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Kennedy Ranges tour, Western Australia

country:Australia
location:Western Australia 
departures:2010: 1 Jul
price:From AU $2,180 (14 days) excluding flights
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more info:Price includes catering. Limited seating in escort vehicle from AU $2750. Hire vehicle, insurance & fuel are additional. Minimum age 25
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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introduction to Kennedy Ranges tour, Western Australia

Kennedy Ranges tour

We love the Kennedy Ranges in northern WA but so far we've only explored a relatively small part of this spectacular and remote area. On this unique escorted and catered, self-drive 4WD Kennedy Ranges tour, you’ll travel in a small convoy led by an expert tour guide. This will be the second stage of our explorations in this area in which we will push ever further west. We'll set up a few base camps and venture out each day to find out more about this scenic and ancient mountain range. Each night we'll come back to camp to enjoy a delicious bush dinner prepared by our experienced safari hostess... certainly a much better welcome than the early explorers would have received!

The Kennedy Ranges tour will move at a leisurely pace with plenty of time to smell the roses. As the Kennedy Range is new to us as well, this will be a real pioneering adventure at a special 'discovery' price! We will start and finish in Carnarvon and places will be strictly limited. A vehicle-mounted two-way radio and a robust 4WD vehicle are mandatory for this Kennedy Ranges tour. No previous 4WD experience is required – tuition is part of the package. We can arrange hire of a self-contained 4WD to join this tour at special rates. Comprehensive information kit and personal phone discussion with participants is provided prior to departure. May to September is the best time to visit this region.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Set off from Carnarvon
Days 2-13:Exploration and bush camping
Day 14:Return to Carnarvon
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.
how this holiday makes a difference
Community
On our Kennedy Ranges tour, we stay in the caravan/campground in Carnarvon and purchase our supplies and fuel locally. There are no other towns or communities once we enter the Kennedy Ranges. We ran a similar ‘discovery tour’ to a different section of the Kennedy Ranges in 2008. Because the territory we covered had been traversed by so few people, the Department of Environment & Conservation (of which our company director is an Honorary Ranger) asked us to prepare a report for them about our observations and experiences there. We will prepare a similar report at the conclusion our 2010 expedition. We hold 'fun fines' and raffles while on the Kennedy Ranges tour, which we contribute to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Environment
  • We emphasise environmental awareness at the pre-departure workshop and include a copy of our Environmental Management Policy in each pre-departure kit.
  • We demonstrate responsible environmental practices when four wheel driving, for example, try to stick to existing tracks, if bogged, dig the vehicle out, don’t churn up tracks, remove obstacles from tracks, etc.
  • We obtain DEC approvals in advance for any areas we intend to visit over which they have jurisdiction, even though we are not required to do so.
  • We advise clients of their environmental responsibilities while in this pristine area.
  • We drive at a reasonable & safe speed to suit conditions & conserve fuel.
  • We limit number of vehicles in the convoy to minimize impact on bush tracks, bush camps & surrounds.
  • We take all our rubbish out with us as there are no specified disposal bins in this area.
  • We only build fires when permitted to do so and then keep them small and provide our own firewood whenever possible.
  • We instruct clients on ‘bush toilet’ procedures.
  • We don’t take souvenirs with us.
  • We leave our campsites in the same, or better, condition as we found them.
  • The director of the company is an Honorary Parks Ranger so is committed to protecting wildlife and looking after the environment. He is also one of the few tour guides in the state to be accredited by the Eco Tourism Association of Australia.
We were the first tag-along-tour company to ‘partner’ with Carbon Neutral. Under this arrangement we donate a percentage of our profits from each Kennedy Ranges tour to Carbon Neutral in an attempt to offset our carbon emissions and we encourage our clients to do the same. Last year we cumulatively contributed to offsetting an estimated 67.08 tonnes of our carbon emissions by the planting of native trees.

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