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Whitehaven to Wineglass Bay

Posted on October 30, 2018June 24, 2019 by Nicola Billens

Travel the Australian East Coast, cherry-pick the absolute best.

Experience a uniquely Australian luxury holiday at Hamilton Island’s award-winning qualia resort, the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart and concluding at the upscale Saffire resort on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula. Enjoy the contrast between the north’s humid subtropical climate and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania’s temperate southern climate and dramatic coastal woodlands and mountains.

Travel arrangements and experiences are consolidated into one seamless and unique booking by Alquemie’s luxury specialists.

Days 1 & 2 – qualia

qualia (pronounced kwah-leea) is located on the northern most point of Hamilton Island and offers sixty chic guest pavilions. Visually the retreat is 100% tropical Australia – glimpses of corrugated-iron, wide eaves, ventilation slats and breeze ways shimmering through a lacework of eucalypts and flowering melaleucas. However the elegance of its interiors and fittings and the excellence of its amenities and services places it among the best international resort experiences.

Includes:

2 nights accommodation in a Windward Pavilion
Dinner on both nights with the first night being an 8 course tasting menu with matching wines
Whitehaven Signature treatment at Spa qualia
Talk & Taste experience
Scenic helicopter flight over Great Barrier Reef, including Heart Reef, and a picnic on Whitehaven Beach
A la carte breakfast daily
Standard qualia inclusions

(Note: Flight TBA, Sydney to Hamilton Island – booked by Passengers)

Days 3 – Hamilton Island to Hobart

The Henry Jones Art Hotel is located on Hobart’s waterfront and sits on what was once a jam factory dating back to 1804. The hotel is furnished with over 300 artworks with a continuously changing exhibition and has been created to present itself as a fusion of art, heritage, tradition and nature. The hotel offers 56 rooms and suites all uniquely different and furnished and the hotel’s restaurants and bars feature Tasmanian fine food and beverages

Deluxe Spa Harbour View Rooms overlook harbour front of Hobart framed by the cityscape and Mount Wellington. These rooms feature original walls of stone and timber trusses with columns and beams. With stainless steel and translucent glass bathrooms these rooms include a spa bath for total relaxation.

Hobart Airport to City
Private Car Transfer – approximately 30 minute’s journey time
The Henry Jones Art Hotel
Number of Nights: 1
Number of Rooms: 1 Double
Room Type: Deluxe Spa Harbour View
Room Includes: Full breakfast

(Note: Flight TBA, Hamilton Island to Hobart via Sydney – booked by Passengers)

Days 4 & 5 – Hobart to Saffire

The Freycinet Peninsula extends south-eastwards from Tasmania’s coastline and is a gazetted National Park that includes the internationally acclaimed Wineglass Bay. Freycinet’s landscapes are soft and warm pink granite mountains, white sand beaches, grey-green casuarinas and seawater blue as sapphire!

Saffire is located on the inside of the gentle curve of sandy coastline that joins the peninsula to mainland Tasmania and overlooks the wide expanses of Great Oyster Bay, where migrating whales and dolphins come to play. 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 crayfish, scallops and deep sea fish, dripping and salty-sweet straight from the ocean.

The Signature Suites offer an open plan living area, an outdoor relaxation area and an ensuite bathroom. They have been furnished in an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary, with locally made timber pieces alongside mid-century classics.

