About the BAT Team  -  Aboriginal Culture  -  Tour Information  -  Weather  -  What To Take

The BATTOURS team

Captain Matt Crofts

Matt completed a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation at Victoria University, in Melbourne studying the finer arts of recreation. In 1994 Matt traveled to the US where he was waterfront director at Camp Abnaki in Vermont for three months. After travelling around the states it was off to Europe & the Middle East till June 1996 working a variety of jobs.

To be welcomed on Aboriginal land and for these great people in the outback to share their lives, thoughts, stories, philosophy & humour with us and all our crew, (the passengers) is fantastic. I feel so privileged to be able to rub shoulders with these amazing people. Over the years good friendships have formed as we all grow together.  

All our passengers who choose to do our 10 day backpacker tours, are not only exposing themselves to the outback, but to life in general. To see the personal growth and people emerge from their inner selves is amazing. Everyone is out of their comfort zone in remote areas and foreign lifestyle, getting back to the basics of living. We travel on outback time. Sun comes up we get up, eat when we are hungry, sleep when we are tired. In the western materialistic world time and numbers dictate our lives, so we take off your watches and travel with day time, night time and now time.  

The guides at Battours tours are fantastic. They are incredibly talented and committed to the cause of having a great party time, promoting Aboriginal culture, sharing our beautiful country with you and making our passengers feel special and good about themselves. They are great bush mechanics, DJ's, guitarists, poets, counsellors, entertainers, cooks and people with an enthusiasm for life and the outback. All in all they make each tour, a unique experience with memories that last a lifetime.

In 2003 Bruce Goulding joined Battours bringing with him 12 years of tour operation experience from UK Exodus tours U.K. Bruce is a highly skilled mechanic and is the Battours Operations Manager at our Adelaide base.  

Bruce has had an adventurous traveling career from being a roadie in Europe to a cowboy in America, he gained much valuable travel experience through twelve years with Exodus Expeditions. As a leader he led trips through Africa, Asia, S.E. Asia, South America and Europe. He then later became training manager recruiting and training staff in leadership and mechanical skills.  

Bruce now plays a pivotal role with Matt, focusing on operations and 4WD vehicle maintenance. He is married to Sally and they have three gorgeous girls, Brigette, Harriette and Sophie who all strongly support and assist in the day to day operations at our Adelaide base. Bruce's favourite part of the Adelaide to Alice Springs trip is "Iga warta Bush Tucker Walk." Inspiring as well as knowledgable.  

ABORIGINAL CULTURE

At Battours (Backpacker Adventure Tours) we wear with pride our tick of endorsement for Aboriginal Tourism Australia’s ROC Program. (Respecting Our Culture). We are enormously proud of the relationships we have built with various Aboriginal Communities and people over the years. It gives us great satisfaction to see our passengers perception changed and for them to come away with positive Aboriginal experience that has changed their life for the better.

We are fortunate enough to experience the Adnyamathanha culture and magnificent bushland that is Iga Warta. Iga Warta Aboriginal Community is set amongst mountains in the Northern Flinders Ranges, it has a beauty all of it's own. The Coulthard family welcome us into their land and share their special culture with us.  

The route we travel follows sections of The Overland Telegraph line through many different Aboriginal tribal lands. Aboriginal groups have been traveling the Overland Telegraph route since long before the telegraph was invented.

The Overland Telegraph was constructed along one of the most important ochre trade routes in Australia. Aboriginal groups from most parts of Australia have been trading high-grade red ochre from the north of South Australia’s Flinders and Gammon Ranges to the farthest reaches of the country for many thousands of years. The ochre is still used today for traditional ceremonies.  

