Central Australia and The Dinosaur Trail – 28 June to 25 July 2021

[Dave]

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Hi All,

As promised, I have made all the reservations for our trip in June/July (COVID and Borders depending) that I can...

Di, I have reserved 15 unpowered campsites at Winton, Richmond and Hughenden – hopefully enough for BOTH groups on the Dinosaur Trail. Nearer to time, if I can get your list / details, I can update more accurately.

I have had to make a couple of minor changes to the Itinerary as some places no longer offer camping. Nothing that affects distances or dates! I have emailed to all Definites and Maybes the complete list of places and costs and contacts and an updated Itinerary.

Hamilton Station no longer offers camping, so on 1 July we will stop early at Coward Springs for a bush camp, and there is a hot artesian pool. We will pause at William Creek for fuel and morning tea, but not stay. Lunch will be at Algebuckina Bridge and we will then spend a night in Oodnadatta Caravan Park on 2 July, before pushing on to Dalhousie Springs.

10 July could be interesting, Glen Helen is currently closed due to COVID, but there is National Park bush camping nearby. Finke River 2 Mile camp area sounds great, but it has no amenities at all. Yes, we would need shovels!

I have reserved unpowered camping all the way. In general I have said 10 sites, but could be 8 or could be 12 depending on final numbers. I will update reservations with actual numbers closer to time.

If YOU wish to ‘upgrade’ any of my Sydney Jeep Club unpowered camping reservations, please call each place, let them know that you are with the Sydney Jeep Club, and what you would like. Otherwise I think unpowered camping should suit us well (especially at Longreach where it sounds better than any other option). Note, at 5 of our stops, camping is the only option.

There are 3 places where I could not complete reservations for other people – so you will need to make your own bookings for these soon! See below.
Alice Springs wanted a deposit or full payment in advance. I have reserved sites there for Sydney Jeep Club, you need to call and pay (or upgrade and pay).

(1) Please book for yourself in Tibooburra on Tuesday 29 June. We have a really early start the next day, we are expected at Cameron Corner for breakfast around 9.00am! So I am planning to leave Tibooburra by 7.00am, and for that reason I have booked myself a motel room.
Rooms, cabins, or if you prefer to pack up a tent before dawn, powered and unpowered camping are all available through Tibooburra Granites Motel & Caravan Park - Ph 08 8091 3477. They know we are coming, so whatever accommodation you choose, say you are with the Sydney Jeep Club group.

(2) The next that you need to book for yourself, you already know about – Dalhousie Springs in Witjira National Park on Saturday 3 July. $27.50 for Vehicle Entry and Camping https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/booking/...s#/accom/73186

(3) The third one was really annoying, and it was Ayers Rock Campground itself. They DO NOT answer the phone so I could not ask about group reservations. The recorded message tells you to book online and then hangs up ☹
I have booked an unpowered campsite for myself – we won’t even know if we can camp together until we get there. Powered sites and cabins are also available. My 2 nights in an unpowered site, 7 and 8 July, is $93 including GST. (Peak Season)
Please go to https://online.rezexpert.com/book?business_code=500529 to make your own booking, or for more details about all accommodation options including motel/resort at Yulara, go to https://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/?...119.1610858061

(4) I have reserved unpowered camp sites at Alice Springs Big 4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park - Ph 1800 808 373 – for 2 nights, 11 and 12 July. But they are asking for a deposit OR payment in advance. A deposit is one night site fee or $46. I paid the full $92 for the two night stay (Peak Season). Please call them ASAP and make either deposit or full payment. If the borders are shut and we have to cancel they will hold our payments for a visit at a later date.

Please make these calls or online bookings as soon as you can. I would hate for anyone to miss out – as I do not have a plan B if you do not book…

If you have ANY problems, please let me know – especially with the Ayers Rock Campground. I followed the instructions and ended up with a screen saying I had not entered any booking details. But then I got an email confirming that I had actually booked… Very clunky for such a ‘premier’ attraction.

If you are happy with my “unpowered campsite” reservations, you should not need to do any more right now – except for (1) to (4) as above.

If you are contacting each place to ‘upgrade’ a reservation for yourself, would you please let me know. Later on I will contact all the places again and give final numbers in each category of accommodation…

Hope that makes sense and hope it all sounds good! A bit over 5 months to go and I am already counting it down!

Best wishes,
Dave