DAY 1 CAIRNS TO THE DAINTREE RAINFOREST Your journey across Australia begins with a transfer from the International/Domestic airport terminal or your Cairns hotel, to your aircraft ready and waiting on the tarmac at the Cairns airport. Today we will depart Cairns at 1030am on track for your first destination - the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest. After flying low level over the northern beaches of Cairns, Port Douglas and the Daintree River, we will land on a bush airstrip in the middle of the World Heritage Rainforest. Upon our arrival you will be transferred to your rainforest lodge.
Overnight at the Rainforest Lodge.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Darwin is the end of the journey for some and the beginning for others. The itinerary for passengers traveling from Darwin to Cairns is identical to the above except done in reverse. Don't forget if you have us privately chartered you can make what ever changes to the itinerary you require. You are welcome to ask us for advice on any exciting and out of the way places we think you should visit.
Flight Connections and Accommodation
Daintree Air can help with your travel arrangements and accommodation in Cairns or Darwin both before and after your Journey Across The Top Of Australia. Both Cairns and Darwin are international airports with most major Airlines suppling international flights from both airports.
What To Bring
Daintree Air Services suggest that clients booked on the Journey Across the Top of Australia bring:
One pair of good hiking boots, four pairs of socks,1 pair of sandals or joggers for the beach, 3 pairs of shorts, 3 light shirts, 3 light T shirts,1 pair of jogging shorts,1 pair of good long dress trousers and a shirt to match, sun screen, sun glasses, hat, 1 jumper or pull over, 1 pair of jeans or similar, 1 water proof watch,1 towel, camera and plenty of film, swimming gear and 1 roll on insect repellent.
Dress in the outback is very casual, the shorts and shirts you bring are worn on almost all occasions - during the day, when touring and even for dinner in most places. We allow each passenger to bring 16 kilograms of luggage on a shared charter, baggage limits can be extended for private charters. Most of our accommodation has clothes washing and drying facilities.
The Aircraft
We vary the aircraft type with the operation, group size and customer requests. All passengers will have a window seat on any aircraft we take.
Group Size
The tour Across the Top of Australia is operated on a share charter with between 4 and 8 passengers. We can cater for both larger and smaller groups on a private charter.
Meals
We have a wonderful selection of food available Across The Top of Australia. We have a marvelous supply of fresh seafood, the World famous Kimberley beef and we also boast a great selection of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables. We have made sure you will have plenty of time to explore and sample many of the great restaurants, at your own leisure during your tour Across The Top of Australia. We also cater for vegetarians and clients with allergies or special dietary requirements.
Climate
The best months to visit the North of Australia are June, July, August, September and October - this is during our winter or "dry" season. The nights vary in temperature, 15 degrees Celsius is about average, the days are from 22 degrees by the coast to 32 degrees inland.
Accommodation
Your accommodation is chosen for the close proximity to the various sights, customer requirements and budget.
Travel Insurance
Daintree Air Services carry standard Civil Aviation Carriers Liability insurance, insurance for National and Marine Parks is also covered. However when traveling in remote parts of the world we strongly recommend you take personal travel insurance.
What is included in the price?
All government taxes, National and Marine park fees, most meals, all flights, all airport/hotel transfers, all 4WD tours, boat tours and private guides, car hire and accommodation is included.
TOTAL COST: This is a suggested itinerary - tour length, activities and accommodation can all be modified according to customer requirements and/or budget. Please contact Daintree Air for all enquiries and a preliminary quote.
Cairns to Broome to Darwin
Upon completion of the tour passengers have the option of returning to Cairns with Daintree Air Services, or depart Darwin with a Domestic or International airline.
DAY 12 KAKADU Today we join a tour to visit the famous Twin Falls, they are called the Twin Falls because of the two cascades of water that plunge into a pool lined with a white, sandy beach. The falls themselves are only accessible through a magnificent gorge which changes color with the sun, which we will witness throughout the days drive. Kakadu is a haven for birds and wildlife, one third of Australia's native bird life can be found here - for those looking for some special photos of the Australian wildlife, it does not get any better than this. We return to Cooinda late in the afternoon, for a good old Australian BBQ dinner.
Overnight in Cooinda
DAY 11 FARAWAY BAY TO KALUMBARU TO KAKADU Departing at 10am we fly through the Kimberley's to Kalumbaru. There are many Bradshaw Rock art sites in the Kalumbaru area. Kalumbaru also boasts a magnificent museum bursting with artifacts which have been found in the area over the last two hundred years. The art and slate etchings found in Kalumbaru are among some of the most unique in Australia. A local guide will take us to several rock art sites before we depart for Cooinda - in Kakadu. We arrive in Cooinda just in time for the sunset cruise on the Yellow Waters.
Overnight Cooinda
DAY 10 FARAWAY BAY The sounds of the local wildlife and the smell of breakfast cooking in the wide open spaces of the northern Kimberleys is enough to encourage you out of your cabin. After breakfast there will be time to visit some small caves to view Bradshaw Artwork before boarding our boat which will take us to the King George waterfall. The King George River plunges 100 metres over a sandstone cliff into the tidal waters of the Timor Sea. Tonight you are treated to another superb dinner before retiring to your bush cabin, no visit to the north west of Australia is complete without a visit to this unique bush camp.
Overnight Faraway Bay.
