Australia By Air

After enjoying breakfast, you will be transferred to Bankstown airport where you meet your pilot for the next 30 days. Once you are acquainted with your captain and your light aircraft, you will take off over Sydney and head south over the Snowy Mountains before landing at Ballarat airport. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to The Lake House in Daylesford. The Lake House lies on the shores of beautiful Lake Daylesford. Walking tracks lead from the property, around the lake and into the Wombat State Forest, complete with local fauna and the abundant health creating mineral springs the area is renowned for. The nearest spring bubbles out right on The Lake House’s doorstep. Given the opportunity to explore the gardens, you will come across significant trees, a myriad of sculptures and artwork from many of the region’s top artists, extensive outdoor terraces overlooking the lake shore and established country gardens with everything from koala-loved stringy barks to lilac, Daphne, quince, plum and apple trees. The property attracts a large number of native birds including rosella, parrot, kingfisher & kookaburra.

Today you will have an introduction to one of Australia’s most celebrated bakers; Michael James (ex-Tivoli Road Bakery) for an intensive session in the state-of-the-art bake house at Dairy Flat Farm. Not only will you dive deep and get hands-on in the bake house, but you’ll make and taste a range of delicious sourdough products including baguettes, loaves, danishes and doughnuts. Of course, you’ll also take a selection with you! This afternoon, set off for a half day ‘Hidden Gems of Daylesford’ tour with a gourmet picnic and focus on the natural surrounds and gold rush history.

This morning, you will be transferred to Ballarat airport where you will meet your pilot and fly over the Bass Strait to Tasmania, into Launceston. On arrival, you will be met and transferred in just under two hours to Saffire Freycinet Lodge. The Freycinet Peninsula extends south-eastwards from Tasmania’s coastline and is a fully protected national park, including the internationally acclaimed Wineglass Bay. Saffire is located on the inside of the gentle curve of sandy coastline that joins the peninsula to mainland Tasmania.

Saffire overlooks the wide expanses of Great Oyster Bay, where migrating whales and dolphins come to play; calamari and squid in-season spawn in the rocky outcrops; local farms produce fresh, succulent oysters in some of the world’s cleanest waters; and fishing boats and trawlers bring in their daily catch of rock lobster, scallops and deep sea fish, dripping and salty-sweet straight from the ocean. The dominant view from Saffire’s every window is the pink-hued granite of the peninsula’s Hazards Mountains, providing a spectacular and ever-changing backdrop from morning to nightfall.

The Saffire experience is made up of moments. Meaningful moments that capture the essence of Saffire and its close connection to the Freycinet area.

The afternoon is yours at leisure to explore or simply relax.

This morning, take a coastal stroll along the beach from Saffire with our Indigenous guide, Mick Quilliam. Discover the history of the Oyster Bay people, taking in the beauty of the coastal tracks and rock platforms and the wonders of the fauna and flora right on our doorstep. Tempt your taste buds as you sample local bush tucker, learn about tools and foraging, and gain a greater understanding of time gone by and your own connection to country.

Later this afternoon, don a pair of waders and visit a working oyster farm located in a beautiful setting within an internationally significant wetland and ornithological site. Develop an understanding for wetland and marine ecology, plus a taste for prized Pacific oysters. 

Following breakfast, you will transfer to Launceston Airport for your flight to Warrnambool along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

Arriving at Warrnambool airport, your local guide will transfer you to Tower Hill Nature Reserve en-route to Port Fairy.

Declared Victoria’s first National Park in 1892, Tower Hill is an extinct volcano formed some 30,000 years ago. Artifacts found in the volcanic ash layers remind us that Indigenous communities were living in the area at the time of the eruption. The area was a rich source of foods for the Koroitgundidj People, whose descendants retain special links with this country.

Tower Hill is the ideal place to experience the Australian bush, enjoy magnificent scenery and landscapes while getting up close and personal with some of Australia’s most iconic native birds and animals including emus, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and seasonal reptiles. Wildflowers abound in springtime.

From here, you will join an interactive walking tour hosted by a local Worn Gundidj guide providing an exclusive opportunity to explore the wildlife and gain an understanding of traditional Aboriginal lifestyles as well as learning how to identify native plants for food and medicinal purposes and throw a boomerang.

