SOME NOTES ON PAST TOURING CLUB RUNS (1989 - 1998) Note:-   All trips up to 1992 were of 2 weeks duration. Tours from 1994, the Gulf-n-Reef trip, were extended to 3 weeks to accommodate the greater travelling distances.

 

 

This was a straight trip across to Adelaide from Melbourne, then through Port Augusta on up to Maree. We then turned right and travelled northwards up the Birdsville Track to the town of Birdsville. We then journeyed across to Innamincka. From here the tour travelled through Cardillo Downs Station and then across the sand dunes to Cameron Corner at the junction of three states, Queensland,New South Wales and South Australia. We drove through the gate in the great dingo fence and then travelled alongside the dingo fence to Broken Hill. It is believed that this track is now closed to the general public so that no one in a Morrie will be able to emulate this part of the trip. We finally made our way back to Melbourne.

 

Again, this trip went across to Adelaide, on to Port Augusta, then up the Stuart Highway. 6 months prior to it being sealed, it was known as South Australia's corrugated highway. We ventured out to Ayres Rock then onto Alice Springs, the return trip took us across the Oodnadatta Track to William Creek, Marree-down to Leigh Creek, then through the upper Flinders Ranges to Arkaroola. We then returned to Melbourne via Adelaide.

Back-A-Bourke, 28 cars headed for Broken Hill, then up the Silver City Highway to Tibooburra, across to Wanaaring and onto Bourke was the plan. However, it was not to be.

The rains came and in their fashion washed away a bridge near Wanaaring and therefore closed the road denying us through access. We returned to Broken Hill then across to Wilcannia, on to Cobar and picked up the journey at Nyngan to Dubbo and back to Melbourne.

40 cars on the Abel Tasman to Tasmania. It was right in the middle of the air line pilot's strike. A trip different to our normal style, this time we stayed in motel accommodation around the island.

We were welcomed by many businesses with open arms, bringing a sadly missed dollar to their pockets.

To Birdsville again. This time a larger group with more interstate Morrians joining in. They had seen the Mad Morrians from down South go out there, explore the outback and decided to be part of it.
This time we went a different way, we headed up the Newell Highway to Dubbo then journeyed on up to Nyngan some 4 months after the rains had been through the area. The Newell was opened 2 days before we left Melbourne, having been closed due to the great floods of 1990. We then traveled to Charleville, Barcaldine and then to Longreach. Our journey took us down the Thompson Development Road to Windorah, then to Betoota and, fimally, on into Birdsville.

On leaving Birdsville we traveled down the "Great Track" with a bush camp at Mungerani homestead, just north of the Cooper Creek where it flows into Lake Eyre. It was one of the rare occasions that water was flowing in the Cooper Creek which was testament to the great amount of rain that fell in Queensland and New South Wales some 4 months ago and that also was responsible for flooding Nyngan, Charleville etc. at that time. It was awe inspiring to consider the great length of time taken for the floodwaters to reach the final destination in Lake Eyre. We continued on to the end of the Birdsville Track at Maree before turning onto the Oodnadatta Track heading to the West.

We then travelled about 150 kms to the junction of the Borefield Track and headed down this track to the township of Olympic Dam near the Roxby Downs Gold and Uranium mine and thence on to the Opal mining centre of Andamooka on the edge of Lake Torrens. Here we were greeted like long lost people and the townsfolk treated us to a magnificent barbeque. We were also treated to tours of a working opal mine and enticed to part with some well earned dollars for their local wares. We headed for Port Augusta via Woomera passing many wonderfully coloured salt lakes on the way. After a rest stop at Port Augusta we journeyed through the lower reaches of the Flinders Ranges to the Clare Valley and then on to Renmark, to Mildura, to Swan Hill and back to Melbourne.

Total Distance Travelled = 5,330kms

We are heading for the Bourke and Wills Dig Tree, or so we thought. Up to Mildura, across to Morgan along the dirt roads to Hawker in the Flinders Rangers, then onto Rawnsley Park on the outskirts of Wilpeena Pound. Then, down came the rain. 50mms (2 inches) in 24 hours and tents were washed away, tents were flattened by the winds, creeks flooded, cars were being towed through mildly raging water ways and people and cars going in all directions. Within 24 hours everything had settled down, roads were drying out and the tourists who had stayed put and dried out were also able to resume the trip in a revised fashion. We did not make the Dig Tree this time so will have another go in the future.

Our revised trip took us back to Port Augusta, across to Broken Hill and out to White Cliffs and the Opal diggings. From here we traveled along the Darling River to Menindee Lakes, across to Ivanhoe, to Hay, to Echuca and back to Melbourne.

