Australia By Private Plane – Complete Aussie Outback Tour

Cairns to Sydney 17th July – 4th August 2011 (19 Days)
“The definitive Aussie Outback tour”

If you’re short on time, and want to get in as much Australia sightseeing as you can, this is the ideal way to do it.

Never before have so many of Australia’s iconic sights and lesser known wonders been combined into one tour by Private Plane. Cruise the Great Barrier Reef, visit the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation and experience the Torres Strait Islands plus Cape York.

Visit Darwin and the Top End including Kakadu National Park and Katherine Gorge.  Cruise Lake Argyle and the Ord River, visit the amazing domed peaks of the Bungle Bungles, witness the Kimberley Ranges and Mitchell Falls from the air and stay at the luxurious Cable Beach Club Resort  in Broome. See the vast expanse that is the Australia Outback and visit Ayers Rock (Uluru), the domed peaks of the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) and experience the ‘Sounds of Silence Dinner’. Explore Central Australia in and around Alice Springs including Simpson’s Gap.  Visit the opal mining centre of Coober Pedy and undertake a spectacular 4WD trip whilst staying in the Flinders Ranges.  See the wildlife and coastal splendour of Kangaroo Island, drive the Great Ocean Road with its Twelve Apostles and conclude your tour with a paddle steamer cruise on the Murray River.

Map of complete journey…

Aussie Outback Tour By Private Plane Package Itinerary

Day 1

Cairns – Horn Island/Thursday Island

Join our Private Plane tour from Cairns early this afternoon, please enquire for prices and schedules from your home town.  Enjoy drinks and lunch onboard as we fly up the coast of the Cape York Peninsula to Horn Island, in the Torres Strait.

We cruise to Thursday Island, a remote Torres Strait outpost, and visit the Gab Titui Cultural Centre, preserving the cultural heritage of Torres Strait.  We take a tour around the island including the Torres Strait Museum and Green Hill Fort.

We return to Horn Island for our two night stay at the Gateway Torres Strait Resort. Accommodation is relatively basic but comfortable.

Day 2

Cape York

Enjoy a relaxing boat trip across Torres Strait to the tip of Australia at Cape York. We land on the beach and take a walk to the northernmost tip of the continent. The relics of the historic town of Somerset, built by the British to rival Singapore, are nearby.

Day 3

Horn Island – Darwin

This morning we will tour Horn Island with its numerous World War II sights and World War II Museum. Horn Island was a major base during World War II.

Early this afternoon we join our luncheon flight across the Gulf of Carpentaria to Darwin. We have three nights in Darwin at Mantra on the Esplanade Hotel.

(S) Enjoy a dine-around dinner each evening in Darwin. Choose from the restaurant at our hotel or the varied cuisine at a range of nearby restaurants.

Days 4 & 5

The Top End

We have two full days Australia sightseeing now, so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of Darwin and the Top End. (S) Choose from a variety of complimentary sightseeing tours each day.

1. Kakadu National Park (full day)

   Explore Kakadu and its 19,000sqkm of contrasting landscapes. Salt water crocodiles lurk beneath the friendly façade of waterways dotted with lotus flowers; jagged peaks of towering escarpments hide pockets of monsoon rainforest; waterfalls cascade into pools fringed by paperbarks, pandanas and cycads; and Aboriginal rock art abounds. Our full day tour includes a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong to witness the incredible landscape and wildlife.

2. Litchfield National Park (full day)

   A spectacular day of touring takes us to Litchfield National Park. Swim in the large crystal pools at Wangi Falls, see the top of Florence Falls and then walk down to swim in the plunge pool below. There will also be time to take a guided walk through the monsoon vine forest and enjoy a picnic lunch.

3. Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls (full day)

   Travel along the Stuart Highway and make a stop for a swim at Edith Falls before a spectacular cruise in Katherine Gorge within the Nitmiluk National Park.

4. Darwin Sightseeing (half day)

   See Darwin’s historic World War II sites, the Chinese Temple, Stokes Hill wharf area and visit the Museum and Art Gallery.

5. Darwin’s historic harbour

   On one evening you may wish to take a sunset cruise on Darwin’s historic harbour.

(S) On both evenings 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.