Includes:

2 nights accommodation in a Signature Suite
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
Complimentary mini bar & selected deluxe beverages
A$150 total spa credit
Saffire activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, archery & fishing
Saffire experiences such as the Freycinet marine oyster farm, the Tasmanian Devil experience and the Wineglass Lookout Walk.
Private car transfer – approximately 3 hours’ journey time
Option to upgrade (at additional cost) to a private helicopter transfer – approximate journey time of 40 minutes

Days 6 – Saffire to Hobart

Saffire to Hobart
Private Car Transfer – approximately 2.5 hours’ journey time
Option to upgrade (at additional cost) to a private helicopter transfer – approximate journey time of 40 minutes
Flight TBA, Hobart to International Airport – (Flight booked by Passengers)

Please note:

Block-out dates will apply for qualia, Saffire, and Henry Jones Art Hotel. These will be advised at time of enquiry and rates are subject to change.
Costings are per person and based on twin-share.
Rates and availability are subject to change at time of booking as no reservations have been made.
Flights can be suggested however is not included in the total cost. At time of enquiry should you wish for Alquemie to include flights these can be added at additional cost.
Option to upgrade to a Private Helicopter Transfer to or from Saffire is not included in the total cost. This can be added at an additional cost.
For a credit card payment, we reserve the right to charge a handling fee.
Visas may be required for entry into Australia; please check with your local Consulate or High Commission
Should you decide to make changes to a confirmed itinerary, amendment penalties of A$100 per change applies.
Unless otherwise specified all touring will be conducted in English.

Click here to find out more about Australian travel with Alquemie

Four reasons we love Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley

Posted on October 20, 2018October 30, 2018 by Nicola Billens

Luxury and nature near Sydney

Bordering the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage region and less than three hours drive from Sydney (or a short helicopter ride) is Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley – one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia.

This special resort is located on a private conservation and wildlife reserve and is a haven for wildlife in addition to its breathtaking beauty. Guests come for seclusion, nature and relaxation, all complemented by unsurpassed luxury.

Here are four reasons we love Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains.

The backdrop of the Blue Mountains is simply stunning.

It’s less than three hours drive from Sydney (or 45 minutes by helicopter).

Arrive by helicopter to Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains

The 40 individual suites with their private indoor / outdoor pools are divine.

Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains — The indoor / outdoor pool

Most activities are included.

Activities include stargazing by the campfire at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley i — Stargaze by the campfire

A stay at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains is a great addition to any Australian travel itinerary. Get in touch with our Alquemists to weave it into your next trip down under.

Click here to find out more about Australian travel with Alquemie

REMOTE OUTBACK ADVENTURE TOP END, KIMBERLEY & NINGALOO

Posted on August 19, 2018August 20, 2018 by Nicola Billens

Alquemie is very pleased to announce its first small group air safari for clients who would like to experience Australia’s remote outback by private air charter over 16 incredible days in May 2019.

Starting in Darwin, this air safari takes just 8 guests to far flung locations like Kakadu and Arnhem Land, the Bungle Bungles, Mitchell Falls, Ningaloo Reef and much more. Accommodation ranges from luxury lodges to remote rustic beach camps with incredible experiences.

This small group hosted air safari is perfect for couples who wish to meet like minded people or for those that wish to see this incredible part of Australia by charter flight but would prefer to share the air costs.

With just 8 places we expect this tour to sell out quickly.

View the full itinerary here.

16 DAY HOSTED SMALL GROUP AIR SAFARI BY PRIVATE JET
Dates: 13 – 28 MAY 2019

Highlights

Meet and engage with traditional Aboriginal elders, a modern day urban Indigenous chef and Aboriginal artists living in a remote and restricted community near abundant rock art galleries.

See Australia’s spectacular outback and coastal scenery by air, land, and water with expert guides and local, authentic characters leading you to magical spots in the middle of nowhere.

Discover the wealth of Australia’s unique wildlife.

Swim with whale sharks, the ocean’s gentle giants, in the pristine turquoise waters of Ningaloo Reef.

Stay at exclusive wilderness locations chosen for their breadth of interesting experiences including a bush campsite in the heart of Kakadu, a working cattle station, a cliff-top retreat on 700,000 acres of stunning outback, an award-wining rustic seaside camp accessible only by air or sea, and a desert-meets-the-ocean luxury tented camp.

Swim with whales at Sal Salis

Posted on August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 by Nicola Billens

From August to October guests at Sal Salis will have the opportunity to swim with whales at Ninglaoo Reef. 35,000 of these giants migrate along our coast each year and guests have the chance to share the water with them.

