We kick off 2024 with the Sturt Stony/Strzelecki Desert Trek, and this is just the right duration for first time Desert Bushwalkers. It's been a long while since we walked in this desert - 1998 actually! So we are very much looking forward to trekking in this classic desert landscape.

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We will be walking in the dune fields and swales of the Sturt Stony Desert and Strzelecki Desert on Clifton Hills Station in South Australia. The Sturt Stony Desert is aptly named by explorer Charles Sturt in 1845 whilst he was enroute to the north.

This is a fascinating landscape consisting of small red/washed out white dunes and includes the floodplain of Cooper Creek which winds and curls its way from NSW, past Innamincka township, and onwards to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre.

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On this trek you will walk alongside our team of packcamels accompanied by 5 cameleers who are your crew for the duration of the trek. Our cameleers are not 'tour guides', they are seasoned stockmen/women who are specialists in handling and working with camels, and have a wealth of experience in walking the desert and knowledge of its flora & fauna, and are respectful of our First Nations people who call the desert home.

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Walking in this landscape is on firm sand and occasional claypans and gibber (small stones) flats. The remnants of cyclone Kirrily soaked most of the desert with good rain in early February (Innamincka has recorded 142mm for the year to date) so there may be a profusion of yellow flowers such as poached-egg daisy & 'Yellowtop' covering the landscape, and supplying our camels with fresh feed....however it's not until we actually get out there in late April that we will know the extent and impact of any rainfall.

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May is ideal walking weather in Central Australia and over the course of a 5 to 6 hour walking day you would walk approximately between 8 to 10 kilometres.  Our pace of travel is determined by the camels and their ability to negotiate the dunes and other landforms in the landscape. They carry all your personal gear, and all you have to carry is a healthy attitude and your day pack. Best to leave everything else behind.

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This is a very real, very Australian desert experience. Camels are the perfect cross-country vehicle and so we don't follow roads or tracks, and there is no vehicle back-up. Camps are chosen for the availability of camel feed, and we never camp in the same place twice. And in addition, as we are Australia's only trekking company that specialise in remote desert travel, you won't 'bump into' any other groups of trekkers. 

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All of our treks are active participation-based experiences and the cameleers will involve you with loading and unloading the camels as much as you wish to be involved. Similarly, your assistance is always greatly welcomed with the numerous camp chores to be done at the end of the day such as collecting firewood or helping to shepherd the camels as they feed.

Please note that the entire trek will be on Clifton Hills Station, a working cattle property of 16,500 square kilometres, so we may see occasional evidence of cattle and some station infrastructure.