Day 6

Darwin – Kununurra

Enjoy a morning to stroll Darwin’s busy shops after a few days ‘in the bush’. Early this afternoon our QantasLink Dash 8 takes us to Kununurra in northern Western Australia. We take a tour of the town before checking in to the four star Kimberley Grande Hotel for a two night stay. Dinner at our hotel this evening.

Day 7

Bungle Bungles

Today will live long in your memory! We take an early scenic flight over Lake Argyle and the Argyle Diamond Mine before flightseeing over the Heritage Listed Bungle Bungles. We land in Purnululu National Park and enjoy breakfast at the Bungle Bungles Wilderness Lodge.

(S) Today you are offered a number of Bungle Bungles expeditions.

Take a trip by 4WD 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. It is an easy hike on a palm fringed trail. You may also like to 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.

We return to Kununurra for dinner.

Day 8

Kununurra – Broome

Travel by road to Lake Argyle, where we take a spectacular cruise on this man made lake with eighteen times the capacity of Sydney Harbour. The cruise continues on the Ord River to Kununurra with lunch onboard.

We rejoin our Private Plane and fly on to Broome.  Witness the incredible Kimberley Ranges and the magnificent coastline and inland mountain scenery, including Mitchell Falls.

In Broome we stay at the luxurious Cable Beach Club Resort, beside Cable Beach.  You may like to view the sunset over Cable Beach this evening and perhaps arrange a camel ride (additional cost).

(S) This evening choose from one of the hotel’s restaurants for a dine-around dinner.

Day 9

Broome

(S) Enjoy a relaxing morning; or take a shuttle bus into town for independent exploration and pearl shopping.

This afternoon we sightsee around Broome including Chinatown, where we hear fascinating stories of its colourful past and have time for shopping. We also see an historical sound show at the famous Sun Pictures, the world’s oldest operating open air theatre, and drive through Old Broome to view typical Broome architecture and the old Pearling Master’s homes. There will be time to visit the local arts and craft galleries before visiting the Japanese cemetery and Broome port, the base for many of today’s pearling luggers.

(S) Enjoy another leisurely dine-around evening at our resort.

Day 10

Broome – Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Board our Private Plane for a mid morning flight to Uluru (Ayers Rock).  We check in to the five star Sails in the Desert Hotel.

This evening we are treated to the incredible ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner experience.  Enjoy fine beverages and canapés as the sun sinks behind the domes of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) before feasting on a gourmet barbeque of delicacies including kangaroo, emu, crocodile and barramundi.

Day 11

Ayers Rock – Alice Springs

This morning we take a drive around the base of Uluru, the pinnacle of your Aussie Outback sightseeing experience, and see the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta dominating the skyline.  Learn about the legends of Uluru, visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre and take a walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole to view Aboriginal rock art.

A lunchtime flight takes us to Alice Springs for two nights at the Chifley Alice Springs Resort. Perhaps stroll into town to explore the shops and art galleries.

(S) Choose from several restaurants this evening.

Day 12

Alice Springs

(S) Choose from a range of sightseeing options around The Alice.

1. Enjoy breakfast at the Desert Park, showcasing the plants, animals and landscapes of Australia’s deserts and their traditional use by the Aboriginal people.
2. Full day tour to the Western MacDonnell Ranges including the deep red cleft of Standley Chasm, the mystique of Ellery Creek Big Hole and the cultural significance of the Ochre Pitts.  We travel deep into the ranges to visit Glen Helen Gorge and see the immense cliffs of quartzite at Simpson’s Gap.
3. Enjoy a relaxing morning in Alice Springs before joining Central Australia’s most popular tour to magnificent Standley Chasm and the immense quartzite cliffs at Simpson’s Gap, a haven for a colony of Black-footed rock wallabies.

(S) Enjoy another dine-around evening at our hotel or in town.

Day 13

Alice Springs – Coober Pedy

Relax this morning before our midday flight south to the world’s opal capital, Coober Pedy.

The frontier town of Coober Pedy is world famous for its opals and all things quirky.  There are underground houses, dug out churches and hotels, working opal mines and historic museums – all surrounded by a lunar landscape.

(S) Visit a working opal field to learn about the various styles of opal mining and enter the Quest Mine to fossick for your own fortune; visit the Old Timers Mine with its underground houses, mining museum and opal displays; or visit some of the 30 gem shops.

Dinner and overnight at the partially underground Desert Cave Motel.

