DICK LANG’S BUSH PILOTS NEWSLETTER 2014 – THE YEAR TO TRAVEL !

Exciting new places – our biggest discounts yet!

PAPUA NEW GUINEA-13 DAYS These will be our last visits to Papua New Guinea. Book now for big discounts on this great adventure! PNG – A LAND OF SUPERLATIVES! No trip to Papua New Guinea is complete without spending time in their beautiful Highlands. The stunning giant peaks and deep valleys of the interior are the making of the very diverse peoples who live there. There are intense working garden activities at all levels, often clinging to the sides of the steep mountains. It is a very colourful society. The best way to see this is at the quite overpowering Cultural Shows – one of life’s great experiences. Here is a selection of highlights for you to marvel at: Fly in your own aircraft from Port Moresby out into the

Pacific Rim – East New Britain Stand near the base of a giant rumbling volcano –

watch its awesome plumes belch out! Up close to Birds of Paradise for great photos. Have the very best accommodation selected for you –

Highlands and Coral Seas! Be awed by hundreds of stamping feet at Shows. Fly between spectacular peaks in the South Pacific! Snorkel on some of the world’s better corals. Experience a natural, untouched beautiful people the

world has left alone.

Boat and canoe trips in the wilderness. See colourful markets where garden produce is sold.

There is so much for you to read about and look at that we ask you to look at our website www.dicklang.com.au and see for yourself.

ENGA-WABAG CULTURAL SHOW The most remote and exciting gathering of people in PNG. We are a sponsor of this show and support it because of its remoteness and wilderness. DEPARTS: Thursday, July 31.

GOROKA CULTURAL SHOW A very diverse gathering of tribal communities – colourful and spectacular, set in the beautiful Goroka mountains. DEPARTS: Friday, September 5.

FARE: Two people traveling together and sharing accomm. $11,990 per person. Person traveling alone - $12,990

PNG SPECIALLY REDUCED FARES: A discount of $1,000 per person for the PNG Tour will apply for any booking with 20% deposit payment received by February 14. A discount of $750 will apply for any booking with 20% deposit payment received by the end of February. A discount of $500 will apply for any booking with 20% deposit payment received by the end of March.

DID YOU KNOW? – Papua New Guinea The currency of PNG is the “kina”. This was named after the gold-lipped kina shell traded, sometimes dangerously, from the coast to the Highlands and was a valuable trade item. You can see many of these golden shells today at the elaborate Cultural Shows – but generally not elsewhere. As a fascinating side-note, when the country of Botswana in Africa was created, it was a vast desert tract. The little Bushmen of the Kalahari named their new monetary unit “Pula”, meaning rain, so precious was this commodity. (Many of them would rather have rain than money!)

To create a fictional monster, this Highlands warrior is gripping goats horns between his teeth (Departs July 31, Sept 5). Note the kina shells worn by the worried men either side.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – IS IT SAFE? A very frequently asked question about PNG is “Is it safe?” The answer is “Yes!”. The country of PNG is so vivid and beautiful, the people are so proud of it that they want to share it with you. There are small incidents, but our long experience, knowledge of local area, the people and customs go a long way to overcoming any small situations. It is interesting to note that at Cultural Show time, the people are very protective of visitors and work to ensure their comfort and security.

At an altitude of 9,500’ (2,880 m) this remote tribal hut has a slow, smoking fire going all the time to warm the grass hut. The smoky fire helps to waterproof the grass roof.

KIMBERLEY-KAKADU-KARIJINI 12 DAY FLIGHT

2014 – THE YEAR TO TRAVEL – BIG DISCOUNTS!

NEW VENTURES – Each year we try to change or improve this outstanding flight around Australia. Last year we introduced Mt Borradaile Safari Camp in Arnhem Land – and what a spectacular wilderness adventure this has been. With its copious birdlife, plentiful wildlife and exclusiveness, this is one of the highlights of the Northern Territory! Expensive and very exclusive, it is well worth a visit to the wildlife-filled lagoons and Aboriginal Art studded escarpments – a wonderful place. This year, we are going back 37 years to when we ran the first ever commercial 4WD safari trips along the Gibb River road. We are now going to visit Home Valley Station in the remote Kimberley near the beautiful Cockburn Range. For good reason, this location was used for much of the filming of “Australia”, starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. It is also an outstanding visit.

Highlights of the Kimberley-Kakadu-Karijini Flight: NEW - Mt Borradaile lagoons (Arnhem Land) NEW - Home Valley – remote Kimberley Exclusive walk thru the best rock art in Arnhem Land The Bungle Bungle Flight The Horizontal Waterfall Geikie Gorge boat cruise Crocodile Hotel, Jabiru Your own personal bird boat cruise in Arnhem Land Windjana Gorge Nature and crocodile walk Tunnel Creek Excellent Kimberley Boab tree drive Knox’s Gorge, deepest in Australia (Karijini) Super Pit (Kalgoorlie) Whales at Head of the Bight (seasonal)

KIMBERLEY-KAKADU-KARIJINI 12 DAYS (cont.)

