Tour Dates & Route Map

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20 May - 1 June 2010

 

 

DAY 1-STAWELL to COMEROO STATION 

Hopefully we will have fine clear weather for our departure across northern Victoria where the crop sowing season will be in full swing. This paints a picture of beautiful bright greens and browns which can only be appreciated from the air.

Our first stop today is for fuel and a cuppa at Swan Hill airport. We then depart Swan Hill, crossing the Murray River and track north east over the station country of southern New South Wales, crossing the Murrumbidgee River and passing west of Cobar. On this leg we usually see lots of goats before we descend across the flood plain of the Darling River for a landing at Bourke. Another fuel stop for the aircraft and lunch stop for us where we will eat our packed lunch from the throw away bag.

We then fly north west across the Warrego River on a short leg of 64 nautical miles to our overnight stop at Comeroo Camel Station. Comeroo is a working cattle station which also breeds and runs camels. Pick up from the airport is sometimes via a camel powered carriage. Bruce and Chris Sharpe are wonderful hosts and have an amazing collection of traps of all shapes and sizes, including huge man traps, dingo and rabbit traps from all over the world. A trip for a swim in the thermal spa 15km away may be arranged weather permitting.

DAY 2-COMEROO STATION to WINTON

After breakfast at Comeroo we depart for our fuel and early lunch stop at the Western Star Hotel at Windorah, arriving mid morning. Our track to Windorah takes us across the dog fence on the Queensland border, the floodplain of the Paroo River, the station country around Thargomindah. After passing overhead the Grey Range we pass many satellite oil fields around Eromanga which is the furthest town from the sea in Australia. Many of the old diesel powered oil pumps can be seen still pumping oil. As we approach Windorah we cross the floodplain of the Cooper Creek which still should be green following summer floods.

After lunch we depart at low level if conditions permit north to the Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways. Here we are picked up from the airstrip by mini bus by the park rangers and taken to the huge Eco Centre which has been built to preserve these ancient dinosaur tracks thought to be 95 million years old. These tracks were discovered in the 1960s by station manager Glen Seymour. Palaeontologists from the Museum and the University of Queensland excavated Lark Quarry during 1976-77. The excavation has uncovered a large flat layer of mudstone containing the dinosaur tracks. The area is about 22 metres by 22 metres in size, and more or less triangular in shape. There are about 3300 separate footprints, and these seem to have been made by about 150 dinosaurs. This is a unique site being the world's only known record of a dinosaur stampede.

After this tour we will leave to fly the 70 nm to Winton for our overnight stop at the North Gregory Hotel. This is the hotel where Waltzing Matilda is said to have been first played to an audience.

DAY 3-WINTON to Adels Grove

Today we spend the morning in Winton. There will be time to visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre which uses modern technology and interactive displays to interpret the song, the history and what it is to be Australian. Self guided tours allow you to view this multi-award winning attraction at your own pace. You can learn about Winton's history in the Qantilda Pioneer Place Museum and visit the Outback Regional Gallery which offers new exhibitions every six to eight weeks, and have a coffee in the Coolibah Café.

After lunch we depart for Adels Grove. Our track will take us over the headwaters of the Diamantina River. When flood rains occur the waters from this system flow inland to Lake Eyre. As we pass over the Range past Kynuna you will notice a change in the systems. We cross the headwaters of the McKinlay, and many other Gulf Country Rivers which flow towards the sea. We will also pass the McKinlay Pub which featured in the film Crocodile Dundee some years ago. Passing just north east of the city of Cloncurry and cross the ranges north of Mt Isa before descending to land at Adels Grove. On descent on our right hand side we will pass the Century Zinc Mine the second largest zinc mine in the world. The product from this mine is pumped as slurry 270 km north east to the coast at Kurumba.

Dinner tonight will be at the Adels Grove Resort with accommodation in their cabins.

DAY 4-Adels grove

Today you will be driven with a packed lunch to the Lawn Hill National Park where you have the day to explore this beautiful area, canoeing, walking, swimming and relaxing in this idyllic setting. You will return to Adels Grove mid afternoon where you will have time to explore the surrounds and take a strole along the shady Lawn Hill Creek, or relax at the bar for drinks before dinner.

DAY 5-ADELS GROVE TO GROOTE EYLANDT

Departing Adels Grove we will track north west across the Gulf Country to the coast to Tully Inlet, then tracking coastal passing Murrenginya Island to the Vanderlin Islands, along this very picturesque coastline and on to Groote Eylandt.

Groote Eylandt is the home of the Anindilyakwa people who now welcome visitors to come and stay and enjoy their culture and are keen to show off their way of life, art and history. We will be transferred by bus the 15km across the island to stay at the new Dugong Beach Resort which has been developed by Groote Eylandt Bikerton Island Enterprises in cooperation with the Anindilyakwa Land Council. Dinner and overnight at the resort.

DAY 6-GROOTE EYLANDT to jabiru

Today is a fairly easy flying day and we can have a relaxed morning on Groote Eylandt, departing late morning for Jabiru.