After a fascinating introduction to the southern coast of Australia, you will transfer to Drift House. Located in the small town of Port Fairy, nestled at the very end of the Great Ocean Road, it stands guard over the mouth of the Moyne River and overlooks one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Australia. Over the years Drift House has been home to the undertaker, stonemason, architect, publican, doctor, timber merchant, auctioneer, saddler, accordion player and the Captain of The Militia!

After a hearty breakfast, board your private helicopter for a 30-minute scenic flight to the Twelve Apostles. Only from above can one truly appreciate the majesty and complexity of this convoluted coastline.

The sheer limestone cliffs of Port Campbell National Park, are the jewel in the crown of Australia’s marvelled coastline. Battered by the fierce waves of the Southern Ocean, this dramatic coastline has been relentlessly carved into limestone towers, gorges and caves. The landmark Twelve Apostles, is one of Australia’s most-photographed sites and yet no postcard can truly capture its awesome beauty.

Once upon the ground, you will be welcomed by your guide who will join you on a hike of the most scenic section of the revered Great Ocean Walk. From the Gellibrand River inlet, hike along cliff tops through coastal scrubland and low heath that offer views of the surging Southern Ocean. Kangaroos frequent nearby paddocks and pods of dolphins or Southern Right Whales can occasionally be seen in the Marine National Park below.

Descend to the beach at Gibson Steps where you will be dwarfed by 70-metre high vertical cliffs and two giant limestone stacks. The final stretch of the walk will conclude at the iconic Twelve Apostles. Wander the boardwalks and take in the spectacular views of these famed rock stacks.

The Great Ocean Road fringes the nation’s dairy heartland and accommodates award-winning artisanal cheese factories and farm gates. For lunch, we head inland to the quaint township of Timboon. Enjoy whisky tasting and a delicious meal at the rustic Timboon Railway Shed Distillery followed by a visit to Timboon Fine Ice Cream to sample their premium wares.

Once refuelled, return to the dramatic Shipwreck Coast and Loch Ard Gorge where you may choose to descend to the wild beach that is flanked by towering cliffs. Hear tales of heroism and tragedy and learn the history of the ill-fated iron-hulled clipper, the Loch Ard. Other must-see destinations along this majestic coast include London Bridge Arch, The Grotto and Razorback. 

Farewell Victoria this morning as you transfer to the airport for your flight into South Australia and land in the beautiful Barossa Valley. On arrival, you will be transferred to one of the regions most iconic properties and be welcomed by your hosts Cassie Ferrett and Kyran Gardner. Set on the edge of the breathtaking Barossa Valley wine country, this homestead exudes style and elegance, yet maintains its rural charm.

Once the home to a wealthy nineteenth-century pastoralist and in more recent times, Kingsford Homestead offers the perfect retreat for you to indulge, discover, relax and get lost in time. Follow in the footsteps of the pastoral pioneers on an early evening walk. Try a little vintage wine-tasting in the slate-floored cellar. Take an outdoor bath in nature, inhaling deeply whilst listening to the birds and sipping on champagne.

Join the Penfolds Global Ambassador for a behind the scenes private look at Penfolds Magill Estate and Penfolds Barossa Valley.

Commencing with a historical tour with a visit to the Grange Cottage, the original home of Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold, before viewing the Magill Estate winery, vintage cellar and underground tunnels, where you will discover the gems hidden within.

You will experience a private back vintage tasting and barrel sampling in the Penfolds Winery before enjoying a five-course degustation lunch with matching wines in a private setting.

After lunch, board your private helicopter and let us show you our valuable vineyards in different South Australian wine regions, visiting the famous 1880s Block 42 in the Barossa, the oldest cabernet producing vineyard in Australia.

Enjoy a private tour of Penfolds fortified barrel hall and a vertical tasting in the Kalimna Homestead.

Your experience also includes being given a personalised bottle of Penfolds Grange to take home.

Following your breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the beautiful Flinders Ranges. Step back in time to an ancient landscape. Here, surrounded by the arid wasteland of the great salt lakes, you’ll discover an ancient seabed that has been sculpted by millions of years of rain and sun into a fractured, furrowed landscape of deep valleys covered with casuarinas and cypress pines which fall into creek beds lined with river red gums. Welcome to the Flinders Ranges and welcome to Arkaba.

Flanked by the strikingly beautiful Elder and Chase Ranges and Rawnsley Bluff, Arkaba is recognised as one of the most beautiful outback properties in the country.  Arkaba has an Aboriginal history going back thousands of years and a geological history that dates back hundreds of millions of years. Arkaba’s settler history stretches back to the 1850s and one of the property’s earliest guests was John McDouall Stuart on his epic first crossing of the continent.

