Across Australia by Air
Beginning in Melbourne you’ll head straight to the Flinders Ranges for lunch with 6th generation farming locals, then on Coober Pedy to explore the impressive opal mining complete with beautiful underground church. Continuing to the majestic West MacDonnell Ranges, then on to Point Stuart and Mary River National Park you’ll immerse yourself in a stunning wetland environment that rivals anything found in Kakadu yet is almost devoid of tourists.
Leaving the mainland behind you’ll fly to the Tiwi Islands where traditional owners will guide you through the art scene, then to the NT’s luxurious Bullo River Station where you’ll have helis, ATVs, boats and horses at your full disposal, ready to experience life on an authentic 500,000 acre cattle station. Spend time on the beautiful Kimberley Coast and soar over Kings Cascade and Horizontal Waterfalls en route to Broome, camp under the stars in a luxurious swag, then continue to Uluru to enjoy this spectacular monolith from the air. Your final stop will be the tiny settlement of Parachilna where a gourmet feast of outback inspired cuisine awaits you. Dont miss the ‘feral antipasto’.
This itinerary is a like a journey through the history of Australia from primordial landscapes and ancient indigenous cultures to mining booms, cattle farming and modern day luxe. Travelling by private aircraft is a fabulous way to see it all in a very manageable timeframe…and in serious style!
You will love
- Kimberley Coast & Bradshaw rock art
- Station life at Bullo River
- Mary River National Park wetlands
- Sleep under the stars in the Red Centre
- Horizontal Falls, Buccaneer Archipelago
14 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS
DAY 1 | Melbourne – Angorichina Station –
Coober Pedy | 1 NIGHT
Depart Melbourne this morning bound for the outback and beyond! Touch down outback-style at remote and picturesque Angorichina Station in the high country of the Flinders Ranges for a private station tour, lunch out on the lawn and a chat with the owners, now 6th generation locals. After lunch fly over one of South Australia’s giant salt lakes, Lake Torrens, before arriving in Coober Pedy. A private tour of this fascinating town includes a beautiful underground church, seeing how opals are cut and polished, and the opportunity to take advantage of ‘mineshaft’ prices. Finish the day with a drive out to the alien landscape of the Breakaways Range for sundowners.
Tonight you sleep underground with the opals at the Desert Cave Hotel.
Flight time 3hrs 20mins total (3 flights)
DAY 2 | Coober Pedy – West MacDonnell Ranges -
Alice Springs | 1 NIGHT
After breakfast fly north to Alice Springs for a private tour out to the majestic West MacDonnell Ranges. With its perfect white ghost gums, rusty ochre cliffs and vivid blue skies, this is the countryside that inspired the late Albert Namatjira and as you venture through this picturesque region there will be no doubt in your mind as to why.
Accommodation is at Mercure Alice Springs Resort.
Flight time 1hr 15mins.
DAY 3 | Alice Springs – Tindal - Point Stuart | 2 NIGHTS
Departing Alice Springs by air this morning we roughly track the Stuart Highway north en route to Opium Creek Station’s airfield. We visit this region for its beauty and isolation – it offers a similar wildlife and wetland experience as Kakadu National Park but without all the tourists. This afternoon watch the water buffalo in the paddock, or just relax by the pool surrounded by beautiful rainforest.
Accommodation for the next two nights is at Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge.
Flight time 2hrs 45mins total.
DAY 4 | Point Stuart, Mary River National Park
Today, as a privileged Air Adventure guest, you will experience some special parts of Point Stuart, cruising the Mary River Wetlands. This area has an abundance of large wading birdlife and a formidable population of saltwater crocodiles. With the right tide, an afternoon of barramundi fishing provides great sporting fun for anglers and an exceptional wildlife cruise for non-anglers. This evening a chef is on stand-by to prepare your own freshly hooked barramundi.
No flight today.