Our track takes us close to Bikerton Island and on to the mainland, then across the vast expanse of Eastern Arnhem Land with its rugged rock formations to land at Jabiru. This town was established in the 1980s on a lease within Kakadu National Park to service the Ranger Uranium Mine and has become an important regional centre which was modelled on suburban Canberra and named after Australia's only stork.

After lunch at the airport we will be transferred to town and our overnight accommodation at the Gagudju Crocodile Motel, with its marble foyer and uniquely shaped exterior, resembling a giant Crocodile.

DAY 7-jABIRU TO HOME VALLEY STATION

This morning we depart Jabiru, tracking south west over the wetlands of the Yellow Waters Lagoon at Cooinda and we will cross a substantial portion of Kakadu National Park. The track takes us across the Stuart Highway and the new Alice Springs to Darwin railway line and we will be able to see a number of the now disused wartime airbases at Hayes Creek and Fenton which was the US bomber base during WWII, still quite visible from the air. We pass south of Port Keats crossing the south eastern edge of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf to a turning point at Turtle Point. We then leave the coast and track to Kununurra for fuel and lunch stop.

On this leg we will fly over the Ord River Irrigation area on our way into Kununurra. We gain another hour and a half when we cross the Western Australian Border and this will leave us time to have a wander around the town centre. Early afternoon we will leave Kununurra and fly the 64nm to Home Valley Station, an enormous 3.5 million acres of untamed Kimberley wilderness. Kimberley Shorthorn and Brahman cattle make up the herd run on this station.

DAY 8-HOME VALLEY STATION TO DRYSDALE RIVER STATION

Up early this morning, after a hearty breakfast we have an optional Horsemanship Show (approx 1 - 1 ˝ hours) and a 2 hour Station Tour - Total Cost $70 per person. A packed lunch (sandwiches, fruit, muffin and drink) to have at their Bush Camp on the banks of the Pentecost River will be available at the conclusion of the tour. Packed lunch would be $15 per person.

Following lunch we depart and track north west to the Mitchell Plateau. Our track will take us over some of the most remote areas of the Kimberley to overfly the Mitchell and Merton Falls before tracking south east to Drysdale River Station. Drysdale River is a family owned and operated million acre working cattle station, running approx. 8000 head. The family has worked this property since 1985, making it the longest resident leaseholder since this land was first released. This evening we dine el fresco at the Drysdale River Station restaurant.

DAY 9-DRYSDALE RIVER STATION TO KINGS CREEK STATION

Today we will make an early start, with a packed lunch, tracking south across the King Leopold Ranges in the central Kimberley. This is a spectacular trip across this rugged country where there are very few roads for a landing and fuel stop at Halls Creek. From Halls Creek, depending on availability of Avgas for the aircraft we will either track over the Tanami Desert via Kintore or Yuendumu where we will have a short stop to refuel and continue our journey to Kings Creek Station. On this leg we lose that hour and a half we gained on our way to Home Valley.

On arrival at Kings Creek Station we will be transferred to our cabins where we will be staying for the next two nights. Tonight we have a self cooked BBQ provided by the station around our campfire.

DAY 10-KINGS CREEK STATION

Today is a free day to explore Kings Canyon with an optional transfer by bus to the Canyon and return or if you prefer you may make this a rest day and spend a quiet day at Kings Creek Station.

DAY 11-Kings Creek station to Arkaroola

We commence the day today with a scenic flight over Kings Canyon on our way to Ayers Rock for fuel.

Leaving Ayers Rock we depart for William Creek. Our track will take us south west of Mt Connor, across the Musgrave Ranges east of Ernabella. After crossing the Stuart Highway and the Great North Railway we will pass over the old dismantled Ghan Railway Line. The bridges and cuttings from this line can still be clearly seen.

Our descent will take us past Anna Creek Station homestead. This station is the largest cattle station in the world, not in numbers of cattle but in area it is over 5 million acres and also exists in one of the driest areas in the world with summer temperatures exceeding 50 degrees celcius. However we will soon be landing adjacent to the William Creek Pub for our lunch stop.

After lunch we will depart, overflying Lake Eyre South, the Maree Man, just south of Marree at the start of the Birdsville Track. As we approach the northern end of the Flinders Ranges we will overfly the Strezlecki Track which runs from Lyndhurst to Innamincka and is one of the earliest access tracks to this part of the State.

Tonight we stay at Arkaroola Resort in the Northern Flinders Ranges, our home for the next two nights.

DAY 12-Arkaroola

Today is a fee day at Arkaroola, with many activities and optional tours to choose from. Perhaps an evening visit to the astronomical observatory, a ridgetop tour or one of the many walking tours to explore this rugged and interesting area of the ranges.

DAY 13-Arkaroola To Stawell

We depart Arkaroola for an early lunch stop at Broken Hill airport. Our track takes us over Lake Frome, a large dry salt lake, across the northern grazing areas of South Australia to the Barrier Ranges and Broken Hill. On descent we will pass the historic town of Silverton and the Mundi Mundi Plains to the west. This is where many films have been made including the Mad Max series.

After lunch and refueling we depart on our last leg which takes us home to Stawell over the dry lakes of the Annabranch system, the Darling River and Murray River at Mildura and on across the Sunset Country, Mallee and Wimmera.