Formerly a sheep station and now a private conservancy, Arkaba provides the opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the story of the bush – its ancient geology, diverse wildlife and the chance to get ‘hands on’ with the conservation programs of the property.

This afternoon, take a walk with Pauline McKenzie. This is an opportunity to connect you with stories of Adnyamathanha People, Australia’s first people who have long looked after the landscape and wildlife of South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges.

Adnyamathanha People come from tens of thousands of years as an oral culture and this has made them wonderful story tellers. Pauline is a living library of her ancient Adnyamathanha lifestyle. Born in Hawker, she spent much of her childhood on country just north of Arkaba and, like most Indigenous people of a certain age, she has a connection with the land that emanates from long before any European explorers or settlers appeared.

Pauline lives locally in Hawker and is one of few people who still speaks the Adnyamathanha language fluently. She spends a large portion of her time teaching cultural stories and language (Yura Muda) at the Hawker area school and is determined that Adnyamathanha stories and her culture are passed on. Her stories of the land and her personal story growing up as a person in modern Australia provide a glimpse into Australia’s Aboriginal history and the issues that confront Aboriginal society today.

Gaining a true insight into what is involved in conservation is one of the most rewarding experiences to be had and guests can join our mission to restore Arkaba’s biodiversity with some hands-on conservation activities. These can include tracking of radio-collared feral cats with telemetry devices, setting up the trip cameras that monitor key sites across the property, looking for signs of vegetation critical to endangered animals, or joining a biologist on land surveys.

Arkaba’s signature experience will take you on a two to four hour loop drive traversing the hills of Arkaba with views across the region and beyond the vast property boundaries. This drive will take you through some of the beautiful rolling hill country that was historically used for sheep grazing but now keeps mobs of kangaroos and emus happy.

Explore the vastness of Arkaba’s 60,000 acres on a wildlife-viewing safari drive. Arkaba’s picturesque high ranges, plateaus, gorges, valleys and creek lines, provide a huge variety of habitat for wildlife and on any given day, a game drive will reveal Arkaba’s hidden treasures. From scenic ridge-tops you’ll have views to the north of Wilpena Pound, east to the Chace Range, west to the Elder and Red Range and south to Yappala and Yourambulla Ranges. On a clear day you may even spot Lake Torrens to the west – the second largest salt lake in Australia. This safari drive features plenty of great aspects for photography as the sun sets, with a glass of South Australian wine in hand!

Set off this morning from the stunning colours of the Flinders Ranges as your plane hops towards Australia’s Red Centre. You will stop at Coober Pedy for a refuel and lunch. Coober Pedy (meaning ‘white fella’s hole in the ground’) was named by Indigenous Australians baffled by the early settlers’ preference for subterranean living – something avoided by the superstitious Aboriginal population but embraced by miners, who liked the cooler, sheltered conditions.

Many of the early settlers were former soldiers who had recently returned from the trenches of World War One and were experts in the art of excavation. Still today, most residents of this unusual town live underground, and you will have the opportunity to venture below the surface and visit a home and an underground church. Explore an opal mine and the unique landscapes of the opal fields before enjoying a picnic lunch and continuing on to Uluru.

On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation, Longitude 131. With views directly to Uluru and across the desert to Kata Tjuta, Longitude 131˚ is Australia’s most celebrated luxury camp. Dotted among the red-rust dunes of the Central Desert, are sixteen tented pavilions, each offering connection with the outback landscape and its heritage as well as a glamorous base from which to explore the incredible Red Centre. Discover vibrant Aboriginal artworks alongside relics from the region’s explorers, a bar and restaurant offering contemporary Australian dining and friendly staff ready to share a yarn.

Discover an outback wonderland as the Uluru sunset continues, with the mighty monolith fading slowly to the background as the field of lights takes centre stage.

Wander at leisure along pathways through the award-winning sculptor Bruce Munro’s incredible light installation. An outback fairyland, the celebrated open-air art phenomenon is made up of some 50,000 individual stems crowned with colourful frosted glass bulbs that bloom and appear to sway as the inky night blankets Australia’s spiritual heartland.

