Wild Spots Across The Top

14 nights - Bullo, Bamurru Plains, Cockatoo Hill Retreat & Haggerstone Island

Starting on the Eastern edge of the Kimberley this journey begins on a vast cattle property where you are hosted by the owners - experience life on the land, Aboriginal art, barramundi fishing and helicopter picnics.  At Bamurru Plains expert guides focus on the wildlife of the Top End flood plains (from wallabies to crocodiles) and we have included a day trip to Kakadu National Park & Aboriginal Arnhem Land.  After a night in Darwin continue on to the Daintree Rainforest for  an interpretive rainforest walk and cruise.  Flying over the Great Barrier Reef for two hours will give you an idea of its size and also the remoteness of Haggerstone Island where you are the guests of Roy & Anna, long time residents and reef aficionados!   This is a journey of contrasts, of adventures in very remote locations, of passionate guides and of colourful characters – above all this is Wild Australia at its best.

Day 1 : fly Darwin to Bullo River Station for 3 nights

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

Stay as guests of Franz & Marlee Ranacher 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.  

Day 2 & 3 : 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 4 : fly from Bullo River to Bamurru Plains for 2 nights

• Depart from the Airstrip by charter flight from Bullo to Bamurru Plains, a flight of a little over 90 minutes
• Arrival transfer from Bamurru’s Airstrip to the Lodge will take about 15 minutes
• Your 3 night stay is inclusive of airstrip transfers all meals, beverages and activities

Bamurru Plains is an exclusive safari camp built on the edge of the Mary River floodplains only a short distance from Kakadu National Park in the Top End of Australia.

Guest accommodation is in three 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.

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.  

Day 5 : 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, specialist fishing guides and day trips to Kakadu National Park and Aboriginal Arnhem Land (these are at additional cost).   

Day 6 : day trip to Kakadu National Park & Aboriginal Arnhem Land

• Travel by charter flight Bamurru Plains - Jabiru - Bamurru
• Full day private touring with Kakadu based guide including Injalak Hill and Art & Craft centre in Arnhem Land

Access to Arnhem Land is restricted to a select group of guides – they know the people and the country intimately.   Your journey today will be hosted by one such guide and in some part, by a local Aboriginal.  nhem Land is perhaps the one area in Australia where indigenous culture is still dominant, despite a long history of interacting with other cultures. Your 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 Arnhem Land and some say Australia.  The view from the top of the hill is simply breathtaking, looking out across the floodplains and around the escarpment. 

Back at the Injalak Art & Craft Centre there is an opportunity to browse or purchase goods from this non-profit Aboriginal organisation and to watch the locals painting and weaving pandanus baskets. In the afternoon explore a remote valley - stunning scenery, billabongs, birds and a place to imagine the life of the Aboriginal people who have been at home here for 50,000 years or more.  Lunch and entrance fees as well as guide services are included. 

Day 7 : Overnight in Darwin

• Charter flight:  Bamurru Plains to Darwin
• Private transfer to the Saville Park Suites for overnight in a Harbour View Suite

Saville Park Suites are located on The Esplanade in Darwin, a few minutes walk from the CBD & shopping precinct. The guest rooms, the one, two and three bedroom apartment style suites all have en suite bathrooms. The suites also have living and dinning areas, a fully equipped kitchen and laundry as well as balconies affording views across the Darwin Harbour to the sun set in the west. The Hotel facilities include 24 hour reception, an outdoor swimming pool, guest car park and a restaurant and bar. 

Day 8 : Daintree National Park & Cockatoo Hill Retreat, 2 nights

• Private transfer to Darwin Airport
• Flight:  Darwin to Cairns (not included in costing)
• Private transfer by road to Cockatoo Hill Retreat (approx. 2.5 hours)
• 2 nights Cockatoo Hill Retreat with breakfast daily, a guided forest walk, cruise and picnic lunch

As guests of Carmen you will discover the gentle beauty of the rainforest further enhanced by delightful hosts and a small number of guests! Located 16kms north of the Daintree River ferry crossing and half way along the road to Cape Tribulation, this is a wonderful base from which to explore the region.

