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Top End Safari Lodge Experience
Wildlife adventures, excellent food and sundowners at Bamurru Plains in the Top End
Stay in a sprawling nature reserve located on the border of Kakadu National Park, full of diverse birdlife, wildlife and natural habitats to explore. On this four-day Independent Short Break, you’ll go out in search of wildlife on a 4WD safari, set off across the wetlands on an airboat, take a river cruise down Sampan Creek and visit a billabong rich in birdlife. Look for crocodiles, wallabies, buffalo, magpie geese, egrets and more. In the evenings, sip sundowners and dine on curated three-course dinners prepared using native and local produce, then retreat to your comfortable bungalow and drift off surrounded by the sounds of nature.
No reviews yetTrip code: PWAB
Start: Darwin, Australia
End: Darwin, Australia
- Duration
- 4 days
- Group size
- 1 to 8
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
- Premium
- Theme
Our themes categorize trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Independent - Short Breaks
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Spend three nights in an eco-bungalow set on a private, 300-sq-km wilderness reserve that borders Kakadu, giving you exclusive access to the floodplains and savanna woodlands on the Mary River.
- Search for wildlife and explore the wetlands with expert guides. Hop on an airboat to learn about the local flora, go on a 4WD safari to spot wallabies and take a guided river cruise down Sampan Creek, home to saltwater crocodiles.
- Dine on fresh, local produce and native ingredients, with all your meals taken care of during your stay. Enjoy sunset drinks and canapes each evening before sitting down to three-course dinners at the lodge – all included in the price of the trip.
- Enjoy the convenience of included transfers from Darwin and back, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the scenery.
- Take your adventure up a notch with an optional day trip to Kakadu National Park, where you can see ancient rock art, cruise on the Yellow Water billabong and learn about First Nations art and culture at the Warradjan Cultural Centre.
Itinerary
Welcome to the Top End! Your adventure begins in Darwin, or Gulumoerrgin in the language of the local Larrakia people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Darwin is now located. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Bark Hut Inn. Enjoy a cold drink and meet your Bamurru Plains hosts before the drive to your accommodation, set in a sprawling private nature reserve that borders Kakadu National Park, overlooking the Mary River floodplains. When you arrive, settle into your eco bungalow, then get your first look at the wildlife that calls the reserve home during an open-top vehicle safari. Led by expert guides, you’ll venture out in a 4WD to spot wallabies, saltwater crocodiles and buffalo. At sunset, stop for drinks and canapes as you watch the sky change colour over the plains. Then, return to the lodge for a three-course dinner featuring locally sourced native produce. Grab a drink from the bar, serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and debrief about the day’s adventures with your group.
Accommodation
- Bamurru Plains (1 night)
Meals
- Dinner
Included activities
- Darwin - Road Transfer from Darwin to Bamurru Plains
- Bamurru Plains - Wildlife and floodplain interpretation
Special information
We will collect you from your centrally located hotel in Darwin at 11:00 am. Please advise us of your pick-up location well ahead of time.
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
An optional flight upgrade is available in place of the drive from Darwin. Accommodation upgrades are also available. If you’re interested, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
After breakfast, go on an airboat safari (season dependent) across the wetlands to see magpie geese, plumed whistling ducks, egrets, ibises and more. Your guides will take you through a hands-on demonstration of the many uses of the local flora as you float among the forest of melaleuca trees. Keep an eye out for crocodiles floating among the grass, too! Next, you’ll spend time at the bird hide, perched 6 m above the ground in the canopy. With your expert guide, observe the local birdlife in their natural habitat – the reserve is home to more than 230 bird species. This afternoon, hop aboard a guided river cruise down the Sampan Creek to look for crocodiles and more birdlife. The Mary River system is home to one of the highest densities of crocodiles in the world. Sip sundowners and snack on canapes as you cruise along, then tuck into another three-course dinner back at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Bamurru Plains (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Included activities
- Bamurru Plains - Crocodile and birdlife river cruise
Special information
The order of today’s activities is subject to change depending on weather conditions. The airboat safari is season dependent.
