12 days
From May to end of October
Age: 16
Off the Beaten Track in Style
2019-02-08T00:57:34+00:00
Main Info
This 11 night journey allows you to get off the beaten track and explore the Top End and Kimberley region. Discover Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land and Cobourg Peninsula with the chance to view amazing ancient Aboriginal Rock Art. Continue your journey to the vast and pristine lands of a working cattle station in the top end. Finally go outback on a million-acre property, staying in style at El Questro Homestead.
Based on 2 Adults:
- 4 Night share tour with Venture North including a professional guide/driver, purpose built 4WD trailer & equipment, Corroboree Billabong cruise, all Kakadu, Arnhem Land & Cobourg Peninsula permits and entry fees, accommodation & camp fees (twin share), snorkelling equipment, Injalak Aboriginal guide fee, Cobourg Peninsula boat tour, Victoria Settlement permit fee, meals as stated.
- 1 at Night Mindil Beach Casino & Resort in a Superior Lagoon Room with Darwin Airport vehicle transfer.
- 3 at Nights Bullo River station in a Standard Room including all meals and limited alcohol (beer & wine), scheduled activities including fishing, station activities, gorge cruises, tours of Indigenous art sites, and daily guiding.
- 3 atNights El Questro Homestead in a Cliff Side Retreat, all dining and selected beverages are included along with selected tours within El Questro Wilderness Park and El Questro Wilderness Park Permit. Additional charges apply for Cellar Master List.
- Private charter flight from Bullo River Station to El Questro, vehicle transfer from El Questro to Kununurra.
- 24 hour access to The Tailor support staff while in travelling in Australia.
- International Flights to and from Australia
- Domestic Flights within Australia unless stated above
- Some Meals & Beverages
- Some Activities (including helicopter excursions)
- Telephone calls
- All items of a personal nature
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Prices start from just AUD $14,770.00 per person, based on 2 passengers travelling and are valid for travel until 31st March 2020.
The above cost is dependent on availability at the time of booking request and depending on actual dates of travel, may have high/low season considerations, blackout dates may also apply and is subject to change.
Please consult your Travel Designer to check on full terms and conditions, availability and to make an enquiry.
This tour is designed for – Solo travellers/couples/small groups and families with children 16 years and over. El Questro Homestead is not suited to children under this age, should the itinerary be of interest and you are travelling with a young family please contact one of our Travel Designers as we can substitute El Questro Homestead with another property to suit accordingly.
This Itinerary is available from May to end of October when the weather is favourable in the Northern region of Australia. Please note El Questro Homestead is closed for the wet-season from mid-October to end of March, Bullo River station is closed from December to the end of January and Venture North operates from May to end of October (Monday to Thursday for scheduled shared tours).
While we endeavour to make the itinerary as accurate as possible, it should be considered as an approximate schedule of activities and guide only rather than a rigid schedule of events. Trip itineraries are subject to revision due to weather, conditions, government restrictions and other reasons beyond our control.
Important Information:
Charter Flights & Luggage Restrictions
- There is a general weight restriction for luggage of 10/15kg per person for charter flights. Bags must be soft-sided including the base, for example a duffle bag. Each aircraft type has a maximum payload (combined weight of passengers, size and weight of luggage the plane is permitted to carry). This weight restriction is subject to the flights overall payload restrictions.
- Some charter flights are based on a single-engine aircraft. If a single engine aircraft is booked and a twin engine aircraft is required on the day of travel due to weather conditions or any other reason, this will be at the client’s expense. It must also be noted that a delay in travel time or date may occur in extreme circumstances. Please make sure all clients are adequately insured for such events.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Begin your Safari
An early start today as you depart from your Darwin Hotel for your private guided tour with Venture North for the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. En route join a morning cruise on the picturesque Corroboree Billabong. On this scenic cruise you have the opportunity to view a large variety of birdlife as well as salt water crocodiles in their natural environment. Learn more about the wildlife on the billabong from your knowledgeable guide who will make the cruise both fascinating and informative.
Continue to the historical Bark Hut Inn for a refreshment stop before entering Kakadu. Travel along the old Jim Jim Road visiting White Lily Billabong before arriving at Maguk (Barramundi Gorge). Enjoy a scenic 1km walk along the edge of Barramundi Creek before arriving at the base of Barramundi Falls. Here you have the opportunity to swim or snorkel in the large plunge pool below the falls and discover an array of aquatic life.
