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Flyaway Faraway Kimberley Style - 14 Days
Experience the following with Air Adventure Australia (AAA):
Melbourne - Alice Springs - Tindal - Point Stuart - Bathurst Island - Darwin - Faraway Bay - Kununurra - Bungle Bungle - El Questro Wilderness Park - Ellenbrae Station - Prince Regent River - Broome - Ayers Rock - Uluru Kata Tjuta - Coober Pedy - Melbourne
Day One: Essendon, Melbourne - Muloorina - Alice Springs
Depart Melbourne at 0800 bound for the outback and beyond. Touch down outback-style at Muloorina Station in South Australia located close by Lake Eyre. All AAA guests are greeted as new friends for a barbeque lunch and an opportunity to meet and chat with the owners of Muloorina Station. Following lunch, guests depart for Alice Springs. Accommodation - is at the Novotel Outback Alice Springs or similar.
Day Two: Alice Springs
After breakfast AAA guests set off on a tour of Standley Chasm before lunch, then after a short scenic drive guests will discover just how alive the dead centre really is with a visit to the Desert Park. Desert Park is home to an array of Australian reptiles and mammals who thrive in the arid environment of the Red Centre. Amongst many highlights of this visit is the free flying raptor display. Accommodation - is at Novotel Outback Alice Springs or similar.
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Day Three: Alice Springs Tindal Point Stuart
Departing Alice Springs tracking north, AAA pilots fly you within Arnhem Land over-flying the majestic Twin Falls. Destination is Wildman River for the overnight stop. Rod Dyer and his team of AAA Tour Leaders recently decided to access this region for its unbounded beauty and isolation offering all the wildlife and wetlands of the popular Kakadu National Park with far less holiday frenzy. With the right tide, an afternoon of Barramundi fishing is arranged for all who wish to participate. It's mostly fun really as the challenge is set and the chef is on stand-by to prepare your own gourmet Barramundi delight. Accommodation - tonight is again at Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge.
Day Four: Point Stuart
Today, as a privileged few, AAA guests will experience some special parts of Point Stuart- cruising the Mary River Wetlands abundant with large wader birdlife and man's least best friend in the Australian north, the saltwater crocodile. Explore one of the few natural vine thickets within the lush tropical rainforest areas in the Top End, spot slightly friendlier freshwater crocodiles in the spring amidst the ancient banyan trees. Time to rest, in dreamtime. Accommodation - is again at Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge.
Day Five: Point Stuart Bathurst Island Darwin
Leaving Point Stuart after breakfast, AAA pilots fly guests onto Bathurst Island where you are met by your Tiwi guide. Traditional owners welcome and escort guests throughout this fascinating island before departing after lunch for Darwin. In Darwin, we suggest you take an afternoon tour of this thriving garden city that is now becoming an important port with the advent of the new rail link. Accommodation - is at the Novotel Atrium or similar.
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Day Six: Darwin Faraway Bay
Airborne after an early start, AAA pilots depart Darwin crossing the Northern Territory border into Western Australia. This particular scenic flight is ultra dramatic and very exciting. All guests immediately receive a sense of the extreme isolation spotting turtles and sharks within the shallows of the crystal clear Kimberley coastline. You will be amazed by the red ochre escarpments and colourful shell scattered beaches sprawling north to merge as one from the harsh outback to the sea. One of the friendly Faraway Bay staff awaits your arrival at the airstrip before an inimitable 4WD transfer.
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This oasis has direct access to the beach, nearby freshwater pools and trails. After settling in it's time to go aboard Faraway Bay's own Diamond Lass. The vessel will set sail from the bay on an over-water journey along the Kimberley coast to the King George River, to view the awe-inspiring size of the twin waterfalls. Afternoon sunset viewing is arranged from the large freshwater plunge pool located at Faraway Bay's Eagle's Nest, contemplating your adventure with a refreshing cocktail. Time to rest. Accommodation - is at The Bush Camp at Faraway Bay.
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Day Seven: Faraway Bay
After enjoying a peaceful morning by the bay, specialised guides escort AAA guests to an Aboriginal rock art site only accessible by boat. Incredibly, some sites remain in situ throughout the Kimberley- signs of indigenous day to day life dating over 15,000 years ago. Lunch today is very special, served to AAA guests with permission at a traditional Aboriginal living and dance location.
Experience and feel the essence of this ancient place by viewing ancient Bradshaw Art. Prior to your dinner, your afternoon allows time to relax into the pool, a favourite novel or upon request your hosts can offer guests an opportunity to read through the controversial limited edition book by author Graham Walshe, written specifically about the Bradshaw Rock Art. Accommodation - is again at The Bush Camp at Faraway Bay.
