Day One: Melbourne – Birdsville
Depart Melbourne at 8 am for Birdsville via Broken Hill for refuelling. While at Broken Hill airport take a short tour through the interesting Royal Flying Doctor Service before departing at 11am for the 1.5 hrs flight to Birdsville- on the Diamantina River. After lunch in the hotel visit the famous Birdsville Working museum for an hour tour with John Menzies who shows all the equipment in working conditions. Accommodation: Birdsville Hotel/Motel.

Day Two: Birdsville - Cape Crawford - Pungalina Station
Departing early after breakfast, we fly 3 hours to Cape Crawford. Here we board a helicopter for a 10 minute transfer to the Lost City. Our guide takes us on a 2hr walk with lunch around this magnificent ancient sandstone area. Returning by chopper to the airstrip we then depart for Pungalina Station planning to arrive approx 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. Accommodation: Pungalina Safari Camp resort.

Day Three to Six: Pungalina Station
Pungalina is 40 kilometres south of the coast and just west of the Northern Territory/Queensland 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 hour 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 metres 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. Accommodation: Pungalina Safari Camp - (twin share tents).

Day Seven: Pungalina Station - Sweers Island
After lunch we depart on a I hour flight to Sweers Island. On arrival we check 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/dining 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. Accommodation: Sweers Island Resort.

Day Eight: Sweers Island - Lawn Hill Gorge - Avington Station
This is the start of the homeward journey south. We depart the stunning beauty of Sweers Island at about 9.00am 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 1.00pm to the relaxing Avington Station. This is a 3 hour flight, 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. Accommodation: Avington Station Homestead.

Day Nine: Avington Station - Eulo - Melbourne
After breakfast, we depart Avington at 9.00am for the 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 with arrival approximately 5.00pm.