​Arrive at your camel trek to a fully prepared campsite—dinner cooked, billy boiled, and the fire crackling under a star-filled sky. Relax in our premium Darche Eco Dee swags, designed for ultimate comfort with a high-density 70mm foam mattress, large entry doors for stunning views, and super-fine mesh for ventilation. Freestanding, hassle-free and over 7ft in length, these swags offer plenty of space to sit upright, making your Outback nights as comfortable as they are unforgettable.​

 

A typical day on our camel trek unfolds with a serene rhythm:

• Morning Delights: Begin with hot tea or coffee 1 hour after sunrise

• Breakfast Bounty: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast amid the picturesque surroundings.

• Camel Moments: Capture the beauty of camels browsing in the morning light.

• Saddling Up: Observe or participate as cameleers prepare camels for the day's journey.

• Scenic Walk: Set out for a walk with camels, cameleers, and fellow guests.

• Midday Pause: Take a break for lunch halfway to the next campsite.

• Camp Arrival: Reach a new campsite in the late afternoon.

• Unsaddling Ritual: Join the process of removing saddles and blankets from camels.

• Evening Atmosphere: Experience the magic of evenings with campfires, stories, and new friendships.

• Guest Participation: Choose your level of involvement, from observing to hands-on engagement.

• Hot Soak: At certain campsites a relaxing wash in the hot Artesian Basin waters is possible.​​

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The trek's unhurried pace ensures you savour every moment of this unique holiday adventure. Each morning offers opportunities to witness and participate in the saddle-fitting process, fostering a deeper connection with the camels and the trek experience.

 

With an average daily trek of 10-15kms, there's ample time for exploration, relaxation, and enjoying the natural beauty of the Outback. Cameleers morning activities commence at sunrise, allowing early rising guests company and to appreciate the tranquil light, whilst others might best enjoy a leisurely start to their day.

 

Whether you're an early riser or prefer a bit more sleep, our camel trek accommodates your pace for an enriching and memorable experience.

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DAY 1. Transfer Day and Arrival at the Clayton Station Wetlands Campground

​If you have opted for the additional service departing Adelaide at 8:25 am on Thursday with the Stateliner Premier Coach Service from the Adelaide Central Bus Station, our Cameleers will welcome you at the Port Augusta Regional City, specifically at the Port Augusta East - Caltex Service Station, at 12:54 noon.

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Our goal is to depart promptly, and along the journey, we break at the Flinders Food Co. Cafe in Hawker township for refreshments and lunch. We'll provide frequent bathroom breaks and pauses at notable locations en-route, taking you through the picturesque Flinders Ranges and into the Outback. 

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Day 2. Cameleers Rise Early for Your First Day of Trekking​

Early in the morning, our Cameleers rise to prepare hot coffee and tea, setting up the breakfast/lunch tent with an array of options to cater to all tastes. Observe as we muster the camels, halter them, apply lead ropes, and feel free to become as hands-on as you'd like, brushing, blanketing, and saddling the camels before we embark on a full day's trek, covering typically between 10-15kms before setting up camp along the Clayton Creek.

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The trees along the creek-line are home to varied birdlife, dingoes are regularly spotted, and the colours of the sunset never fail to disappoint. Once our Cameleers have completed their camel tasks, they set about lighting the evening campfire, boiling the billy, and preparing the evening meal, which frequently includes making damper breads with main meals and sweet puddings for dessert.

DAYS 3 - 4 - 5- 6 - 7 Exploration:

We journey deeper into the parallel sand dunes of the Tirari Desert, observing their increasing height as we venture northward. There are varying distances between the dunes, separated by the inter-dune flats. The dune ridge-tops stretch across hundreds of kilometers, punctuated by salt lakes and immense sand formations running from north to south. Situated in the eastern reaches of South Australia's Far North, the Tirari Desert encompasses part of the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, with Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre North to its west.

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Clayton and the Tirari Desert hosts a diverse range of flora and fauna. Sandhill canegrass and sandhill wattle dominate the dune crests and mobile slopes, while varied grasses thrives on stable slopes and sandy corridors. Sparse shrublands of acacia, and eremophila are common on dune flanks, with saltbush and bluebush found in swales and interdune flats. Coolibah woodlands can be found flourishing around good rainfall catchment areas and floodplains. 

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Among the threatened and vulnerable species in the Tirari Desert are the Crest-tailed mulgara, dusky hopping mouse, fawn hopping-mouse, grey falcon, and woma python. A night walk with head torch is worthwhile. Finally the Australian Dingo is at home here and it is not uncommon to see them and hear their unique howl. They pose us no threat, but do tuck your shoes away at night! 

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Depending on the prevailing wind and cameleers wanderlust, destinations may include the following locations:

1. Peachawarina Wetlands: An oasis between the dunes attracting an abundance of birdlife and wildlife in general, thanks to the constant flow of artesian basin water. There is also an opportunity to soak in the waters under the stars and sleep like a baby after absorbing the mineral-rich waters.

2. Kabeer ClayPan: An impressive sight to be discovered after a sand dune expedition. This impressively large claypan is covered in fossilized remains of a time long passed. Formations exhibit coral-like resemblances.

3. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre: The camels traverse as close as they can to the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park. In some areas, we approach the ground softens, and the heavier camels literally sink - this is how we know when to stop. Beholding the endless vista of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre and remaining to take in the sunset makes for a great day and memory.

4. Dicka Dickana and Coodlunga: This area is close to the Clayton River that, when in flow, feeds into Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. The soft creek beds make for a wonderful night's sleep, birdlife is abundant, and dingoes never fail to show us their curious nature at this location.

5. Halfway Floodplain: A wide expanse at the end of the southern Tirari Sand dunes on the eastern side. It greets the sunrise and hosts evidence of Aboriginal life in years since passed. Arriving here takes us through tighter and tighter sand dunes as the spaces between the inter-dunes tighten.

6. CaneGrass Swamp: A gibber plane and complete change of landscape signal our arrival to this wetland, which is home to Australia's largest crane, The Brolga. They are a sight to behold and hear as they fly above and gracefully land. The entire area is a mecca for desert birdlife. Camping here is a delight surrounded by permanent waterholes, lots of lush vegetation, and a chance to wash off the sand in Great Artesian waters. It's hard to believe the dunes of the Tirari Desert remain so close.

7. Illturina: We camp either near a delightful wetland or at the top of a dune crest. Either option is a visual delight. If you like riding earlier in the morning, why not assist or photograph the morning's activities as the cameleers gather the camels for the morning's brushing and saddling activity.

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The above represents some of the many possibilities of the varied landscapes which we encounter on Camel Treks. We are absolutely fortunate to experience enormous diversity on each and every exploration.