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Day 1  - Darwin, Holiday Inn

In Darwin you will be met at the airport and transferred to the Holiday Inn Esplanade, Darwin.

The afternoon is yours to explore Darwin’s waterfront and the port area where there are visual reminders of Australia’s proximity to Asia in the last world war, or relax by the pool and enjoy the city’s tropical climate.

You will be collected from the Holiday Inn in the early evening to join John Ostara at Indo Pacific Marine, for a “Coral Reef by Night” experience. The majority of John’s life has been spent in marine and reef research and there are few people in the world with his intimate knowledge of reef ecosystems. In addition to an excellent seafood dinner beside Darwin harbour, John will take you through Australia’s long ecological history, with first-hand experience of a reef ecosystem.

Day 2 - Arnhem Land, Davidson’s Camp, 3 nights

After breakfast you will be transferred to Darwin Airport for the 50 minute flight to Davidson’s Camp where you spend 3 days exploring the wetlands of Australia’s Northern Territory.

This area is home to a huge variety and quantity of Australian mammal and bird life. Proximity to the tropics of Asia brings a seasonal monsoon in the summer months that provides for a nature spectacle in the dry winter months. Saltwater crocodiles, Agile wallabies and the predatory dingo are possible sightings and for birdwatchers the wetlands are a paradise, with thousands of Magpie geese nesting, and a profusion of waders and waterbirds.

Your tented accomodation is simple but comfortable – showers, with hot and cold running water and toilet facilities are shared. The central living area is a simple outback style structure with dining tables and safari chairs. Meals are of a high standard and often include fresh barramundi – the house speciality is barramundi sashimi.

Your host is Max Davidson who has spent much of his life hunting buffalo in the area, and his intimate relationship with the local owners of the land make this a unique opportunity to experience the pristine wilderness of Mt. Borradaile and the Arnhem Land plateau.

Day 3 & 4 -  Arnhem Land, Davidson’s Camp

Wake in the morning to a cacophony of noise from the Blue-winged Kookaburras and whistling kites, with the stark orange glow of the sun behind the savannah trees.

Arnhem Land’s harsh environment and its history of contact with Asian communities have resulted in the regions Aboriginal culture better surviving the impact of European settlement. Max and his team of guides understand this rich heritage and respect the wishes of the traditional landowners and will reveal to you the labyrinth of caves and rock overhangs around Mount Borradaile featuring paintings that detail the spiritual and daily life of the aboriginal people. Hand prints in red ochre date back 50,000 years, a painted crocodile is still vibrantly coloured despite being more than 20,000 years old, spirit figures wear elaborate head-dresses and X-ray paintings of fish and birds date from 4000 years ago.

Arnhem land is not only a cultural destination – the escarpment, floodplains and woodlands are alive with wildlife. Whilst fishing for barramundi or boating on a billabong it is not unusual to see huge crocodiles sunning on the banks, while whistling ducks and magpie geese line the shore and white-bellied sea eagles nest high in the paperbarks.

Day 5 – Bullo River Station, 3 nights                                              

Transfer by charter aircraft back to Darwin in time for your scheduled flight to Kununurra, gateway to the Kimberley, one of Australia’s greatest wildernesses. Travel via private charter plane to from Kununurra to Bullo River Station, one of the most remote properties in Australia.

Named after the Bullo River, this station homestead is located on a half million acres of Australian wilderness. It is best reached by light aircraft from which you can admire the escarpments and gorges that dot the vast emptiness of the Kimberley. So remote is this region that there are waterholes and aboriginal art galleries that have remained unseen and untouched for hundreds of years.

Your hostess, Marlee Ranacher, grew up on the station and she and her husband, Franz, now manage the property and its 8,000 head of cattle. Accommodation will be in one of the 12 purpose built guest rooms, each with en suite. Meals are enjoyed in the homestead dining room or you are welcome to join the station hands and family in the kitchen.

