 Kimberleys, Arnhem Land, The Gulf
(14 days)
The two most popular air tours of outback Australia are this tour and the
Pungalina 9 day wilderness.
Day One: Melbourne - Andamooka - Ayers Rock
Depart Melbourne early in a comfortable twin-engine aircraft. Fly over
Wilpena Pound in the Southern Flinders Ranges via Mildura if necessary for fuel,
then over the vast dry lake of Lake Torrens before landing at Andamooka Opal
town at about 11am. We then take a short tour with Margot Duke of this unusual
rugged yet quaint outback opal town. A visit to Albert's underground house/mine
and the old historic cottages are a must. A light lunch and then we depart at
1.30 pm for William Creek for fuel and maybe a quick drink in this famous pub
near the edge of Lake Eyre. Leaving there at 3 pm we fly 2 hours with a scenic
flight over Ayers Rock and the Olga's and then land at the modern Yulara resort.
View the spectacular sunset before dinner.
ACCOM: THE OUTBACK PIONEER HOTEL/MOTEL... YULARA
http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/outback/
  
Day Two: Ayers Rock - Bungle Bungles
View the sunrise if desired. Then after breakfast drive out to Ayers Rock for
a tour of the base (with Aboriginal paintings, caves, rock pools, etc.). The
climb is not encouraged nowdays by request from the aborigine community. Depart
Yulara, at about 11.30am and fly via Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater (one of the
world's largest) to Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles). You will be met by
the local tour operator for a short drive to the permanent established camp at
Bellburn Creek. After lunch, drive to the southern end of the park to visit the
Bee-Hives Rock formations and walk into Cathedral Gorge, prior to returning to
camp for a rest and dinner. The camp has twin-share tent sized cabins with
comfortable beds, dining facilities, and shared shower/toilet facilities. All
meals are supplied by the local tour operator (East Kimberley Tours)
http://www.eastkimberleytours.com.au/
ACCOM: BELLBURN CREEK CAMPSITE at BUNGLE BUNGLES Approx. Flight Time: 3 hrs
25 mins
Day Three: Bungle Bungles
A full day in the northern end of the park with the local tour guide,
exploring the chasms and gorges of this unique massif, the Bungle Bungle, said
to be 350 million years old, with an area of 300 square kilometres. Includes
Picanniny Gorge, Mini Palms and Echidna Chasm. Highly recommended is the
helicopter ride over the Bungles. This can be organised on Day 2 or Day 3 (an
optional extra cost). The pre-dinner drinks are around the campfire with maybe a
bit of singing if somebody has a guitar!
ACCOM: BELLBURN CREEK CAMPSITE at BUNGLE BUNGLES
  
Day Four: Bungle Bungles - Old Mornington Station
Leave the Bungles at 7am…it is daylight at 5.30!. Fly 1 hour to Old
Mornington Station. A short drive to the camp and after settling in we drive 1
hour to Diamond Gorge. Spend the day there , swimming, canoeing, fishing for
barramundi before returning to the open air bar and dining area of Mick Cur’s
bush camp.
ACCOM: OLD MORNINGTON BUSH CAMP...Tents twin share. Flight time 1 hr
Day Five: Old Mornington - Bell Gorge - Cape Leveque
Depart after breakfast to Silent Grove airstrip in the Kimberleys, home of
Bell Creek Gorge....10 minutes flight. Drive 30 minutes then walk an hour to
Bell's Gorge. Swim and lunch at this spectacular waterhole, one of the most
magnificent in the Kimberleys. Early afternoon fly to Cape Leveque (via Derby
for fuel) on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Pristine beaches, spectacular coastal scenery with stunning colour contrasts and
magnificent sunsets and sunrises. Accommodation is in open-air cabins on the
beach and dinner in at the open-air restaurant overlooking the ocean.
ACCOM: KOOLJAMAN CABINS at CAPE LEVEQUE Approx. Flight Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
http://www.kooljaman.com.au
  
Day Six: Cape Leveque - Mitchell Falls - Faraway Bay
Leave Cape Leveque to fly over the spectacular coastal scenery of King Sound,
the famous Horizontal Waterfalls and the myriad islands of the Buccaneer
Archipelago such as Koolan and Cockatoo Islands. Next stop is the Mitchell
Plateau airstrip. With the local guide drive to the beginning of the 3 km walk
to the Mitchell Falls, visiting the Big and Little Merten's Falls and the
Kimberley Wanjina Aboriginal Art sites on the way.
Enjoy lunch and an afternoon swim at the falls. Helicopters will fly
everybody back to the plane at about 3pm and then we fly 45 minutes to Faraway
Bay. This is a remote safari yet upmarket accommodation on the northern
Kimberley coast. It takes about 40 minutes to drive to the resort. Accommodation
is in twin share cabins on the top of a cliff overlooking the sea. We relax with
a drink in teh spa pool before dinner in a magnificent open air setting on the
same cliff.
ACCOM: FARAWAY BAY RESORT
http://www.farawaybay.com.au/
Day Seven: Faraway Bay
A magnificent breakfast on the cliff restaurant and a swim and then we board
the boat to spend the whole day exploring this coastal scenery. The destination
is the spectacular King Edward falls. Here we have a refreshing "dip" on the
front of the boat as we get close to the falls. Activities on the way include
lunch and some great sea fishing for fish such as Emperor. Returning to home at
about 5pm we once again enjoy the pleasant surrounds and environment of the
resort before another spectacular fish dinner on the balcony.
ACCOM: FARAWAY BAY RESORT...twin share cabins
  
