Lance is coming!

It's official: Lance Armstrong is making his comeback at the 2009 Tour Down Under. The cycling mega-star has been approved by cycling's governing body, the UCI, to participate in what will be the most sensational Tour Down Under to date.

The Adventure Collective's Go Pro with AvantiPlus package means that you will have the chance to see Lance racing up close as he battles it out with the peloton for the ochre jersey. And while Club Tour has sold out to the general public, you can still book your Club Tour option with The Adventure Collective! Be quick, places will fill up fast.

Can't get away for the whole week? Check out our Weekend Warrior package.

As well as exciting racing action, there's great cycling each day (for riders of all speeds and abilities!), spectacular sightseeing and delicious gourmet produce and famous South Australian wines. Top this off with plush accommodation at the Stamford Plaza, and you're set for a week of thrills and indulgence.

South Australia has fought hard for the participation of the seven-time Tour de France winner, with Premier Mike Rann making the following statement:

“Lance Armstrong’s decision to make his comeback to world cycling at the Tour Down Under is a world coup.

“Lance’s appearance at the Tour Down Under will leave a lasting legacy for the sport in Australia, encouraging more Australians to get on a bike and inspiring young Australians to be the champions of tomorrow.

“In addition, Lance’s positive messages delivered through the Livestrong Foundation will provide hope and support for thousands of Australians and millions of others around the world fighting cancer."

Don't miss your chance to see cycling's superstar in action!

Book your package now.

Official Tour Operator of the Tour Down Under

“The Adventure Collective is proud to be an Official Tour Operator of the Tour Down Under in 2009,” said Mr Solly. “Our partnership with Events SA and the Avanti Bicycle Company will ensure our guests have a most memorable week in South Australia."

"The partnership with Avantiplus, will bring cycling fans the ultimate Tour Down Under experience, including the chance to win thousands of dollars worth of prizes", he said.

Last year Kerrie Cole from Wellington, NZ, joined The Adventure Collective’s Tour Down Under package in January 2008. “It really was the trip of a lifetime,” Ms Cole enthused. “They [The Adventure Collective] even helped me meet my cycling idol, Robbie McEwen. I had such a great week!”

See our Tour Down Under Press Release here...

Feel the Rush - If you missed out this this year and have heard about it from your friends don't miss the Tour Down Under in '09 - it will be a big one!

Staff blogs here...

Outback season kicks off with a bang!

For most people, winter means rugging up and hibernating in front of the heater until the first signs of spring. This doesn’t have to be you! Winter is the perfect time to explore Australia’s outback, with warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights. An outback cycling adventure is a great way to keep up your fitness and motivation over the chilly months, and who better to experience it with than The Adventure Collective, Australia’s outback active holiday specialists!

Our outback season is off to a great start, with the Bike ‘n Wheels Expedition successfully crossing the continent from Gulf to Gulf along the famous Birdsville Track; Ben is out there ROC-ing it up in the Red Centre, Kakadu and the Kimberley, and Ecotrek travellers have enjoyed paddling the Murray, hiking the Flinders Ranges and cycling the Great Ocean Road.

It’s not too late to join us for a winter adventure of your own! Read more to find out about all our upcoming trips. We’d love to have you along for the ride!

Destination Focus: The Kimberley

Covering an area of a million square kilometres, the Kimberley and Pilbara regions cover Australia’s North West. A land of remarkable contrast, spectacular landforms and depth of Aboriginal culture, it’s the kind of place dreams are made of.

The Gibb River Road is one of the last true outback adventures, with the old stock route spanning more than 660km, linking Kununurra with Derby across the rugged North West.

We are thrilled to offer two amazing Gibb River Road cycling adventure itineraries! Following on from its great success in the past two seasons, we see dozens of customers each year enthralled by the Gibb River Road – Bungle Bungles cycling adventure. So much so, that this year we added the Gibb River Road – Mitchell Plateau itinerary, because there’s so much more to see up there! The canyons, gorges and waterfalls are spectacular and you’ll experience the best of it by mountain bike. Stunning bush camps, vast starry skies, delicious food, a professional and enthusiastic guide and great company are all part of the package.

There’s still space to join us on these Gibb River Road adventures:

RT5A Gibb River Road - Bungle Bungles
15-25 June – 1 PLACE AVAILABLE
5-15 October – 2 PLACES AVAILABLE

RT5B Gibb River Road – Mitchell Plateau
31 May-10 June – PLACES AVAILABLE! BE QUICK!
29 June-9 July – PLACES AVAILABLE! BE QUICK!
17-27 August – BOOKED OUT

Cairns to Broome NEW FOR 2009!

We promised it would happen, now we’re gearing up for THE epic cycling adventure of 2009! Following the iconic Savannah Way spanning northern Australia through Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, this cycling adventure will be a must for all intrepid travellers looking for a challenge (and an awesome adventure at that!).

From Cairns, you will experience the unique and historic Savannahlander train, a two-day journey through the tablelands and goldfields, with an insightful commentary and the chance to get out and explore your surroundings at designated points. You’ll be met in Forsayth by The Adventure Collective crew, your friendly support team who’ll be making sure you have the time of your life throughout the trip!

Highlights for this trip include:
- Cobbold Gorge cruise
- Normanton, in the heart of the Gulf Country
- Barramundi fishing town Boroloola
- Spring-fed thermal pools at Mataranka
- Stunning Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park
- Fitzroy Crossing, in the heart of some of Australia’s best pastoral country
- Sunset on Cable Beach, Broome

This 45-day trip can also be joined with the Bike ‘n Wheels Expedition, which means you would cross the continent from south to north, and then east to west – all by bike!

