Malas and Moonlight in the Tanami
5-13 September 2027

Simpsons Gap | Tanami Highway | Emily and Jessie Gap | Tilmouth Well | Newhaven Nature Sanctuary | Alice Springs | West MacDonnell Ranges | Standley Chasm

Journey from Alice Springs along the Tanami Highway to Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary; 5 nights at DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs and three nights catered camping under the stars at Newhaven. This expedition offers an immersive 8 night/9 day guided drawing and printmaking experience with a conservation focus.

Newhaven is a 262,000-hectare a wildlife haven managed by Australian Wildlife Conservancy and BirdLife Australia; a globally significant biodiversity hotspot, home to native species such as the mala, greater bilby, burrowing bettong and brush-tailed mulgara, along with 180 species of birds.

Read on for full details of this wonderful tour or check out the link below for more on Newhaven.

https://www.australianwildlife.org/sanctuaries/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary

Day 1: Sun 5th Sept

Arrive Alice Springs. Catch shuttle bus https://www.alicesilver.com.au/ to DoubleTree by Hilton. Settle in, unpack. Welcome drinks and dinner at Hanuman Thai Restaurant. Doubletree is a large complex with lots of facilities and will be home for 4 nights.

Day 3 : Tues 7th Sept

Buffet breakfast. Board bus for drive out to Standley Chasm. Time to meander and sit, to gather impressions for a linocut design; lunch at Standley Chasm kiosk then visit Araluen Art Centre and Tjanpi Desert Weavers https://tjanpi.com.au/on the way home to Doubletree. Lino print workshop by the pool. Dinner by own arrangement.

Day 4 : Weds 8th Sept

Buffet breakfast and then travel to Jessie Gap for a walk and drawing session and a visit rock art site at Emily Gap; visit Papunya Tula Gallery and have lunch at Todd Street Mall. Dinner by own arrangement.

Day 5 : Thurs 9th Sept

Buffet breakfast and board the bus for a 350km road trip to Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, with stops along the way to have lunch and sketch the ‘panoramic patterns’ of rugged mountainous desert, mulga woodlands, endless red-sand plains, salt lakes and spinifex grasslands of the Great Sandy Desert.

Arrive at Newhaven and set up camp. Alice Silver Services will provide our meals for three days, with single tent camping, sleeping bag, and 50mm ground matt for our camps under the stars.

Day 6 : Fri 10th Sept

After a camp breakfast, explore Newhaven Sanctuary by bus, stopping to draw in various stunning locations like Lake Bennett, Mt Wedge, Mt Zill, Mt Thompson Range and Mt Sonder.; dinner and evening under the stars. Campfire. Nocturnal tour with local guide.

Day 7 : Sat 11th Sept

Newhaven Nature Sanctuary Camp: second full day of drawing, painting, flora and fauna observation, conservation insights, sunset drinks and bikkies on the final camp night.

Day 8 : Sun 12th Sept

After a camp breakfast, pack and board the bus for the 350 km drive to Alice Springs on a different route, stopping for some sketching, packed lunch, breaks to take in the landscape and stretch our legs. Check in to Doubletree for a final evening. Dinner by own arrangement.

Day 9 : Mon 13th Sept

As tour concludes, after a comfy night, enjoy a final buffet breakfast and farewells. Airport shuttle available to fit with your departure time.

Inclusions

• flights arriving and departing Alice Springs in order to meet the tour
• travel insurance
• some dinners and lunches
• NT Parks Pass for Simpsons Gap, West MacDonnells ($10)
• mini bar and other services at the resort
  

What to Bring

Optional items to bring

your own pillow, additional paper/art media, earplugs for night, hiking poles, thermos, a small folding chair that fits in your suitcase, powerpack to recharge phone, sleeping bag liner

Additional Information

When considering this art tour, there will be a stretch of three days remote camping at Newhaven where there are limited showers and amenities. https://www.australianwildlife.org/sanctuaries/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary?

There may be hot days and walks over uneven or occasionally unstable terrain. Although our bus company (Alice Silver Passenger Services) has a satellite phone for emergencies, access to emergency services will be limited.

For this tour, a level of health, fitness, and mobility is essential. Please consult with your GP and read the itinerary carefully to ensure you are able to participate in all parts of the group tour program.

Hydration and sun-safe practices are vital, as is adhering to the safety advice for each site. Please note that it is essential to be attentive when walking on slippery and uneven ground to prevent falls.

Swimming in cold water in waterholes and lakes can be hazardous and is at your own risk. Due to the specific art focus and immersive nature of the tour, we invite art workshop participants only.

Bookings

Please read the detailed itinerary. To join the tour, please contact Bronwyn McKean on 0432 260 710 or by email: bronwynmckean@bigpond.com Deposit: A $1000 deposit is required to secure a place on the tour, with the balance due by 28th April 2027. The deposit is fully refundable if we do not reach a minimum of 12 participants. The tour will proceed with a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 14 participants.

Cancellation Policy and Terms

If the tour has sufficient numbers and payments have been made by 28 April, the tour will proceed. After 28 April 2027, the payment is non-refundable.

Travel insurance is highly recommended as the cancellation policy is quite strict.

Spots are fully transferable to another person. If, after the full cost is paid, someone needs to cancel, there are two choices. The first is for you to find a person to take your place. The second is to claim the monies back through travel insurance. If there is anyone on a waitlist, we may be able to find a replacement, but this is not guaranteed.

Timeline

Once you have secured a place on the tour, and the numbers have been confirmed at the end of April, please book flights. Ensure you arrive in Alice Springs by the 5th and plan your depart on or after the 13th September. The Information Afternoon will be a time to review details of the tour, provide relevant medical details, flight times, dietary and contact person details. Information Afternoon: 4.00–6.00pm on a Saturday TBA in Brisbane. This will be an opportunity for the group to meet, collect art kits, and confirm administrative aspects. If you are unable to attend, administrative tasks can be completed by email. You can arrange for an art kit proxy or for it to be posted.

Meet your Host – Bronwyn McKean

(Bach Art Theory Dip Ed. QCT Reg.) Following a 30 year career as a Secondary Visual Arts Teacher and artist, I started Earth Stories in 2022, to design and share place-based art workshops, build community and strengthen connection with the natural world. Malas and Moonlight will be a very special tour, with Newhaven as a key destination and a focus on drawing and printmaking across the landscape. I am happy to be working again with the fabulous Margy Parkes, who will host a workshop during our tour.

Starting in my early twenties I spent 46 years in the field of animation. Starting on the bottom rung in the animation department as an “inbetweener”. Ask me what that means! I have worked as an animator, layout artist, layout director, animation director, studio manager, producer and overseas troubleshooter. Worked overseas for more than 20 years and in Australia for mainly international series for Hanna Barbera, Disney as well as European and Australian studios. Also The Magic Pudding feature released in 2000. I love drawing and I am looking forward to sharing the fun of linework and the pencil, different techniques and mediums.