DAY 7 BUNGLE BUNGLES TO BROOME Today we venture out into a landscape of beehive-shaped sandstone formations, to visit the deep Piccininny Gorge and palm tree flanked Echinda Chasm. Known to local Aboriginals as Purnululu National Park, the Bungle Bungles are one of Australia's most important geographical icons and are a must see destination. The huge rock formations and stands of ancient palms have been an inspiration to artists and photographers since the discovery of the Bungle Bungles in 1982. After the tour we will depart for Broome.
Overnight in a Broome Hotel.
DAY 2 WORLD HERITAGE RAINFOREST TO LIZARD ISLAND Departing the rainforest at 1030am we will continue along the east coast of Cape York, flying over rainforests, wetlands, islands, sand cays and reefs on track to Lizard Island. Once on Lizard you can decide if you would prefer to relax on one of the beaches, go snorkeling, take a glass bottom boat tour, scuba dive the very best of The Great Barrier Reef or perhaps try your hand at deep sea fishing (Marlin Season from October to November) - today is yours to enjoy at your own leisure. If you are looking forward to some solitude and time alone, there are twenty three beaches on Lizard Island, many of which you are very unlikely to find another person. Tonight you will stay at the 5 star Lizard Island Lodge.
Overnight at the Lizard Island Lodge.
Ground transport, airfares, accommodation, snorkel gear, motorized dinghies, paddle skis, sail boards, glass bottom boats tours and 3 meals daily are included.
Additional activities such as marlin fishing or scuba diving are not included, however we can pre book these activities at an additional cost.
DAY 13 KAKADU TO DARWIN Upon departure to Darwin we will fly low level over the magnifecent waterfalls and wetlands of Kakadu - we will see the Jim Jim falls and the Twin Falls. When we arrive in the Capital of the Northern Territory - Darwin - we will transport you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is yours to explore the sights of Australia's northern most city. Darwin is young and vibrant with a mixture of many cultures. The city boasts some excellent museums and a wide selection of restaurants offering a variety of exciting cuisine from across Asia and Australia. There are many galleries throughout the city offering Aboriginal Art from all over the Northern Territory, Arnhem Land and Western Australia. You also have the opportunity to pick up some bargains and local artifacts from the city markets. There is never a dull moment in tropical Darwin. This is the end of your journey across the top of Australia.
Overnight Darwin hotel
Copyright 2014 Daintree Air Services. All rights reserved.
DAY 3 LIZARD ISLAND KARUMBA Today we say good bye to the Great Barrier Reef as we depart Lizard Island late in the afternoon. There is ample opportunity to photograph the changing landscape of the Cape York Peninsula as we fly low level over rainforests, wetlands and savannah country to Karumba - the gateway to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Upon our arrival in Karumba we will feast on a fresh seafood dinner, at the aptly named Sunset Hotel, as we watch the magnificent sunset for which Karumba is famous for. Karumba is the largest prawn breeding ground in the world.
Overnight at Karumba Lodge.
DAY 4 KARUMBA TO LAWN HILL Departing Karumba at 830am, today's flight takes us deep into the gulf savannah country to Lawn Hill National Park. Lawn Hill National Park is a must see destination in North Queensland, it boasts two magnificent gorges full of emerald green waters, abundant wildlife and lush vegetation. We will spend the day canoeing, bush walking and enjoying the outback, later in the day we
will enjoy a bbq dinner under the outback stars.
Overnight Lawn Hill accommodation.
DAY 5 LAWN HILL TO PUNGALINA Departing Lawn Hill after a wholesome outback breakfast, we cross the Queensland/Northern Territory border on track for Pungalina bush camp. Pungalina is an idyllic outback oasis in the lower part of the Gulf of Carpentaria, peaceful and serene it boast wonderful wetlands, rivers, wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.
Overnight Pungalina bush camp.
DAY 6 PUNGALINA TO THE BUNGLE BUNGLES Today we leave the Northern Territory for Australia's largest state - Western Australia. We will fly direct to the Bungle Bungles - the Bungle Bungles are unique, bee hive like rock formations located in the famous Kimberley Region. A local guide will meet us at the airport and take us to our accommodation at the Kimberley bush camp.
DAY 9 BROOME TO DERBY TO FARAWAY BAY Today we depart Broome at 7am for Derby. Derby has the largest tidal movements in Australia, at certain times of the year the tides can move up and down in excess of 11 meters. We will be met in Derby by a private coach which will take us for a tour of the Royal Flying Doctor base and the school of the air - both unique Australian organizations servicing the remote outback regions. We will also visit the famous "prison boab tree", boab trees are large hollow trees native to the Kimberley, and during early settlement larger trees were actually used to jail prisoners. After lunch at Derby we will see some stunning scenery as we fly over the Horizontal waterfalls, the Mitchell Plateau waterfalls and Cape Leveque on the way to Faraway Bay. We arrive just in time for a sumptuous dinner at the open air restaurant - the views looking out over the Timor Sea are simply fabulous.
Overnight Faraway Bay.
DAY 8 FREE DAY BROOME Broome is one of Australia's foremost pearl growing areas, there are many pearl showrooms and retail shops throughout Broome. Chinatown is a buzz of activity and boasts the highest concentration of pearl outlets. There are several art gallery's specializing in the local indigenous artwork scattered among the pearl outlets, there are also many interesting restaurants specializing in the exotic flavors of Broome. You have a full day in Broome to replenish the batteries in your cameras and enjoy some local shopping before an (optional) hot air balloon ride high above the Kimberley's. An optional camel ride is also available along Cable beach before dinner.
Overnight in a Cable Beach Hotel.
