Join us for a two day camping adventure in Tjoritja (the West MacDonnell Ranges). Enjoy an astronomy tour, a night time painting class, and a night sleeping in the most comfortable swags in Central Australia. Explore waterholes, a commit crater, and the small Aboriginal community of Hermannsburg.
This adventure departs from Alice Springs, and includes everything you’ll need for your art & camping experience.
An experience to remember – authentic outback camping with a dash of art and astronomy. Suitable for beginners, first time campers, and experienced artists and outdoors people. This trip is open to adults and very grown up kids.
– Following a mid morning hotel pick up, we will drive for roughly 1.5 hours into Tjorija (West MacDonnell Ranges)
– Enjoy a picnic lunch
– Set up camp, and enjoy a swim in the Finke River
– Optional visit to Yupulpa (Glen Helen), depending on time availability.
– Chow down on a healthy & hearty three course campfire dinner
– Learn about the night sky in an astronomy tour with your award winning tour guide
– See the world differently in our night-painting class, conducted by the light of the moon or stars
– Wake up to a camp breakfast (inc. tea & coffee) surrounded by nature
– Explore Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) commit impact crater, a Culturally and scientifically significant site
– Enjoy another picnic lunch
– Visit artists in Hermansburg
– return to Alice Springs before dinner
A swag is a transportable bed used for camping. It consists of a roll of foam surrounded by a semi-waterproof canvass. You unroll your swag on the ground, and unzip each side to get in. Our swags are made up like a king single bed, with sheets, a pillow, and warm blankets. They are very comfortable and warm. Some people like to bring a sleeping bag for extra warmth.
Night painting is all about tuning in to our senses and experiencing the environment differently. In Central Australia, we get very bright star light and moonlight (which can at times feel as bright as daylight). Unless we get heavy cloud cover, which makes the night time very dark, there is enough light to see the landscape and our paintings, as they develop. We do see the world differently at night, and a part of this workshop includes learning how to paint with a very restricted pallet.
Your captivating astronomy journey will be led by award winning tour guide and astronomy enthusiast Anna Dakin. Anna will lead you on a journey through the universe with her green laser pointer. You can expect a comprehensive overview of the basics – starting with a few well known stars and constellations for orientation, and finishing with some of the bigger astronomy concepts broken down into fun sized inspiration.
Please let us know about any dietary or medical concerns when booking. This tour is weather-dependant.