In addition to swimming with humpback whales, the crew & the Sal Salis spotter plane will be searching for opportunities to interact with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, dolphins, dugongs and sea birds.

The luxury camp of Sal Salis — The beach front luxury camp of Sal Salis where you can swim with whales

Guests will need to be confident swimmers, able to snorkel and swim freestyle as the whales are found in the open ocean so may be swimming in current and swell.

To swim with whales at Sal Salis please contact your Alquemie advisor.

About the Humpback whales of Ningaloo Reef

To swim with the whales at Ningaloo Reef is the experience of a lifetime. Humpback whales are gentle giants that weigh up to 40 tonnes and range from 12 to 16 metres in length. An estimated 30,000 Humpback whales visit this region annually from June to November during their annual 11,000km migration from Antarctica. They were once hunted to the brink of extinction during the whaling days when whale oil was prized. Whilst they have recovered to numbers around 80,000 globally, they are still negatively affected by noise pollution, shipping, fishing and other marine dangers. Humpback whales are popular whales to watch due to their breaching and other distinctive surface behaviours.

Matt Wright Outback Wrangler – Australia’s Best Guides

Posted on June 7, 2018June 26, 2019 by Nicola Billens

Private Outback Wrangler Top End Adventure

Matt Wright is one of Australia’s fastest growing icons and the star of National Geographic’s hit TV Show Outback Wrangler. He’s an authentic Aussie character who loves to show off the hidden magic in the landscapes and wildlife of his back yard – the Top End of Australia.

He spends most of his time on cattle stations where he musters cattle, flies his helicopters, rounds up brumbies and catches and relocates some of the biggest saltwater crocodiles in the world. He has a passion for adventure and loves fishing for barramundi and exploring the floodplains of the Northern Territory on his airboats.

Guests of Alquemie are invited on a private Outback Wrangler Top End Adventure, tailored to include any or all of the following:

Helifishing
Deep Sea Fishing
Crocodile Encounters
Barramundi and Sail Fishing
Airboating
Helicopter Adventures
Waterfalls and Swimming Holes
Jet skiing
Crabbing
Bird Watching
Sunset River Cruises

Trips can incorporate a range of these thrilling modes of transport: Robinson R44 Helicopters • Robinson R66 Helicopters • AS350 Luxury Helicopters • High Speed Catamaran Boat • Small and Large Airboats • Large River Cruise Boat • Jet skis • Off Road Buggies

An example of a day with Matt might include:

Relaxing river cruise along the pristine rainforest waters teaming with aqua life, water birds including the majestic Muk Muk (white bellied sea eagle) and of course the local crocs and Matt’s favourite croc, Bone Cruncher.
Monsoonal rainforest tour onboard custom built airboats where your guests will weave their way through the wetlands and tall timbered swamps, encountering more of the NT’s most unique wildlife; including some of biggest crocs and the smallest of the kingfisher (Little Kingfisher) – only a keen eye will be able to spot this one!
Helicopter scenic flights above the Finniss River floodplains to witness the true beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Fresh BBQ Barramundi or local steak lunch enjoyed on floating pontoons
Live feed show of Matt’s pet croc, a 17ft prehistoric beast named ‘Tripod.’

Or a day’s helifishing…

Fly out of Darwin and down to the floodplains of the Finniss River system where you will land for your first crack at landing a barramundi.
Stop off at up to four locations in this region and fish the remote waterways that are only accessible by helicopter.
Beachside lunch at the open-air deck of Crab Claw Island Resort. Choose from the selection of delicious meals on their menu or bring your catch from the morning and the talented Chef will cook it to your liking.
It’s back in the helicopters and back to the beautiful floodplains where you will have the opportunity to board custom built airboats and explore the monsoonal rainforests which are teaming with wildlife.
Visit to ‘Tripod’, Matt’s 17ft pet saltwater crocodile, for an up close encounter with this prehistoric animal. Back in the choppers and its another quick stop for a fish and a hit out of crabbing before heading home.