Depart Maguk late afternoon for Nawalandja lookout. A short climb takes you up the sloping sandstone to provide views of the sun setting across Anbangbang Billabong, Nourlangie Rock, and the Arnhem Land escarpment. Depart after sunset for Jabiru and the Lake View Bush Bungalows, your accommodation for the night.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Anbinik Kakadu Resort (Bush Bungalow)
Day 2: Kakadu National Park, Arnhem Land & Injalak Arts Centre
After breakfast travel from Jabiru to the northern region of Kakadu National Park to Cahill’s Crossing on the East Alligator River and enter Arnhem Land. A 15 km scenic drive to Gunbalanya Aboriginal community provides some of the best driving views in the Top End with floodplains covered in bird life, and water lilies running up alongside the Arnhem Land escarpment.
Upon arrival at Gunbalanya, you will visit the Injalak Arts and Craft Centre. Here you have the opportunity to meet and watch traditional local artists in action, before departing with an Aboriginal guide to be shown around the Injalak Hill art sites. Spend the morning experiencing some of the best Aboriginal rock art in Australia, before returning to the Injalak Art Centre where we leave our hosts and journey on to the Cobourg Peninsula. The drive takes approximately 3-4 hours with stops and creek crossings along the way. Later arrive at Venture North's camp where you will be greeted by the resident camp hosts and served nibbles on the cliff top. Relax as the sun sets over Port Essington.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Venture North’s Cobourg Coastal Camp
Day 3: Cobourg Marine Park
Awake to the sound of birds and enjoy a special ‘Cobourg-style’ cooked breakfast. Today will be spent exploring the Northern Territory’s only Marine Park by boat. Cobourg is abundant in some amazing marine life including six species of marine turtle, dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, stingrays, mud crabs and plenty of fish. As you cruise the Marine Park, stop and visit the Victoria Settlement ruins. Established prior to Darwin as a military outpost by the British, this site represents the third failed attempt at settlement in Northern Australia. After surviving for 11 years between 1838 and 1849 it was abandoned. Stone ruins still stand on the shoreline of Port Essington and serve as a reminder of the hardships faced by the early colonists.
Depart the settlement and enjoy a slow journey back to camp stopping along the way to spot marine life and do some fishing. Return to camp late afternoon where you can explore the nearby beaches and creek systems, try your luck at fishing, or simply enjoy the solitude while reading a book from a hammock overlooking the ocean. Tonight enjoy a freshly caught seafood dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Venture North’s Cobourg Coastal Camp
Day 4: Cobourg via 4WD
Today explore the eastern side of the Park this time by 4WD. Cobourg is home to the first RAMSAR wetland (wetlands of international importance) in the world with freshwater paperbark swamps and billabongs 100m from the coastline. Continue on via the northern beaches, commonly used as turtle nesting areas and covered in a wide range of shells. Low tide provides opportunities to explore exposed coral reefs and rock pools home to a variety of marine life. After lunch you will have an opportunity to go hunting for mud crabs using traditional Aboriginal methods. Learn how to hunt and gather these local delicacies, before having a go yourself. This afternoon we will also visit the Park’s Cultural and Information Centre before making your way back towards camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Venture North’s Cobourg Coastal Camp
Day 5: Journey back to Darwin
This morning depart Cobourg early. Sit back and enjoy the bush scenery of Arnhem Land as you make your way back to Kakadu National Park. After numerous stops along the way, enjoy lunch next to the banks of the mighty East Alligator River. After lunch visit Ubirr Rock where you spend time viewing some of Kakadu’s best Aboriginal rock art. A short walk to the top of Ubirr offers spectacular views of the surrounding wetlands and stone country.
