 Pungalina
...outback wilderness experience (9 days)
....
4½ days in an outback wilderness 500,000 acre location in the Gulf
Day One: Melbourne - Birdsville
Depart Melbourne at 8 am. for Birdsville via Broken Hill for fuel. While at
Broken Hill airport take a short tour through the interesting Royal Flying
Doctor Service . Departing Broken Hill at 11am the flight is 1.5 hrs to
Birdsville on the Diamantina River. After lunch in the hotel visit the famous
Birdsville Working museum. This is a 1 hour tour with John Menzies who shows all
the equipment in working conditions.
ACCOM: Birdsville Hotel/Motel....
Day Two: Birdsville - Cape Crawford - Pungalina
Departing early after breakfast, fly 3 hours to Cape Crawford . Here we board
a helicopter for a 10 minute transfer to the Lost City. Sandra takes us on a 2hr
walk with lunch around this magnificient ancient sandstone area. Returning by
chopper to the airstrip we then depart for Pungalina arriving at Pungalina at 5
pm. Pungalina is an outback wilderness safari camp resort which is situated on a
500,000 acre property. The camp accommodates only 12 people so this is a place
where you are on your own. It is fully catered so all you have to do is relax
and enjoy. The "Pungalina billycart" takes us a short drive to the camp where we
can have a refreshing swim in the thermal underground spring.
ACCOM: PUNGALINA SAFARI CAMP RESORT
www.pungalinasafaris.com.au
  
Day Three - Six: 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.
Accommodation at Pungalina is in twin share tents on a lush grass common.
Dinner is in the open air or a special dining tent next to the bubbling stream.
There is a flushing toilet and two showers with plenty of hot water.
ACCOM: PUNGALINA SAFARI CAMP... twin share tents
Day Seven: Pungalina - Sweers Island
After lunch we depart for Sweers Island. This takes under one hour. We book
into our cabins and then take boats out onto the sea for some exciting afternoon
fishing. That night dinner is in the open air Sweers Island "bar/dinning area"
which is a fabulous contrast to the previous few days. For those not keen on
fishing, an alternative is to do some great beach walks and there are also some
safe areas for swimming.
ACCOM: SWEERS ISLAND RESORT
http://www.sweers.com.au/
  
Day Eight: Sweers Island - Lawn Hill Gorge - Avington Station
This is the start of the homeward journey south. Depart the stunning beauty
of Sweers Island at about 9 am to arrive at the most spectacular gorge in the
Gulf country - Lawn Hill Gorge. Sheer red cliffs, unusual green water, luxurious
tropical rainforest-like vegetation, surrounded by flat barren countryside. With
waterfalls, natural bubbling spas, swimming, boating, and beautiful walks, it's
a great place to relax. We drive 20 minutes to the gorge then paddle canoes up
the creek to a great swimming area and take a short climb to view the gorge from
the escarpment. We have lunch before paddling the canoes back and then depart at
about 1pm to the relaxing Avington Station. This is a 3 hour flight and so we
should arrive at 4.30pm. A tour on the Barcoo river for sunset drinks or a drive
around the property in your own 4 wheel buggy to view all the different
vegetation and wildlife are two of the options before a great meal with outback
station hospitality.
ACCOM AVINGTON STATION ....homestead
Day Nine: Avington Station - Eulo - Melbourne
After breakfast, we depart Avington at 9am for the 100 minute flight to Eulo.
Arriving at this outback opal town we visit a date wine farm before lunch at the
famous Eulo Queen hotel. Departing at about 1:30pm we head for Melbourne
arriving home at about 5pm
Top
Click
here to view more about our outback air tours around Australia
|
)