Air Adventure Australia

Cape York Outback Paradise - 14 days

Day One: Essendon, Melbourne - Broken Hill - Birdsville

Leaving Melbourne behind at 0800 fly north to Broken Hill for lunch and a tour of the Pro Hart and Jack Absalom galleries. Continue north to Birdsville for a trip out to the hallowed race track and other town highlights. Enjoy the sunset and a cold beer from your 'perch' in the iconic Birdsville Pub and absorb the outback culture. Dinner tonight is in the pub's dining room where you will meet travellers tackling the 'Birdsville Track' which makes for interesting stories. Time to rest; accommodation tonight is at the Birdsville Hotel.

Day Two: Birdsville - Longreach

This morning you are taken on a personal tour of the brilliant John Menzies Working Museum. This museum is fascinating and unique. Depart Birdsville and fly over the channel country into the land of the 'big sky'. Once landing on the original Qantas runway you will be taken out to our friends at Longway Station for lunch in the Heritage Queenslander homestead and a station tour. This afternoon visit the Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Hudson Fysh museum and hangar. Time to rest; accommodation is at the Longreach Motor Inn or similar.

Day Three: Longreach - Mt Isa - Adels Grove

After an easy start to the day AAA guests are airborne, destination Mt Isa where prior to landing you are given the best view of the gigantic Mount Isa Mine. Transport awaits to take you underground to see how this industry operates, at the Outback At Isa demonstration mine. Farewell to civilisation as AAA pilots fly over cattle station country before touching down in the oasis that is Adels Grove. Stroll through the Frenchman's Garden finishing with a cool swim in the billabong and a refreshing drink. Time to rest; accommodation tonight you are treated to the sophisticated tents idyllically positioned beside a pristine stream enjoying the warmth and serenity. There are no en suite facilities here however, bathrooms are not far away.

Day Four: Adels Grove - Normanton

Adels Grove offers a delicious breakfast before 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. Enjoy a picnic lunch provided by your guides before returning to your aircraft. AAA pilots power along the dirt airstrip for departure to Gulf Country of Queensland's savannah landscapes, for those piscatology-minded guests, one stand-out feature of the Normanton area is the giant barramundi. Time to rest; accommodation is at the Gulflander or similar.

Day Five: Normanton - Horn Island

Pleasant outback mornings are never given the credit they deserve, simply divine. Guests prepare for their experience aboard The Gulflander. The Gulflander is a train journey, regarded highly as a must-do activity amongst train buffs around the world. AAA guests are privileged with their own private carriage located at the front offering opportunities to see first hand as 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. After being dropped off at the airport, AAA pilots select a special scenic flight path tracking along the interior coast of the Cape capturing the endless maze of estuaries below, arriving in the town of Weipa for fuel and an aerial tour of the enormous bauxite mine. AAA guests depart, leaving the mainland of Australia flying northwards enjoying the changing colours of Torres Strait. Time to rest; 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 islands is accentuated by the islands' residents. Enjoy a very special tour of Thursday Island guided by a life-long local offering an insight into island life.

After returning to the Gateway for lunch guests venture into the 'Forgotten Island'. Horn Island offers an opportunity to sneak not so far back in time to see remnants of bunkers and hidden revetments during a specialised guided tour, led by local historian and author Vanessa See Kee. Departing Horn Island, AAA pilots now take over with a special scenic treat flying south, ensuring an orbit of the northernmost point of mainland Australia. Lovely Cooktown awaits you, literally, from the airfield you are met and welcomed. Time to rest; accommodation is at the Sovereign Motel Cooktown or similar.

Day Seven: Cooktown

After a pleasant breakfast it's time for AAA guests to experience the foreshore and visit memorial sites of where Capt. James Cook careened the Endeavour for repairs. 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. Lunch is at the gallery in the gardens and a walk through the Chinese gardens. The day finishes with a tour of the Captain James Cook Museum which houses an anchor from the Endeavour amongst other pieces of historical significance. Time to rest; accommodation at the Sovereign Motel Cooktown or similar.

Day Eight: Cooktown - Townsville

Cooktown: while never easy to leave, AAA guests fly southwards along the coast over the Daintree Rainforest and Queensland's northern capital of Cairns arriving in Townsville for coffee and a guided tour of the Reef HQ aquarium. Once lunch is over AAA guests will 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 tonight 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 it's time to rest; 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 touching down on the island in time for lunch. 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 splendor of the reef for the next two nights; time to rest and enjoy Lady Elliot Island.

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 they seek on the island. And at high tide, swimming in the protected waters of the lagoon is simply divine. Invigorating close encounters with colourful tropical fish and nature's own architectural wonderland of coral can be experienced either by snorkelling or from the glass bottomed boat available to AAA guests.

Daily reef walking tours are conducted by expert expert marine biologists. Relaxed dining is one of the evening's pleasures, in fact it's superb. Time to rest; exclusive to the island is Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

Day Twelve: Lady Elliot Island - Carnarvon Gorge

Mornings are majestic whilst gentle to all guests on Lady Elliot Island. After a wonderful experience AAA guests now farewell their island paradise and board their aircraft after lunch. After returning to your AAA aircraft at Bundaberg airport, Ingelara is where your pilot will make landing, welcomed at the airstrip AAA guests are then transferred to luxurious safari tents at the Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge, surrounded by manicured lawns and shaded by the ancient macrozamias and eucalypts.

Day Thirteen: Carnarvon Gorge

AAA guests 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. Photographers have entered their own special paradise within Carnarvon Gorge. Wildlife lovers are equally spoilt with an endless delight of hundreds of species of birds and various native fauna. The tour continues to the Moss Gardens and into an amazing natural amphitheatre, combined, these experiences are splendid features of the country's wilderness and beauty. AAA guests will tonight break bread together on one last occasion in celebration of their accomplishments throughout the entire adventure. Once all farewell dinner celebrations subside, it's time to rest with another night in these idyllic surrounds of Carnarvon Gorge Wilderness Lodge.

Day Fourteen: Carnarvon Gorge - Haddon Rig - Essendon, Melbourne

Today, AAA pilots fly guests and guides homeward via our dear friends at either Haddon Rig Station or Bungle Gully Station considering local rainfall activity and availability. Either experience once welcomed as friends lends itself to a very special station visit inclusive of a traditional homestead feast. Time to depart; arriving at Essendon Airport, Melbourne 1730.

AAA Welcome Home Gift

On behalf of all at Rod Dyer's Air Adventure Australia we would like to say welcome home and thank you. Please accept a complimentary collection of images of your adventure. Also, for those guests receiving AAA Club membership an exclusively designed and AAA branded authentic Akubra hat. We look forward to seeing you again on yet another Australian Adventure or Global Expedition itinerary, or start planning the design of your own Tailored Experience.

Wishing all of our AAA guests very happy travels and regards from all at AAA. See you again soon!

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