The Ultimate Top End Adventure
6 nights in Australia's Northern Territory - a spectacular area rich in Aboriginal culture and
home to huge quantities of bird and wildlife.
6 NIGHTS / 7 DAYS
1 May 2015 - 31 March 2016
Bamurru Plains is closed from 1 November to 31 January inclusive. Please note that Bamurru
Plains is a dedicated fishing lodge between 1 February - 30 April inclusive.
Bullo River is closed from 1 December to 31 January inclusive
Lord's Safaris offer camping in Kakadu from May to September only, when the weather is
comfortable. At other times hotel accommodation is recommended - the price may increase
depending on your hotel choices.
Summary Itinerary
Day 1
Charter flight from Darwin to Bullo River Station - 90 minutes, our cost is based
on travel in a single engine Cessna aircraft.
2 nights Bullo River Station - all meals, wine & beer with dinner, scheduled
activities such as fishing, station touring & happenings, gorge cruise, tours of
Aboriginal Art sites.
Day 2
Station activities
Bullo River Station
Day 3
Charter flight from Bullo River Station to Jabiru - about 70 minutes, our cost is
based on travel in a single engine Cessna aircraft.
Met by your guide for a 2 night safari through Kakadu National Park and Arnhem
Land.
2 nights camping with Lord's Safaris, includs all camp gear, transport, services of
guide, entrance fees and meals.
Day 4
Explore Kakadu National Park.
Day 5
Spend the morning in Arnhem Land, and continue the touring with Lord's Safaris
en route to Bamurru Plains.
2 nights Bamurru Plains - Safari Bungalow accommodation includes: meals,
beverages (based on select open bar) and scheduled activities (4WD safaris, river
trips, airboat trips and daily guiding)
Day 6
Safari activities
Bamurru Plains
Day 7
Charter flight from Bamurru Plains to Darwin, our cost is based on travel in a
single engine Cessna aircraft.
Itinerary Costing
Please enquire for costs.
Itinerary Includes
•
Accommodation on a twin/double share basis with meals, airstrip transfers and drinks
as above
•
Charter flights - Darwin - Bullo River - Jabiru and Bamurru Plains - Darwin - single engine
aircraft, quotes with larger aircraft and helicopter transfers are available on request.
•
Includes 10% GST
Exclusions
•
Scheduled domestic & international flights
•
Comprehensive travel insurance
•
Meals & bar unless specified
•
Laundry, gratuities & items of a personal nature
•
Bamurru Plains surcharges the use of air conditioning for environmental reasons. Air
conditioning is not included in the package.
Day 1 : Bullo River Station for 2 nights
•
Depart Darwin for your 90 minute flight to Bullo River Station
•
Your guide will collect you at Bullo's Airstrip, together you will walk to the homestead
for morning tea. During your 2 night stay all meals, beers and soft drinks as well as wine
with dinner and station based activities are included.
Bullo River Station is in the north western corner of the Northern Territory near the Western
Australian border. Encircled by the coffee coloured waters of the Victoria River and rugged hills
inscribed with Aboriginal rock art, this vast property is not only home to around 9,000
Brahman-cross cattle but a huge variety of local fauna species including wallabies, dingoes,
wild buffalo, a myraid of native and migratory birds, fish and the omnipresent crocodile. The
'Boab' is Bullo's symbol and these proud trees dot the entire property lending their stature to
what is already an impressive landscape.
At Bullo you will be the guests of Franz & Marlee Ranacher - their nearest neighbour is over 2
hours drive away, and the station encompasses half a million acres. So remote is this region
that there are waterholes and aboriginal art galleries that have remained unseen and
untouched for hundreds of years.
Guest accommodation is comfortable and simple; all rooms have private en suite bathrooms,
air-conditioning, celing fan and floor to ceiling windows so that you can wake to the expanse of
it all. Home cooked meals are prepared by the station cook and your own just-caught
Barramundi is bound to be the best fish you will ever eat. Breakfast is often al fresco on the
wide stone verandah, lunch might be a picnic, perhaps by some beautiful freshwater swimming
hole and dinner is usually served in the main dining room. You are encouraged to make
yourself at home in the large living rooms of the homestead and there is a small swimming pool
for those hot afternoons.
Day 2 : Bullo River Station
Franz, Marlee and the friendly station hands plan your activities taking into account the seasons
and your interests. Your time with them might include •
Taking part in the daily activities of a working cattle station such as bull catching or
mustering
•
Horse riding (some competency is required)
•
Boat cruises on the Bullo River Gorge
•
Helicopter flight to the outer edges of the station (at an additional cost)
•
Wildlife viewing - Wallaroos, wallabies, dingos, crocodiles and buffalo are all regular
sightings
•
River and coastal fishing - Barramundi are almost guaranteed at Bullo!
