AOPA Flying Events Air Safari 2019 Destination The Kimberleys 14 Night Flying Adventure to the Most Remote and Spectacular Region of Australia

ENJOY MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPES AND WATERFALLS WHILE STAYING AT ICONIC CATTLE STATIONS AND A WORKING PEARL FARM! AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Key Contacts

Air Safari Lead Chris Muller [email protected] 0412 129 162

Air Safari Head Office Support George Higgins [email protected] 0422 157 991 AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Faraway Bay King George Falls Katherine Kalumburu (Tindal) (2 nights)

Mitchell Falls (2 nights) Mount Wyndham Buccaneer Trafalgar Archipelago Cockatoo Mount Hann Island Raft Kununurra Point Station (3 nights) El Questro Station (2 nights) Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm Bellburn Derby (2 nights) (Bungle Bungles)

Fitzroy Crossing Halls Creek AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Date Routing Distance Stops (nm) 10-Aug-19 Arrive YPTN

11-Aug-19 Rest Day

12-Aug-19 YPTN-YPKU-Home Valley 277 2 Station 13-Aug-19 Rest Day 14-Aug-19 Home Valley Station-YBEB 113 1

15-Aug-19 YBEB-YHLC-YDBY 291 2

16-Aug-19 YDBY-Raft Point-Cockatoo 181 1 Island-YCYG 17-Aug-19 Rest Day 18-Aug-19 YCYG-YDBY-YDRD 253 2

19-Aug-19 Day Trip 20-Aug-19 YDRD-YMIP-Mount 203 2 Trafalgar-Mount Hann-YDRD 21-Aug-19 YDRD-YWYM-YPKU-YEQO 185 2 22-Aug-19 Rest Day 23-Aug-19 YEQO-YPKU 45 1

24-Aug-19 YPKU-YPTN 226 1

Totals 1,774 14

Day Trip #1 YDRD-King George Falls- 237 2 YFWY-YDRD Day Trip #2 YDRD-King George Falls- 244 2 YKAL-YDRD AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Pricing Information

Single Occupancy Twin / Double Twin / Double Twin / Double Least Expensive Mid Range Most Expensive $3,300 $1,900 $2,200 $2,400

Divers Pearling Rainforest Safari Bayview Safari Deluxe Bayview (1) Shack Tent Tent Safari Tent

(2) Station Tent Station Tent Garden Bungalow Riverside Bungalow

All prices are per person Accommodation costs are for 14 nights and include one dinner and two breakfasts. Accommodation will vary at the following Locations which accounts for the price difference: (1) Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (2) El Questro

There are also two other accommodation options: 18 and 19 Aug – Faraway Bay Resort which is $1,000 per person per night for a minimum two nights. Included in this cost is the King George Falls Cruise 19 August – Kalumburu Mission Convent which has 7 rooms available with shared facilities. An evening meal can be purchased from the mission store. There will be no change in pricing if opting to stay at Kalumburu. AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Pricing Information (Continued)

Please refer the tours and activity list. As a guide if you opted to do all the of the most likely popular tours this will total about $1,790 per person. This includes the helicopter transfers between Mitchell Plateau airfield and Mitchell Falls. Add $370 if opting for the King George Falls Cruise instead of Kalumburu, and $240 for the Barramundi Boat Fishing at Home Valley Station.

At Katherine, Derby and Kununurra you will be required to make your arrangements for transportation between the airport and accommodation. The following table is a list taxi services available at those destinations along with an estimated fare.

Company Phone One way airport fare Katherine – Katherine Taxis (08) 8972 1777 $40

Derby - Derby Taxi Service (08) 9191 1434 $30 (normal) to $45 (maxi) Kununurra – Bert’s Taxi Service 0408 938 343 $20

Total costs per person will vary based on the accommodation requested and tours and activities choices. All prices include Cygnet Bay transfers, Purnululu National Park Fee, Uunguu Visitor Pass (UVP) required for Mitchell Falls and the El Questro Visitor Pass.

Kimberley Air Safari participants will be advised their total cost during June with payment expected early July.