For an insight into Matt, watch this 60 minutes video.

https://youtu.be/RLyJsWGl3pI

Talk to your Alquemie Advisor about tailoring a Top End adventure with Matt Wright, the Outback Wrangler.

Paspaley – Experience the most beautiful pearls in the world

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Nicola Billens

Recently Paspaley opened it’s Pearl Room doors to the Alquemie team and we had the privilege of a behind the scenes look at what goes into creating some of the most stunning jewellery on the planet.

As pearling pioneers, Paspaley has dedicated over 80 years to the perfect pearl. Today, this family owned business is the source of the rarest and most valuable pearls in the world. They are sourced in the Kimberley, one of the most pristine and remote locations on the planet.

Paspaley nurtures their pearls on a remote network of farms stretching more than 2500km across the north-west coast of Australia. With a sophisticated fleet of purpose built ships, they are one of the few companies to still dive for wild pearl oysters.

After they are lovingly harvested the pearls go through a serious selection process. Only a few make the grade to become part of an exquisite piece of Paspaley jewellery.

Guests of Alquemie are invited to discover the magic and beauty of Paspaley’s Australian South Sea pearls through a selection of behind the scenes experiences in Sydney, Darwin and Broome that are off-limits to the public.

These include:

The Pearl Room (Sydney)

Guests will travel in a heritage elevator to the basement level where within the refurbished bank vaults of the Paspaley building is The Pearl Room. In this room, which is not open to the general public, the Paspaley company’s sorting and grading operations are housed. The Pearl Room is also home to some of the most important pearls ever found including The Unique Collection – a selection of particularly special Australian South Sea pearls chosen for their exceptional shape, colour and lustre and The Kuri Bay Collection – a collection of Australian South Sea pearls from the first harvests at Australia’s oldest pearl farm, Kuri Bay.

Pearl Grading (Broome)

In the Broome boutique guests will gain an understanding of The Five Virtues – the traditional method by which all fine pearls are graded. In a hands-on session, guests learn the steps involved in this highly skilled practice, and begin their journey to becoming true pearl connoisseurs.

Paspaley Pearl Farm Tour (chartered from Darwin)

In our opinion the best way to experience Paspaley is to do a private trip out to their pearl farms on the Kimberley coast, travelling in one of their Grumman Mallard flying boats and accompanied by one of their pearling experts. Discover the pearl farming process and the techniques used to produce the world’s rarest and most valuable pearls.

Romancing the Pearl itinerary

A Paspaley pearl experience can be woven in beautifully with a holiday in the Kimberleys. Contact your Alquemie Advisor about building a bespoke itinerary that oozes romance and crescendos in a unique piece of Paspaley jewellery.

Private Bungle Bungles Insight – The Kimberley

Posted on June 6, 2018June 7, 2018 by Nicola Billens

Anthony’s educational in the Kimberley

Alquemie’s Australian Specialist Anthony Radic journeyed to the Kimberley, Western Australia in April 2018 for an eight night educational. Part of this was a 4 day, 3 night ‘Bungle Bungles Insight’ journey by 4×4 starting in Broome and ending in Kununurra with the key highlight being the UNESCO World Heritage listed bee-hive striped domes of the Bungle Bungles, only ‘discovered’ in the mid 1980s although Aboriginal occupancy in the region dates back tens of thousands of years.

Highlights included: Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Mimbi Caves, Halls Creek, Echidna Chasm, Escarpment Walk, Stonehenge, The Bungle Bungle Domes, Elephant Rock, Prison Boad Tree, Picanniny Creek & Lookout, Cathedral Gorge.

Anthony’s feedback on the journey:

Excellent guiding. Aboriginal knowledge and history was superb.
My guide Ed knew the locals really well which is perfect when guiding in these areas.
The trip is fully flexible and can also include the Pilbara region

Below is his itinerary and photos.