Cockatoo Hill Retreat offers accommodation in four separate thatched cottages – each with a king-size bed draped in mosquito net (much more for romance than for protection!), en suite bathrooms (shower only no bath tub) and balconies with views across the rainforest towards the ocean. 

The gardens are filled with bright flowering plants such as frangipani, heliconia, bougainvillea, and the lawns give way to the dark green foliage of the forest that surrounds them.  Carmen brings a touch of her French parentage to delicious tropical breakfast.  Enjoy some relaxation time and perhaps take a splash in the beautiful swimming pool with its cascading waterfall and views to the horizon.

Day 9 : Coopers Creek Walk from Cockatoo Hill Retreat

The Cooper Creek experience is designed to showcase the broader diversity of natural and cultural heritage values of the Cooper Creek catchment area.  Today enjoy a fully guided interpretive rainforest walk, a cruise through the world’s most diverse mangrove community in search of the elusive estuarine crocodiles before settling down for a picnic lunch next to a beautiful rainforest stream.  After lunch there is time to swim in the spectacular blue waters of Cooper Creek (conditions permitting).  

Day 10 : Haggerstone Island, 5 nights

• Transfer to Cow Bay by road, just 10 minutes away
• Charter flight:  Cow Bay to Hicks Island (approx. 2 hours)
• Travel by boat to Haggerstone Island
• 5 nights on Haggerstone includes all meals, boat transfers to/from Hicks Island and activities based on and around the island (some charges apply for diving, deep sea fishing and distant travel)

Haggerstone truly deserves to be described as unique!  An island of incredible beauty and wilderness, the small lodge, owned and hosted by Roy & Anna Turner, offers guests unparalleled remoteness, cast-away comfort and exclusivity. Roy and Anna have made Haggerstone their home since 1985 when Roy abandoned his days of crocodile hunting in Papua New Guinea. 

Haggerstone has four quite different ‘huts’ – each is serviced daily and with has hot & cold running water, fridge, shower and toile.  The Lagoon Hut is a timber round house with an expansive deck overlooking the big lagoon, the Kwila Hut is shaded by Coral trees and contains an interesting collection of New Guinea artefacts, the Beach House is more secluded and rustic and there is the Tree House.

Anna and Roy will host your stay - planning your days and preparing meals to suit you. Seafood fresh from the surrounding waters and fresh herbs and fruit are served in the Main Pavilion around a communal table.  The garden is a lovely place for a wander …passionfruit compete with guado and snake beans. The vines of tropical butternut and squashes are coaxed away from beds of rocket salad and bok-choy.  Basil, coriander and parsley compete for space with lemongrass and ginger. Kaffir lime, mango and curry trees grow randomly along the paths.   

Days 11 to 14 : On Haggerstone Island

On Haggerstone, be as active or as relaxed as you wish … you might get in the mood to –

• Snorkel amongst pristine coral reefs
• Fish for your lunch and picnic on freshly caught lobster on uninhabited sand cays - regular catches include Spanish Mackerel, Tuna, Mangrove Jack, Coral Trout and the occasional shark
• Boat across to the mainland to explore the coastal rivers and mangroves and to visit the silica dunes of Shelburne Bay
• Take a day trip to the outer reef for snorkelling or visit the 1840’s shipwreck that is in such shallow water its giant anchors, keel bolts and winching blocks are all visible from the surface.
• Kayak around the island
• Bird watchers will love to see the many coloured pigeons, sunbirds, honeyeaters and the eagles that soar on high
• Helicopter adventures into the World Heritage Listed forests and over the Reef can be arranged (at extra cost)

 Day 15 : The journey ends in Cairns

• Travel by boat to Hicks Island
• Charter flight:  Hicks Island to Cairns (approx. 2 hours)
• Your journey across the top of Australia ends on arrival in Cairns Airport