DEPARTING MELBOURNE Dec 30 (ADELAIDE and PERTH Dec 29)

Day 1 (L,D)
Melbourne passengers are either met at their metropolitan home/hotel for transfer to Essendon Airport, or provide their own transport to the airport. Free parking is available. We meet in the main terminal, Sharp Air departure area. Passengers from Adelaide and Perth arrive in Melbourne by commercial flights the day prior, Dec 29. Transfers, overnight accommodation and breakfast are included in your fare. Refreshments are available prior to boarding our comfort-plus Fokker 50 for our morning flight, departing 8:45 a.m., which takes us over Wentworth, junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers to Broken Hill. A local guide will share the Broken Hill story, the city founded after the discovery of the richest ore body in the Southern hemisphere and the birthplace of BHP Ltd. Lunch at Broken Earth Cafe, located on the Line of Lode, highest point in the city. Reboarding, we fly “low and slow” over the majestic Flinders Ranges. Light refreshments as we fly. View the stunning Painted Hills, only accessible by air, prior to arriving at Coober Pedy. On arrival in Coober Pedy we transfer to our comfort-plus air conditioned accommodation at Desert Cave Resort or similar, our home for two nights. You may request underground rooms, however there is only a limited number available and allocation is not guaranteed. Time to settle in prior to dinner together at the Desert Cave Hotel.

Day 2 (B,L,D) NEW YEAR’S EVE
This morning enjoy a coach tour of this unique town. See the Catacomb and Sts Peter & Paul underground churches, the unbelievable golf course and the stunning and beautiful Breakaways, an outcrop formation in the desert. View also the historic “dog proof fence”. Construction commenced in 1880 and, in total, the fence is now over 5,000 kilometres in length. Following lunch we visit Umoona Opal Mine and underground display and shop, learn a little of the world of opal mining and view an opal cutting demonstration. Coober Pedy, with its huge number of small mines, is the largest producer of opal in the world. Time to explore the town, its art and craft outlets and relax prior to our New Year’s Eve celebrations. Join us from 7:30 p.m. for pre-dinner drinks and a four-course dinner dance, with entertainment provided by the talented and versatile Adelaide duo, Vogue. The evening has a 70’s theme, with a surprise Master of Ceremonies. You are invited to dress in theme style. A fantastic way to welcome the New Year!

Day 3 (B,L) NEW YEARS DAY!
This morning we rejoin our aircraft for the two and a half hour flight to Lake Eyre North; fly over Madigan Gulf, site of Donald Campbell’s land speed record, be amazed at the constantly changing shoreline, view Warburton Groove where the northern floodwaters enter Lake Eyre, and Goyder Lagoon. The usually harsh brown landscape is likely to still be green in parts! See the huge sand dunes on the eastern edge of the Simpson Desert. Simply stunning scenery! During the flight passengers in aisle seats swap with passengers in window seats to maximise viewing (a condition of travel). Into Queensland to the tiny township of Birdsville. The airport is literally a two minute stroll from the famous 1860’s Birdsville Hotel. Explore the town or head straight to the bar for a welcome drink prior to an enjoyable New Year’s Day lunch. We reboard our aircraft on our return flight to Melbourne, refreshments and complimentary drinks from the bar as we fly south. Flight time is approximately 3 hours, 20 minutes, and we land at Essendon Airport around 6:00 p.m., having completed a most comprehensive, interesting and thoroughly enjoyable weekend flying holiday to celebrate New Year 2012. Adelaide passengers remain on board for the return flight to Adelaide. Perth passengers transfer to Melbourne Airport for their flight to Perth.