We would like to introduce ourselves
John Stafford - Your Expedition Guide
I'll be your expert guide for your Alice Springs Expedition through outback Central Australia.
I grew up in the NSW Mallee bushland surrounded by vast sheep and cattle stations. I spent much of my younger years in the bush trying to find out what was over the next hill or down an unknown track, venturing further and further afield much to the horror of my parents.
This sense of exploration and discovery has always been a part of me leading me, to travel extensively overseas and to spend a good part of 20 years exploring both the usual tourist hotspots and the lesser known regions of Central Australia.
While flying over Alice Springs en route to Asia in 1981 I was glued to the window at 35,000 feet mesmerised by the red earth of Central Australia, the parallel lines of the sand dunes, the ancient ranges with the rivers cutting through them and the flat white salt lakes; my sense of adventure and exploration kicked in.
I was fascinated by the vastness of this amazing landscape. After a decade working in the travel industry in Melbourne and Sydney, I took an opportunity to relocate to Alice Springs in 1998 and work for the peak tourism marketing body Tourism NT. Through performing a range of roles, I was fortunate to establish relationships with many tourism operators, explore many of Central Australia's remote regions and build strong personal connections with local Aboriginal people.
I have a passion for this land, its people and stories, its rich culture, and how this culture is strongly intertwined in the landscape.
My aim is to take you on a journey of discovery and share the connection between culture and country, to leave you with an understanding of this special place that I am fortunate enough to call home.
Your wellbeing & safety is our number one priority
Your luxury travel vehicle is kitted out with all necessary safety and recovery equipment, a comprehensive first aid kit as well as a satellite phone to ensure we are always in contact with the outside world if required.
We Want To Make Your Expedition As Comfortable As Possible
With much of the time being spent navigating off-road tracks (and dry river beds) in remote locations, we want to ensure the best possible experience in comfort. We have chosen a Land Rover Discovery 4.
There’s no coincidence that Land Rover opened up much of this country when road builder and pioneer Len Beadell was tasked with establishing a road network to open up the interior of Australia back in the 1950’s.
Land Rovers have changed somewhat since then and you will be significantly more comfortable than Len.
We will share with you the story on the famous Australian pioneer Len Beadell. A fascinating legend.