Dinner this evening starts with drinks in the club-style leather lounges around the bar. A range of premium mixers, wines and craft beer invites a help-yourself vibe, and friendly staff are at hand to mix up a cocktail. Dinner is enjoyed under the stars at Table 131°. The southern skies over Uluru-Kata Tjuta are a glittering kaleidoscope of stars, with cool, clear nights and an absence of manufactured lights from cities or nearby dwellings creating a stargazer’s paradise.

This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast or perhaps rise early to watch the sunrise over Uluru. Set off at 11am to Maruku Arts which offers a fun introduction to Aboriginal art and the opportunity to learn about the symbols and painting styles used by local Aboriginal ladies in their artworks. Join the ladies and with their guidance, create a painting to take home as a memento.

Later this afternoon, journey to the base of Uluru and learn about the Aboriginal Mala people. Longitude 131° guides will lead you on a discovery trail along the caves which occur around the rock and whose walls reveal ancient Aboriginal artworks. Learn the significance of each ‘room’ and the cultural stories each one tells.

A meandering pathway leads through groves of green trees and along boardwalks over spinifex and occasional streams, depending on the weather. At dusk, the tour reaches Kantju Gorge, a giant ‘fold’ among Uluru’s rippling surface. There, you will enter a cool reserve lined by trees which leads to a waterhole which the local Aboriginal people use for swimming. As the sun sets, it casts a golden light across the rock faces, striking it a brilliant red against a deep blue sky.

Enjoy a moment of reflection at the pool, before sampling canapés and sipping sunset drinks at the Longitude 131° pop up bar.

It is then time to prepare for sunset. Your Uluru sunset experience is a gathering for Longitude 131° guests, with drinks from an exclusive pop up bar just in time to see the sun set and transform the monolith in glowing shades of pink, orange and purple.

The Uluru sunset viewing area is the best place to see the sun set over Uluru. It is also a popular spot for visitors to take selfies, couple and family shots as well as landscape photos of Uluru as it appears to change colour as the sun dips behind the domes of Kata Tjuta to the west.

Enjoy French Champagne, Australian craft beers and premium spirits accompanied by canapés with fresh Australian ingredients and outback flavours.

Enjoy one last sunrise over Uluru, before transferring to the airport for your flight into Western Australia to one of Australia’s most hidden gems – Karijini National Park. This is one of Australia’s most underrated national parks. Erosion has slowly carved this landscape out of rocks that are over 2,500 million years old. It is about exploring ancient rocky tunnels and plunging gorges, paddling through crystal-clear waterways and swimming under stunning waterfalls. As you stand amongst the ancient geological formations of Karijini National Park, you feel awestruck at the red layered cliffs that line the spectacular gorges eroded by nature over billions of years. The Pilbara’s gum trees, termite mounds and expansive plains give way to picturesque gorges, refreshing waterfalls and the emerald waterholes of Karijini National Park. A soothing oasis of trees and ferns provide shady refuge as you explore the wonders of this Western Australian national park. On arrival, you will be transferred to Karijini Eco Retreat.

Spend the day exploring Karijini National Park. Located in the north west corner of Karijini National Park, Hamersley Gorge is the most remote of the gorges. It offers a tremendous view of folded bands of coloured ancient rocks, with stepped waterfalls at the base of the gorge. From the trailhead, it is a 400m walk down roughly hewn steps to the gorge floor. Hamersley Gorge is somewhat wider than other gorges in the park and offers more expansive views on the descent into the gorge itself. Here you will clearly see how the layers of rock bent and buckled before they pushed their way to the surface millions of years ago. At the base of the gorge, take a dip in the delightful gorge pool and relax in the shade of the trees.

Continue on to a secret pool, known as Spa Pool that rests inside large curved walls. This is due to a rock formation as old as time itself. The Spa Pool is an ice blue pond that appears to have carved out its home over billions of years. Today, it is the perfect swimming hole fed by a gorgeous waterfall.

The Spa Pool is reached by following a thin tree lined chasm. It sits inside rock walls that change from grey to red, depending on your point of view. Get up close and you can see the details of every layer of the strata. This grotto that seems to take you deep inside the earth, will certainly take your breath away.

This morning, you will transfer to the airport for your private flight to Western Australia’s Coral Coast. On arrival at Exmouth, transfer with your private driver to Sal Salis. Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef is an exclusive beach safari camp nestled in the dunes of the Cape Range National Park in Western Australia.

Each of its eco-luxe wilderness tents offers views of the surrounding bush and over the Indian Ocean and the fringing Ningaloo Reef, one of Australia’s most pristine reef ecosystems.