Depart Ubirr to Darwin via the Arnhem highway. En route to Darwin stop and visit the Mamukala wetlands, which at times is a haven for thousands of Magpie Geese as well as many other species of native birds and reptiles. Arrive in Darwin approximately 7:00pm for a well-earned rest at the Mindil Beach Casino & Resort. Located just moments from Darwin CBD and set among tropical beachside gardens, Mindil Beach Casino & Resort delivers the ultimate premium accommodation experience to the Top End. Deluxe rooms offer a stylish and well-equipped retreat. All rooms feature a private balcony, ensuite bathroom, and a state-of-the-art flat screen television. For the ultimate relaxation experience try the Superior Spa Rooms. These spacious rooms have a Japanese-inspired spa bath and a separate spacious corner shower. Each room also includes a private patio with spectacular garden or ocean views. Spanning an extensive 71m2 and featuring separate lounge and dining areas, the Grand Suite provides you with an exceptional suite experience. The separate king-sized bedroom offers a luxurious marble bathroom with a double spa bath and large shower. Step out onto your private balcony overlooking the infinity pool. For the epitome of luxury, test out the Garden Grand Suite. Full-length windows frame the natural beauty of Mindil Beach, and a secluded patio is a perfect spot to take in the breathtaking sunsets. Ideal for a romantic getaway, the suite has a separate king-sized bedroom with a marble bathroom complete with a double spa bath and shower. TVs can be found in the bathroom, bedroom, and living areas.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Mindil Beach Casino & Resort
Day 6: Go Remote – A Top End Working Cattle Station
Your private driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to the Darwin Airport for your scheduled charter flight direct to Bullo River Station. Covering 500,000 acres, Bullo River Station was one of the first cattle stations established in the East Kimberley region. The property, which is in a remote part of the Northern Territory, is home to 9000 Brahman-cross cattle, plus local and introduced species such as wallabies, dingoes, buffalo and crocodiles. Accommodation at this working cattle station, include 12 air-conditioned rooms overlooking a nearby lagoon. The vast landscape of the property provides a truly unique five-star outback experience.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Bullo River Station
Days 7-8: Bullo River Station
Let your guide at Bullo River Station bring the wonders of this timeless land to life and witness it's half a million acres of breathtaking pristine landscape with an included seven-minute Helicopter tour. Adventurers are invited to go fishing, boat cruising among the myriad rivers or take advantage of the magnificent photographic opportunities with some of the best scenery in the Northern Territory. Station tours are a great experience – whether by horse, quad bike or 4WD – giving a perspective on the enormity of property and the isolation of the Top End. Wildlife spotting includes the opportunity to go searching for the huge saltwater crocodiles, water buffalo, wallabies, bird life and more. Cattle mustering is seasonal between the winter months of June to September, and guests are welcome to watch or participate with the handling of stock.
Whether you’re a novice or enthusiast, the chance to try some of the best fishing in North Australia shouldn’t be missed. The Bullo River flows for 80km exclusively on the property providing the opportunity for fresh and tidal salt-water fishing. Tours to ancient indigenous rock art sites, hiking and much more are also available. Bullo is without doubt one of Australia’s most remarkable, authentic and inspiring travel destinations.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Bullo River Station
Day 9: The Kimberley’s
After breakfast you will board a private charter flight to El Questro. Totalling one million acres in size, El Questro is located in Western Australia’s untamed Kimberley region and extends for approximately 80 kilometres into its heart, most of which is yet to be explored. It is one of Australia’s last true frontiers.
El Questro Homestead sits amid a cool oasis shaded by palm trees and tropical greenery, perched atop an escarpment that plummets into the Chamberlain River. There are just eight guest rooms and one luxurious suite in the sprawling homestead, the interior design taking its cues from the environment, embracing rustic Australian furnishings. El Questro Homestead has become a by-word for absolute luxury within the Australian wilds. Located in the heart of the beautiful, forbidding Kimberley, The Homestead is an exclusive retreat open to just 18 guests.
El Questro tours and activities form an integral part of every visit to the property. The homestead offers a wide range of complimentary excursions that provide opportunities to fully immerse yourself in the natural attractions of the Wilderness Park. The majority are exclusive to Homestead guests, facilitating engagement between the small group and their guide. El Questro’s enthusiastic rangers are adept at personalising your experience to your individual tastes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: El Questro Homestead
Days 10-11: El Questro Homestead
As a part of your stay at El Questro Homestead, you will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities. Available activities include boating through the Chamberlin Gorge, bush culture, history and nature tours, bird-watching, gorge walks and you will have exclusive access to the stunning Zebedee Springs.
A number of activities and experiences are also available for an extra cost, including:
- Horse Riding
- Miri Miri Waterfall by Helicopter
- The Lost City Cave Tour by Helicopter
- Champagne Springs Walk by Helicopter
- Amaroo Falls by Helicopter
- 4WD Fishing Tour to the Pentecost River
- Heli-fishing tours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: El Questro Homestead
Day 12: Departure – Connect With Your Onward Flight
Enjoy your last morning at El Questro homestead before transferring by road to Kununurra to connect with your onward arrangements.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
