Private Air Tours

Join fellow travellers for our morning flight from Sydney to the far west of New South Wales and Australia’s largest inland city, Broken Hill. For 100 years the mineral wealth of Broken Hill ensured a booming community and the city’s history is reflected in Broken Hill’s magnificent buildings. Broken Hill has been and still is a town dominated by the mining industry. This afternoon we will visit the Day Dream Mine, established in 1882, where you can walk into the mine and learn of its history. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner and get to know your crew and fellow travellers this evening. We stay overnight in Broken Hill’s best hotel, The Royal Exchange.

This morning we will visit the Miner’s Memorial on the Line of Lode, take a town tour and visit the Pro Hart Gallery. We also take a tour of the Royal Flying Doctor Base before transferring to the airport. We fly north over Lake Eyre, usually a vast saltpan, but in recent years a spectacular inland sea before travelling on to Birdsville. We walk the short distance from the airport to the famous Birdsville Hotel, where we enjoy an outback lunch. Visit the Wirrarri Visitor Information Centre, Birdsville Bakery, John Murray Art Gallery and enjoy a tour of Birdsville including the racetrack, the Australian Inland Mission Hospital and other aspects of this frontier town.

Later this afternoon we fly to Alice Springs in the Red Centre. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs.

Tonight enjoy a dinner at Red Ochre Grill and a didgeridoo show – a unique evening of fun and entertainment at The Sounds of Starlight Theatre.

Choose from a half or full day tour today:
1. After breakfast at our hotel, depart around 8.30am for a morning tour, first travelling beside the West MacDonnell Ranges, stopping to visit John Flynn’s grave. As the founder of Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service, Reverend John Flynn is considered to be one of Australia’s greatest outback heroes. Continue into Simpsons Gap, keeping a look out for native wildlife. Arrive at Angkerle (Standley Chasm) and enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch, head to the crest of Anzac Hill for panoramic views of the MacDonnell Ranges and Alice Springs, returning to our hotel around 1.00pm;
2. Enjoy a full day tour with the same itinerary as Option 1 in the morning then, instead of returning to the hotel continue to Alice Springs Desert Park to explore the landscapes and wildlife of the region. Return to our hotel at 5.00pm.
Alternatively, you may like to independently visit Desert Park, just 15 minutes drive from our hotel, showcasing the plants, animals and landscapes of Australia’s deserts and their traditional use by the Aboriginal people. Free-flying bird presentations at 10.00am and 3.30pm daily.
 

This evening is a dine-around dinner, choose from a selection of restaurants.

This morning our Dash 8 takes us on a scenic path low over the MacDonnell Ranges to Uluru. On arrival we tour the base of the rock and learn about the legends and mystery of Uluru. You will also visit Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a magnificent cluster of 36 rocky domes that dominate the western skyline. This evening we enjoy the incredible ‘Sounds of Silence’ dining experience and stay overnight at the renowned Sails in the Desert Resort.

Today we head west to Broome. On arrival we begin our sightseeing tour at Pearl Luggers, an exhibition where we enjoy a one hour tour covering the pearling heritage of the region. This includes a tasting of pearl shell meat – a rare and expensive delicacy. We then continue through Chinatown, Old Broome, the Japanese Cemetery, Broome Port, Gantheaume Point, Dinosaur Footprints, Anastasia’s Pool and Cable Beach. We also visit the famous Sun Pictures, the world’s oldest operating open air theatre. We return to Cable Beach in time for you to step out onto the beach and experience the extraordinary sunset. We check into Cable Beach Club Resort for two relaxing nights beside Cable Beach.

Choose from a number of restaurants for a dine-around dinner.

Enjoy a free day in Broome – perhaps spend some time in town shopping for pearls or just relax by the pool or on Cable Beach. Alternatively, choose from a number of options, all at additional cost, such as a full day Willie Creek or Paspaley Pearl Farm experience, half or full day tour to Horizontal Falls (tide permitting), an afternoon tour of Broome Crocodile Park or a camel ride on Cable Beach.

Enjoy another leisurely dine-around evening at our resort.

