Tour Highlights

01 |  ARRIVE MT ISA  SAT 6 JULY
Individual travel arrangements to arrive at your accommodation at Mt Isa (no transfer included). This evening, gather at the hotel for a welcome dinner and overview of the program.                
Meals: - - D   Overnight: Ibis Styles Hotel (or similar)

02 | MT ISA - ALEXANDRIA SUN 7 JULY
Travel north-west through rugged hill country to Camooweal, crossing the Georgina River and onto the Barkly Tablelands of the Northern Territory. Continue on to ‘Alexandria‘, the Territory’s largest cattle station and one of 15 part-owned by Northern Australia Pastoral Co. (NAPCO). A 'bore run' through the property will allow you to see the results of about 20 years of well-planned composite breeding. Set up camp in the homestead area this evening.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out on Alexandria

03 | ALEXANDRIA – BRUNETTE DOWNS MON 8 JULY
Break up camp and depart for a morning drive through the Barkly Tablelands to Brunette Downs owned by the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo). An afternoon tour of this iconic property, which today runs mainly Wagyu cattle. Established in 1824, AACo is Australia’s largest integrated cattle and beef producer. It is the oldest continuously operating company in Australia, which serves to improve beef cattle production through responsible natural resource and land use.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out on Brunette Downs

04 | BRUNETTE DOWNS – BEETALOO STATION TUE 9 JULY
After breakfast, break up camp and travel further across the Barkly Tablelands by way of an old stock route; in use since the days of Nat Buchanan, pioneer pastoralist, drover and explorer. Drive through beautiful open tablelands country and through a portion of ‘Newcastle Waters’ Station. Later arrive at ‘Beetaloo’ Station, owned by Barkly Pastoral Co. The aggregation of the company’s Beetaloo and Mungabroom cover more than 1 million hectares and can carry more than 100,000 head of cattle, made possible due to the late John Dunnicliff’s innovation and investment in watering points. Set up camp in the homestead area this evening.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out on Beetaloo

05 | BEETALOO – VRD STATION WED 10 JULY
The morning will be spent with a tour of the station, with the opportunity to view and discuss the watering point innovation, as well as some of the family’s other management decisions, including not castrating male cattle and supplementary feeding of phosphorous. After lunch depart Beetaloo and drive through the Murranji scrub country to Top Springs for a ‘smoko’ break then on to ‘Victoria River Downs’ (VRD) known affectionately as ‘The Big Run’! Overnight camp near the Heli-Muster NT airfield.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out at Heli Muster (VRD)

06 | VRD STATION - TIMBER CREEK THU 11 JULY
This morning will start with (optional) helicopter flights over the property, as well as a presentation on VRD (dingo issues, weeds, live export, relationship with the local Aboriginals and how VRD fits in with the other Heytesbury properties). Continue on for a lunch time visit to the Kidman Springs Research Station, run by the Northern Territory Government. Discuss fire burn methods, fertility studies and work on obtaining tick free cattle. Later continue north through Gregory National Park and Jasper Gorge, the scene of a number of spearing and shootings in the colonial past, to Timber Creek for overnight at the camping ground.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Timber Creek Camp Out

07 | TIMBER CREEK – KUNUNURRA FRI 12 JULY
Break camp then travel along the Victoria Highway travelling west across the State border into the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, then south to Lake Argyle. This country was taken up by the Durack family in the late 19th century and made famous by Mary Durack in her book 'Kings in Grass Castles'. Visit the Argyle Village and the dam infrastructure with its spillways. Have lunch overlooking Lake Argyle (the Ord River Dam), before embarking on a spectacular boat cruise down the Ord River to Kununurra where there will be a two-night stay. Dinner on own account.
Meals: B L - Overnight: Kimberley Grand Resort

08 | KUNUNURRA SAT 13 JULY
Optional early morning scenic flight over the spectacular Bungle Bungle Mountains, the Argyle Diamond Mine operation and the upper Ord River. Ideal opportunity this morning to do some laundry and relax. After lunch, travel through the Ord River Irrigation Area. See many aspects of this unique area (seed production, sandalwood, etc). Later there is time for a cuppa at The Sandalwood Factory. Return to the resort for a second night. Dinner on own account.
Meals: B L - Overnight: Kimberley Grand Resort