DAY 5 | Point Stuart – Snake Bay, Melville Island -
Bullo River Station | 3 NIGHTS
Leaving Point Stuart after breakfast, fly onto Melville Island in the Outback Jet where you will be met by Tiwi guides. Traditional owners will welcome and escort you throughout this fascinating island, visiting local art and craft workshops. The ochres used here are all sourced from the island and your guides will show you how they mine and then prepare it. Tiwi art is highly sought after around the world. Share morning tea and lunch with your Tiwi hosts before the short flight to Darwin to refuel and then continue to Bullo River Station where the airstrip is literally a stone’s throw from the Homestead. Settle in to your accommodation and enjoy some time to relax.
NB: On July departure we will visit Bathurst instead of Melville due to Indigenous Bush Holiday.
Accommodation for the next three nights is in the Guesthouse Wing at Bullo River Station.
Flight time 2hrs total.
DAY 6 & 7 | Bullo River Station
For the next two days, 500,000 acres of NT wilderness is yours to explore. Enjoy full all inclusive use of helicopters, ATV’s, boats and horses (optional) to experience the gorges, fishing spots, aboriginal rock art, massive boab trees and all that this authentic cattle station has to offer.
DAY 8 | Bullo River Station - Kimberley Coastal Camp
| 3 NIGHTS
Farewell Bullo River after breakfast for the flight across the border to the Kimberley Coastline and Kimberley Coastal Camp. Making an entrance is all part of the fun, first landing at the Mitchell Plateau, then boaring a helicopter to take off and enjoy a scenic flight over the Mitchell Falls before tracking to the camp and landing on the beach. Its just a short stroll across the sand to this ultra-remote, tranquil lodge positioned just behind the beach, overlooking the sparkling Timor Sea. Settle into your accommodation before setting off to explore the area.
Accommodation for the next 3 nights is at Kimberley Coastal Camp. Most of the bungalows have their own ensuite, for those that don’t, there is a nearby bathroom built into a cave.
Flight time 1hr 10mins + heli-flight of approx. 30mins.
DAY 9 & 10 | Kimberley Coastal Camp
Across the next two full days, your time at Kimberley Coastal Camp can be as active or relaxing as you like. There’s boat trips to enjoy, bush walks to view remarkable Wandjina and Bradshaw rock art panels, islands to explore, fish and mud crabs to be caught, waterholes to swim in and beach combing to be done, all from your very well appointed ‘base camp’ where you can relax in your bungalow, by the freshwater pool or in the library.
No flights on these days.
DAY 11 | Kimberley Coastal Camp - Horizontal Falls (scenic) - Broome | 1 NIGHT
Say good bye to camp then take flight across some of the most scenic flying anywhere on the continent. Soar over the awesome Prince Regent River, Kings Cascade, Horizontal Waterfalls and Kimberley coastal fords to land in Broome by mid-morning. This afternoon you have the option to explore town on a guided tour (included), or you may wish to board a seaplane to land at the Horizontal Falls (additional cost), or explore Cable Beach literally on your doorstep!
Accommodation for tonight is at the Cable Beach Club Resort.
Flight time 1hr 20mins.
DAY 12 | Broome – Uluru – Kings Creek Station | 1 NIGHT
Today’s travel will see you fly from the northern WA coast, over the Tanami to Uluru to enjoy a spectacular view of this giant monolith from the air. From there it’s a brief flight over the Amadeus chain of salt lakes to Kings Creek Station. Here you’ll experience a night out under the stars in a quintessential but deluxe Aussie ‘swag’ rolled out for you on an elevated platform. The ‘camp’ is equipped with its very own dining room and chef so you don’t have to lift a finger and if the skies are clear, you will drift off under a countless array of stars, admiring the galaxy.
Accommodation for 1 night is at Kings Creek Station’s ‘Drovers Camp’. Detached, modern facilities are close by and if a swag isn’t your thing, alternatives are available subject to availability.
DAY 13 | Kings Creek Station – Parachilna | 1 NIGHT
This morning enjoy a private tour of one of the most iconic landmarks of the Australian outback, Kings Canyon (Watarrka). Here you will have the option to take on the spectacular ‘rim-walk’, or settle for one of the more leisurely strolls. After lunch, board your waiting aircraft bound for the tiny settlement of Parachilna where your accommodation is at the very stylish Prairie Hotel, famed for its gourmet outback inspired cuisine. The ‘feral antipasto’ will delight your taste buds as you reminisce around the table with your new found friends.