Relax in your tent’s hammock and watch the world go by, or laze on the beach and paddle in the warm Indian Ocean waters.

Your safari style tent is the ultimate in bush luxury. At night, fall asleep to the sound of the waves on the beach and under a blanket of hundreds of thousands of stars.

Wake to the song of a butcher bird, the raucous squawks of a galah or the thump of a wallaroo passing by as you get ready for a life altering marine experience. Your whale shark experience begins with a transfer to Tantabiddi Boat Ramp (approxt 25 minutes drive) where you will meet your experienced skipper and crew for the day. Morning tea is served as you motor out into the Indian Ocean to begin the search for the whale sharks, which is aided by a spotter aircraft that relays sightings to your skipper. The crew will help you get kitted out in wetsuits and snorkel gear; they will also provide a thorough briefing.

During the course of the day, your crew will keep an eye out for turtles, dolphins, dugongs, rays and sea birds and there is usually time for a snorkel at the back of the reef. A delicious lunch featuring fresh Western Australian produce is provided. Each year between mid-March and July these slow-moving, gentle, filter-feeding giants migrate past Ningaloo Reef. The world’s biggest fish can grow to lengths of 12 metres or more and have a healthy appetite in order to sustain their immense size.

Snorkelling alongside these gentle giants is a once in a lifetime experience! Ningaloo is one of the only places in the world whale sharks appear regularly in large numbers, with over 235 individuals recorded. Each year scientists photograph the whale sharks as they pass through the area and some have been identified as having visited Ningaloo for 17 years and counting.

After your incredible swim, you will be transferred back to your accommodation. This evening, once the sun has set and your belly is full, something special happens. If you have never seen a truly dark sky; you have no idea just how amazing the night sky is. Located in a designated Dark Sky area, uninterrupted views of the Milky Way will astound you. Lighting is kept to a minimum, dining is by candle light and you will be given a lantern to find your way back to your tent; so you can really experience the stars and the Milky Way in all their glory. So beautiful, you will not want to go to sleep!

This morning, you will board your private plane and fly further north to Broome. On arrival, you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to the Billi Resort. The Billi Resort was affectionately named after the local Indigenous name for the coastal area of Cable Beach; Bilingurr. Centrally located, The Billi is the ideal private escape. Enjoy the lush tropical gardens, raised timber walkways and the tranquil surroundings, as you stay in a Luxury King Eco Tent that reflects the richness of the Kimberley with its stylish interior, and local artwork.

Set off this morning for a scenic flight to the spectacular and little-known Edgar Ranges, south east of Broome on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, where you will land for an amazing view of the ranges.

To extend the flight and make a fantastic day trip, you will return via the award-winning Eco Beach Resort for an a la carte lunch, including complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drink.

After lunch, enjoy a leisurely ocean swim or stroll along the spectacular white sandy beach before a stunning coastal scenic flight over the Kimberley region, along the shores of Roebuck Bay back to Broome.

This morning, you will transfer to Broome airport for your private flight to Berkley River Lodge. In one of the last true wilderness areas on earth, between the Timor Sea sunrises and Berkeley River sunsets, the ultimate Kimberley adventure and refined indulgence awaits you.

Australia’s most remote luxury lodge experience, only accessible by air, getting to the Berkeley is half the adventure. Leave modern life far behind and relax into the rhythms of nature in your luxurious villa floating atop the coastal dunes. Be one of the privileged few to set eyes upon this breathtaking wilderness landscape. From river cruises and gorge hikes to fine dining and 4WD tours, Berkeley River Lodge offers a vast range of activities and experiences for guests and your time here will be filled with exclusive experiences.

This afternoon, why not head off for a creek walk? Creek walks at Berkeley River Lodge and perfect for nature enthusiasts and keen photographers. Be captivated by the astonishing diversity of flora, fauna and geological features surrounding The Berkeley River Lodge. The guided hikes are led by resident nature enthusiasts, providing an introduction to the trees, plants and wildlife that inhabit the dunes, grasslands, mangroves and creeks.

This morning, take the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the dunes, following breakfast, set off for a full day of adventure.

Enjoy a 4WD or a helicopter tour which takes in sweeping ocean views, curious rock formations and native wildlife in the early morning and late afternoon, when the colours and contrasts are at their most spectacular.

