This holiday is limited to 26 passengers.

Our aircraft is the spacious DC3 Air Nostalgia, the perfect plane for low flying at the slow air speed of 120 knots (222 kms) per hour – great “close up” viewing of the amazing scenery of the Top End and Kimberley. Comfort plus, extra generous leg room, toilet equipped, excellent galley for refreshments, complimentary drinks and snacks.

DARWIN TO BROOME

Day 1 (D) HOME, DARWIN

Today passengers from around Australia fly into Darwin to join the AAH Kimberley & Top End holiday. Your AAH Tour Manager will meet you at the airport and arrange transfers from Darwin Airport to our accommodation for three nights, the centrally located Mirambeena Resort. Time to settle in, maybe enjoy a swim or relax around the pool prior to meeting your fellow passengers for pre-dinner welcome drinks and dinner together.

Day 2 (B,L,D) BATHURST ISLAND

Our first major highlight as today we fly (a short flight of around 30 minutes) to nearby Bathurst Island in the Tiwi Island group and home of the Nguiu Aboriginal Community. Our day includes visits to the Museum with its Dreamtime traditional art, the early Mission precinct and unique Tiwi style church. We also visit the successful art and craft centre, enjoy billy tea and damper with Tiwi weaving ladies, experience a smoking ceremony to “bless the visitors” and enjoy a scenic drive through the island wilderness to a picturesque lookout and Tiwi burial site. Learn a little of the rituals and Pukamani Poles as well as bush tucker and natural fibres and dyes. A fascinating day on this tiny northern island.

Day 3 (B,L,D) DARWIN

A day in and around Darwin. A tour of the town, Stokes Wharf and the East Point area, plus a visit to the outstanding and modern Parliament House and the remains of the old Christ Church Cathedral ruined by cyclone Tracy (and the new cathedral building). We visit the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the Cyclone Tracy Exhibition, graphic depictions of the day Darwin skyline and buildings were changed forever. Some free time to explor or relax prior to a spectacular Sunset Dinner Cruise on board the Alfred Nobel, a beautiful 30 metre spotted gum schooner.

Day 4 (B,L,D) DARWIN, KAKADU NATIONAL PARK, YELLOW WATER CRUISE, KATHERINE

This morning our flight of approximately one hour takes us from Darwin over Kakadu National Park to Cooinda, located within the park. Following lunch at Gagudju Lodge we enjoy the second cruise of our holiday, the famous Yellow Water Cruise. Yellow Water wetlands is home to brolga, several kingfisher species, jabiru and fresh and salt water crocodiles. The area teems with wildlife, however sightings of any particular species are never guaranteed. Cruise in this natural habitat, enjoy an informative commentary as we cruise. Later we continue from Cooinda to Katherine, another flight of around one hour. Home for two nights is Knotts Crossing Resort or All Seasons Resort.

Day 5 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, NITMILUK GORGE CRUISE

A day in Katherine featuring the Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise on part of the Katherine River, a highlight of our holiday. We cruise in two of the thirteen gorges which wind through 12 kms with sheer rock faces up to 70 metres high with stunning wind and water carved sandstone sculptures. The film Jedda featured this area. The gorges are located in Katherine Gorge National Park, part of Jawoyn country, whose tradition says that Bolong created the gorges. Lunch at the Visitor Centre and display. Later we explore other highlights of the area.

Day 6 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, BULLO RIVER STATION, KUNUNURRA

We take to the air this morning for a flight of one and a half hours to Bullo River Station, established by Charles and Sara Henderson in the 1950’s, made famous by the late Sara Henderson and now operated by her daughter Marlee Ranacher and her husband Franz. We land adjacent to the homestead, just in time for country morning tea. Our stay includes a tour of part of the station, homestead lunch and a 12 minute scenic helicopter flight which includes the spectacular Bullo and Victoria Rivers and wetland lake. This day will live long in your memory. Later in the afternoon our DC3 flight resumes. Just a short flight (under one hour) to the Kimberley town of Kununurra. Home for two nights at the Kununurra Country Club.