Total Distance Travelled = 6,230kms

"Waltzing the Matilda". North again up the Newell Highway to Dubbo, then onto the Mitchell Highway to Bourke and to Longreach. This time we continued in a northerly direction on the Matilda Highway towards Winton, Cloncurry, Normanton and finally to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. A spot of fishing, to try and catch a Barramundi or two, but no luck, lots of Catfish instead. There was a virtual prawn fest for all those left behind in Karumba.

We then turned right and traveled to Georgetown. Some of our luckier travellers had a ride on the Gulf-Lander Train that was going the same way as our group. These travellers were picked up at the end of the line in a small township called Croyden, halfway between Normanton and Georgetown. Lunch was an extravagant affair at Georgetown under the spreading branches of a large fig tree with Carpentaria prawns being the delicacy on offer to tourists.

A night at the Lava Caves at Undarra eased us into Cairns. A short R&R and we were heading south again. Down to Ayr, to Mackay and Rockhampton for another rest day in tropical bliss. We then turned inland where we toured through Miles, Moree and down to Dubbo where the rains caught up with us again. The balance of the trip was back down the Newell Highway to our respective homes.

Total Distance Travelled = 10,068kms

A re-enactment of our first big trip to the Alice. It was a chance for those who thought we were silly, foolhardy or, just plain off our heads to be doing what we had been up to previously.

It also seemed to be the opportunity to make up for the disappointment of the rain effected tour of 1992.

So a combination of the two, Rock- n- Springs and the DigTree. There were cars and tourists from almost every state in the country travelling with us.

The group was together for almost 2 weeks as we traveled to Uluru (formally known as Ayres Rock) where we spent a very favourable 3 days to gather in some of the many moods of this mammoth great rock. Some tourists managed to climb the Rock before the rising wind made it dangerous and the Park Wardens closed off the climb. Visits were also made to the very impressive Olgas nearby. We then went back to the Stuart Highway and on up the road to Alice Springs.

The travellers then split into 3 groups. The Queenslanders continued north and returned to their home areas via Mt Isa.

A 2nd group left Alice Springs and returned south through the Clare Valley-Mildura and down the Calder Highway to home. This group was on a two-week trip.

The 3rd group left Alice Springs a day after the 2nd group and toured through ANNA Station (the largest cattle station in Australia) to William Creek, along the Oodnadatta Track and then turned onto the Strzelecki Track and headed north to Innamincka for a couple of days on the Cooper Creek. This included a trip along a very rough and stony track to visit the Burke and Wills famous Dig Tree further up the Cooper Creek.

They then journeyed back down the Strzelecki Track, past the Moomba Gasfield Production Centre to the turn off towards Cameron Corner. We propped at the Corner Store located at the meeting of the 3 States of Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. The trip across the sand dunes was one of the most incredible experiences of sand track driving most tourists had experienced in their Morries.

So good!

Some people with a great sense of balance were able to stand on the cairn and place themselves over the conjunction of the 3 states. Their balancing acts were a source of much merriment to the other land based tourists of the group. We then progressed on to Tibooburra, down the Silver City Highway to Broken Hill, and finally across to Swan Hill and home to Melbourne.

This trip was of 22 days duration.

Total Distance Travelled = 8,214kms

Tasmania revisited. Plans were for this great tour of 18 days duration, The Spirit of Tasmania sailed out of Melbourne at 6pm on May 4th and there were 59 Morries on board from all of the mainland states.

The tour arrived in sprinkling rain and spent the first 2 days visiting places on the North West Coast and the hinterland as far back as Cradle Mountain.

The next 3 days were spent in Launceston touring the Northern coastal environs and some even managed to tackle the rather colder climes of the Great Lake looking for snow.

The East Cost benefited from the tourists centered at St Helens where some went as far afield as the Mt William National Park to the north and Coles Bay in the Freycenet Peninsular to the south.

The tour spent the next 5 days in Hobart. The tour photo was taken at Port Arthur and visits were made to Cadburys Chocolate factory, Mt Wellington, Huon valley and Richmond. A display of all cars was held in the grounds of Parliament House while the owners took advantage of the Salamanca Market being open on the Saturday morning.

The tour departed for the West Coast and Strahan. Those that went on the Gorden River cruise were blessed with absolutely calm conditions that gave them a wonderful visit of Sarah Island and a long look at the magnificent reflections on the Gordon River. A great sight to behold.

The tour then returned to Devonport for the final 2 days before boarding the Spirit of Tasmania for their return home.

Total Distance Travelled = 3,250kms

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