July
Tues 03 Auckland – Brisbane
Afternoon depart from Auckland. Transfer to airport hotel for overnight stay
Wed 04 Brisbane – Mt Isa B D
Morning Qantas flight to Mt Isa. On arrival transfer to hotel to meet tour escort Brian Hill. Welcome dinner is included tonight.
Thurs 05 Mt Isa – Alexandria B L D
Travel north-west through rugged hill country towards Camooweal, crossing the Georgina River and onto the Barkly Tablelands of the Northern Territory.
Continue on to the Territory’s largest cattle station, Alexandria‘, a NAPCO (North Australia Pastoral Company) property. A 'bore run' through the property will allow you to see the results of about 20 years of well-planned composite breeding. Camp out.
Fri 06 Alexandria – Brunette Downs B L D
Break up camp and depart for a morning drive through the Barkly Tablelands to Brunette Downs followed by a tour of this iconic Santa Gertrudis property in the afternoon. Camp Out
Sat 07 Brunette Downs – Hayfield B L D
After breakfast, break up camp and travel further across the Barkly Tablelands by way of an old stock route in use since the days of Nat Buchanan. Drive through beautiful open tablelands country and through a portion of James Packer‘s Consolidated Pastoral Company’s, ‘Newcastle Waters’ Station. Later arrive at ‘Hayfield’ Station and camp overnight near the homestead. Camp Out
Sun 08 Hayfield – VRD Station B L D
The morning will be spent with the Dyer family on ‘Hayfield’. After lunch drive through the Murranji scrub country to Top Springs for a ‘smoko’ break then on to ‘Victoria River Downs’ (VRD) known affectionately as ‘The Big Run’! Overnight camp near the homestead on VRD.
Mon 09 VRD Station – Newry Station B L D
Part of the morning will be spent on VRD (with optional helicopter rides over the property) and then a lunch time visit to the Kidman Springs Research Station, run by the Northern Territory Government. Later continue north to Zebra Rock Mine on Newry Station. Camp Out
Tues 10 Newry Station – Kununurra B L
Tour the mine this morning and view the processing of Zebra Rock. See some of the cattle on the station then travel west across the border into the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. This country was taken up by the Duracks late last century and made famous by Mary Durack in her book, 'Kings in Grass Castles'. Visit the historic Durack Homestead, then have lunch overlooking Lake Argyle (the Ord River Dam), before embarking on a spectacular boat cruise down the Ord River to Kununurra. Overnight in Lakeside Resort.
Wed 11 Kununurra B L
Optional early morning scenic flight over the spectacular Bungle Bungle Mountains, the Argyle Diamond operation and the upper Ord River. Later take a tour of the Ord River Irrigation Project. Return to Lakeside Resort for second night.
Thurs 12 Kununurra – Lissadell B L D
Early visit to the historic port of Wyndham including the local museum that depicts the harsh conditions endured in one of Australia’s toughest towns! Return south, driving near the Argyle Diamond Mine, and then take a station road into the western side of Lake Argyle to visit Lissadell Station – owned nowadays by Sterling Buntine. After an inspection of cattle and management objectives we make camp near the homestead. Camp Out
Fri 13 Lissadell – Fitzroy Crossing B L D
Travel south this morning with a stop at an interesting art museum near Turkey Creek then continue through Halls Creek, named after Charlie Hall who discovered gold 12 kms away in 1885 at what is now, ‘old’ Halls Creek. This afternoon travel westward along the Great Northern Highway to the township of Fitzroy Crossing. Camp Out
Sat 14 Fitzroy Crossing – Broome B L
A relaxing morning cruise through Geikie Gorge, a limestone wonderland on the Fitzroy River. Afterwards travel on to the ‘romantic’ pearling town of Broome on the west coast, for a relaxing two night stay. Enjoy a short town tour before checking into your hotel.
Sun 15 Broome B
Today is at leisure in Broome; an interesting town steeped in history and fast becoming the tropical holiday mecca of Western Australia. A great opportunity to seek out the world renowned South Sea pearls.
Mon 16 Broome – Halls Creek B L
Today is our first day travelling east, passing through Fitzroy Crossing and onto Halls Creek for overnight stay.
Tues 17 Halls Creek – Wave Hill B L D
Leave Halls Creek and travel east on the Duncan Road, through Old Halls Creek, where we have time to study the old mud brick ruins and have a stroll through the original gold fields. We continue in an easterly direction off the Kimberley Tablelands and return to the Northern Territory. Lunch en route. During the afternoon continue along the Buntine Highway through Daguragu (Watty Creek) to ‘Wave Hill’ Station for our overnight camp. Camp Out
Wed 18 Wave Hill – Katherine B L
The morning will be spent inspecting ‘Wave Hill’, one of the great cattle stations of Australia, then this afternoon drive to Katherine for your two night stay at a hotel.
Thurs19 Katherine B D
Morning drive to the Katherine Gorge National Park for a spectacular cruise.This afternoon join people from across Central Australia for the Territory’s major cattle show, the Katherine Show. Tonight enjoy the social highlight of the year, the annual Brahman Breeders’ Association Dinner.
Fri 20 Katherine – Cooinda B L
First up this morning visit the Cubing Plant and Live Export Depot prior to returning to the Katherine Show for lunch. Later travel north to Pine Creek (gold mining venture) then travel east through ant bed country to Kakadu National Park, before checking into your accommodation at Cooinda.
Sat 21 Cooinda – Jabiru B L D
Firstly join the famous daybreak “Yellow Waters” cruise, featuring splendid bird life and crocodiles and then after breakfast, visit the Kakadu Visitor’s Information Centre near Jabiru. During lunch, optional scenic flights over Kakadu and Arnhem Land are available. Later visit Ubirr Rock to see the Aboriginal rock art. Camp Out
Sun 22 Jabiru – Darwin B L
Travel west out of Kakadu National Park and en route to Darwin inspect the ‘Window on the Wetlands’, and visit “Melaleuca Station”, a cattle station bordering Van Dieman’s Gulf on the north coast of the Northern Territory. Inspect extensive marine couch grass development and large herds of Brahman cattle. Later you have the opportunity to inspect the buffalo programs at Beatrice Hill Farm prior to continuing to Darwin for a two night stay.
Mon 23 Darwin B D
A sightseeing tour of Darwin this morning, including of all the major historic and scenic sites including Crocodylus Park (to come face to face with the biggest reptiles in the world). Depending on scheduling times you may be able to see the loading of live cattle for shipping export. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax, sightsee or maybe enjoy a 'flutter’ at the Casino. Grand Finale Dinner in the evening. After dinner, prepare to return to Darwin Airport for a late night flight OR extend your stay in Darwin.
Tues 24 Darwin – Sydney – Auckland
Depart Darwin in the early hours of the morning – change planes at Sydney. Arrive Auckland mid-afternoon.
• Sleeping bag or other bedding requirements for nights in safari tent accommodation
• Expenditure of a personal nature
• Meals not shown in the itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Airline & country ticketable taxes (approx NZD235)
• Tips and gratuities
• Gifts of Appreciation – many of the technical visits are hosted by people who give their time and expertise voluntarily. A gift on behalf of the passengers will be organised by Brian and a small contribution will be collected