DICK LANG’S BUSH PILOTS’ NEWSLETTER, JUNE 2014. Welcome to your news of the Outback and adventure!

Only FOUR SEATS left on our truly magic trip to PAPUA NEW GUINEA

And no - the travel is not in this dugout canoe, but by pressurised Super King Air ! This happy family group is near Alexishafen – a natural deep water port we visit north of Madang. They use these log dugout canoes with the same skill as we use a bike or car, in the incredibly deep water of the Bismarck Sea that abuts the Madang coastline. Our first flight is full, but we still have four seats available - normal price $11,990 – with a HUGE SAVING of $4,000 per couple – down to $9,990 per person (twin share)for these last four seats on this 13 day flight, departing Friday, September 5. If you have ever been interested in travel to PNG – please book on this flight, as it may well be our last around PNG. View this on our website, dicklang.com.au or call Helen for a brochure, on (08) 8264 7200.

A HELPING HAND

Some of you may remember our youngest son, Clayton, who travelled on some of our early safaris. He also helped drive on our safaris in Africa. Clayton has transferred from the Gold Coast Hospital, where he was working in a supervisory and teaching capacity as a Plastic Surgeon and has returned to Adelaide. He is now consulting at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and privately at Sach Day Surgery, 341 South Terrace, Adelaide (ph 8223 7870), specialising in “hand surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery”. He is accompanied by his lovely wife, Dr Christie Lang (an anaesthetist), young daughter Sophia and their recent arrival, Madeline. He would be more than happy to assist anyone in need of any care.

INSIDE: See spectacular white Lake Eyre in its arid beauty!

HISTORIC BONYTHON CONNECTION

In August 1973, Warren Bonython and Charles McCubbin completed an epic 32 day walk across the Simpson Desert - a formidable achievement. Our old safari company, Desert-Trek, conveyed Mrs Bunty Bonython and their daughter Alice to meet the two walkers as they ended their walk at the Birdsville Track. “Advertiser” journalist Alec Mathieson and photographer Bryan Charlton recorded this meeting. It was of great interest to us to attend the recent Bonython auction in Adelaide. (See article alongside).

2014 – THE YEAR TO TRAVEL!

Due to tight times recently, we have all had to tighten our belts. However, please do not put off your holiday! As each year passes, the holiday spots change, we are a year older AND we need to travel while we still can! Australian travel is very expensive (we are only too well aware of that!) and is becoming more and more expensive every year. This is due to the cost of good wages and better working conditions for all in Australia. But we really cut our costs to the bone to make these trips affordable for you. Each year, travel becomes dearer – travel now, while you can, enjoy the memories in the future. Don't put off your travel dream.

THE BONYTHON FAMILY AUCTION

Warren and Bunty Bonython's huge Magill home-full of antiques and treasures was recently auctioned. There was no doubting the excellent taste and high quality. We purchased one of the oldest expedition diaries in Australia – that of Major Thomas Mitchell: “THREE EXPEDITIONS INTO THE INTERIOR OF EASTERN AUSTRALIA” BY MAJOR T. L. MITCHELL These very first expeditions eventually touched on Coopers Creek. This amazing journal of his 1823 expedition, published in 1828, featured the beautiful pink-crested cockatoo, the Major Mitchell, cacatau leadbeateri. This historic book has one of the first ever colour engravings of this beautiful bird, reproduced above. It is very delicately done, seeing that it was printed nearly 200 years ago.

TASMANIAN WILDERNESS – THE TARKINE

We are currently enjoying marvellous trips into the Wilderness of Tasmania's North West interior. Each trip just seems to get better than before! We now overnight in a beautiful lodge at Cradle Mountain, see Tasmanian Devils up close, traverse rarely seen wilderness and get a very good oversight of the logging and wilderness situations- You may be amazed at the articles in the media and your own understanding of the reality. We go to great lengths to get you into the wilderness with local bushman, Kevin. You will travel on trails inaccessible to anyone else. The photo alongside shows the very remote ferry on the Pieman River, set amongst very old forest areas. We visit beautiful Strahan and a very interesting visit to remote King Island – home of Australia's BEST cheeses. Early visits to Tassie may well see Cradle Mountain snowed in – as we did this year. Departing October 18 and monthly, the all inclusive fare is from $2,770. Please call for any help or information.

DEATH DIVERS OF THE PACIFIC RIM

I had heard of these people many years ago, but only in recent years found out where they lived! A risky business for the men of a remote village is to dive 33 metres (110 feet) from a rickety wooden tower with vines tied around their ankles. It is to prove their courage as men and to offer this act in the hope of providing a good harvest season. It is a really very interesting process to see how they prevent themselves from being killed. It is one of the world's most exciting cultural displays.

