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Watch the latest video of the flood pulse, from the Sunday Night program on Channel 7

Kalamurina Sanctuary is a vast desert wilderness, stretching from the northern shore of Lake Eyre to the southern boundary of the Simpson Desert Regional Reserve, and covers 667,000 hectares (1.7 million acres). It is a property of exceptional conservation value, providing a haven for several endangered species and containing a range of habitat types not represented in any nearby national parks. The property was recently purchased by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and this year ADE, in conjunction with AWC, will conduct ecological surveys in the northern and western section of the property.

Travelling on foot, accompanied by packcamels, is the least environmentally damaging way to traverse this part of the new sanctuary and obtain an understanding of the desert diversity. We will expect to pass through country ranging from open acacia woodland peppered with tussock grass and some mulga to the more dense eucalypt (coolabah) woodlands scattered along the Warburton River. There is very little spinifex on this part of the desert.

Located at the intersection of three of Australia’s central deserts, Kalamurina captures a large and ecologically significant area of the Lake Eyre catchment. The Warburton River, with its origins in the Channel Country of Queensland, meanders through Kalamurina, converging with the Macumba River and the Kallakoopah Creek, before flowing into Lake Eyre. Here is the key to the diversity of wildlife on Kalamurina – the convergence of three of central Australia’s most important rivers to form an intricate and unique pattern of habitats. The Warburton and Kallakoopah are currently in flood and are now flowing into Lake Eyre.

The Warburton River on Kalamurina, March 2009 - photo courtesy AWC

Click here for a recent article on the floods.

Water Entering Lake Eyre - photo courtesy AWC

Kalamurina thus provides a vital link from Lake Eyre National Park to the Simpson Desert reserves. This is conservation on a grand scale – as Kalamurina forms part of a protected area that is larger than the entire State of Tasmania.

Kalamurina contains a diversity of ecosystems – vast dunefields, a network of freshwater and saline lakes, desert woodlands, gibber plains, and riparian and floodplain habitats. These habitats support a rich assemblage of arid-zone fauna, including several threatened species.

The property is a stronghold for the Crest-tailed Mulgara, a nationally endangered carnivorous marsupial, and is home to a range of other priority mammals including the Kultarr. The property features around 160 bird species, including the Eyrean Grasswren, and a possible 51 different species of reptile, such as the endemic Lake Eyre Dragon.

On this trek, we will conduct a botanical specimen survey in addition to bird and marsupial surveys. We will also carry in all our heavy firewood so as not to damage the fragile and important dead wood environment.

Who are the ecologists on this trek?

The Senior Ecologist for this trek is Mr Clive Crouch. Clive has majored in Zoology and Biogeography and has sub-majors in Resource Management and Environmental Studies, University of New England. He is Honorary Resident Zoologist with Desert Discovery Inc, which undertakes fauna surveys in Australia’s remote desert regions.

Graham & Maree Goods interest in Australian native flora began in 1973, and they have both been involved with various activities relating to native plants for 35 years and have been members of the Australian Plants Society for 32 years. Maree was co-author of the book, Australia's Eremophilas, changing gardens for a changing climate, which was published in September 2008. Their interest has always been natural history but in particular native plants and birds, with their first visit to an Australian desert in 1981, and since 1997 they have travelled extensively through many more.

There are three options for trekking on Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary:

• 17 Day Kalamurina Ecological Survey Trek - August 11 to 27

• 7 Day White Dunes to the Warburton Trek - August 12 to 18

• 10 Day Warburton River Floodplain Trek - August 18 to 27
  

17 Day Kalamurina Ecological Survey Trek - August 11 to 27
The two day road transfer via Marree, Mungerannie and the Birdsville Track is followed by 13 full trekking days with the 20 strong packcamel team. This is the opportunity to assist with the field work observation plus also get a feel for the sheer diversity and size of this beautiful area of the Simpson Desert. We may camp in several different locations for two days at a time, so enabling an extensive reconnoitre of the area.

Grade: Moderate
Departure Date: August 11 to August 27 2009 - trek completed
Maximum group size: 7
Itinerary: 2 day road transfer, 13 days with the camels, 2 day return road transfer Further information
Pick up point: Adelaide
Set down point: Adelaide
Price: AUD$5344

7 Day White Dunes to the Warburton Trek - August 12 to 18
After a combination air/vehicle transfer from Adelaide on day 1, you will then have 5 full days trekking with the ecologists and the camel team. On day 7 you depart via charter aircraft from Marree and return to Adelaide, with the added bonus of seeing the Eastern fringe of Lake Eyre from the air, which has now received its floodwaters from the extensive rain in the Channel Country.
This 7 day option is ideally suited for those people with a 'spare week', who wish to discover and understand the diversity of this huge sanctuary and the important work being carried out by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the significant conservation challenges that lie ahead.

Grade: Moderate
Departure Date: August 12 to August 18 2009 - trek completed
Maximum group size: 7
Itinerary: 1 day air/vehicle transfer, 5 days with the camels, 1 day return air/vehicle transfer Further information
Pick up point: Adelaide
Set down point: Adelaide
Price: AUD$3986
Please note. The price listed above of the White Dunes to the Warburton trek is dependent on there being 7 people on the charter aircraft. Any less than 7, and the remaining passengers (to a minimum of 4) would have to share the aircraft charter fees on a sliding scale.
Therefore:

10 Day Warburton River Floodplain Trek - August 18 to 27
After a cmbination air/vehicle transfer from Adelaide on day 1, you will then have 8 full days trekking with the ecologists and the camel team. After 2 days trekking we may camp in the one place for two nights so as to have a greater opportunity for successful marsupial observation and surveying. On day 10 you depart via charter aircraft from Marree and return to Adelaide, with the added bonus of seeing the Eastern fringe of Lake Eyre from the air, which has now received significant floodwaters from the Warburton River and Kallakoopah Creek.

Grade: Moderate
Departure Date: August 18 to August 27 2009 - trek completed
Maximum group size: 7
Itinerary: 1 day air/vehicle transfer, 8 days with the camels, 1 day return air/vehicle transfer Further information
Pick up point: Adelaide
Set down point: Adelaide
Price: AUD$4780
Please note. The price listed above of the Warburton River Floodplain trek is dependent on there being 7 people on the charter aircraft. Any less than 7, and the remaining passengers (to a minimum of 4) would have to share the aircraft charter fees on a sliding scale.
Therefore:

Who operates the air charter?
Our charter flights are operated by Dick Lang's Bush Pilots. Dick is one of Australia’s best bush pilots, and has lived and worked in the Outback for most of his life. He has flown rescue operations into the desert regions and has flown into the hardest flying country in the world – Papua New Guinea. Dick is also a fully accredited command Airline Captain. In 1976, he led the last great expedition across Australia to become the second ever to cross the centre of the Australian continent without tracks, a centenary retracing of Ernest Giles, who was first in 1876. Dick and his wife Helen owned and operated four Douglas DC-3 aircraft on previous air tours, but now operate modern fast twin-engined 10 seat Piper Chieftain aircraft.

Dick Lang’s Bush Pilots operate under their Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Air Operators Certificate.

If you are interested in these treks but the dates don't fit your plans, there are shorter treks operated by the Outback Camel Company in May and July in both the western and eastern Simpson Desert. Click here for further details.

Kalamurina Photo Gallery

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The white dunes of the Simpson Desert, north of the Warburton River on Kalamurina Sanctuary - photo Andrew Harper

The Warburton River and floodplain borders the red sand dunes of the Tirari Desert (right) - photo Andrew Harper

Kalamurina Photo Gallery

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