Family Kimberley Helicopter Safari

Rise early today to enjoy the fresh Kimberley morning. Your HeliSpirit pilot will meet and transfer you to the airport helipad. Lift off from Kununurra at 6:00am to soar over the Ord River following its path west past the huge farms of the Ord Irrigation area. View the incredible patterns in the mud flats surrounding the town of Wyndham where 5 huge rivers meet, emptying into the Cambridge Gulf where some of the Kimberley’s biggest estuarine crocodiles live. Crossing the gulf we pass over ancient traditional lands of the Balanggarra people.

Flying onwards, the ranges rise ahead with the watercourses of the De Lan Court and Berkeley Rivers beneath us. Fly low through the gorges of the Berkeley River and follow the remote Kimberley‘s northern coastline, viewing craggy cliffs, white coves and plentiful sea-life from above. Orbit over the twin waterfalls of the King George Falls before landing at Eagle Falls for a swim and perhaps further afield to marvel at hidden galleries of ancient rock art. Rounding the top of Western Australia and flying past Steep Head Island we come into land on the shell beach at our destination for the next 2 nights, Kimberley Coastal Camp.

Kimberley Coastal Camp is an exclusive retreat, a place for the heart and soul, limiting guests to just 12. Kimberley Coastal Camp is unpretentious, laid back and set in an exquisite location. The fresh seafood is truly amazing and the fishing, wildlife and rock art will take your breath away. The cabins are set apart so are private. The showers and toilets are shared, set into the rocks a short way from the cabins. They are open to the vast Kimberley sky.

All meals, tours and limited Australian beer, sparkling and still wine is included | Spirits and reserve list wines are at your own expense
Overnight: Kimberley Coastal Camp

This is a no-fly day where you can choose your wilderness experience. Spend your day fishing for the fabled barramundi and dozens of other tropical species in the pristine azure waters the area is famous for. Explore this ancient land on foot, or by boat and experience the local birds, wildlife, bush tucker, ancient rock art and bush medicines first hand. You may prefer to take it easy on the boat, cruising and picnicking on deserted islands fringed by Boab trees, or sipping a cool drink from the day bed. The choices are yours.

All meals, tours and limited Australian beer, sparkling and still wine is included | Spirits and reserve list wines are at your own expense
Overnight: Kimberley Coastal Camp

Today’s adventure will take you along the coast first and then inland. Departing after early breakfast we soar over the Mitchell Plateau to orbit over and land at the top of the mighty 4 tiered Mitchell Falls. Your pilot will guide you on a walk to get the best of this iconic Australian feature. When ready we fly to the coast and may land at Naturaliste Island, to refuel if necessary. We continue through Price Frederick Harbour, a natural harbour with bays, coves, spectacular cliffs and mangrove forests. We land at Careening Bay, the sandy cove where Philip Parker King beached his vessel, the Mermaid and the boat’s carpenter carved the inscription; HMC Mermaid 1820 on the famous “Mermaid Tree”. That famous boab tree is now 12 metres wide and is National Heritage listed.

View the King Cascades flowing into the Prince Regent River, Mt Trafalgar, Mt Waterloo and much more. We continue over rugged inland pastoral leases to Drysdale River Station, a remote fuel and accommodation stop on the Kalumburu Road. Here we refuel our helicopter and chat to the locals. Our last leg for the day takes us over the central Kimberley, flying over parts of the Gibb River Road, Home Valley Station and the famous Pentecost River Crossing.

On sunset we fly to Emma Gorge resort at El Questro Wilderness Park. Over 1 million acres in size, El Questro extends for approximately 80 kilometres, most of which has never been explored. Emma Gorge accommodation is in tented cabins with ensuite bathrooms. Activities are varied and a walk into Emma Gorge up to the droplet waterfall at the pool at the end is highly recommended.

Accommodation and wilderness park permit are included. Meals and tours are at your own cost. Overnight: Emma Gorge tented cabins – twin share

This is a no-fly day where you can choose your wilderness experience. El Questro tours and activities form an integral part of every visit to this stunning wilderness destination. A wide choice of tours are available.

Overnight: Emma Gorge tented cabins – twin share. Meals and tours are at your own cost.

Lift off from Emma Gorge after breakfast to fly to a stunning waterhole only accessible by helicopter – Miri Miri. We take a picnic morning tea to enjoy here before we fly south passing over the Elgee cliffs bordering the Durack River. Explore vast tracts of cattle station empires and marvel at the tenacity of our early pioneers in settling this rugged land. We pass over the traditional lands of the Gija and Jaru people and their community at Warmun, where many of our famous Aboriginal artists such as Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie lived and worked.

Our destination is Purnululu National Park, a World Heritage Listed area, celebrated for the valuable cultural and natural assets it holds including the Bungle Bungle Range, a 350 million year old sandstone massif that rises up to 578 metres above sea level. The range stands 200 to 300 metres above a woodland and grass-covered plain, with steep cliffs on the western face. Elsewhere, particularly where Piccaninny Creek has formed Piccaninny Gorge, the range is cut by deep gullies and breaks up into complex areas of ridges and domes, with prominent orange and black or grey bands.

We land at Purnululu and transfer to the Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge for lunch, then we 4WD to the northern part of the range and hike into Echidna Chasm. View the red glow of the cliffs of the Western Wall glowing in the setting sun. Settle into your cabin at the Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge and enjoy the campfire chatter with fellow guests.

All meals, drinks and all tours included.
Overnight: Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge – twin share in deluxe ensuite cabins

In the morning after breakfast, take a private tour that comprises a drive to the Bungle Bungle range and then a guided walk through the striped sandstone domes and further into Cathedral Gorge, named due to its excellent acoustics.

After lunch we depart Purnululu, flying north over the Argyle Diamond Mine, where rare pink diamonds were once mined, then over huge Lake Argyle, the biggest man-made lake in the southern hemisphere. It’s volume is said to be over 21 times that of Sydney Harbour. Flying into Kununurra and the Ord Valley is always spectacular, an oasis of lush farms, big waters and colourful ranges and is a fitting end to your unforgettable HeliSpirit helicopter adventure.

Transfer to your connecting flight or to your accommodation.

Meals, drinks and all tours included.