 Red Centre, Arnhem Land, the Gulf(10 days)
Day One: Melbourne - Coober Pedy
Depart Melbourne early in a comfortable twin-engine aircraft. The total
flying for the day is 5 hours with two or three stops on the way. We 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 Coober Pedy Opal
town at about 2pm. Lunch this day is in the air as we fly over the magnificent
expanse of Lake Eyre. After booking in to our underground motel , spend the
afternoon on a 3 hr tour of Coober Pedy including underground churches, homes
and a visit down a working mine. Dinner this evening is in town at Tom and
Mary's greek Taverna.
ACCOM: THE COOBER PEDY EXPERIENCE UNDERGROUND MOTEL
http://www.cooberpedyexperience.com.au/
  
Day Two: Coober Pedy - Yulara (Ayers Rock)
After our underground breakfast we return to the airport for departure around
8am. We fly 2 hours with a scenic flight over Ayers Rock and the Olga's and then
land at the modern Yulara resort. After arriving at the hotel we then drive out
to the Olgas for a walk and picnic lunch before returning in the afternoon to
Ayers Rock for a tour of the base (with Aboriginal paintings, caves, rock pools,
etc.). The climb is not encouraged now days by request from the aborigine
community. As evening approaches watch the beautiful sunset while enjoying
drinks and nibbles, then return to the hotel for dinner.
ACCOM: THE OUTBACK PIONEER HOTEL/MOTEL... YULARA...
http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/outback/
Day Three: Ayers Rock - Yuendemu - Mount Borradaile (Arnhem Land)
After an early breakfast we depart at 8am for a 1 hour flight to Yuendemu.
Here we fuel and visit an aboriginal art centre in this remote aboriginal
community. This is a good chance to purchase paintings and some artefacts
locally made by the community. Then the flight to Mt Borradaile....Davidson's
Arnhem Land Safari Camp is about 3.5 hours via Tindal for fuel. Lunch is on the
way before landing at Mt Borradaile in Arnhem Land at 3.30pm. A 2 minute drive
from the airstrip and we book into the camp. 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
http://www.arnhemland-safaris.com
  
Day Four: Mount Borradaile
A full day is spent at Mt. Borradaile with activities moulded to your
interests - the most popular event is the drive and walk out to "Major art".
This is an area of magnificent aboriginal rock art and burial sites. There are
few places in Australia that can show such an exhibition. This takes a full
morning and we return for a late lunch again around 2.30pm. In the afternoon,
other shorter art tours can be arranged, or a swim or a fish for barramundi. For
the keen bird watchers, another billabong cruise may be the preferred option.
Dinner is once again at the camp where stories can be heard and told of the days
events.
ACCOM: DAVIDSON'S SAFARI CAMP at MT. BORRADAILE
   
Day Five: Mount Borradaile - Cape Crawford - Pungalina
After breakfast fly 10 minutes to Oenpelli for refuelling if necessary . A
2.5 hr flight via Borroloola sees us arrive at Cape Crawford around 10:30 - 11am
. We get flown by helicopter to the Lost City just 5 mins away and take a 1.5 hr
walk through this ancient sandstone escarpment formation with lunch on the way.
At about 2:30 pm we return by helicopter to the airstrip and depart for
Pungalina Station arriving around 4pm. The transfer to the camp is in open air
vehicles and takes about 10 minutes. Once booked into your tents , a cool
refreshing dip in the spring next to the camp is well worth it before we head
off for drinks before sunset on the Calvert River gorge or somewhere suitable.
Dinner is back at the campsite.
ACCOM: PUNGALINA SAFARI CAMP
www.pungalinasafaris.com.au
Days Six, Seven and Eight: Pungalina
This is a 500,000 acre property that is truly a wilderness experience.
Accommodation is the comfortable safari camp resort with twin share tents in a
lush shaded environment. Hot showers and flushing toilets and the warm thermal
underground spring make this camp site something else. A great advantage is the
swimming possibility ...particularly worthwhile after a long hot day or while
sipping a drink before lunch. There are many activities including fishing for
barramundi, canoeing the billabong or Calvert River , viewing fabulous limestone
caves, exploring gorges/escarpments, swimming in rock holes, watching birds and
much more. All activities are guided and are tailored to the groups
capabilities. Transfer around the property is in the Pungalina billycart ...a
great open air vehicle. These three and a half days are spent enjoying all the
activities returning sometimes for lunch but always for dinner in this
comfortable safari camp resort.
ACCOM: PUNGALINA SAFARI CAMP
  
Day Nine: Pungalina - Lawn Hill - Avington Station
Depart the stunning beauty of Pungalina at about 8:30 am to arrive at the
most spectacular gorge in the Gulf country - Lawn Hill Gorge. The time zone
changes back to Queensland time so 1 hour is added to the watch. 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 1.00pm for Avington
Station just south of Longreach . This is a 3 hour flight and we arrive at the
hotel in time for a brief drive around this cattle station in 4 wheel buggies.
Then it is drinks before dinner with our hosts in their outside dinning setting.
ACCOM: AVINGTON STATION ...homestead
Day Ten: 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
  
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