Desert Diversity Painted Desert Tour

The Painted Desert is an area of spectacular colorful hills that Mother Nature has taken 80 million years to create. Sediments originally laid down by the ancient inland sea have eroded away over time. This erosion, combined with the leaching of minerals from the soil, create this magical area whose colors change during the day, making it a photographer's delight.

To get there, Desert Diversity Tours leaves the world-famous Opal mining town of Coober Pedy, past the last of the underground homes and through the Dingo Fence (The world's longest fence).
We travel over an area that was once the ancient inland sea bed, but today is commonly known as the Moon Plains. This area is a very important marine-fossil bed that has become of great interest to Paleontologists since the recent discovery, by the operators of Desert Diversity Tours, of the partial backbone of a 5-6 meter long Ichthyosaur (ancient marine reptile) which swam in the ancient sea 120 million years ago.
The Moon Plains are also littered with fossilized marine life and petrified wood, as well the drop-stones that fell out of the melting icebergs million of years ago.

Once through the Moon Plains we enter the first of the Cattle Stations (Mount Barry. 4969 sq km). Here that we stop for morning tea (smoko) in one of the Coolibah lined creeks. After "smoko" we continue on through an area that is part of the Lake Eyre catchment. This drainage basin covers about one sixth of the Australia continent and is the words largest internal drainage system.

Arriving at the Painted Desert we spend time exploring these magnificent hills and have a closer look at some of their unique and ancient formations. After taking those special photos we sit back and relax while having a leisurely lunch and enjoying the silence of the outback.

Once lunch is over we head out of the Painted Desert traveling over Arckaringa Station (2745 sq km). This cattle station set on the Arckaringa Creek is a great example of pastoral living and arid land farming. We stop along the way for afternoon tea before drive back over the moon plain.
The Moon Plain has also been the backdrop for movies such as Mad Max, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Pitch Black and Stark to name a few.

After an enjoyable, educational and fun filled day we welcome the sight of the Stuart Range on the horizon and finish our adventure as we drive leisurely back into Coober Pedy.

For safety all of our vehicles carry Satellite Phones, UHF Radio's and First Aid Kits

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

How this ancient land was formed over 190 million years.
How the "inland sea"was formed
Formation of the Great Artesian Basin.
The early European explorers.
The arid land pastoral industry.
The Flora & Fauna
What it¹s like to live in this arid and diverse desert environment
And plenty of bush yarns of the outback characters
by guides who have lived and worked in the area for most of their lives.

WHAT TO BRING

To hike around the painted hills you will need, good comfortable footwear, shady hat sunscreen, insect repellant, a smile and happy disposition and don't forget the camera with plenty of film to photograph the most spectacular breakaway country in Australia.

WHAT YOU GET

This is a fully inclusive tour. We supply lunch, morning and afternoon tea.
You will travel in smaller groups for a more personal, casual and relaxing atmosphere in comfortable air-conditioned 4WD vehicles.
Free pick and return to your place of accommodation in Coober Pedy, with all fees paid.