Day 7 (B,L,D) HIDDEN VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, ARGYLE TOURIST VILLAGE, DURACK HOMESTEAD, ORD RIVER CRUISE

This morning we visit Hidden Valley (Mirima) National Park. A short walk shows us magnificent 300 million year old sandstone formations, in parts quite similar in form to the Bungle Bungles. Our coach takes us to Argyle Tourist Village and the historic Durack Homestead, moved and rebuilt on its present site when Lake Argyle was created. The Durack family story is told in the book Kings in Grass Castles, fascinating reading about the early development of the northern cattle stations stretching across massive tracts of Australia. Lake Argyle Dam, Australia’s second largest dam (after Lake Pedde in Tasmania) and completed in 1972, contains over 70 islands which were mountain peaks prior to the filling of the dam. We drive across the dam wall to another highlight, 55 kilometres of scenic cruising on the Ord River as we return to Kununurra.

Day 8 (B,L,D) KUNUNURRA, BUNGLE BUNGLE, HALLS CREEK

Today we fly from Kununurra over the massive open cut Argyle Diamond Mine and the 800 square kilometre Lake Argyle, (no shortage of water here) with its 70 islands, on route to the famous Bungle Bungle, part of Purnululu National Park, another highlight of our holiday. Time to fly “low and slow” as we fly several circuits for maximum viewing of this unique geological feature, multi-striped dome shaped formations. The dark layers of the sediment contain more clay, retain more moisture and support dark grey cyanobacteria, which colours the rock and prevents erosion, whereas the lighter “rings” contain less moisture and are more “sand” coloured. We fly on to Halls Creek; total flying time approximately two hours. Later we visit the site of the original Halls Creek township and also the rock formation known as “Walls of China”. Home tonight, Kimberley Hotel.

Day 9 (B,L,D) HALLS CREEK, FITZROY CROSSING, GEIKIE GORGE CRUISE, DERBY

Our flight this morning of approximately one hour continues west as we fly to Fitzroy Crossing and yet another highlight, the Geikie Gorge Cruise on the Fitzroy River between the Oscar and Geikie mountain ranges and located within Geikie Gorge National Park. The gorge was named in 1883 after the Director General of Geological Survey for Great Britain and Ireland. The gorge was formed by the Fitzroy River and, in the wet season, flood levels rise to over 16 metres, clearly seen on the gorge walls which rise up to 100 metres above the surrounding plain. The fast moving flood water has scoured the limestone walls white. Continuous fresh water sustains barramundi, sawfish and freshwater crocodiles, while the lush vegetation is home to fruit bats, lilac crowned wren, reed warbler and the great bowerbird. Later in the day we again board the DC3 for around an hour as we fly to Derby on the coast. Home tonight, King Sound Resort.

Day 10 (B,L,D) DERBY, BUCCANEER ARCHIPELAGO, HORIZONTAL FALLS, CAPE LEVEQUE, KING SOUND, BROOME

Discover Derby this morning. Visit the Boab Prison tree, the old cattle wharf serving a port where the tidal range is over 12 metres, and Myall bore, created in 1911 to feed a 120 metre cattle drinking trough. Later in the morning we fly over the “thousand islands” of the Buccaneer Archipelago and view the “horizontal waterfalls”, created by tidal movement, on route to Cape Leveque. We land fat Cape Leveque for an enjoyable and relaxing lunch at Kooljaman Resort followed, if you wish, by a delightful stroll along the beautiful beach. Later we fly on the last leg of our DC3 journey (total today approximately two hours) from Cape Leveque along the coast and over the King Sound with its huge mud flats and tidal marshes. Picture postcard views of the red pinden cliffs, white beaches and deep blue water as we descend into Broome. Home for two nights, Oaks Resort.

Day 11 (B,L,D) WILLIE CREEK PEARL FARM, CABLE BEACH

A relaxing day. This morning visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm, learn a little of this fascinating industry and watch a live oyster seeding demonstration. The afternoon is free to explore or relax prior to enjoying champagne and nibbles as we watch the sun set at Cable Beach prior to a final celebratory dinner together.

Day 12 (B,L) BROOME, HOME

Sadly, our DC3 Kimberley & Top End holiday draws to a close as we depart by Qantas commercial flights to our home ports, having completed a most enjoyable DC3 “low and slow” flying holiday in this spectacular, stunning part of our beautiful country.