Day 14

Coober Pedy – Flinders Ranges

Time to search for more opals before our midday flight south to Port Augusta.  The beautifully rugged scenery envelops us as we drive through the Pichi Richi Ranges to Wilpena Pound Resort in the Flinders Ranges.

Enjoy two nights in deluxe rooms at the entrance to the Wilpena Pound Amphitheatre.

Day 15

Flinders Ranges

This morning we take an incredible 4WD trip through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Australia.  Our spectacular tour over the rugged peaks of Arkaba Sheep Station offers stunning views across the Elder Range, Moralana Valley and Wilpena Pound.

(S) This afternoon is free to relax and enjoy this magnificent locale; or take one of the scenic bushwalks from the resort.

Day 16

Flinders Ranges – Kangaroo Island

Drive through the Southern Flinders Ranges, pausing at the historic town of Quorn, before joining our Private Plane for our lunchtime flight to Kangaroo Island, a wildlife paradise.  Drive across the island to Seal Bay, home to 600 huge sea lions on the beach in a spectacular setting.

We also visit Kelly Hill Caves, where a National Park Guide will take us deep into the fascinating cave system.

We continue to Kangaroo Island Wilderness Lodge at Flinders Chase National Park – our home for the next two nights.

(S) You may wish to experience the indulgent luxury of the Southern Island Lodge (additional cost, enquire for details).

Day 17

Kangaroo Island

Relax in magnificent surroundings.  Enjoy the abundant wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, koala, echidnas and other native flora and fauna.  Stroll along the boardwalk to the spectacular Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, home to a colony of fur seals.  A relaxing day in a beautiful location.  Embark on a nocturnal wildlife walk after dinner.

Day 18

Kangaroo Island – The Great Ocean Road

Rejoin our Private Plane for the flight to Warrnambool, a major regional city in south western Victoria. A coach takes us on a magnificent two day trip beside the coast on The Great Ocean Road.

Drive along the Shipwreck Coast to the quaint village of Port Campbell, see Loch Ard Gorge and visit the Twelve Apostles, a spectacular rock formation beside the coastal cliffs.  We continue into the Otway Ranges and visit the Otway Fly Tree Top walkway. We then take one of the world’s most beautiful and breathtaking drives, along the Great Ocean Road, to the coastal town of Lorne.

This evening enjoy our Farwell Dinner at one of Lorne’s excellent restaurants and reminisce about your once in a lifetime Australia Outback tour.

Day 19

Lorne – Geelong – Echuca – Sydney

Be treated to more stunning coastal scenery as we drive through Aireys Inlet and Anglesea to Victoria’s second city, Geelong, where our Private Plane awaits at Avalon Airport.

Fly to Echuca on the Murray River, where we will join a paddle steamer cruise and visit the Echuca Port Museum before our final flight back to Sydney, arriving late afternoon.  If preferred a coach will take guests directly from Avalon Airport to the city of Melbourne.

There’s only one of these tours been arranged for 2011 so far, and I don’t know whether they will be doing any more similar ones later in 2011. If you’re interested let me know sooner, rather than later, as the last one was over subscribed very quickly.

As usual, the tour is fully bonded, so your cash is totally protected.

More Australia sightseeing tours

This definitive Aussie Outback tour journeys from journeys from Sydney in the south-east of Australia to Warrnambool and Kangeroo Island in the south, then cuts diagonally through the Australian outback (via Alice Springs and the magical Uluru – Ayers Rock) up to Broome in the north-west and then hugs the coast round Darwin via the Bungle Bungles giving some stunning australia outback sightseeing opportunities for a 19 day tour.

If you are looking for something shorter covering the south-east to the north-east, take a look at the 10 day Back of beyond Australia Outback tour. This tour still includes great outback sightseeing of Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre, Birdsville and Longreach plus Thursday Island and Cape York (among others).

Alternatively, if you’ve more time to spare take a look at the 14 day Bungle Bungles & Outback tour which cuts diagonally through the Australian outback (from south-east to north-west), not only adding Alice Springs and the magical Uluru (Ayers Rock) experience, but also Broome, Bungle Bungles, Litchfield National Park, Darwin and Cape York (among others).

Packge Costs

• £10,995 ($US19,600 approx) – Single Supplement £1,540 ($US2,750) – Meeting your plane in Cairns