Draft AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Possible Routes ex Sydney to / from Kimberleys Bankstown to Katherine Day Destination Routing Distance Katherine 1 Charleville YSBK-YWLG-YBCV 513

Adels Grove 2 Mount Isa YBCV-YLRE-YBMA 524

Mount Isa 3 Katherine YBMA-YALG-YPTN 564

Longreach Totals (nautical miles) 1,601

Charleville

Walgett

Bankstown

Kununurra to Bankstown Kununurra Day Destination Routing Distance

Hooker Creek 1 Alice Springs YPKU-YHOO-YBAS 565

2 Arkaroola YBAS-YOOD-YBCN 512

Alice Springs 3 Bankstown YBCN-YBHI-YFBS-YSBK 636

Totals (nautical miles) 1,713 Oodnadatta

Arkaroola Broken Hill Forbes Bankstown AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Itinerary Saturday 10 to Saturday 24 August DAY ONE - Saturday 10 August

Katherine On the very first day we meet in Katherine, where the outback meets the tropics.

Those coming in from Mount Isa may require a fuel stop. We suggest the glorious Adels Grove (YALG) in Boodjamulla National Park or the mining town of Tennant Creek (YTNK). From Alice Springs, Katherine is 565nm direct and 575nm with a Tennant Creek fuel stop.

On arriving Tindal, call 08 8972 1777 for your taxi, which will cost around $40. Tonight’s dinner is at Stormy’s Bar and Bistro, situated in Nitmiluk Gorge the Beagle Motor Inns restaurant. DAY THREE - Monday 12 August

Today the group will split: a third will head to DAY TWO - Sunday 11 August the Bungle Bungles and the remainder to Home Valley Station. It’s an early departure for Today’s feature activity is Nabilil Dreaming those going to the World Heritage listed Sunset Dinner Cruise. Enjoy a candle-lit three Bungle Bungles, in order to make the course dinner against the magnificent Cathederal Gorge Guided Walk at 10:30 am. backdrop of the Nitmiluk Gorge. Departure for Fortunately, we’ll be taking advantage of the the cruise 3:30pm from the motel. border crossing into Western, where we will gain 1:30 due to change in time zones. Take the morning and early afternoon to explore the town of Katherine. Explore the rich For those travelling to the iconic Home Valley culture of the Katherine Museum, Katherine Station, departure can be more leisurely, with School of the Air – where students receive a possible fuel stop on the way at Kununurra. their education by radio – and visit Top Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery.

AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Monday 12 August (Continued) DAY FOUR - Tuesday 13 August Home Valley Station is located close to the mighty Pentecost River, at the foot of the majestic Cockburn Range.

The two night stay provides an opportunity to enjoy the ultimate outback experience, exploring the landscape on one of the five self- guided walking trails that starts from the station homestead. For fishermen (and women) there is also the option of a fishing charter with a fine chance the catch of the day being a barramundi. Waiting for the “Wet”

Spectacular Landscape Home Valley Station Sunset of Home Valley Station

Two activities are scheduled for today: a Depart Arrive Track Dist Station History Tour, which starts late morning (Mag) (nm) and goes for around three hours, and the Katherine Kununurra 247 226 Cockburn Range Sunset Tour, where you will be (YPTN) (YPKU) wowed by the magic of a Kimberley’s sunset Kununurra Home Valley 271 51 along with a glass of wine and beer. (YPKU) Station

Bungle Bungles Group These activities can be joined by the Bungle Bungles group who will arrive in the morning Depart Arrive Track Dist for their two night stay at Home Valley Station. (Mag) (nm) Bungle Bungles Group Katherine Bellburn (YBEB) 229 297 (YPTN) Depart Arrive Track Dist (Mag) (nm) Bellburn Home Valley 344 113 (YBEB) Station AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

DAY FIVE - Wednesday 14 August Aircraft leaving Home Valley Station that morning also have the option of back tracking Depart Arrive Track Dist and getting fuel at Kununurra. (Mag) (nm)

Home Valley Bellburn (YBEB) 164 113 This spectacular route offers the opportunity Station for some aerial sight seeing of the Purnululu The Home Valley Station group travel down to National Park. With the afternoon spent sight- the Bungle Bungles today, while those who seeing in Derby, you can explore the Derby arrived yesterday stay another night. The Wharf / Jetty, Wharfinger’s House Museum, group will arrive in time for the Cathedral Mowanjum Art Gallery and Norval Gallery, Old Gorge and Domes Guided Walk, which Derby Jail and the Boab Prison Tree. A group includes a walk along the sandy bed of dinner that night has been arranged at Neaps Piccaninny Creek, which flows only in the wet Bistro. season.

The walk starts around 10:30 am, and will bring the group closer to the Bungle Bungle Range, noted for its distinctive striped beehive domes.

