Home ~ Victoria ~ Touring Victoria ~ Kirkhope Aviation> ~ 12 Day Ayers Rock, Kimberley, Arnhem Land and Gulf Tour

12 Day Western Australia, Northern Territory and Gulf Tour

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.

Flying time about 6.5 hours
Accommodation: The Outback Pioneer Hotel/Motel

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 by request from the aboriginal community, but possible. Depart Yulara, at about 10.30am 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.

We lose 90 minutes as we pass into WA so arrival is around 11:45am. 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

Flying time about 2 hours 45 minutes
Accommodation: Bellburn Creek Campsite at Bungle Bungles

Day Three: Bungle Bungles - Kimberley Coastal Camp
After early breakfast we fly 30 minutes to Mitchell Plateaux and board a helicopter for the 20 min flight into Kimberley Coastal Camp.

As you step from the helicopter on to the white beach ‘doorstep’ at Kimberley Coastal Camp, you feel like you are one of very few people for hundreds of kilometres. Spend the next two days fishing for the fabled barramundi and dozens of other tropical species in the pristine azure waters. Explore on foot, or by boat this ancient land and experience the local birds, wildlife, bush tucker and medicines first hand.

Discover intriguing Wandjina and Bradshaw rock art which has been part of this magnificent landscape and the lives of its traditional owners for thousands of years.

Flying time about 30 minutes
Accommodation: Kimberley Coastal Camp - twin share cabins (2 nights)

Day Four: Kimberely Coastal Camp
Continue with the activities with a full day at the Kimberley’s.

Day Five: Kimberley Coastal Camp - Faraway Bay
At around 8 am, helicopter back to Mitchell Plateau airstrip then another 30 minute flight to Faraway Bay. This is a remote safari yet up-market 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 swim and a cool drink then it's a full day of activities.

Flying time about 30 minutes
Accommodation: Faraway Bay Resort (2 nights)

Day Six: 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.

Day Seven: Faraway Bay - Davidson's ArnhemLand Safari Camp
We get airborne around 9 am then fly 2 hrs to Mt Borradaile airstrip at Davidson's Arnhem Land Safari Camp. We gain 1.5 hrs due to the time change into the NT and so arrival is around 12:30pm .After lunch we drive out to see some aboriginal rock art and then late afternoon enjoy a magnificent sunset cruise on the billabong where there is abundant birdlife and crocodiles for you to see. 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, lilies and paperback swamps.

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.

Flying time about 2 hours
Accommodation: Davidson’s Safari Camp at Mt Borradaile (2 nights)

Day Eight: 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, bird watching, boat cruising, fishing, visiting ancient Aboriginal rock art sites of extraordinary beauty, or simply just soaking up this unique wilderness lifestyle.

Day Nine: Mt Borradaile - Sweers Is
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.

The 2.5 hr flight plus 30 min time change gets us to Sweers Island around 1 pm. We have 2 days here and depending on winds will go sport fishing for Mackrel, Sweet Lip, Trevally, and or Red Emperor. If the wind is blowing in the morning then it is usually calm in the afternoon and vice versa. Sweers has some great swimming beaches, walks and a “cultural tour” of the island with Tex to hear about it's amazing history is great value. Accommodation is in cabins at the resort and dinner is in the open air bar/restaurant.

Flying time about 2.3 hours
Accommodation: Sweers Island Resort Cabins (2 nights)

Day Ten: Sweers Island
Another full day at Sweers Island.

Day Eleven: Sweers Island - Lawn Hill - 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

Flight time about 3 hours
Accommodation: Birdsville Hotel

Day Twelve: 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 cruise 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.

Flying time about 6 hours

Total tour flight time - 24 hours

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