Day Eight: Faraway Bay - Mt Borradaile
A relaxing start to the day and then at 9 am depart for Arnhem Land, via
Kununurra for fuel. Arrive in time for a late lunch at Mt Borradaile in Arnhem
Land as we lose an hour and a half time change.. Late afternoon enjoy a
magnificent sunset cruise on the billabong where there is abundant birdlife and
crocodiles for you to see. This is an exclusive Aboriginal cultural experience
and wildlife adventure, in a most beautiful and exciting wilderness area. At Mt.
Borradaile all accommodation is twin-share tented accommodation, with
comfortable beds, dining facilities and shared toilet/shower facilities. All
meals are supplied by Max Davidson the local tour operator.
ACCOM: DAVIDSON'S SAFARI CAMP at MT. BORRADAILE Approx. Flight Time: 2 hrs 45
mins
http://www.arnhemland-safaris.com
Day Nine: Mt Borradaile
A full day is spent at Mt. Borradaile with activities moulded to your
interests - walking, exploring the bush with the chance of sighting buffalo or
wild pig, birdwatching, boat cruising, fishing, visiting ancient Aboriginal rock
art sites of extraordinary beauty, or simply just soaking up this unique
wilderness lifestyle. The sunset cruise on the vast and beautiful billabong, is
a highlight not to be missed, where there are birds in their thousands,
saltwater crocodiles, mangroves, lillies and paperback swamps.
ACCOM: DAVIDSON'S SAFARI CAMP at MT. BORRADAILE
  
Day Ten: Mt Borradaile - Oenpelli - Pungalina
After breakfast fly to Oenpelli to refuel. Oenpelli, an Aboriginal town near
the border of Arnhem Land and Kakadu, has an excellent Aboriginal art gallery
just down the road from the airstrip. Well worth a quick visit for those
interested to purchase paintings and artefacts. A two hour walk is also
recommended for those keen on aboriginal rock art. This is escorted by local
aborigines and the art is magnificent. Then fly across Arnhem Land to the Gulf
of Carpentaria to Pungalina on the edge of the NT/QLD border. Pungalina is a
500,000 acre property which is set up for small group tours in safari style
camp. The tents are twin share and there is a flushing toilet, two showers and a
great spring fed stream for swimming (although very shallow). We can spend the
afternoon fishing for Barramundi, touring a limestone cave, canoeing or just
relaxing. At sunset we drive out to Calvert Gorge for drinks before dinner back
at the camp.
ACCOM: PUNGALINA SAFARI CAMP RESORT...twin share tents
www.pungalinasafaris.com.au
Day Eleven & Twelve : Pungalina
  
Pungalina is 40 kms south of the coast and just west of the NT/QLD border. At
this wilderness location there are many things to do and so we tailor the
activities to the groups preference and capabilities. Of particular note is the
limestone caves. They are millions of years old and really fascinating to enter.
They are hot but well worth visiting to see the stalactites and stalagmites. A
refreshing swim after this activity at the Bubbling Sands in Karns Creek is
normally necessary.
For the keen fisherman, the Calvert river offers amongst other types....the
Barramundi and Sooti Grunters There are a number of fishing locations and a
pleasant afternoon could also be spent boating and trolling the Calvert River.
This is normally an important activity as a meal cooked underground and in paper
bark by Owen back at the camp is compulsory.
There are many walks particularly for the keen bird watcher and often a swim
is possible. It is not uncommon to see Brolgas and Jabiru as well as many
smaller birds. To date some 150 birds have been sighted.
Canoeing the Calvert River, the Crocodile Hole and or the lagoon are three
more alternatives. The first is a 3 hr trip down shallow areas of the Calvert
and over areas of simple rapids and is a very pleasant trip. The second is more
leisurely where small freshwater crocodiles can be seen. The third is a large
permanent lagoon with many birds including sea eagles.
A must to do is to drive out to the Calvert Gorge one late afternoon for
sunset drinks. This is a spectacular location with towering cliffs some 200
meters high. Once again the drive over the rugged country is fascinating in
itself due to the varied vegetation. Another evening would be pre dinner drinks
out at the local billabong watching the birdlife gather.
Pungalina borders Robinson River , which is a local Aboriginal community. It
may be possible to arrange a visit of the Aborigines to show the use of bush
tucker and any artefacts they may have to sell.
ACCOM: PUNGALINA SAFARI CAMP... twin share tents
  
Day Thirteen: Pungalina - Lawn Hill Gorge - Birdsville
An early morning departure to have as much time as possible in the Lawn Hill
National park, home of Lawn Hill Gorge, truly one of the most spectacular gorges
in the Gulf Country, with luxurious tropical rainforest-like vegetation, sheer
red cliffs and unusual green water. Access to the gorge system is by delightful
walking tracks, and exploring the middle and upper gorge system is by canoes. It
is fantastic for swimming especially around the naturally bubbling spas, or just
out in the centre of the gorge looking up at the sheer cliffs and tropical
vegetation. Enjoy a delicious lunch back at Adels Grove camp , and a great swim,
before flying onto Birdsville
ACCOM: Birdsville Hotel....rooms. Approx flight time 3:00 hrs
 
Day Fourteen: Birdsville - Innamincka - Moorabbin
In the morning, spend time at the Birdsville Working Museum then fly 1 hr
flight ends at Innamincka where we have lunch and a boat crise on the famous
Coopers Creek. The final leg home via Broken Hill is about 4 hours flying
arriving back at Moorabbin in the early evening.
ACCOM: MELBOURNE Approx. Flight : 6 hrs
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