Over fourteen days we will cover many of the roads that Len spent years building, battling his way through thick mulga and mallee scrub and mending many tyre punctures. He made sure his roads passed close to objects that would interest travellers who used the tracks he constructed. The countryside is ever changing, and even though you will be crossing deserts, they are not just sand. These areas support an abundance of flora, from desert oaks, mallee, wattles and mulga, to spinifex, grevilleas, peas and daisies. Those communities in turn support camels, dingoes, reptiles and flocks of birds. There are mountain ranges, salt lakes, clay pans and sand dunes, not a day goes by without a change in the scenery. We will do it much easier thanks to the efforts of him and his party and hopefully without the tyre punctures.

The tracks you will be travelling along include those he named after his family members, the Garry Junction Road, the Heather and Anne Beadell Highways and one he named after the down side of his months in the bush, the Sandy Blight Junction Road. Of course not forgetting where it all started, the most famous of them all, the Gunbarrel Highway. We will also travel along a number of oil exploration tracks that criss-cross the centre. The tour starts in Woomera and concludes in Alice Springs a distance of almost 4000 kilometres.

This is a self catered tour consisting of bush camps except where stated. Fees cover two people and their participating vehicle.

Included in tour fees

• Welcoming barbecue dinner first night
• All camping and National park fees, access and Aboriginal permits
• Camp cooking plate - cooking and packing hints
• Toilet facilities and hot bush showers (where water is available)
• Services of experienced tour leaders
• Fully equipped escort vehicle fitted with satellite phone
• Royal Flying Doctor radio and emergency first aid kit

This tour is suitable for off road trailers (conditions apply).

Contact us for 2008 tour prices.