This is a well organized, exciting tour where every day is a new adventure – every corner a new experience.

DEPARTS: Saturday, May 3; Sunday, June 8; Saturday, July 12

NORMAL FARE: Two people together, sharing accomm. $10,990 per person. Person traveling alone – $11,990

SPECIALLY REDUCED FARES: To past passengers, a discount of $750 per person for the Kimberley Tour will apply for any booking with 20% deposit payment received by January 31. A discount of $500 will apply for any booking with 20% deposit payment received by the end of February. A discount of $250 will apply for any booking with 20% deposit payment received by the end of March.

TASSIE-TARKINE WILDERNESS-KING ISLAND 4 DAYS 2014 – THE YEAR TO TRAVEL!

Experience the much-publicised Tarkine Wilderness of NW Tasmania. It is a very diverse and interesting area and we see the best wilderness part with local bushman guide, Kevin. He has worked for the Hydro Authority, the mining companies and has walked all the back trails searching for his dream trout. Kevin enriches our visit to this wilderness area. It is a beautiful and rewarding 4 DAY FLIGHT.

Only two departures remain – March 8 & April 5. Normal fare: $2,770 p.p. twin share, $2,990 (single).

SPECIAL DISCOUNT OF $500 PER COUPLE, $250 PER SINGLE. NOW 2,520 p.p. twin share, $2,740 single

KING ISLAND Remote, rugged, rocky shorelines and a number of interesting local industries, King Island cheese is renowned throughout Australia. We sample a large range of delicious cheeses in their immaculate and generous Tasting Room. A special visit to the Kelp Factory – a true local product which we have all used in the last day – hear all about it.

DID YOU KNOW? - King Island King Island kelp supports up to 100 local people and is made into Alginate (hydrocolloid), used in such diverse

applications as explosives, beer, icecream, toothpaste and your tablets! We have used kelp in some form or other within the last day. See this interesting industry on your four day Tassie trip.

ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF TASMANIA This Automobile group in January 2014 took over the Strahan Village accommodation – the beautiful Hilltop Harbourview rooms where we stay – and other aspects of the Federal Hotels operation in Strahan. The staff there try very hard for our tour groups and we can only look forward to further improvements under this new management.

ABT RAILWAY As part of the Strahan Village package, RACT will now also operate the ABT railway from Queenstown into the King Gorge and back to Queenstown. We welcome this renewed effort on the part of the railway scenic trip.

COLD AND SNOW Yes, it was wonderful! On our last trip to Tasmania on December 7, when we visited Cradle Mountain, we ran into a snow storm. The windscreens iced up and people became coated in wonderful magic snow – a great contrast to Adelaide.

DID YOU KNOW? TASSIE’S “TALLEST TREE”

Deep in the Tarkine this giant sentinel – a gum (eucalyptus obliqua) is 60m (200’) high. Very few of these giants are left – from timber cutting, lightning strikes and fierce bushfires. Stark skeletons of these former giants are scattered throughout the region, reminding us of what the area once may have been.

THE TARKINE It is a whole world away from S.A. or Qld, to drive through the rainforest areas of Tassie’s Tarkine. There are huge tree ferns to 4m tall with delicate, freshly-curling foliage and a large abundance of tree orchids in the cooler, darker areas. It is quite refreshing to be there. You also gain a very good idea of the wide-ranging political views of various parties – Tasmanian Govt., who wants to cut timber, environmentalists and timber companies. Make your own valuable, informed opinion – few outsiders have ever been there.

DID YOU KNOW? SURVIVAL IN THE OUTBACK! Some years ago, the Adelaide “Advertiser” asked me to write a weekly column for two years on survival and bushcraft in the Outback. Along with my past experience, I phoned experts, doctors, the Army, to add what I thought would be good articles. Finding water in the outback? Desert stills – holes in the ground – black plastic, etc. Digging up roots of trees? Bags over leafy branches? These are all of very limited help and in all cases, your loss of body water is greater than your intake. THE ANSWER? A plastic jerry can of water in the back of your vehicle. Never leave on a journey without it. Ever!

The wry humour of the outback Tasmanians ! 30 YEARS AGO – 1984 HELPING A KANGAROO! In 1984, our Outback Brochure showed an old friend, “Captain No. 2” – an early traditional owner of Ayers Rock. He’s just shot a kangaroo and was bringing it back to our vehicle to take home to his family to cook. Dick Lang proudly took this brochure to the U.S. in 1984 to promote our Safaris. However, in New York he met the Australian Tourism Commission, who became quite disturbed by the cover of the brochure. He was told that the American public would be upset to think that an Aboriginal would eat a kangaroo. The politically-correct commissioners instructed Dick to tell U.S. Travel Agents that the kangaroo was sick and that the Aboriginal man was helping it! So much for the world of reality!

