17 days - 16 nights - FULLY ESCORTED TOUR
Between 7 & 11 tours conducted each year since 2010 during months Feb to September
The tour will be in our comfortable 6 seat Twin Engine Beechcraft Baron 58 aircraft cruising at an average speed of 180kts – 335kph (but there will be no hurry it’s an adventure)
To allow fuel requirements and your travel comfort we will take only 4 passengers on the tour.
Day 1 - Our first stop will be Forrest for fuel & overnight stay at the Forrest Hilton with evening diner at ‘The Verandah Restaurant’ - our package includes DB & B plus ground tours.
Day 2 – We fly for a spectacular scenic flight to & around The Olgas & Ayers Rock before landing at Ayres Rock for a comfort & re-fuel stop then on to Alice Springs arriving early afternoon. All afternoon Day 2 & all Day 3 in Alice Springs allows time for your choose of attractions to visit including Transport Hall of Fame, the Telegraph Station, Standley Chasm, Bird Park, Royal Flying Doctor Museum or the Reptile Centre.
Day 2 & Day 3 – Overnight in Alice Springs
Day 4 - Depart Alice Springs to Tennant Creek for re-fuel, & lunch then on to Katherine. We will join the late afternoon picturesque Katherine Gorge cruise tour which concludes with a memorable twilight into evening onboard Dinner.
Day 4 – Overnight Katherine
Day 5 – An early morning departure flying over Katherine Gorge to Cooinda for the Yellow Water - Kakadu wetlands cruise. This cruise will delight and amaze you as you experience up close (very up close) the flora, forna, birdlife and crocodiles which inhabit this ancient land. After the Yellow Water cruise we fly the South Alligator River & savannah wetlands to land at Jabiru. A ground tour at Jabiru will include a visit to Ubirr & Oenpelli (Aboriginal Rock Art)
Day 5 – Overnight Jabiru at Kakadu Lodge
Day 6 – After touring Jabiru & Bowali Visitor Centre we depart Jabiru mid -morning flying the spectacular rugged upper reaches of East Alligator River Arnhem Land then over the Magela Floodplains to Darwin arriving about mid-day.
Day 7 - Day 8 & Day 9 – 3 full days in Darwin – you tell me what you would like to do ?? War Museum – WWII Fuel Storage Bunker – Fannie Bay Gaol - Aviation Museum - Mindle Beach Markets – City Centre – Lunch at Cullen Bay or the famous Darwin Stokes Wharf culinary experience or maybe a Sunset Harbour Diner Cruise ???? we will have no trouble filling your time or just resting in Darwin.
After 4 nights in Darwin.
Day 10 – Depart Darwin for Bullo River Station (The home base of Marlee Ranacher nee Henderson) Marlee and husband Franz along with family and their dedicated work force run a fully operational beef cattle enterprise integrated with a multi-faceted tourist eco resort.
Prior to your visit I recommend you read the book – ‘BULLO The Next Generation’ by Marlee Ranacher to fully appreciate & experience the history of this iconic Australian property.
Day 10 – Overnight Bullo River Station - our package includes DB & B plus ground tours.
Day 11 – Depart Bullo River Station - refuel at Kununurra then on over Lake Argyle to Bungle Bungles, Argyle Diamond Mine, El Questro & Emma Gorge then again landing Kununurra. Afternoon ground tour of Ord River Irrigation Stage 2 & surrounding agricultural areas.
Day 11 – Overnight at Kununurra
Day 12 – Depart Kununurra for spectacular flight over Wyndham, Mitchell Plateau, Talbot Bay & Horizontal Water Falls to Derby.
Day 12 – Overnight at Derby.
Day 13 – Depart Derby for a re-fuel & lunch stop at Port Hedland then via Wittenoom Gorge to Paraburdoo - collect hire car travel to Tom Price – town tour then the TP Caravan Park.
Day 14 – Most of the day on Lestok’s guided tour of Karijini Park visiting many gorges and major water holes. (Picnic lunch provided)
Day 13 & 14 – Overnight at Tom Price Caravan Park in self contained cabins.
Day 15 – Morning at Tom Price for very informative Rio Tinto mine tour. After mine tour drive to Paraburdoo – drop hire car collect plane and fly over Mt Augustus to Wooleen Station.
Day 15 – Overnight Wooleen Station- our package includes DB & B - ground tours $45 extra.
Day 16 – Depart Wooleen Station and fly over the Northern agriculture area to Northam & after re-fuelling fly on to Albany.
The total planned distance is 4990 nautical miles (9242 kilometers) & flight time of say 31 hours.
It is difficult to list all the sights you will see and the places you will visit but be assured you are going to be amazed at what is included in this Magic Carpet Ride to many iconic Australian locations.
Some days will be longer than others but traveling over the daily distances intended I believe you will find the itinerary to be comfortable, relaxed & interesting.
Although we can charter in almost all weather All flying during these tours is in daylight hours and only when weather is forecast to be fine or at worst light scattered showers. We want you to see as much as possible so we try to avoid cloud and excessive altitudes. In the event that we encounter bad weather we would extend our ground stay at that particular location. There is no extra cost for the flight just the extra nights’ accommodation.
The Costs
Air travel including extensive cockpit introduction and familiarization $8,995 per person
***Plus : pay accommodation individually as we go (Based on Twin Share - Approx)
Total accommodation – approx $1,895.00 per person ($135 per night av)
***Some meals are included as listed above - DB&B
other meals, beverage and any ground tours are at own expence,
hire cars, transfers or taxi costs will be shared x 4
***Your travel bag to a maximum of 8kg should include:- Stubbie holder - light daytime slacks or shorts - long sleeve shirt/s – jeans & windcheater or jacket for the cold desert evenings - hat – sunglasses – sunscreen & insect repellant – light weight boots or slip-on footwear & a camera.
Payment schedule Deposit $3,000 at time of booking (so accommodation can be confirmed and avgas ordered) & the balance of $5,995 -14 days prior to departure.
Booking a tour – we can only reserve a tour position upon receipt of your deposit.
***In the unlikely event that we cannot tour on your tour date you have the option to re-schedule to another available date or have an immediate full refund of monies paid without deduction.
If you are unable to travel for some genuine reason, health or similar, other than ‘I’ve changed my mind’ you will receive an immediate refund of all monies paid less
any penalty we suffer on booked accommodation due to your cancellation.
Arrange your own tour with 3 mates or check on available seats.
Hope you can join us.
