Experience the following with Air Adventure Australia (AAA):
Melbourne - Birdsville - Longreach - Mt Isa - Adels Grove - Normanton - Horn Island - Thursday Island - Cooktown - Townsville - Charters Towers - Bundaberg - Lady Elliot Island - Great Barrier Reef - Carnarvon Gorge - Bungle Gully Station/Haddon Rig Station – Melbourne

Day One: Essendon, Melbourne - Broken Hill – Birdsville
Leaving Melbourne behind at 0800 fly north to Broken Hill for lunch and a tour of the Pro Hart and Jack Absalom galleries. Continue north to Birdsville for a trip out to the hallowed race track and other town highlights. Enjoy the sunset and a cold beer from your 'perch' in the iconic Birdsville Pub and absorb the outback culture. Dinner tonight is in the pub's dining room where you will meet travellers tackling the 'Birdsville Track' which makes for interesting stories. You will be ready to rest. Accommodation - tonight is at the Birdsville Hotel.

Day Two: Birdsville – Longreach
This morning you are taken on a personal tour of the brilliant John Menzies Working Museum led by the man himself. This museum is fascinating and unique. Depart Birdsville and fly over the channel country into the land of the 'big sky'. Once landing on the original Qantas runway you will be taken out to our friends at Longway Station for lunch in the Heritage Queenslander homestead and a station tour. This afternoon visit the Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Hudson Fysh Museum and hangar. Accommodation - is at the Longreach Motor Inn or similar.

Day Three: Longreach - Mt Isa - Adels Grove

After an easy start to the day AAA guests are airborne, destination Mt Isa where an intriguing surface tour of the gigantic Mount Isa Mine awaits. Farewell to civilisation as AAA pilots fly over cattle station country before touching down in the oasis that is Adels Grove. Stroll through the Frenchman's Garden finishing with a long cool swim in the billabong and a refreshing drink. Time to rest. Accommodation- tonight you are treated to the sophisticated tents idyllically positioned beside a pristine stream enjoying the warmth and serenity. There are no en-suite facilities here, however bathrooms are not far away.

Day Four: Adels Grove – Normanton
Adels Grove offers a delicious breakfast before AAA guests are taken on a guided adventure into Lawn Hill National Park, with an opportunity to trek to the Island Stack prior to your over-water journey as guests paddle their own canoe through the peaceful gorge. Spot freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves along the lonely banks. Enjoy a picnic lunch provided by your guides before returning to your aircraft. AAA pilots power along the dirt airstrip for departure to Gulf Country of Queensland's savannah landscapes, for those piscatology-minded guests, one stand-out feature of the Normanton area is the giant Barramundi. You will be ready to rest. Accommodation - is at the Gulflander or similar.

Day Five: Normanton - Horn Island
Pleasant outback mornings are never given the credit they deserve, simply divine. Guests prepare for their experience aboard The Gulflander. The Gulflander is a train journey, regarded highly as a must-do activity amongst train buffs around the world. AAA guests are privileged with their own private carriage located at the front offering opportunities to see first hand as the driver of The Gulflander operates this vintage machine.

Available also to AAA guests is a specialised Savannah guide who will provide a deep understanding of the area and its history. After being dropped off at the airport, AAA pilots select a special scenic flight path tracking along the interior coast of the Cape capturing the endless maze of estuaries below, arriving in the town of Weipa for fuel and an aerial tour of the enormous bauxite mine. AAA guests depart leaving the mainland of Australia flying northwards enjoying the changing colours of Torres Strait. Time to rest. Accommodation - is at Torres Strait Gateway Resort.

Day Six: Horn Island - Thursday Island – Cooktown
The immense beauty and wonders of the tropical archipelago of Australia's Far North East Torres Strait islands is accentuated by the islands' residents. Enjoy a very special tour of Thursday Island guided by a life-long local offering an insight into island life.

After returning to the Gateway for lunch guests venture into the 'Forgotten Island'. Horn Island offers an opportunity to sneak not so far back in time to see remnants of bunkers and hidden revetments during a specialised guided tour, led by local historian and author Vanessa See Kee. Departing Horn Island, AAA pilots now take over with a special scenic treat flying south, ensuring an orbit of the northernmost point of Australia. Lovely Cooktown awaits you, literally, from the airfield you are met and welcomed. Time to rest. Accommodation - is at the Sovereign Motel Cooktown or similar.

Day Seven: Cooktown
After a pleasant breakfast it's time for AAA guests to experience the foreshore and visit memorial sites of where Capt. James Cook careened the Endeavour for repairs. Take a private cruise of the Endeavour River where you will encounter some of the wildlife that inhabits the complex mangrove systems. Monster-sized mud crab and saltwater crocodiles can be spotted during this cruise.