Soak in the leisurely drive along the beachfront. Marvel at the beautiful light, cool sea breezes and a chance to spot a local resident such as saltwater crocodiles, seabirds, and sometimes even sharks that swim close enough to the tideline!

Head along the beach and through the dunes towards Cape St Lambert rocks. Your guide will pack a selection of cold beverages and a cheese and dip platter, where you will stop and enjoy the spectacular surrounds and even watch a magical sunset.

This morning, set off after breakfast to East Arnhem Land’s Bremer Island back in the Northern Territory. Your next two nights will be at Banubanu – an eco-sensitive beach retreat built in partnership with the Yolgnu People to ensure that you experience and appreciate the natural wonders of this precious region and the culture of East Arnhem Land in this tranquil location.

The remainder of the day is yours to explore your surroundings. Bremer Island is the perfect place for birdwatching, with over 65 identified species here, and home to large populations of sea birds which feed off the bounty of these fish rich waters. You might also encounter turtles nesting on the beach, and there are walking trails ranging from 1.2 to 5 km long. Alternatively, relax and experience the total bliss of the remote solitude and clear skies that Banubanu has to offer, as well as the comforts of your deluxe beachfront bungalow.

Tonight, you will enjoy dinner at Banubanu’s Seabreeze Restaurant – an elevated pavilion overlooking the azure blue waters of the islands Western Cove. You will not want to leave the endless deck or pool enjoying a heavenly sunset before indulging in innovative high-quality cuisine prepared by Banubanu’s onsite chef. The deck is also the perfect place to sit, relax and soak up the atmosphere of Arnhem Land.

After enjoying breakfast at your resort, you will enjoy a 3-hour fishing trip around Bremer Island by boat. This area of Arnhem Land is beyond breathtaking! Migrating Pelagic like Spanish Mackerel and Tuna abound in the waters where the Gulf of Carpentaria meets the Arafura Sea. The many local reefs are also home to Trevally, Queenfish and scores of other tropical reef species including those fabulous table fish such as Red Emperor, Jewfish and Coral Trout.  From your fishing boat the MV Nomad, you will see why the meeting of the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Arafura Sea is one of the world’s top fishing destinations. This afternoon, there may be the chance for an Aboriginal guided mud crabbing tour with spears.

Set off this morning towards Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Lizard Island is the only resort located on a 1,013-hectare National Park and literally on the Great Barrier Reef, which offers seclusion and natural privacy that you will cherish.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before you dine in one of two private beach pavilions sitting on Anchor Bay – each commanding spectacular views of the nightly sunsets. Here, you feel as if you are the only people on the island as our  you enjoy a delicious seven-course dinner with complementary wines. 

Enjoy a Dom Pérignon Reef Discovery and private beach picnic today. After adorning bespoke Dom Pérignon wetsuit jackets, a private boat charter will take you on a snorkel tour of the famed Clam Gardens or Mermaid Cove, just a short sail from Lizard Island.

Arriving at a secluded beachside location, you will soak up the natural beauty of your surroundings while enjoying fresh seafood, prepared in a Dom Pérignon Bento Box. Staying true to Lizard Island’s supreme service standards, you will be waited on by a private butler.

The Dom Pérignon Dive and Private Beach Escape includes:

• Private guided snorkel
• Private gourmet lunch on Sunset Beach with personalised services
• 1 Bottle of Dom Pérignon 2009
• 1 Dom Pérignon Wetsuit Jacket per person
• 1 Dom Pérignon Towel per person
• Dom Pérignon dive kit including Dom Pérignon neoprene bag to store your essentials and an aluminium Dom Pérignon water bottle

This afternoon, enjoy a tour through The Lizard Island Research Station which is a facility of the Australian Museum and is internationally recognised as the major island-based research facility on the Great Barrier Reef. It attracts coral reef researchers from all around the world – with approximately 100 research projects conducted annually. Since its opening in 1973, there has been more than 1,200 scientific publications produced by Australian and international researchers as a result of work undertaken at the facility. 

This morning, you will fly to Gilberton Outback Station in Northern Queensland. Perched on top of a bluff above the Gilbert River, the retreat is built from local stone and timber and hosts a pillow-topped king bed and luxurious bathtub with uninterrupted panoramic views. Step into this unique piece of Gilberton, and enjoy a welcome platter and bottle of champagne on arrival. Appreciate the luxurious robes, waffle slippers, bathroom products and little treats scattered throughout. The retreat is designed to captivate the beauty of this rugged landscape and is the perfect place to immerse yourself in harmony with nature’s beauty in understated luxury.