Throughout our travel we pass many sacred and spiritually significant sites and areas through these Aboriginal nations. Many areas the Aboriginal people still practice traditional law and the land has to be cared for in accordance with this. The traditional owners of these lands ask us to please respect their wishes and pay the sites the respect they deserve. At Uluru (Ayers Rock), in the Central deserts, the traditional owners the A nangu ask visitors to please respect Tjurkapa (Traditional Law) and not climb Uluru (Ayers Rock). This is for the visitors own safety and respect for A nangu culture. There have been over 35 deaths from climbing Uluru (Ayers Rock). The A nangu feel a deep sorrow and pain and sense of responsibility to ensure visitor safety. If someone is hurt or dies they all feel a deep pain and sorrow. A nangu ask visitors to admire Uluru (Ayers Rock) from the ground. A lot more to see.

“If you worry about Aboriginal Law, then leave it, don’t climb it. The chain is still there if you want to climb it. You should think about Tjurkapa and stay on the ground. Please don’t climb” - Barbara Tjikatu, A nangu Traditional Owner.  

At Battours we are committed to move forward side by side with Aboriginal people and people all over the world. Let’s educate, learn, listen, watch, grow and become better people for sharing and celebrating each others culture.
Share, Care, Respect.   

TOUR INFORMATION: Where to meet

For Adelaide departures only:
Your driver & Bruce will be with the crew leaving from Adelaide at 7am Wednesday morning from Central Bus Station, 101 Franklin ST.  

For Sydney departures only: Indian Pacific train Wednesdays.
Meet group at Countrylink Office Platform 1, Sydney Central Station at 1:45pm Wednesday (train departs at 2:45pm). Tickets are available for collection from the Staff at desk.

Once you have collected your tickets feel free to move around and sit next to who you like. Take your packs with you on the overhead luggage rack as you can have a shower on the train before you arrive in Broken Hill. The A/C is on all night so it would be worth taking your sleeping bag and a pillow on the train to make the O/Night journey a little more comfortable. There is a dining cart and  bar for those who are thirsty. To keep cost down it advised to take your own food on the train. Have a great journey.

Your driver will meet you at Broken Hill train station at 7am Thursday morning. (Keep an eye out for a white 4WD with a blue trailer, if they are a little late don’t stress as they will have been camping out in the bush the night before).

With the full group together in Broken Hill we set off by 4WD and leave civilization behind us.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please read the terms and conditions on the brochure before travelling.-
Disclaimer is to be signed. The Terms and Conditions are not just for legal purposes they also refer to the style and environment in which we camp and travel in.

Our daily routine involves everyone to pitch in to help set up & pack up camp and collection of fire wood. If you fancy yourself as a chef, please feel free to share your culinary skills with the group and our leader. Think 'Team effort', and we get a lot more ground covered, and a lot more done in the limited 10 days. Listen carefully to the suggestions of your tour leader “Read between the lines”. It would be better to have 16 pairs of eyes scouring the landscape for animals and points of interest, rather than just the driver (who is also watching the road).
 

WHAT TO TAKE

• A water bottle at least 1.5 litres. Your standard Evian, Mt Franklin bottles from any shop O.K.
• Comfortable sturdy shoes for walking, Thongs (or flip flops)/sandals,
• Camera/Low speed Film 50-100 & Polarizing lens Filter. Low speed films best for daytime photos.
• Summer: Shorts, Light long trousers, Long sleeve top, Swimwear
• Winter: Warm clothes, Thermals, gloves, water proof jacket.
• Torch (flashlight)
• A heavy jacket for at night around the fire,
• Tapes / Cds Music for the travelling.
• A big hat for night and day.A woollen beanie (hat) is great for winter
• Insect Repellent & Sunscreen, Fly Net (can be purchased enroute for $5)
• Travel Pillow
• Personal Medication including pain relief
• Sunglasses
• Sleeping Bag to go inside the Swags which we provide. You can Hire sleeping bag for $20. Please advise at time of booking to hire one.

Please note: As of 1st April 2004 Passengers are required to pay $25 Uluru (Ayers Rock) Park Entry fee. This is to be paid to driver on the morning of departure.

 About the BAT Team  -  Aboriginal Culture  -  Tour Information  -  Weather  -  What To Take