20 Swords Travel Magazine | Autumn / Winter 2024 Tales from the Outback On this trip we flew from Perth to Kununarra in the northeast of WA and started our journey at the renowned El Questro Homestead (part of Luxury Lodges of Australia). The Homestead is a fully inclusive experience including all food, drinks, and pretty much all your activities. On our first day at El Questro we were lucky enough to have a talk from a local Aboriginal family who talked about the history and their elders experiences, and the history of Aboriginal culture. After a good night’s sleep, it was an early start for our private charter flight out to the infamous Bungle Bungle Range. These incredible mountain ranges are in the heart of the Purnululu national park and were formed over 360 million years ago. This experience really gets you into the heart of the Kimberley. The opening of this national park surprisingly only dates back to the 1980’s but is high on most people’s list to visit whilst touring Australia. Western Australia & Northern Territory by Mark Swords A private flight transfer from El Questro took us to Bullo River Station, a working cattle station in the Northern Territory. When I say working cattle station, please do not think you are sleeping in the stables, this wonderful place is also part of Luxury Lodges of Australia. Set in over 400,000 acres, here you get that true outback experience. Whether it’s a day filled with dust, sweat and the exhilaration of station life or spent exploring stunning landscapes and waterfalls, swimming in remote waterholes, fishing for barramundi and discovering Aboriginal rock art and wildlife, the Bullo River experience is unlike any other. The final part of our stay was spent visiting the famous Kakadu National Park. Cruise on the stunning Yellow Water Billabong to spot crocodiles and wildlife in their natural habitat, including millions of migratory birds who in part call the park’s wetlands home. Not only is Kakadu spectacular, but you can feel yourself come alive among the lush rainforests, rocky gorges, serene swimming pools and the oldest Aboriginal rock art in the world. Most people on their first trips to Australia tend to explore the wellknown itineraries such as city, rock, and reef. However as this was my fourth time in Australia, I really wanted to get to the core of the outback experience and explore Western Australia and Northern Territory, which have always been on my list of “must dos.” Western Australia Northern Territory El Questro Homestead Bullo River Station Kakadu NP PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA NORTHERN TERRITORY DARWIN SYDNEY
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