Depending on your arrival time, why not head out for an afternoon 4WD tour around the cattle station, where you can help put supplementary feed out for the cattle, or, if it’s mustering season, get involved in training the young cattle ready for the big wide world of living without Mum.

Enjoy a range of included experiences during your stay such as:

• Visit the granite cathedral and natural springs and find out about the local wildlife.
• See the remains of the old gold mining township of Gilberton, and find out the history and stories of the old gold rush days.
• Pan for gold in the Gilberton creeks and have a chat with real gold prospectors.
• Visit a heritage listed gold mine site and see how gold was extracted and mined in the 1800s.
• Watch the station at work, including mustering.
• Visit Lake Fred for lunch, swimming, fishing, and kayaking. Hopefully you’ll see our locally famous pelican being fed by cormorants.
• Mountain bikes are available for use.
• Or just relax and enjoy the tranquility!

This morning, you will hop your way down the Queensland coast to Brisbane. On arrival, you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel, located in the fashionable suburb of New Farm, you’ll experience Brisbane as a local with a stay at Spicers Balfour Hotel.

Spicers Balfour Hotel is just minutes from the Brisbane city centre and a two minute walk from Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane’s newest entertainment and lifestyle destination. Apart from its amazing location, Spicers Balfour Hotel offers luxuriously distinctive rooms and suites that provide a welcoming sanctuary. It is the perfect space for a city escape. Step inside this iconic Queenslander and you’ll discover a chic and stylish interior.

Your path today has only been traveled by a select few. On this journey, we hope you make lasting discoveries and connections with the natural world around you.

After breakfast, you will begin a gentle meander along Oakey Creek on Spicers private property where you will have the opportunity to look for goannas, wedge tail eagles and wallabies. From here, turn east and begin your ascent to Spicers Peak, keeping your eyes peeled for the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo. By mid-morning, take a break and boil the ‘billy’ for a tea or coffee.

Learning about fire ecology, you will see first-hand how this landscape has recovered from the bush fires in 2019. Some areas still bare the blackened scars of that time.

From here, you will continue climbing, but it is worth the effort as you break above the tree line and are rewarded with panoramic views of the Great Dividing Range, Mt Mitchell and Spicers Canopy in the distance.

There is one final push before lunch, using a support rope to climb up to where the trail leads from a drier grass tree plateau, through to the dense rainforest of Spicers Peak, complete with giant ferns, grass trees and awe-inspiring 300 year-old hoop pine trees.

After a lovely relaxed walk through the cool temperate dense Gondwana rainforest, take a seat at our designated stop and enjoy a well-deserved lunch before pushing on for the last two hours of the hike. A stretch of downhill leads you across a saddle and onto the final ascent up Cedar Mountain. Pause for a moment and take a deep breath to appreciate completing your hike. A short walk will find you at the luxurious Spicers Peak Lodge, where refreshing towels and beverages will be waiting for you. Refreshed and re-hydtated, transfer back down to Spicers Canopy to enjoy a celebratory dinner, your chance to relish in the achievement of the last two days of hiking.

Walking: 15km approx 8 hours | Grade – hard 

After two days of hiking, it is time to finish your journey with some indulgence. Transfer to Spicers Peak Lodge which is as far from the pressure of everyday life as it is possible to be. Set on 8,000 acres with a backdrop of World Heritage Listed national park, this exclusive Lodge provides the ultimate location for an all-inclusive luxury getaway.

Take a scenic helicopter flight from Spicers Peak Lodge to Spicers Hidden Vale and track koalas in their natural habitat at the Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre.

Leaving from the lodge mid-morning, your flight will take you over the Little Liverpool Range before arriving at Spicers Hidden Vale for an award-winning dining experience at Homage restaurant.

Your 2-course lunch includes a glass of wine or beer upon arrival inside the newly built Homestead followed by a two-hour Koala safari. On the tour, you will explore parts of the 12,000 acre property to find koala hotspots assisting researchers in locating and checking the welfare of the koala community.

A portion of the Koala safari cost goes back into funding the Wildlife Centre’s research projects.

This evening, when you return, enjoy a private whiskey tasting where you will experience a selection of drams from around the world, comparing modern whiskies from Australia and Japan with classics from the traditional home of whisky – Scotland.

This morning you will transfer by private vehicle to the airport for your onward flight to your next destination.