LOCATION >    Cairns, QLD to Broome, WA
DATES >          20 May - 3 July 2009
DURATION >    45 days, including 5 rest days
COST >           AUD$6225
INCLUDED >    Most meals, campground and bushcamp accommodation, etc

More trips to look out for in 2009

One of the fun things about what we do is dream up great new itineraries. Many of you have travelled with us a couple of times, and we’ve got some eager regulars who have done all our trips, and are always hankering for something new! In any case, it’s all part of our desire to connect people and places in the pursuit of adventure.

Here’s a sneak peak for what’s new in 2009…

Daintree Discovery > Cairns return through the oldest rainforest in the world, the World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest > 6 days

QLD Outback Pub Cycle > Darwin to Cairns via Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden - classic outback towns, rich in farming and fossil history! > 10 days

Savannah Way & Kakadu > Cairns to Darwin via the Savannah Way, Normanton and Kakadu NP > 14 days

Simpson Desert & Uluru > Alice Springs to Uluru first heading west through the Simpson Desert along the Old Andado Track, Mt Dare, Dalhousie Springs, Oodnadatta, Finke River and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) > 10 days

Kangaroo Island & Fleurieu Explorer > Adelaide return, including Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island > 5 days

ROC the Classic Coast > Adelaide to Melbourne via Victor Harbor, the Coorong, Robe, Princess Margaret Rose Cave, Port Campbell, the 12 Apostles, the Otways and Apollo Bay > 6 days

These trips are all in the 'ROC' style, with a combination of mountain biking and 4WD. Stay tuned for dates - coming soon!

Want more information, or keen to join us? Drop us a line and we'll keep you updated.

Destination Focus: The Flinders Ranges

One of the world’s oldest mountain ranges lies deep in the heart of South Australia, and is surprisingly accessible from the fast pace of the city. The Flinders Ranges is an area of geological significance, and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including the once-rare yellow-footed rock wallaby.

Dotted throughout the vast ranges are tiny towns and settlements, from delightful Melrose nestled at the foot of Mount Remarkable, to Parachilna with a sweeping view of the jagged ranges. Remnants of once-grand sheep stations tell the tale of the harsh environment and shattered dreams.

Wilpena Pound is the best-known landmark of the Flinders Ranges, and is comprised of a natural amphitheatre covering almost 80 square kilometres. St Mary’s Peak is the highest point of the ranges at 1170m.

The Flinders Ranges provides a stunning backdrop for cycling and walking. The Mawson and Heysen Trails run for several hundred kilometres through the ranges, providing scenic routes for cyclists and walkers.

The Adventure Collective, together with Ecotrek, provide a range of walking and cycling experiences through the Flinders Ranges in 2008.

Flinders Ranges and the Heysen Trail
Experience a selection of the most interesting and scenic sections of the Heysen Trail in this tour, walking with daypacks and returning each afternoon to soft beds, hot showers and good food. Highlights include Wilpena Pound, historic Blinman, and the ruins of Kanyaka Homestead. This is the landscape that inspired Hans Heysen, one of Australia’s best known landscape artists.

LOCATION >    Adelaide to Flinders Ranges, return
DATES >         7-13 June; 5-11 July 2008 BOOK NOW!
DURATION >    7 days / 6 nights
COST >           AUD$1460
INCLUDED >    Transport ex Adelaide, accom, park entry fees, all meals, wine, guide

Flinders Ranges and Hidden Gorge
Hidden Gorge lies in the Mount Remarkable National Park, amidst some of the most spectacular scenery in the Southern Flinders Ranges. Towering cliffs, secluded waterfalls, groves of native pines and picturesque waterholes feature, along with an array of flora and fauna. This tour is an easy introduction to pack carrying, with one day being ‘pack free’ as we explore the narrow chasm of Hidden Gorge.

LOCATION >    Adelaide to Southern Flinders Ranges, return
DATES >         11-13 September 2008
DURATION >    3 days / 2 nights
COST >           AUD$721
INCLUDED >    Transport ex Adelaide, camping equipment, park entry fees, all meals,                           wine, guide

The Bike ‘n Wheels Expedition
Yes, this trip crosses the continent, but the first few days are spent traversing the Flinders Ranges, including day spent cycling some of the most spectacular stretches of the Mawson Trail through stunning gorges from Wilpena Pound to Blinman. Cycling down through the stunning Parachilna Gorge in the morning light is breathtaking, and you’re rewarded with great coffee and outstanding hospitality at Parachilna’s Prairie Hotel.

LOCATION >    Port Augusta to Karumba (via the Flinders Ranges!)
DATES >         10 April to 9 May 2009
DURATION >    30 days (or 15 days for Stage 1)
COST >           AUD$4100
INCLUDED >    Fully supported, most meals, campground & bushcamp accom, guide

Coming up

Don’t miss out! Grab your diaries now and mark these dates before it’s too late…

31 May-10 June: Gibb River Road-Mitchell Plateau, Darwin NT to Broome WA
29 June-9 July: Gibb River Road-Mitchell Plateau, Darwin NT to Broome WA
22-27 July: Great Victoria Desert Cycling Experience, Perth WA to Uluru NT
29 July-2 August: MacDonnell Ranges Cycling Adventure, Uluru to Alice Springs NT
6-12 August: Katherine & Kakadu Explorer, Alice Springs to Darwin NT
13-26 August: Desert Dreaming, Alice Springs NT to Coober Pedy SA
29 September-19 October: Africa Epic, Cape Town, South Africa to Livingstone, Zambia