PACIFIC RIM

THE ADVENTURE FLIGHT OF A LIFETIME!

We completed a successful air safari into the Pacific in 2010 and then booked two further long air safaris in 2011. However, political processes in PNG and in French Noumea dashed our hopes. Many people had been interested in this exciting journey and we were quite sorry to have cancelled. However, we have now received good response from PNG for clearances and will be travelling on this highly adventurous flight around the Pacific Rim in late April and early May, 2015. We would welcome further enquiries from those who booked previously and offer them a 10% discount. We fly across Australia to Mt Hagen in Papua New Guinea, to visit the extreme mountain scenery and rich cultural life there. Into Port Moresby to interesting highlights of the capital and a night at our mate Dik Knight's Loloata Island. We fly to East New Britain to overnight at very historic and scenic Rabaul. An early morning flight along the length of Bougainville shows very active volcanoes. We cross the Solomon Islands to Guadalcanal, where some of the worst fighting of WWII occurred. We visit remnants of the military warfare era.

Across part of the Pacific to the Vanuatu Islands, where we see two of the most exciting events in the tour world: the Death Divers of the Pacific and stand at the edge of the fiery Tanna Volcano. Fly home by jet from Vila. Two departures - late April and early May, 2015 – 12 days – from $10,990. THE RIM OF A FIERY VOLCANO

It is one of life's stunning moments – to stand right on the top of the giant, rumbling Tanna Volcano – and see huge red molten lava exploding high into the air only metres in front of you. (But very safely!)

The drive into Tanna is awesome – across the last 10 kms, the country is absolutely trackless – just a vast moonscape of volcanic ash and lava, as on the moon.

It is a truly amazing experience. This is part of our 2015 “Pacific Rim Adventure”. We would welcome your call.

SPRING SALE! SEE WHITE LAKE EYRE

When Lake Eyre is flooded, it attracts enormous attention from the media. However, did you know that Lake Eyre is REALLY impressive when it is dry and white? The surface of the lake has huge patterns of salt formations, salt ridges and waves. Any rain which does fall may turn into beautiful pools of blue tones – due to the salt solution. The birds (which have long since deserted Lake Eyre, due to huge uncontrolled aviation activity) are now concentrated on the remote waterholes and lakes which we carefully fly over. Our 3 day flight spends a night in tropical Longreach – to view the iconic Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Museum. (The Qantas DC-3 on display was a sister ship to our own DC-3, VH-BPN, which was in much better condition) To get a true feel of the real Outback, we also overnight at Innamincka, with a quality bus tour of our

heritage expeditionary sites nearby (Burke & Wills Dig Tree and Burke's Grave). A special trip will depart on August 30. Normally $2,790 (per person twin share), we are offering an amazing saving of $750 off per couple for this one-off special flight. Please call Helen on 8264 7200 for details. See our DC-3 below, landing at the Dig Tree.

TASSIE WATER

Those Tassies sure know how to use their water! Firstly, they seed the clouds from expensive planes causing heavy rainfall. Then they trap the water high up in the central mountains. This then gravitates down through one hydo-electric power station, travels along huge lakes to fall through a second power station – then is diverted to go through a third hydro power station. Not happy with this, they then bottle it as Boag's Beer to sell to the mainlanders. That is using your resources very well indeed.

THE TUSK MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS

We are sponsors of two large Cultural Shows in the heartland of PNG, which we visit on our flights. These

are very poor people with great pride, who go to amazing lengths to create a mask, headdress, wig or adornment that is unique and outstanding. This inventive fellow has created a face mask of huge boar's tusks, to present a truly frightening appearance. See him – departing September 5.

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT – COMPANY OR GROUP We have purchased a large hangar and offices at Parafield, where we store our aircraft. Because we have an office at Adelaide Airport, these Parafield offices are not used. 1. Total area is 12m x 15m, comprising large general office, board room, 3 private offices, large staff lunch room, large toilet areas, etc. 2. Commercial rates at a discount would apply. 3. If interested in their use, please call us - 8264 7200

DID YOU KNOW? The longest construction in the world is our own Dingo Proof Fence. It stretches 5,600kms from Jimbour (north of Dalby) Qld, to the cliffs at Nundroo on the Great Australian Bight. I have been fortunate enough to travel large sections through sand dune country where pole is lashed upon pole to keep the fence above the encroaching sand. In many places, it is buried up to 20cms deep to prevent burrowing underneath. It is essential for pastoralism especially in the arid areas.

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