These are our Tours & Expeditions for 2008 as we advertised them. Please click on the links below each for a trip summary.
Click here to see maps of the 2008 trips described below
OFF-ROAD TOUR
This is a shorter Tour designed for those with not much time, and falls into the school holiday period for some States.
Exploring Woomera where Len Beadell started the Rocket Range project, we move on to Coober Pedy. Swinging onto the famous Anne Beadell Highway we enter the Great Victoria Desert, visiting Tallaringa Well, Emu Atomic Sites & Anne's Corner.
Turning south at Vokes Hill Corner we meander through the Mallee and sandhills finally petering out into the Nullarbor Plain. The laid back village of Cook and the Transcontinental Railway Line are next on the list.
Returning to the Eyre Highway we travel east to Ceduna and civilisation. Getting back into the desert we follow "Googs Track" through the Yellabinna Regional Reserve to the Trans-Con Railway. Getting into Glendambo, it's an easy wander back to Coober Pedy.
This Tour covers some extraordinary changes in landscape, sandhills, claypans & sweeping plains of Saltbush. Marble Gums, Black Oaks, Mallees, Spinifex & Mulga the best the Great Victoria Desert and the Nullarbor have to offer.
Our relaxed pace is a great opportunity to learn more about the plants, animals & early Explorers. Connie Beadell adds greatly to the experience detailing her father's participation in the projects that shaped the western deserts of Australia.
**Please read our summary for this Tour from April 2007, we hope to be able to add the same extras in April 2008.**
** Please read our post-trip summary ( for summary click here ) **
OFF-ROAD TOUR
Our Gunbarrel Highway tour is celebrating 50 years since Len and the boys finished the Gunbarrel in 1958, the first road to cross the arid western interior of Australia. Concentrating on the history of the Gunbarrel Road Construction Party, early Explorers and Aboriginal Culture, Connie & Mick are very much looking forward to this trip.
From "Victory Downs" we travel west on Len's most famous road detouring to places of significance along the way. The Gunbarrel passes through some stunning landscapes, with multiple coloured ranges. Explorers such as Giles, Gosse & Forrest named these beautiful features more than 130 years ago.
We also visit several Aboriginal Communities in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra Lands who express their culture and stories through unique artwork, a good opportunity to see and speak to the locals.
The Rawlinson Range brings us to Giles Weather Station, the most remote weather facility in Australia, set-up originally for weather forecasts for the atomic testing to the south. Picking up the Gunbarrel Highway and continuing west we slowly pass through the sandhills and Desert Oaks that hold the 134 year old secret of Alfred Gibson.
Warburton facilities are a chance to refresh before heading further into Gibson's Desert. Aboriginal rockholes, Beadell plaques and more history are paramount as the Gunbarrel Highway brings us back into cattle country at "Carnegie Station" where our 50th celebration is completed.
** Please read our post-trip summary ( for summary click here ) **
OFF-TRACK EXPEDITION
Late in the 19th century overland exploration had taken a turn toward the scientific. With many remote areas still unexplored Albert Calvert, a wealthy Englishman who made his money in the W.A. goldfields and newspapers, sponsored one such scientific expedition.
Surveyor Larry Wells was chosen to led the Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition south to north through the Great Sandy Desert in 1896. Seven men and twenty camels were selected, second in command was Larry's cousin, Charles Wells. Departing Lake Way (Wiluna) in July 1896, the party travelled to Mt Bates (Carnegie Station) then pushed north east around the edge of the Little Sandy Desert to Midway Well. From there the northward thrust began as they located another well they named Separation Well to the north.
The party split there to explore and chart more country. Larry Wells took the main group north intending to reach the Fitzroy River eventually. The second party, Charles Wells and George Jones were to travel in a triangle, out to the north-west then north-east to meet the main party at Joanna Springs far to the north in the Great Sandy Desert. Wells & Jones were not seen alive again.
Barely finding enough water further north at Sahara and Adverse wells, the main party couldn't locate Joanna Spring at all. With no sign of the second party, Larry Wells had little choice but continue north or run out of water totally for both men and camels. They reached the Fitzroy River with less than a days supply of water left in their camel water tanks. Without waiting Larry Wells went back into the desert to find the second party. It was not until May of 1897 that he located the bodies of his two friends, after five exhausting summer search expeditions. Charles Wells & George Jones had died of sickness and thirst unable to find the water of Joanna Spring.
PART OF THIS EXPEDITIONS ACCURACY WILL DEPEND UPON PERMISSION BEING GRANTED TO TRAVERSE PARTICULAR AREAS OF COUNTRY
** Please read our post-trip summary ( for summary click here ) **
OFF-ROAD TOUR
Connie Sue Beadell & Mick Hutton follow the desert road network constructed by Len Beadell, Connie's father, from Papunya N.T. to Coober Pedy S.A. Leaving Alice Springs we move west along the Gary Junction Road to Sandy Blight Junction. Turning to the south we travel Len's "showpiece" road, the Sandy Blight Junction Road. This is beautiful country, red sandhills and forests of Desert Oaks. Dotted along this track are 10 of Len Beadell's famous aluminium road signs.
Visiting Giles Weather Station and the Rawlinson Ranges, we then continue on the Old Gunbarrel Highway skirting more of the Rawlinsons to the west to reach Warburton. With Connie Beadell as your guide we travel south along the Connie Sue Highway, visiting many areas of interest not detailed on most maps. Leaving Gibson's Desert behind the Great Victoria Desert country becomes prominent with Marble Gums replacing numerous varieties of Mulga. From Laverton we wander south east to Plumridge Lakes then up to Neale Junction. From there east along the Anne Beadell Highway passing rockholes, varied flora and historical sites until we reach Coober Pedy.
Connie relates the history of the road constructions as we travel, from copies of Len's diaries and family anecdotes from the 1950s & 60s. Connie also refers to the desert Flora as we travel. Mick goes into the details of various Explorers who traversed the country we travel through. Names such as Gosse, Tietkens, Giles, Terry, McKay, Forrest & Hann will feature heavily throughout the trip.
** Please read our post-trip summary ( for summary click here ) **
OFF-ROAD TOUR
This is a shorter Tour focusing on Len Beadell, explorers such as Giles, Gosse, Forrest and MacKay with some of the Aboriginal culture of the Mann, Tomkinson, Rawlinson and Petermann Ranges. This entire area is normally known as the Central Ranges.
Following the Gunbarrel Highway west from Victory Downs we visit Amata Community and its well known Art Centre nestled in the Mann Ranges. West again on the Gunbarrel past a few of the Len Beadell plaques we come into the Tomkinson Ranges and the picturesque community of Kalka in the very north west of S.A.
The exceptional Blackstone Art Centre is next even further west. Coming back to the Gunbarrel we turn north past Mt Fanny and very soon the Rawlinson Ranges loom in the distance. A visit to Giles Weather Station and surrounds are next on the agenda. It is here that modern science interacts with ancient Aboriginal culture.
Turning east we continue on Len Beadells roads to view the Schwerin Mural Crescent, Walter James Range and Bungabiddy Rockhole. After passing through the Petermann Ranges and Docker River country we leave the beautiful Central Ranges behind.
Kata Tjuta and Uluru dominate the skyline as we return to civilisation at Yulara where our trip will conclude.
The route will depend upon permits being issued for Aboriginal Lands. Beadell Tours will advise all interested parties of any changes to the above itinerary.
** Please read our post-trip summary ( for summary click here ) **
BEADELL TOURS
Mobile : 0408 841 447
Email : Beadell Tours
ABN : 40 947 959 130