Odes to the Outback

Next year is Australia's Year of the Outback, with celebrations throughout the country.

Outback South Australia has events planned to honour the people, the way of life, the history and the environment, including hosting the final stages of the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive.

The drove is a horseback cattle drive with 600 head of stock taken through the heart of the Australian Outback. It begins on May 4, 2002, in Birdsville, Queensland, and finishes six weeks and 514 km later on June 9 in Marree, South Australia.

Adventure-minded visitors can choose to ride the entire distance or select one or more of the drove's four stages.

Contact: travel agent or call the South Australian Tourism Commission's New Zealand office on (09) 914 9848

e-mail jane@satc.co.nz