This afternoon you are taken on a tour of Cooktown with naturalist Mal Coventry as he unravels the stories of the past. Lunch is at the gallery in the gardens and a walk through the Chinese gardens. The day finishes with a tour of The Captain James Cook Museum which houses an anchor from the Endeavour and other pieces of historical significance. Accommodation - at the Sovereign Motel Cooktown or similar.

Day Eight: Cooktown – Townsville From Cooktown - (while never easy to leave) AAA guests fly southwards along the coast over the Daintree Rainforest and Queensland's northern capital of Cairns arriving in Townsville for coffee and a guided tour of the Reef HQ Aquarium. Once lunch is over AAA guests will venture through the town common where birdlife is abundant. On dusk we take an easy drive to the summit of Castle Hill to witness the sun setting over Townsville. Accommodation - tonight is at the Robert Towns Motel or similar.

Day Nine: Townsville - Charters Towers – Bundaberg
This morning you are taken on a brief flight to historic Charters Towers in time for lunch at the country’s first stock exchange. Charters Towers has a rich goldmining history and some fine examples of 19th Century architecture. Continuing the journey south to the coral coast town of Bundaberg. Accommodation at the Bert Hinkler Hotel or similar.

Day Ten: Bundaberg - Lady Elliot Island
AAA guests are welcomed aboard Lady Elliot’s private aircraft for the brief, yet scenic flight over the Coral Sea before your remote island paradise is in your sights. AAA has carefully selected Lady Elliot Island as it is a true coral cay; Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is only as far as the stretch of pristine white sand from the door of your suite. Lady Elliot is also a magnet for the majestic manta ray. Surrounded by evergreen vegetation, birdlife and the natural splendour of the reef for the next two nights; time to rest and enjoy. Accommodation at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

Day Eleven: Lady Elliot Island

An entire day, and island, is yours today to explore Lady Elliot’s many treasures. Activities include easy treks, watching on as the butterflies and abundant birdlife are busy amongst the shelter. And at high tide, swimming in the protected waters of the lagoon is simply divine. Invigorating close encounters with colourful tropical fish, turtles and coral gardens can be experienced either by snorkelling or from the glass bottomed boat available to AAA guests. Relaxed dining is one of the evening’s pleasures. Accommodation is at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

Day Twelve: Lady Elliot Island - Carnarvon Gorge
Farewell your island paradise and board the aircraft following lunch. After returning to your AAA aircraft at Bundaberg airport, Ingelara is where your pilot will land. You are welcomed at the airstrip and transferred to luxurious safari tents at the Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge, surrounded by manicured lawns and shaded by the ancient macrozamias and eucalypts. Accommodation is at Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Resort.

Day Thirteen: Carnarvon Gorge
AAA guests enjoy informative commentary on the trek to Carnarvon Gorge with friendly specialised guides. Massive sandstone walls towering from above protect a mysterious and timeless land. Some of the narrow side gorges can be spanned by out stretched arms, while others are so narrow-twisted and deep that sunlight never reaches the bottom. Photographers have entered their own special paradise within Carnarvon Gorge.

Wildlife lovers are equally spoilt with an endless delight of hundreds of species of birds and various native fauna. The tour continues to the Moss Gardens and into an amazing natural amphitheatre, combined, these experiences are splendid features of the country's wilderness and beauty. AAA guests will tonight break bread together on one last occasion in celebration of their accomplishments throughout the entire adventure. Once all farewell dinner celebrations subside, enjoy another night in these idyllic surrounds of Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge.

Day Fourteen: Carnarvon Gorge - Haddon Rig - Essendon, Melbourne
Today, AAA pilots fly guests and guides homeward via our dear friends at either Haddon Rig Station or Bungle Gully Station considering local rainfall activity and availability. Either experience, once welcomed as friends lends itself to a very special station tour inclusive of a traditional homestead feast. Time to depart; arriving at Essendon Airport, Melbourne 1730.

AAA Welcome Home Gift
All at Rod Dyer's Air Adventure Australia would like to say welcome home and thank you and ask you to accept a complimentary collection of images of your adventure. Also, for those guests receiving AAA Club membership an exclusively designed and AAA branded authentic Akubra hat will be yours.

Total Luxury Australia would be delighted to arrange yet another Air Adventure Australia Luxury Holiday for you or will be happy to help start planning the design of your own Tailored Experience. Just ask us!

2010 Departure Schedule

July 13

Cape York Outback Paradise - 14 Days

RETURN TO AIR ADVENTURE AUSTRALIA