09 | KUNUNURRA – WATERLOO STATION SUN 14 JULY
Depart after breakfast and return east to cross the WA / NT border and travel south down the Duncan Road to Waterloo Station. Waterloo, located in the Victoria River Basin, is a 245,000-ha station owned by the Brett family. The afternoon will be spent touring the station, observing the improved Brahman herd, the fertile West Baines River flats and the recently developed yard infrastructure. An insight will be provided into the operations and management of the station. Set up camp in the homestead area this evening.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out on Waterloo Station

10 | WATERLOO—WAVE HILL MON 15 JULY
Depart Waterloo and head south on the Duncan Road to meet the Buntine Highway. Travel east past Inverway and Riveren, cattle stations that have been a part of the Australian pioneering story. Travel through Daguragu (Wattie Creek) to ‘Wave Hill’ Station for our overnight camp. Daguragu is home to the Gurinji people who staged the famous strike and Wave Hill walk-off in 1966. This action later led to the passing of Aboriginal Land Rights Act, granted by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out on Wave Hill Station

11 | WAVE HILL– HAYFIELD TUE 16 JULY
The morning will be spent inspecting ‘Wave Hill’, one of the great cattle stations of Australia. Established by the legendary Nat Buchanan in 1883, Wave Hill was later purchased by Lord Vestey from UK in 1913. The Vestey Group ran Wave Hill until it was sold to the Oxenford family (current owners) in 1992. During the afternoon travel east along the Murranji to arrive at ‘Hayfield-Shenandoah’ Station, one of the minority of cattle stations still being run by owner operator. Camp overnight near the homestead.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out on Hayfield

12 | HAYFIELD – KATHERINE WED 17 JULY
The morning will be spent with the Dyer family on ‘Hayfield-Shenandoah’. After lunch drive north to Katherine for a two-night stay.
Meals: B L - Overnight: Paraway Motel (or similar)

13 | KATHERINE THU 18 JULY
Morning drive to Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) for a spectacular cruise. The remainder of the day’s activities include an orientation tour of Katherine and a visit to observe some live cattle export yards. Then there’s free time to explore Katherine or go to the showgrounds where camp drafting and ring events will be taking place in preparation for the annual agricultural show, which starts tomorrow. Own lunch arrangements. Tonight, a dinner on the lawns of Manbulloo Homestead.
Meals: B - D Overnight: Paraway Motel (or similar)

14 | KATHERINE - JABIRU FRI 19 JULY
This morning is at leisure at the Katherine Show (main show day/ also a public holiday) before departing north to Pine Creek. Drive through the Pastoral College on the way out then travel east through termite bed country to Kakadu National Park. Check into the camping ground for a two-night stay.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out at Jabiru

15 | JABIRU SAT 20 JULY
After breakfast head to Cooinda to join the famous “Yellow Waters” cruise, featuring splendid bird life and crocodiles. Enjoy lunch en route through the park. Opportunity to visit Nourlangie Rock and/or Ubirr Rock to see the Aboriginal rock art. Late afternoon optional scenic flights are available over Kakadu and Arnhem Land.
Meals: B L D Overnight: Camp Out at Jabiru

16 | JABIRU - DARWIN SUN 21 JULY
Depart for Darwin travelling west out of Kakadu National Park. En route visit “Melaleuca Station”, a cattle station bordering Van Diemen’s Gulf on the north coast of the Northern Territory. Inspect extensive marine couch grass development and large herds of Brahman cattle. After lunch return to the Arnhem Highway. Next there is an opportunity to inspect the buffalo research programs at Beatrice Hill Farm - run by the NT Department of Primary Industries. Later in the afternoon continue to Darwin and check into the centrally located hotel for a two-night stay.
Meals: B L - Overnight: Darwin Central Hotel (or similar)

17 | DARWIN MON 22 JULY
Darwin is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia. This morning see some of the local sights. First up visit Crocodylus Park and come face to face with some of the biggest reptiles in the world. Later visit Paspaley Group, the nation’s leading pearl company. There will be a meeting with the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association about development in the north. Depending on scheduling times it may be possible to see the loading of live cattle for shipping export. Enjoy the Farewell Dinner tonight.
Meals: B – D Overnight: Darwin Central Hotel (or similar)

18 | DARWIN – HOME TUE 23 JULY
Tour ends after breakfast. Own arrangements home or onward travel. Why not consider some more time in Darwin to relax and explore other parts of the NT.

PER PERSON, DOUBLE - from $8,355.00 (Land only)

Single Occupancy - add $620.00
Plus Gov't Taxes
INITIAL DEPOSIT - $2,000.00 at time of booking
FINAL PAYMENT due prior to April 06, 2019

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