The Bungle Bungles - known officially as the Purnululu National Park - is a recent addition as an adventure tourism destination, “discovered” by a film crew in 1983. Aerial View of Purnululu National Park It is one of the only nineteen heritage listed locations in Australia. Depart Arrive Track Dist (Mag) (nm)

Bellburn Halls Creek 219 55 (YBEB) (YHLC) Halls Creek Derby (YDBY) 279 236 (YHLC)

Cathedral Gorge Purnululu National Park DAY SIX - Thursday 15 August Today both groups become one again when they head to Derby for the night. Halls Creek has fuel for those aircraft requiring a top up. Boab Prison Tree

AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

DAY SEVEN - Friday 16 August

Depart Arrive Track Dist (Mag) (nm) Derby (YDBY) Raft Point 029 91 Raft Point Cockatoo Island 266 49 Cockatoo Cygnet Bay 238 41 Island Pearl Farm The sixth day of the safari is devoted to some spectacular aerial sight seeing. We will fly to Cockatoo Island and on to Cygnet Bay Pearl Buccaneer Archipelago Farm at half tide, when the greatest volume of water passes through the horizontal falls. DAY EIGHT - Saturday 17 August Following this, we will fly over the Buccaneer Saturday is non-flying day. Archipelago, a beautiful area consisting of some 800 to 1,000 rocky islands with small After breakfast is a the Borrgoron Coast to embayments and secluded white sandy Creek Tour, guided by Terry Hunter, a Bardi beaches. fourth generation Pearler. We will explore the

tidal flats, forage for oysters and provide On arrival at Cygnet Bay, you will be collected information on traditional coastal hunting from the airstrip. The Pearl Farm Tour techniques. commences around 3:00pm and is followed by a Pearl Grading Session, presenting the In the afternoon we are invited to experience opportunity to buy some local pearls. the exhilaration of a twelve seater Rib with

twin 250HP outboard engines. The highlight of That evening, at the Cygnet Bay lookout, enjoy this tour is the emergence of a reef with a a seafood BBQ while the full moon rises across cascading waterfall on outgoing tides. the exposed tidal flats, creating the impression of a staircase leading to the moon.

Horizontal Falls Waterfall Reef AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

DAY NINE - Sunday 18 August as we are required to be at the Faraway Bay airstrip by 8am, returning by 4pm, which will Depart Arrive Track Dist provide sufficient time to return to Drysdale (Mag) (nm) River Station before last light around 6:30 pm. Cygnet Bay Derby (YDBY) 145 67 Lunch will be included on the cruise. Pearl Farm Derby (YDBY) Dyrsdale River 056 186 Station (YDRD) Leaving the Dampier Peninsular today involves flying to Drysdale River Station for a stay of up to three nights. For the keen, prior to departure, around 6am there is the option of an additional cruise to experience the power of the world’s largest tropical tides, in Escape Passage, cruising amongst the giant whirlpools and standing tidal waves. King George Falls We plan to arrive at Drysdale River early afternoon. This may involve a drop into Derby Depart Arrive Track Dist for fuel along the way, highly recommended as (Mag) (nm) any fuel purchased for the next few days will Dyrsdale River King George 026 114 be very expensive. We will spend the Station Falls afternoon relaxing in preparation for a couple (YDRD) of substantial day trips. King George Faraway Bay 292 9 Falls Faraway Bay Dyrsdale River 202 114 Station (YDRD)

Day Trip 2

We will arrive at Kalumburu (YKAL) by around 10 am., with the opportunity for a detour to overfly King George Falls.

Cruising Giant Tides in Escape Passage On arrival, the group will be transported in a DAY TEN - Monday 19 August convoy of troopies for a guided tour of some There are two day trip options today, travelling of the oldest Aboriginal Rock Art in Australia. to some of the most remote places in Scientists have dated this rock art back at Australia. least 50,000 years. After the tour it is back in the troopies for a tour of the mission. Lunch Day Trip 1 will be provided on the grounds of the To the very aptly named Faraway bay, a staging mission. The mission also has a museum point for the boat cruise to the majestic King which can be visited before leaving for the George Falls. An early start is required here, airport, which was a significant operational base during world war 2. AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Monday 19 August (Continued) Included in this trip will be an orbit of the falls. Avgas note: given this very remote location,

AvGas currently around $5.00 per litre. The The scenic opportunities will continue on the only other place to get Avgas locally is flight home, with one possible route to track Drysdale River where essentially it needs to be to Mount Trafalgar over Prince Frederick purchased by the drum. Harbour and follow the

until Mount Hann before ending back at

Depart Arrive Track Dist Drysdale River Station. Overall it will be a day (Mag) (nm) of truly spectacular sight-seeing! Dyrsdale River King George 026 114 Station Falls (YDRD) King George Kalumburu 247 43 Falls (YKAL) Kalumburu Dyrsdale River 187 87 (YKAL) Station (YDRD)

