Ultimate Top End

6 nights - a remote cattle station, a camping safari & a stylish wildlife lodge

The Top End’s three premier safari operators, Bullo River Station, Bamurru Plains and Lord’s Kakadu & Arnhem Land Safaris have joined together to offer discerning travellers the ultimate Top End experience.  The Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory is a spectacular area rich in Aboriginal culture and home to huge quantities of wildlife and prolific bird life.  There are thousands of square kilometres of national parks, world heritage wetlands, remote cattle stations and sheer wilderness criss-crossed by huge rivers, rugged gorges and expansive valleys.

Your 3 nights at Bullo will introduce you to station life, Aboriginal rock art galleries, swimming in water holes, fishing for barramundi and spotting crocs from the air as you head out on a helicopter picnic. Your host in Kakadu National Park & Arnhem Land will be one of the Top End's BIG characters - he will show you ancient art, amazing wildlife and introduce you to the traditional land owners of the region.
Bamurru Plains, your base for 2 nights, is a stylish bush camp that offers excellent wildlife viewing on air boats, guided game walks and drives.  The accommodation is exceptionally comfortable - en suite bathrooms and top quality bed linen; meals here are a highlight and the deck by the  pool is the best spot for an afternoon siesta.

Day 1 : fly Darwin to Bullo River Station for 2 nights

• Depart Darwin Airport for your 90 minute flight to Bullo River Station
• 2 nights, Bullo River Station - inclusive of meals, wine and beer with meals, station activities and one hour of helicopter flying

As guests of Franz & Marlee Ranacher get to know life on a truly remote outback station. Bullo’s nearest neighbour is over 2 hours’ drive away, and the station encompasses half a million acres with 8,000 head of cattle.  So remote is this region that there are waterholes and aboriginal art galleries that have remained unseen and untouched for hundreds of years.  Each of the 12 guest rooms has an en suite bathroom.  Meals are enjoyed in the dining room, al fresco on the terrace or you are welcome to join the station hands and family in the kitchen. 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. 

Your stay is planned to suit your interests – you might wish to include cattle station touring, Aboriginal rock art viewing, horse riding, gorge cruises, wildlife spotting, fishing for Barramundi and picnics at remote freshwater swimming holes.

Day 2 : at Bullo River Station

Your hosts, Franz and Marlee will plan your stay to suit your interests – you might wish to include cattle station touring, Aboriginal rock art viewing, horse riding, gorge cruises, wildlife spotting, fishing for Barramundi and picnics at remote freshwater swimming holes.  

The adventurous may even wish to take a swag and camp out by a remote swimming hole - The Cascades, only accessed by chopper, is our favourite spot for overnight camping!

Day 3 : fly to Katherine, join guide for 2 nights comfortable camping

• Charter flight from Bullo to Katherine Airport
• 2 nights private camping safari
• Travel will be in a luxury Toyota GXL air conditioned vehicle. 
• Camping gear includes swags, sheets, sleeping bags, pillow, tents, camp chairs, cooking equipment, tables, lamps/lights, torches, eskies etc
• Guide will prepare all the meals, and make sure the beer & wine is well chilled!
• At each campsite there is access to showers and toilets, these are shared with other campers, though basic they are kept clean. At times you will be able to swim in fresh water swimming holes

Drive out to Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge where the Jawoyn people invite you to visit their country and spend 2 hours cruising the mighty Katherine River that flows from the Arnhem Land escarpment to the sea. The mythical figure of 'Bula' travelled this land leaving his image as paintings in rock shelters.   From here drive to 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. 

Day 4 : on safari in Kakadu

Start the day at Maguk, a scenic and tranquil place to enjoy a refreshing swim in a series of small waterholes. The water is crystal clear and the walk to the top of the falls is well worth the effort.  Continue to the Warrandjan Cultural Centre – this excellent centre displays the creation era as interpreted by the Bininj (Aboriginal) people - Kakadu’s traditional owners tell their stories through the displays.  The last stop for the day is Nourlangie Rock which is part of the area known as the Mt. Brockman Massif. Archaeologists estimate that the living shelters at Nourlangie Rock were in use during the wet season as far back as 20,000 years ago. The area has a number of cave sites and there is evidence of quarries where the local Aborigines made their stone implements.

After setting up camp and having dinner join the Hunter Family, who are traditional owners, on Kakadu’s only nocturnal boat cruise.  Your guides are local Bininj (Aboriginal) Rangers and they will explain how they manage crocodiles and the plants and animals of the Park.  Learn how to harpoon, tag (mark) and sex a crocodile.   Keep an eye out for birds, dingoes, wallabies and even Barramundi in the shallows.

Day 5 : a day in Arnhem Land ends at Bamurru Plains, 2 nights

• Day in Arnhem Land
• Afternoon drive to Bamurru Plains, about 2.5 hours
• 2 nights Bamurru Plains - included are airstrip transfers all meals, beverages and activities.

Arnhem Land is perhaps the one area in Australia where indigenous culture is still dominant, despite a long history of interaction with other cultures, it remains a last frontier and homeland to around 20,000 people.  Spend time with an Aboriginal guide viewing rock art and bush walking.  At the Injalak Art & Craft Centre there is an opportunity to browse, watch the artisans at work and purchase goods from this non-profit Aboriginal organisation.  The day will include billabongs, birds and the escarpment country.

In the evening reach Bamurru Plains for a 2 night stay.  Bamurru is an exclusive safari camp built on the edge of the Mary River floodplains; guest accommodation is in nine spacious and cool safari bungalows, each with an en suite bathroom and a private deck overlooking the surrounding wilderness.  The lounge area is the perfect place to relax, with 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 drink.  Bamurru’s chef prepares delicious meals which are shared around the dining table with your fellow travellers, hosts and guides. Lunch is often served on the deck, perhaps a BBQ, cooked as you cool off in the swimming pool after a morning’s wildlife viewing.

Day 6 : 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 muffin being delivered to your room as the sun rises. Climb aboard the airboats for an excursion across the flood plains, 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.

In addition to the included activities Bamurru Plains can arrange scenic helicopter flights and specialist fishing guide (these are at additional cost). 

Day 7 : safari ends

Transfer to Bamurru Plains' Airstrip for your charter flight to Darwin.