Day Eight: Faraway Bay - Kununurra - Bungle Bungles - Home Valley Station
After breakfast your flight tracks easterly across the massive estuarine waters to the rich agricultural and tourism town of Kununurra. On arrival guests are met and taken for an exhilarating cruise up the mighty Ord River to Lake Argyle. On departing Kununurra, AAA guests continue their air safari of the Kimberley country with a low level scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles.
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From the air you can appreciate just how remarkable these striped domes really are. Touching down at Home Valley Station guests are welcomed and transferred to their rooms to refresh before meeting at the lookout for sunset drinks. As the stars take their place in the sky, enjoy a stargazing presentation from Home Valley's resident astronomer. Accommodation - is in Home Valley's Grass Castles or similar.
Day Nine: Home Valley Station - El Questro Wilderness Park
After an early yet invigorating start to your morning AAA guests will be entertained by the natural beauty and sheer enormity of Home Valley's neighbour, El Questro Station. Travelling within the wilderness park guests will visit Zebedee Springs, a collection of pools within a vine thicket gorge. AAA guests are then escorted through the Station Township to refresh before travelling to the Chamberlain River Gorge where the Wandjina boat awaits your arrival for an afternoon cruise with expert commentary.
At the head of the gorge your El Questro Rangers will offer all guests an opportunity to view rare Wandjina and Bradshaw Rock Art. Returning to the jetty, AAA guests are served sliced melons from the local Ord Valley, then are driven back to your own slice of heaven at Home Valley as the landscapes change colour with the setting of the sun. Accommodation - is again at Home Valley's Grass Castles or similar.
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Day Ten: Home Valley Station - Prince Regent River Broome
Departing Home Valley Station your AAA pilot tracks west above the arduous Gibb River Road and over Rod Dyer's former property Ellenbrae Station. AAA guests are informed of the colourful history behind Rod Dyer's pursuits in the unrelenting Kimberley outback. Yet another breathtaking scenic moment awaits as guests soar over the awesome Prince Regent River and Kimberley coastal fjords prior to arriving into Broome.
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AAA guests will be transported to the stylish Cable Beach Club Resort. Afternoon activities are varied between a swim at the pristine Cable Beach right on your doorstep and the beautiful private grounds and gallery of Cable Beach Club Resort who proudly display their collection of Sidney Nolan works. Accommodation - is at Cable Beach Club Resort or similar.
Day Eleven: Broome
Broome is not your typical Australian town being very cosmopolitan in character. Today, guests tour the town's many points of interest on board private transport. The long Broome jetty is a great spot to land a big fish and Chinatown comprises some very quaint buildings, as attractive today as they were when built.
Broome truly offers all guests a very pretty town experience, with lots to do. Diamonds, pearls and crafted pieces can be purchased from places like Linneys. This evening we will take you to join in a AAA tradition- watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean whilst sipping on champagne as the staircase to the moon gently appears before you- simply perfect! Accommodation - another night at Cable Beach Club Resort or similar.
Day Twelve: Broome Yulara - Ayers Rock
After breakfast AAA guests depart skyward from Broome's colourful waters tracking south-east to Australia's Red Centre. From Broome, the first sector is a short flight to the Kimberley town of Halls Creek. Enjoy a lunch onboard as you view Wolfe Creek meteor crater, arriving at Yulara in time to view sunset over the Rock. Dinner and wine will be served in style, then relax within the resort's marvellous facilities before retiring to your luxurious suite. Time to rest. Accommodation - is at Voyages Desert Gardens or similar.
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Day Thirteen: Yulara Uluru Kata Tjuta Coober Pedy
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After a gentle start to the day guests make a circumnavigation of Ayers Rock by private vehicle. This tour includes the mysterious Olgas Range. Return for lunch and an opportunity to visit the well-appointed interpretive centre 'Ininti'. Depart the Red Centre for big opal country, soaring over the Musgrave Ranges to Coober Pedy. AAA pilots approach Coober Pedy at an altitude creating the sensation of flying over the face of the moon. This effect is in fact due to the countless mine shafts below. AAA guests dine together celebrating their adventure and farewell new friends at a reserved dinner at the underground Desert Cave Motel. Accommodation - Desert Cave Motel or similar
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Day Fourteen: Coober Pedy Essendon, Melbourne
Today's time in this incredible mining town allows AAA guests to be taken on a guided tour of the opal fields - learn how to use a divining rod, visit an underground house and an underground church, inspect a working mine and see how opals are cut and polished. Opportunities to spoil someone are pleasingly at 'mineshaft' prices. The homeward flight leg for AAA guests tracks over the spectacular Flinders Ranges before refuelling in Mildura then continuing on to Melbourne, touching down at 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!
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