Day 1 Derby, Gibb River Road, Fitzroy River Lodge

Many parts of inland Kimberley are accessible only from May to October

From Broome Anthony travelled through the remote and beautiful landscape of the Western Kimberley, learnt about local history, people and the environment before crossing the Fitzroy River and visiting the a famous 1,500 year old Boab
Tree.

Next stop was the township of Derby located on the tidal mud flats on the edge of the King Sound, known for having the highest tidal range of any port in Australia. Here they also took the opportunity to drive on the remote cattle track, the Gibb River Road.

A short stop at the wonderful Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Cultural Centre set the scene for the rest of the journey, educating Anthony about the Wandjina & Gwion Gwion spirits, so important in the region. Afterwards they passed the Oscar Ranges before arriving at comfortable accommodation on the banks of the Fitzroy River.

Day 2 Halls Creek, Spring Creek Track, Mimbi Caves

The next day they ventured into Purnululu National Park by way of the Mimbi Caves, which Anthony loved. A Welcome to Country ceremony by the local people whose land they were on started the proceedings. Inside the caves he sat in the dark and listened to stories of how traditional landowners lived in caves as late as the city of Darwin getting bombed. The afternoon was an adventurous 4WD journey along the Spring Creek Track.

Day 3 Echidna Chasm, Scenic Flight

Anthony loved his day at the northern extremity of Purnululu National Park exploring Echidna Chasm, known for its towering Livistonia Palm trees. His walk up the creek bed was rewarded with a bird’s eye views of the shaded escarpment. Another walk through the bloodwoods went around the base of the massif.

Day 4 Picanniny Creek, Cathedral Gorge, (Optional Helicopter)

Cathedral Gorge (after a record dry monsoon season)

Anthony’s last morning was spent exploring the extraordinary World Heritage protected Purnululu National Park and the famous Bungle Bungle domes. Rivers created this landscape of unique orange and black striped ‘beehive’ geological formations over a period of 20 million years. Unbelievably, only the locals knew it existed until the early 1980’s.

A gentle walk along the dry Picanniny Creek took Anthony to a look out and then into stunning Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks create a natural amphitheatre.

After a picnic lunch he travelled to the Bungles airstrip for a scenic flight over the Argyle Diamond Mine landing in the vibrant East Kimberley town of Kununurra for the end of his trip.

Anthony’s trip was with Instyle Adventures and he stayed at Fitzroy River Lodge (1 night) and Bungle Bungle’s Savannah Lodge (2 nights). Please contact Anthony for more detailed information about his journey.

A one-day Kimberley air safari

Posted on May 30, 2018June 6, 2018 by Nicola Billens

The Kimberley is one of the world’s last great wilderness frontiers where many tracts of pristine country are inaccessible by road. What better way to grasp the vastness of this amazing land than on a one day scenic Kimberley air safari? Beginning and ending at Broome, this is the perfect journey to add another dimension to your Kimberley itinerary and combines well with a luxury Kimberley cruise where you can also experience this stunning area by sea.

Highlights of this scenic air safari include:

Fitzroy River
Geikie Gorge
Fitzroy Crossing
Windjana Gorge
Mount Hart
Horizontal Waterfalls
Koolan and Cockatoo Islands
Cape Leveque
Dampier Peninsular
Willie Creek

The below suggested itinerary can be tailored to meet your needs.

Departing Broome, head inland across the southern parts of the Kimberley to land at Fitzroy Crossing for a journey along the stunning Geikie Gorge by boat. Formed around 350 million years ago, this area was once covered by a tropical sea and is part of the Devonian Reef – an ancient limestone barrier reef. These days it is rich in wildlife and showcases spectacular landscapes.

The limestone cliffs and interesting rock formations of Geike Gorge were carved by the Fitzroy River as it flowed through this reef turned rock.

