ROSS RIVER – Private Charter Art Trip to Ross River in the East MacDonnell Ranges.
7th August to 16th August, 2008. (Fly into Alice – tour group will be picked up from Airport on 7th and departure is from Alice Springs airport on morning of 16th).
ARTISTS are invited, and will be made very welcome, by Sandrifter Safaris, a professional tour group who will take us to the magnificent ranges that reveal a variety of geological formations. There’s a great number of shady sites to work in, including the wide sandy river bed with its majestic River Red gums; plains of spinifex, cassias and mulgas and the bare contours of the uplifted ranges and the rocky outcrops in the Sphinx area. Nearby N’Dhala Gorge has unique Aboriginal rock engravings and is well worth a day visit. There is also the opportunity to visit Trephina Gorge for the day.
There will be a “bus run” each morning and people and their gear will be dropped off where they choose. Normally the group elects to work in a specific area before moving onto the next after a couple of days. Most days there is a lunch run and then a pick up at the end of the day so you can be out all day if you like, or you can choose to stay around and work near camp.
Camp: Sandrifter will set up a camp site including kitchen, large shade shelter, tables and chairs, solar lighting and refrigeration and soft-backed camp chairs for relaxing around a campfire. You will have a tent to yourself which you can stand up in, a stretcher, mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, bed linen and tent light. Also available, if required, are painting stools, drawing boards and paint water bottles. Some easels may be borrowed (check with Sandrifter when paying your deposit). There’s a large amenity block with flushing toilets, and hot showers. Remember all this equipment is transported by the tour organizers, for our convenience.
Meals: are from the comprehensive, purpose-built, camp kitchen; usually a continental breakfast with a cooked breakfast every few days; lunches of sandwiches, cold meats and salads, evening commences with drinks and nibbles with a two course meal to follow. A range of beverages, fruit and snacks are provided during the day. Red and white table wine is provided with the evening meal. If you wish to purchase other alcohol (such as beer/spirits) please let Sandrifter know as Alice Springs has introduced restricted alcohol laws. Special medical dietary requirements and preferred diets can normally be met, but remember this is a group and the tour organizers carry all of our supplies for the whole trip. Please contact Sandrifter if you wish to discuss dietary requirements.
On the last afternoon there will be an exhibition of everyone’s work.
Cost, and Payment: Cost of trip will be $1850 per person, plus airfare to and from Alice (a group booking is being costed for this trip). Payment of a $300 deposit will secure your place (remember there’s a MAXIMUM of 18 on this trip) – balance prior to end of March. Tax invoices will be issued. Please contact Sandrifter by email on: sandrifter@bigpond.com or phone Corinne on 0438 532 126 (leave message if phone doesn’t answer).
Enquiries can also be directed to: Shirley Winstanley on 9272 7330.