•
Aboriginal art interpretation viewing
•
Swimming in freshwater rock pools, picnics washed down with billy tea, you can even
swag out (camp out) by a water hole if you are feeling very adventurous
Day 3 : fly from Bullo River to Kakadu
•
Depart from the Airstrip right in front of the homestead on your charter flight from Bullo
to Cooinda Airport. Your guide will collect you and together you head off to explore
Kakadu & Arnhemland
•
Spend 2 nights camping - transport, services of guide, camp equipment, all meals, wine
& beer in the evening, entrance fees & activities are included.
Pick up from Cooinda airport and then onto Gunlom (Waterfall Creek) and discover a pristine
waterfall. Gunlom was immortalised in the first 'Crocodile Dundee' movie, its white sandy
beach and 120 metre cascading waterfall (runs until the end of July) is a great photo
opportunity. A more challenging walk to the top of the waterfall is rewarded with a swim and
the best view for miles around. Enjoy it while overlooking the beautiful South Alligator Valley.
Day 4 : Arnhem Land
•
The safari continues on to Aboriginal Arnhemland for a walk up Injalak Hill with a local
Elder
Arnhem Land is perhaps the one area in Australia where indigenous culture is still dominant,
despite a long history of interaction with other cultures. Access to Arnhemland is restricted to a
select group of guides.
While in Arnhemland a traditional Aboriginal guide will show you excellent examples of rock art
on Injalak Hill (Long Tom Dreaming). This area has some of the best rock art examples in
Western Arnhemland and, some say, Australia. The view from the top of the hill is simply
breathtaking, looking out across the floodplains and around the escarpment. Farewell your
Aboriginal guide and back at the Injalak Art & Craft Centre there is an opportunity to browse or
purchase goods from this non-profit Aboriginal organisation. Spend some time watching the
local people painting and the women weaving pandanus baskets.
In the afternoon we will explore the valley, with its stunning scenery of billabongs, birds, and
escarpments - this is truly a place where you can escape and experience this unique untouched
haven of the Northen Territory.
Day 5 : Safari Kakadu, continue to Bamurru Plains
•
Explore the southern end of Kakadu before driving to Bamurru Plains
•
Your 2 night stay at Bamurru Plains includes all meals, drinks from the bar and
scheduled activities - an airboat safari, guided walking, boating on the Sampan River and
guided wildlife drives.
Today we shall head to the Southern end of Kakadu, here we find a pristine water fall, Maguk
(Barramundi Gorge). A one Kilometre walk through monsoon rainforest leads to the base of a
beautiful plunge pool: Maguk is a scenic and tranquil place to enjoy a refreshing swim in the
series of small waterholes. The water is crystal clear. After leaving Maguk we then head onto
Bamurru Plains.
Important note: On private safaris we encourage you to discuss each day's plan with your
guide so that all of your personal interests are well covered. Please also be aware that the
Aboriginal people of Arnhemland choose to live a traditional and quiet life. Although Lord's
Safaris has a close working relationship with them there are times when, without notice,
Arnhemland is closed to visitors or when the Aboriginal guides are not available. As Lord's
Safaris offer a very real experience, and not a 'canned tourist performance'; we are sure that
you will understand and will work with your guide to plan alternative safari activities and
highlights.
Bamurru Plains is an exclusive safari camp built on the edge of the Mary River floodplain only a
short distance from Kakadu National Park in the Top End of Australia.
Guest accommodation is in nine spacious and cool safari bungalows, each with an en suite
bathroom and overlooking the surrounding wilderness. The central lounge area is the perfect
place to relax, there is a well stocked library offering a collection of reference books. Likewise,
the bar is well stocked, and at anytime of the day you may help yourself to a cold beer, a chilled
white wine or soft drink.
Bamurru's chef prepares delicious meals which are shared around a communal table with your
fellow travellers, hosts and guides. Lunch is often served on the deck, perhaps a BBQ, cooked
as you refresh yourself in the swimming pool.
Day 6 : Full day at Bamurru Plains
This area is known for its wildlife and wallabies, dingoes, brumbies, buffalo and goannas all
make regular appearances, however it is the prolific birdlife that makes this area a unique
nature attraction.
A typical day at Bamurru may begin with an early morning coffee and light breakfast at the
lodge. Climb aboard the airboats for an excursion across the floodplains, spotting crocodiles
and startling the Magpie Geese into flight. Stopping in a quiet lagoon, shaded by paperbark
trees and surrounded by lilies enjoy morning tea before returning to camp as the sun heats the
day.
Now there is time for a siesta, a swim, to read a book or quiz your guide for more information
on this remarkable place. Lunch is followed by an afternoon activity, perhaps a guided walk or
a gentle cruise down the Sampan River, spotting crocodiles sunning themselves on the mud
flats. Return to the camp in the evening and share dinner with your fellow travellers, guides
and hosts.
Day 7 : Bamurru Plains to Darwin
Today enjoy an early morning activity before returning to the lodge for lunch. There is time to
relax by the pool before your flight to Darwin later today.
Check out from your bungalow is at 11:00am. Your luggage will be stored until your departure
flight.