Many have seen the Kimberley by road or by sea but few have taken a scenic flight over some of Australia’s most spectacular mountain scenery. Today you become one of the fortunate few as we fly over Mitchell Falls and witness some of the incredible Kimberley coastline before landing at Kununurra, the region’s major town. We then change to a fleet of smaller aircraft for a scenic flight over the World Heritage Listed Bungle Bungles. Fly over Lake Argyle and the Argyle Diamond Mine before landing in Purnululu National Park. We stay two nights at the Bungle Bungles Wilderness Lodge in large and very comfortable safari style tents with ensuite bathrooms and the facilities you expect of a quality hotel.

The unique and exclusive ‘camp’ is located within the spectacular wilderness region of the Bungle Bungles Range. Enjoy an exceptional wilderness experience staying within the National Park without having to ‘rough it’.

After breakfast we take a trip to the southern side of the massif for the Cathedral Gorge walk. Enjoy time to explore the gorge, marvelling at how the sandstone cliffs form a high natural amphitheatre. Walk along the dry bed of Piccaninny Creek to inspect the domes close up. Your guide will explain the history of these unique formations, dating back twenty million years.

In the afternoon we drive to the starting point of the walk into Echidna Chasm, on the northern side of the range. Echidna Chasm, a magnificent cleft in the rock massif, is considered one of Australia’s most amazing walking destinations. All meals are served at our lodge.

A scenic flight takes us back to Kununurra, with views of the Ord River. On arrival we take a spectacular cruise to the Ord River Dam. Lunch will be served beside the river during the cruise.

We then join a coach and travel by road to the man made Lake Argyle, with up to 23 times the capacity of Sydney Harbour (63 times larger when the lake is in flood), before travelling back to Kununurra, where we rejoin our Private Plane and fly on to Darwin for a three night stay at Medina Grand Darwin Waterfront.

We have two full days to enjoy the sights of the capital of the Northern Territory and the surrounding area.

On each evening you are offered dine-around dinners, giving you a choice of local restaurants or dining at our hotel. Prior to dinner you may wish to explore the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets (Thursday and Sunday only).

Enjoy a panoramic city tour of Darwin’s sights before we rejoin our Private Plane and fly across the Gulf Country to Horn Island in Torres Strait. This afternoon we join a World War II tour of Horn Island, revealing the vital role the Torres Strait played in Australia’s northern defence. Horn Island was a strategic air base and we will visit the old trenches, taxiways and gun sites. Accommodation for our time in the Torres Strait will be relatively basic.

Enjoy a relaxing boat trip across Torres Strait to mainland Australia at Seisia. On arrival we join 4WD vehicles for the bumpy journey to the beach landing where we commence the walk on sand and rock to the tip of Cape York. Our tour continues with a picnic lunch at the beach and a visit to the ‘Croc Tent’. We return to Thursday Island late this afternoon. Perhaps take a swim or visit the Torres Strait Heritage Museum which is located in the grounds of the Gateway Torres Strait Resort, before dinner this evening.

This morning a ferry takes us to Thursday Island, a remote Torres Strait outpost. We visit the Gab Titui Cultural Centre, preserving the cultural heritage of the Torres Strait. There will also be time to explore the town and take a tour around the island including the Torres Strait Museum and Green Hill Fort.

We rejoin our privately chartered aircraft for a lunchtime flight following the east coast south to Cooktown. On arrival we will visit James Cook Museum and the main street where we stop at the numerous historical remains, including the statue of Captain Cook, who spent seven weeks here in 1770 after The Endeavour was damaged on the reef. We stay at the pleasant Sovereign Resort Hotel. Reminisce over the sights of our outback adventure at our Farewell Dinner this evening.

Explore Cooktown further this morning beginning with Nature’s Powerhouse in Cooktown’s historic Botanic Gardens for a gallery tour and some free time to enjoy the gardens. We will then visit Grassy Hill Lookout before a festive farewell flight to Cairns arriving in time to connect with scheduled flights to most capitals. Please enquire for schedules and costs for flights from Cairns to your home town.

YOU MAY LIKE TO SPEND SOME TIME IN CAIRNS, PORT DOUGLAS, PALM COVE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN TROPICAL FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS TOUR. PLEASE ENQUIRE FOR DETAILS.