Cape York Outback Paradise

Day One: Melbourne, Essendon - Broken Hill - Birdsville
Leaving Melbourne behind fly north to Broken Hill visiting the Pro Hart and Jack Absalom galleries. Continue north to Birdsville for a trip out to the race track and the billabong. Enjoy the sunset and a cold beer from your ‘perch’ in the iconic Birdsville Pub.
Accommodation tonight is at the Birdsville Hotel.

Day Two: Birdsville - Longreach
This morning enjoy a personal tour of the brilliant John Menzies Working Museum. Fly over the channel country before landing on the original Qantas runway at Longreach. Lunch with local friends at Longway Station before a guided visit to the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. This evening enjoy a typical outback campfire meal under the stars. 
Accommodation is at the Longreach Motor Inn or similar.

Day Three: Longreach - Mt Isa - Adels Grove
This morning take a hosted visit of the Qantas Founders Museum. Board your waiting aircraft bound for Mount Isa making a scenic orbit of the gargantuan mine site. Your next adventure takes you underground to a demonstration mine – you will have lunch in the crib room as a miner would. This afternoon your pilot flies you over prime cattle station country before touching down in the oasis that is Adels Grove.
Accommodation is at Adel’s Grove.

Day Four: Adels Grove - Normanton
AAA guests are taken on a guided adventure into Lawn Hill National Park, with an opportunity to trek to the Island Stack prior to your over-water journey as guests paddle their own canoe through the peaceful gorge. Spot freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves along the lonely banks. Following a relaxing lunch your pilot powers along the dirt airstrip for departure to the Gulf Country.  This is big croc and big barramundi country.
Accommodation is at the Gulflander Motel or similar.

Day Five: Normanton - Horn Island
The Gulflander is a train journey regarded highly as a must-do activity amongst train buffs around the world. Today you are privileged with your own private carriage located at the front offering opportunities to see first hand how the driver of The Gulflander operates this vintage machine.
Available also to AAA guests is a specialised Savannah guide who will provide a deep understanding of the area and its history. A particularly scenic flight along the isolated west coast of the Cape, viewing the endless maze of estuaries below and the bauxite mine at Weipa. Leave the mainland of Australia flying northwards to the sparkling islands of the Torres Strait.
Accommodation is at Torres Strait Gateway Resort.

Day Six: Horn Island - Thursday Island - Cooktown
The immense beauty and wonders of the tropical archipelago of Australia’s Torres Strait is accentuated by the islands’ residents. Enjoy a very special tour of Thursday Island, guided by a local offering an insight into island life.
After returning to the Gateway for lunch venture into the ‘Forgotten Island’ with a local historian. Departing Horn Island, pilots take over, ensuring an orbit of the northernmost point of mainland Australia.
Accommodation is at the Sovereign Motel or similar.

Day Seven: Cooktown
This morning take a private cruise of the Endeavour River where you will encounter some of the wildlife that inhabits the complex mangrove systems. Monster-sized mud crab and saltwater crocodiles can be spotted during this cruise. This afternoon you are taken on a tour of Cooktown with naturalist Justin Coventry as he unravels the stories of the past, winding up at the Captain James Cook Museum which houses an anchor from the Endeavour, amongst other pieces of historical significance.
Accommodation is at the Sovereign Motel or similar.

Day Eight: Cooktown - Townsville
Fly southwards alongside the coast and the Daintree Rainforest arriving in Townsville for a guided tour of the Reef HQ aquarium. Venture through the town common where birdlife is abundant. On dusk we take an easy drive to the summit of Castle Hill to witness the sun setting over Townsville.
Accommodation is at the Mercure Townsville or similar.

Day Nine: Townsville - Charters Towers - Bundaberg
This morning you are taken on a brief flight to historic Charters Towers in time for lunch at the country’s first stock exchange. Charters Towers has a rich goldmining history and some fine examples of 19th Century architecture. Continuing the journey south to the coral coast town of Bundaberg.
Accommodation at the Bert Hinkler Hotel or similar.

Day Ten: Bundaberg - Lady Elliot Island
AAA guests are welcomed aboard Lady Elliot’s private aircraft for the brief, yet scenic flight over the Coral Sea before your remote island paradise is in your sights. AAA has carefully selected Lady Elliot Island as it is a true coral cay; Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is only as far as the stretch of pristine white sand from the door of your suite. Lady Elliot is also a magnet for the majestic manta ray. Surrounded by evergreen vegetation, birdlife and the natural splendour of the reef for the next two nights; time to rest and enjoy Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

Day Eleven: Lady Elliot Island
An entire day, and island, is yours today to explore Lady Elliot’s many treasures. Activities include easy treks, watching on as the butterflies and abundant birdlife are busy amongst the shelter. And at high tide, swimming in the protected waters of the lagoon is simply divine. Invigorating close encounters with colourful tropical fish, turtles and coral gardens can be experienced either by snorkelling or from the glass bottomed boat available to AAA guests. Relaxed dining is one of the evening’s pleasures.
Accommodation is at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

Day Twelve: Lady Elliot Island – Carnarvon Gorge
Farewell your island paradise and board the aircraft following lunch. After returning to your AAA aircraft at Bundaberg airport, Ingelara is where your pilot will land.  You are welcomed at the airstrip ánd transferred to luxurious safari tents at the Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge, surrounded by manicured lawns and shaded by the ancient macrozamias and eucalypts.
Accommodation is at Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Resort.

Day Thirteen: Carnarvon Gorge
Enjoy informative commentary on the trek through Carnarvon Gorge with friendly specialised guides. Massive sandstone walls towering over from above protect a mysterious and timeless land. Some of the narrow side gorges can be spanned by outstretched arms while others are so narrow-twisted and deep that sunlight never reaches the bottom. Your reasonably easy trek takes you through the Moss Gardens and into an amazing natural amphitheatre.
Accommodation is at Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge.

Day Fourteen: Carnarvon Gorge - Haddon Rig - Essendon, Melbourne
Today, pilots fly homeward via our dear friends at either Haddon Rig Station or Bungle Gully Station considering local rainfall activity and availability. Welcomed as friends, either experience lends itself to a very authentic station visit inclusive of a traditional homestead feast.

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