GREAT OUTBACK FLIGHT – or how to fly around the outback in 3 DAYS

During 2013, there was a frenzied outburst of Emus breeding, much more than any other year. This photo, taken near Lake Callabonna, shows a fraction of a large mob. The emus posed a very serious danger to aircraft landing on Outback airstrips

VISIT THE TROPICS FOR THE WEEKEND This is a wonderful way to see THE GREAT LEGENDS OF THE OUTBACK – all in three days. It is a comfortable, fast, easy way to see the vast inland and its legendary places. We have been operating there for 45 years and have picked out the very best. What a huge part of our remote Outback is covered on this three day flight. We have all of the major sights – Flinders Ranges, Cooper Creek, Burke and Wills’ Dig Tree, Lake Eyre – as well as the two mighty Outback Institutions, the Stockmans Hall of Fame and the Qantas Museum. Longreach hosts these two national treasures. When you visit Longreach, you can visit the Tropic of Capricorn near your motel. You can walk from the Temperate Zone to the Tropic Zone in one second. Yes, you have been to the Tropics!

DEPARTS: April 23, May 24. June 28, August 16 and 23, September 24 and October 4.

NORMAL FARE: $2,790 (p.p. twin share), $2,990 (single).

GREAT DISCOUNTS: $500 OFF per couple, $250 OFF single.

BEAUTIFUL COOPER CREEK – BURKE & WILLS The story of Burke and Wills is a very important part of our national history and the folklore of the Outback, It is very rewarding for you to stand under shady coolabahs on the edge of a deep waterhole, surrounded by pelicans and parrots, listening to the saga that was played out on the very sands you are standing on. Hear historically-correct experts tell you of the tragic, but interesting, details underneath the very trees where they occurred 153 years ago. It is the most important part of our Great Outback Flight.

BURKE AND WILLS – WILLS’ DEATH Visiting Burke’s Grave with us, you will hear Wills walked 180kms further than Burke and King, to return to the Dig Tree. This ordeal was devastating to Wills, as he had been seriously unwell. In his diary, 28th May, 1861, “Still feel very unwell from effects of constipation of the bowels, etc.” Again on 15th June, “I have never yet recovered from the effects of the constipation, etc.” – a period of over three weeks. Wills, emaciated and unwell, died two weeks later.

Taken from our book “Successful Exploration of Australia”, by Dr William Wills, 1863.

BEAUTIFUL BIRDLIFE IN OUTBACK AUSTRALIA It is interesting to see that areas of the Outback that are attractive and appealing are also havens for plentiful birdlife. The dawn photo above shows well-fed pelicans in Cooper Creek (Great Outback Flight). We also see huge numbers of iconic Australian birds with large variety in the lagoons in Arnhem Land, Kimberley gorges and sites on our Around Australia Flight. A WELL-BALANCED DIET In 1878, author and explorer Ernest Favenc undertook an expedition to the QLD/NT border for a proposed Brisbane/Darwin rail line. He recorded that for food supplies they shot and ate: “50 corellas and galahs, 350 ducks, 150 flock pigeons, 11 geese, 4 turkeys, 8 spoonbills, 7 water hens, 2 shags, 1 emu and 1 native companion (584 birds) – crows and hawks we carefully reserved to the last when all else should fail.”

DID YOU KNOW? McDONNELL RANGES – ALICE SPRINGS On Aril 12, 1860, John McDouall Stuart mapped and named the McDonnell Ranges (Alice Springs) “after His Excellency,

the Governor-in-Chief of South Australia, as a token of my gratitude for his kindness to me on many occasions.”

EARLY DAYS ON THE BIRDSVILLE TRACK Recent hot spells reminded us of our early days (1960’s) travelling by Land Rover on the Birdsville Track in summer. These Philistine vehicles had no fans, no air-conditioning and no insulation. On one trip we carried a thermometer in our glovebox. It was an excruciatingly hot day, but everyone was coping well – that was right up until some bright spark checked the thermometer - 140ºF!! Immediately, everyone felt ill. We easily resolved this situation on all other trips by not carrying thermometers and everyone felt hot, but O.K! These days we have air-conditioned aircraft and air-conditioned buses – AND we don’t travel up there in summer! As we get older we enjoy the comforts we have earned!

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL Thank you to all the lovely people who travelled with us in the last few years! We have enjoyed your company and showing you the Outback. We look forward to having you join us on a longer trip – always exciting and always new!

We wish you all the best for the New Year.

Regards,

Dick and Helen Lang Please call DICK or HELEN LANG on (08) 8264 7200

(8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

DICK LANG’S BUSH PILOTS ABN 14 007 702 043 Travel Agent Licence No. TTA 180525 PO BOX 80, HIGHBURY. SA 5089

www.dicklang.com.au