Mitchell Falls

Kalumburu Aboriginal Rock Art DAY ELEVEN - Tuesday 20 August Another fairly early start today for the visit to Mitchell Falls, one of the Kimberleys’ iconic water falls. The first aircraft will arrive just before 9:00 am for a relay of Helispirit Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter trips from the Mitchell Mount Trafalgar Plateau airfield (YMIP) to the Mitchell Falls Campground. Depart Arrive Track Dist (Mag) (nm) From the camp ground, there is a 4.5 km hike Dyrsdale River Mitchell Plateau 321 67 to the head of the falls, upon which you will Station (YDRD) Airstrip (YMIP) pass the Little and Big Mertens Falls as well as YMIP Mt Trafalgar 231 46 some Aboriginal Rock Art. The helicopter relay Mt Trafalgar Mount Hann 126 55 will start again for the return back after lunch. Mount Hann YDRD 075 35

AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

DAY TWELVE - Wednesday 21 August Depart Arrive Track Dist (Mag) (nm) Dyrsdale River Wyndham 081 104 Station (YWYM) (YDRD) Wyndham Kununurra 113 36 (YWYM) (YPKU) Kununurra El Questro 250 45 (YPKU) (YEQO) Today is a relaxing day of flying en route to the iconic El Questro station, including a fuel Zebedee Springs detour to Kununurra, where Avgas prices will likely be significantly cheaper than the past few days.

After settling in on arrival, a leisurely stroll can be conducted from the station following the Pentecost River, leading you to a collection of safe, shallow swimming holes. The Steakhouse Restaurant and The Swinging Arm Bar and Café offer plenty of options for lunch, dinner and afternoon drinks.

Chamberlain Gorge DAY FOURTEEN - Friday 23 August The final night of the Kimberley Air Safari will be spent in Kununurra. The short flight from El Questro provides plenty of time for some shopping and sightseeing, or if required an oil change for your aircraft. The Barra Shack or Gulliver’s Tavern will most likely be the venue for the final group dinner.

Depart Arrive Track Dist El Questro Station (Mag) (nm) El Questro Kununurra 70 45 DAY THIRTEEN - Thursday 22 August (YEQO) (YPKU) Today’s highlight is the full day Emma Gorge Tour, which starts with a guided walk up Emma From Saturday 24 August Gorge, a soak in Zebedee Springs, ‘Beef or Today, after farewells, many aircraft will head Barra’ lunch at The Steakhouse followed by an off in different directions to return home. afternoon Chamberlain Gorge Cruise. AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Accommodation Date Destination Accommodation Web Site Phone

Sat Aug 10 Katherine Beagle Motor Inn https://beaglemotorinn.c (08) 8972 3998 Sun Aug 11 - Standard Double om - Deluxe Twin Mon Aug Home Valley Guest House or https://www.hvstation.co (08) 9161 4322 12 Station Grass Castle m.au Tue Aug 13 Note (1) Wed Aug 14 Bellburn Bungle Bungle https://www.bunglebungl (08) 9168 2213 Savannah Lodge esavannahlodge.com.au Note (2) Thu Aug 15 Derby Derby Lodge http://www.derbylodge.c (08) 9193 2924 om.au Fri Aug 16 Cygnet Bay Rainforest Safari https://www.cygnetbaype (08) 9192 4283 Sat Aug 17 Tent arls.com.au Bayview Safari Tent Family Safari Tent Deluxe Bayview Safari Tent Skippers Pearlers Shack Note (3) Stone Pearlers Shack Note (3) Divers Pearlers Shack Note (3) Sun Aug 18 Drysdale Travellers Rest Block http://www.drysdaleriver. (08) 9161 4326 Mon Aug River Station com.au 19 Tue Aug 20 Wed Aug 21 El Questro Station Tent https://www.elquestro.co (08) 9169 1777 Thu Aug 22 Station Garden Bungalow m.au Riverside Bungalow Fri Aug 23 Kununurra Kimberley Croc https://kimberleycrocmot (08) 9168 1411 Motel el.com.au Notes: (1) Includes breakfast (2) includes dinner and breakfast (3) Shared Bathroom AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Activities

Date Location Start Durati Details Cost on Sun Aug Katherine 09:00 4.0 * Nabilil Dreaming Sunset Cruise $190 14 hours Tue Aug Home Valley 09:00 or 3.5 Barramundi Boat Fishing $240 13 Station 13:00 hours Tue Aug Home Valley 09:00 or 3.0 * HV8 Station History Tour $100 13 Station 13:00 hours