As you drift peacefully along Geike Gorge it’s likely you’ll encounter fresh water crocodiles, sea eagles and rare purple-crowned fairy-wrens.

After your cruise you’ll fly over the ancient Devonian Reef at Windjana Gorge for a bird’s eye view.

Your plane will then land in the heart of the King Leopold Conservation Park for a delicious lunch at Mt Hart Wilderness Lodge. This area contains isolated patches of remnant rainforest, with ridges rising up to 300 meters above the surrounding plains.

After lunch, fly over the Horizontal Waterfalls – a powerful tidal flow of unto 10m through two narrow gorges in Talbot Bay.

Then you’ll journey over the remote Buccaneer Archipelago to Koolan and Cockatoo Islands, 250 kilometres north-east of Broome, which were home to the world’s richest iron ore deposits. As you fly over you’ll see how the land has be transformed by human activity. Now mostly depleted, you’ll learn about the importance of the iron ore, and the future of the islands, with Cockatoo Island set to be restored to a tropical paradise resort, originally envisioned by disgraced tycoon Alan Bond.

See the coastline by air on a Kimberley air safari

In the afternoon you’ll enjoy afternoon tea and a swim at Kooljaman at Cape Leveque – a remote wilderness camp owned and run by the Indigenous Bardi Jawi Communities. Cape Leveque is an area of amazing wildlife, a vast array of marine life and a stunning coastline.

As with all Kimberley activities this Kimberley air safari is best done from May to October. To enquire about this luxury Kimberley air safari please contact Alquemie.

Dreamtime to Diamonds – The story of the Argyle Diamond mine

Posted on May 25, 2018June 7, 2018 by Nicola Billens

Discover the journey of the Miriuwung people and the story of the Argyle Diamond mine from Dreamtime to Diamonds as interpreted by your host, North-East Kimberley man Ted Hall.

This exceptional one day experience by light aircraft, 4×4 and boat takes travellers on an enchanting journey across vast landscapes to the enormous Argyle Diamond mine and extraordinary man-made lake Argyle. Highlights include landing at the Mandangala community, where you are welcomed with a traditional “Muntha”, a ceremony to ensure safe passage through his land, and a close up inspection of the Argyle Diamond mine processing plant, and the ingenious technology used to extract these precious gems.

Ted tells of the geological formation and eventual discovery of diamonds on his country, of the sorrow at the desecration of an important sacred site, but also happily of the opportunities and partnerships that have benefited his people.

It’s a fascinating insight into the culture of the Miriuwung people and modern day issues of tradition versus prosperity, all to the back drop of Australia’s rich red escarpments and wide, brown land.

Add some romance – A bespoke rare pink diamond jewellery creation

The Argyle diamond mine in the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia is one of the world’s largest supplier of diamonds. Since 1983 it has produced more than 800 million carats of rough diamonds.

Revered for its rare and exquisite pink diamonds, just 50 to 60 of these rare natural treasures are brought to life as polished masterpieces and offered for sale each year.

For a special romantic occasion, your team at Alquemie can build into your itinerary the creation of a bespoke pink diamond piece of jewellery. To enquire about this please contact Alquemie.

The iconic Gibb River Road in the Kimberley

Posted on May 5, 2018June 25, 2018 by Nicola Billens

The iconic Gibb River Road is little more than a 660 km long bush track that links remote cattle stations to Derby and Kununurra. For the traveller, however, the Gibb River Road provides adventure and access to the virtually untouched natural beauty of the Kimberley wilderness.

It’s one of the country’s greatest 4WD adventures.

The road cuts through King Leopold Range, Philips Range, Barnett Range, Gibb Range, Mosquito Hills, Pentecost Range and Cockburn Range. There are spectacular geological formations, a rich aboriginal history, incredible scenery as well as rare flora and fauna. Wildlife concentrates around the densely vegetated waterholes, creeks and many gorges.