Day 6 & 7 – Bullo River Station

Franz will take you to see known rock art in the area and in the course of doing so you may discover new galleries - so remote and wild is Bullo that nobody knows it all! Other activities include exploring the crocodile infested Bullo River where the barramundi fishing is excellent and where hidden gorges reflect deep red colours and reveal still more rock paintings. In its lower reaches the Bullo River joins the magnificent Victoria River and flows into the Timor Sea.

There is the option to fly to Port Keats with Franz where aboriginal community guides take a bush tucker walk, catch mud-crabs in the tidal flats and offer locally produced artwork.

The mood is very relaxed and the choice is yours, there is much to see and do and you have expert guides to share their knowledge & passion OR you may prefer to join the Ranachers and experience the operations of a genuine working cattle station. If you are feeling adventurous take a swag, a bottle of wine and a hamper and spend a night under the stars.

Day 8 – Darwin, Holiday Inn, 1 night

After breakfast, return to Kununurra by air for connecting flight to Darwin where you will be transferred to the HOLIDAY INN ESLPLANADE for your overnight stay.

Day 9 – Daintree Rainforest, Bloomfield Lodge, 3 nights

An early start on the flight to Cairns where you board a light aircraft for a 30-minute scenic flight along the dazzling Queensland coast, over the fringing reefs and tiny islands of the Coral Sea. Landing at an outback Airstrip you are met by lodge staff, transferred by unsealed road to the banks of the Bloomfield River where you cruise to the sea and across Weary Bay to Bloomfield Lodge. A thrilling adventure that brings you to this isolated luxury nestling in the rainforest.
Arrive in time for lunch & spend the afternoon acclimating yourself to the area and the lodge’s facilities, perhaps take a dip in the pool or find a quiet corner in the library to enjoy the good selection of books on nature and the region.

Day 10 & 11 – Daintree Rainforest, Bloomfield Lodge

Besides the peace and tranquillity that is the essence of Bloomfields, activities are plentiful. Explore the mangroves and rainforest, spotting estuarine crocodiles, Azure Kingfishers and Sea Eagles. Take guided rainforest walks and fish from the jetty in front of the lodge. Enjoy a refreshing dip beneath a spectacular waterfall or charter a yacht to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling, fishing and beach combing.

Those keen to see more Aboriginal rock art must take a scenic flight to remote Quinkan country. The district is home to dozens of Aboriginal art gallery sites, only a few of which are open to the public and only then after formal application to the Aboriginal ranger at Laura.

The area is famous for its giant figures known as Quinkans after whom the region was named. According to legend they were spirit figures that usually lived in cracks in the rock and came out to frighten people and keep them 'in line'. They were the "boogie men" of the Laura area.

Day 12 – Departure

After breakfast this morning you return to Cairns – via the same interesting modes of travel.
 

• If time permits finish your adventure with a luxury island stay – Haggerstone or Lizard Island ensure perfect island paradise, delicious seafood, fabulous diving & snorkelling … tropical bliss!
   
• Another idea would be to take a self-drive tour of the beautiful hinterland behind Cairns, visit Rose Gums Chalets and head to the edge of the outback to stay at Tyrconnell Mine.
   
• Pre-arrange a charter flights to Port Keats where aboriginal community guides take a bush tucker walk, catch mud-crabs in the tidal flats and offer locally produced artwork.
   
• Pre-arrange a charter flight into Quinkan country where we will have expert local guides to show you the art of this area.

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The price is inclusive of

• 2 nights Holiday Inn Esplanade or Sky City Hotel, Darwin with breakfast
• 3 nights Davidson’s Camp, all meals and activities
• 3 nights Bullo River Homestead, all meals and activities
• 3 nights Rainforest Room, Bloomfield Lodge, all meals and some activities
• Charter flights Darwin / Davidson’s Camp / Darwin
• Charter flights Darwin / Bullo River / Darwin
• Scheduled flight Darwin to Cairns
• Charter flights Cairns / Bloomfield Lodge / Cairns
• All applicable taxes
• Airport transfers Darwin
• All park entrance fees
• 10% G.S.T.

• Bar, laundry and personal items
• Flights into Darwin and out of Cairns
• Lunch, dinner and activities in Darwin
• Australian Visas and personal travel insurance