Tue Aug Home Valley 17:00 2.0 * Cockburn Range Sunset Tour $100 13 Station hours Wed Aug Bungle Bungles 10:00 4.0 * Cathedral Gorge Guided Tour $220 14 hours Fri Aug 16 Cygnet Bay Pearl 14:30 1.0 * Pearl Farm Tour $35 Farm hours Fri Aug 16 Cygnet Bay Pearl 15:30 1.0 Pearl Grading Session $30 Farm hours Sat Aug Cygnet Bay Pearl 09:00 2.0 * Borrgoron Coast to Creek tour $65 17 Farm hours with Terry Hunter Sat Aug Cygnet Bay Pearl 15:30 2.0 * Waterfall Reef Sea Safari $200 17 Farm hours Sun Aug Cygnet Bay Pearl 06:00 2.0 Giant Tides Sea Safari $100 18 Farm hours Mon Aug Faraway Bay 08:00 8.0 Airfield transfers and boat cruise $550 19 hours to King George Falls, including lunch - maximum of 12 places Mon Aug Kalumburu 10:00 5.0 * Guided Aboriginal Rock Art and $180 19 hours Mission Tour, Mission Museum entrance and Lunch Tue Aug Mitchell Falls 08:00 7:00 * Helicopter transfers to start of $500 20 hours walk and return from falls Thu Aug El Questro 09:00 8:00 * Emma Gorge and Zebedee $200 22 hours Springs, along with ‘Beef and Barra’ lunch followed by an afternoon Chamberlain Gorge Cruise Totals (Likely Most Popular) $1,790

* Likely Most Popular AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Kimberley Airfields

Name ICAO Fuel Provider Phone Payment Self Landing Code Method Service Fee Katherine YPTN Viva Energy 0467 778 606 Visa or Yes Yes Mastercard Kununurra YPKU Kimberley Aviation 08 9168 1210 Viva Carnet, No Yes Refuellers Visa or Mastercard Air BP 08 9168 1810 Air BP Carnet, No Visa or Mastercard Home Valley No Station Bellburn YBEB No

Halls Creek YHLC Air BP 0437 170 638 Air BP Carnet Yes Yes

Derby YDBY Air BP 0456 051 988 Air BP Carnet, Yes Yes Visa or Mastercard Dampier YCYG No Peninsular / Cygnet Bay Drysdale YDRD Drysdale River 08 9161 4326 Pre Order No No River Station Drums Faraway Bay YFWY No

Kalumburu YKAL Kalumburu 08 9161 4333 Visa or No Mission Mastercard Mitchell YMIP No Plateau El Questro YEQO No AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Maintenance Organizations

Organisation Location Web Site Phone

Beal Aircraft Maintenance Dubbo (02) 6884 1000

Western Qld Air Charleville (07) 4654 2074 Maintenance Longreach Aircraft Longreach (07) 4658 2211 Maintenance Pty Ltd Marker Aviation Services Pty Mount Isa www.markeraviation.com.au (07) 4743 5306 Ltd Coomalie Air Maintenance Batchelor www.coomalieair.com.au (08) 8976 0080 Pty Ltd Katherine Aircraft Katherine (08) 8971 1243 Maintenance Services Shoal Air Kununurra www.shoalair.com (08) 9148 2600

Broome Air Maintenance Broome www.broomeairmaintenanc (08) 9192 8064 e.com.au Alice Aircraft Maintenance Alice Springs www.ntas.com.au/aircraft- (08) 8953 1444 and Service (Northern maintenance Territory Air Services) Consolidated Aviation Broken Hill www.consolidatedaviation.c (08) 8088 4307 om.au AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys Links https://www.visitkatherine.com.au http://www.flyingtheoutback.com.au/destination/home-valley-station https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/bungle-bungles.html https://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/purnululu http://www.derbytourism.com.au/local-attractions http://www.derbytourism.com.au/about-the-area/buccaneer-archipelago https://www.pearlsofaustralia.com.au http://www.kalumburu.org/ https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/mitchell-falls.html https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/gibb-river-road.html https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/mt-elizabeth-station.html http://www.ellenbraestation.com.au/Welcome.html http://www.australianwildlife.org/mornington-wilderness-camp.aspx https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/kununurra-tourist-attractions.html AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Notes AOPA Australia Air Safari 2019 – Kimberleys

Notes Draft