Accommodation for the night is at the Prairie Hotel.
Flight time 2hrs 30mins total.
DAY 14 | Parachilna – Essendon, Melbourne
This morning you are taken on a drive into the ancient western Flinders Ranges and Brachina Gorge. Spot the agile yellow-footed rock wallabies before returning for yet another gourmet encounter courtesy of the Prairie Hotel. Air Adventure guests’ flight-leg homeward tracks over the magnificent Wilpena Pound then continuing on to Melbourne, touching down in the early evening.
Flight time 2hrs 35mins.
Please Note:
There are no fixed departure times for flights conducted on any day of this tour. Departure times will be determined on a day by day basis by discussion between the pilot, tour guide and participants.
WHERE YOU’LL STAY
A selection of the finest accommodation
Bullo River Station – Bullo River, Northern Territory
Set in a pristine landscape, defined by the Victoria and Bullo rivers and carved by waterfalls and gorges, Bullo River Station is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful cattle stations in Australia. Embracing the spirit of outback hospitality, it offers guests a ‘frontier Australia’ experience with all the warmth and homeliness of a stay with old friends. Read More
Kimberley Coastal Camp – Kimberley, Western Australia
Kimberley Coastal Camp is nestled on the pristine shores of the Admiralty Gulf in the heart of the great Kimberley wilderness. With no set itineraries, days are spent fishing, discovering rock art and exploring deserted islands at your leisure, miles and miles from civilisation. Barefoot, beachfront luxe! Read More
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Flyaway Faraway Air Safari
13 nights / 14 days
2023 departures: 30 May -12 June | 29 July - 11 August 2023
13 nights / 14 days
2023 departures: 30 May -12 June
29 July - 11 August 2023
AUD $28,760 per person twin share | Single supplement of AUD $3,756 applies
AUD $28,760 per person twin share
Single supplement of AUD $3,756 applies
START: Essendon Apt - Melbourne, Victoria | Finish: Essendon Airport
Inclusions
- Full board accommodation
- All private charter flights crewed by a highly experienced Commercial Captain
- All accommodation
- All meals (except breakfast day one & dinner on final day. Morning tea on most occasions)
- All drinks (bottled water through to alcohol with dinner)
- All entries, permits, admissions, gratuities/tipping
- All trips, tours, transfers and excursions as outlined in itinerary
- Air safari escorted by experienced Air Adventure tour leader
- Qualified local and indigenous guides along the way
Exclusions
- Items of a personal nature eg. pre-dinner drinks, phone calls, internet, travel insurance
Minimum - 8 guests
Maximum – 8 guests
Air Adventure Australia was founded by Rod Dyer (1925-2008). Rod, a pastoralist and bush pilot of over 10,000 hours pioneered ‘Ellenbrae’ cattle station in the Kimberley back in the 1960s. It was the combination of Rod’s knowledge and love of the outback and flying that led him to launch Air Adventure. Since 1977, thousands of travellers have chosen Air Adventure to fly them to the Australia less-travelled. The company is guided by Rod’s son, John Dyer who is also a pilot and very passionate about creating high quality travel experiences spanning the entirety of the Australian continent. His team at Air Adventure share his enthusiasm and dedication to create unforgettable travel for their guests.
Your aircraft:
Travel is in the privately chartered Air Adventure Outback Jet, Pilatus PC-12. This prop-jet aircraft is a fast, reliable outback machine capable of landing on gravel and remote airfields where others in larger aircraft can’t. The Outback Jet is operated by Armada Aviation, which holds an Air Operators Certificate issued by CASA. All pilots are highly experienced and carry a Commercial Pilots License. It’s equipped with state-of-the-art avionics and is all weather rated with impressive safety features. The interior is spacious with custom leather seating, climate control and clear windows (every seat is the window seat) making in flight viewing a joy.
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