The best months to travel are from May to September as the road is often closed during the wet season, which is typically November through March.

Highlights of the Gibb River Road

Windjana Gorge

Three hundred million years ago the Napier Range was part of an ancient barrier reef system and this whole area was under the ocean. More recently The Lennard River has carved out a 3.5 km gorge that is up to 100 metres deep. A 3.5 km walking trail winds its way through the monsoonal strip of vegetation along the permanent pools of water that remain.

Tunnel Creek

The creek flows through a water worn tunnel beneath the limestone of the Napier Range, you can walk 750 metres through the tunnel to the other side of Napier Range, wading through several permanent pools and watching for bats and the stalactites that descend from the roof in many places. Freshwater crocodiles are occasionally found in the pools. You may see goannas, wallabies, bats, herons and owls.

Bell Gorge

This is one of the most beautiful gorges in the Kimberley. The waterfalls cascade down the perfectly U-shaped cliffs, into a deep pool, a great place for swimming. The large flat rocks along the side are a great spot to sit, sun bathe and picnic.

Mornington Sanctuary

Covering 358,274 ha (885,311 acres) of the Pentecost sub-region the property incorporates sections of the impressive King Leopold Ranges and much of the upper catchment of the Fitzroy River. Aboriginal people have occupied this land for thousands of years and a small indigenous community still lives within Mornington. From 1901 Mornington was managed primarily for cattle grazing but in 2001 it was acquired by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and the property has been modified to promote conservation of biodiversity.

The Mornington landscape is immensely beautiful. The Baulk Face Range dominates the central part and Fitzroy Bluff stands majestically in the south. There are several permanent rivers flowing through the vast savanna plains to drain into the Fitzroy River.

These waterways sometimes dissect the terrain for several kilometres to form spectacular vertical-walled gorges such as Dimond Gorge and Sir John Gorge. The dominant habitat of Mornington is tropical savannah; the grasslands are lightly sprinkled with stands of low eucalypts, Kimberley Bauhinia, Acacias, Boabs and native kapok.

The diversity of habitats on Mornington supports an extraordinary assemblage of wildlife. 202 species of birds, 33 species of mammals, 76 species of reptiles and 22 species of frog are known to occur on the property.

The Central Kimberley is very poorly surveyed, and these lists will no doubt expand with further research. At least 13 threatened animal species find refuge on Mornington, including the Northern Quoll, Freshwater Crocodile, Red Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Grey Falcon, Australian Bustard, Purple-crowned Fairy-wren, and the extraordinarily beautiful Gouldian Finch, one of Australia’s rarest birds. The Spectacled Hare-wallaby, Ghost Bat and the Orange Leaf-nosed Bat are also likely to occur here.

Zebedee Springs

Not far from the Gibb River road you can wander through the lush vegetation to the natural spring waters of Zebedee Springs, where gentle cascades and water holes are surrounded by palm forest.

Purnululu National Park

Nestled in the sweep of the Ord River Valley is the newly listed World Heritage Purnululu National Park. Although a mere 250 km south of Kununurra, it was only discovered by the outside world in the early 1980s. The Bungle Bungle sandstone massif dates back some 380 million years, and the striking beehive domes have protected Aboriginal rock art, sacred sites and rare vegetation for centuries. Within the spectacular massif lie Cathedral and Piccaninny Gorge. A visit to either requires a stroll along the ancient creek bed of Piccaninny, amidst the towering striped domes. As you venture deeper into the national park the narrow cleft of Echidna Chasm, and Mini Palms are accessible with a little more effort. The beauty of the park is striking. The Bungle Bungle represents the grandest of the distinctive Kimberley formations.

How to see the Gibb river Road in style

The Gibb River road is best seen on a guided private 4×4 journey (allow roughly 9 days) or air safari staying at luxurious properties such as El Questro Homestead, or the comfortable tented camp of Mornington Wilderness Camp. Talk to Alquemie for the best way to organise your Gibb River road journey.