Today is a free day for you to choose from the optional activities on offer at the reserve. You might like to go out in search of more birdlife – the reserve’s variety of habitats, including black soil floodplains, paperbark swamps, savanna woodlands, mangroves and beaches, each harbour different species. Or you might like to enjoy the comfort of the lodge – you could go for a dip in the infinity pool, taking in the view of the open landscape or simply relax at your bungalow, where you can watch wildlife wandering past your doorstep. There’s also the option to go on a day trip to Kakadu National Park, where you can go for a cruise on the World Heritage-listed Yellow Water billabong, see ancient rock art, explore the landscapes and visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre for some excellent First Nations art. Tonight, regroup at the lodge for dinner, swapping stories from the day with your fellow travellers.
Accommodation
- Bamurru Plains (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Optional activities
- Kakadu National Park - Full Day Excursion - AUD2790
Special information
Please note that the optional day trip to Kakadu must be pre-booked. Contact your booking agent to arrange this.
Start today with a safari, headed to Fisher Billabong – a secluded part of the reserve with scenic bushland, floodplains and plenty of birdlife. Have brunch back at the lodge, then begin your journey back to Darwin, where your adventure comes to an end.
Meals
- Breakfast
Included activities
- Bamurru Plains - Billabong safari
- Bamurru Plains - Birdwatching and wildlife viewing
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
What's included
Accommodation
Feature Stay
These curated stays have something extra special about them, like a lodge perfectly placed for northern light viewing or a riverboat made to drift down the Nile.
- Bamurru Plains (various accommodation options)
Activities
5
Premium Experience
Memorable moments built into every Premium trip, from meditating with a Buddhist monk to interpreting the desert night sky with a local astronomer.
- Darwin - Road Transfer from Darwin to Bamurru Plains
- Bamurru Plains - Wildlife and floodplain interpretation
- Bamurru Plains - Crocodile and birdlife river cruise
- Bamurru Plains - Billabong safari
- Bamurru Plains - Birdwatching and wildlife viewing
Meals
8
- 3 breakfasts
- 2 lunches
- 3 dinners
Activities
1
- Kakadu National Park - Full Day Excursion - AUD2790
Flights to and from trip
Flights to and from the trip need to be booked separately from your trip, but if you'd like, we can help arrange them for you.
Contact us to talk through available options.
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Before you book you should know
- It is very important that you advise us of any dietary requirements and allergies at least 2 weeks prior to departure. We need this information well ahead of time to be able organise catering for you. This trip’s remote location means that some food items will not be available on short notice, and once the trip has commenced changes to dietary requirements are not possible. Please also advise us of any medical conditions at the time of booking and bring along any personal medication. Please note that if you require urgent medical attention during your stay, it may take several hours or more for emergency services to attend the scene and take you to a medical facility.
START & END TIMES & LOCATION
We will collect you from your central Darwin hotel at 11:00 am on day 1 of your trip. Please advise us of your pick-up location well ahead of time. If we do not have this information we will not be able to pick you up. On the last day we transfer you back to your hotel in central Darwin by 5:00pm. We recommend you book flights no earlier than 6:00pm or book an additional night in Darwin.
ACCOMMODATION UPGRADE
The default accommodation for this trip is in our Eco Bungalows. You can upgrade to the Safari Bungalow or the Kingfisher Suite at an additional cost, subject to availability. Please see the accommodation section of your trip notes or speak to your travel agent for more details.
TRANSFER UPGRADE
You can upgrade your trip to include flights from and to Darwin, instea dof using the road transfer that is included in your trip. The upgrade is at an additional cost and subject to availability. Please speak to your travel agent for more details.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
It is very important that you advise us of any dietary requirements and allergies at least 2 weeks prior to departure. We need this information well ahead of time to be able organise catering for you. The accommodation's remote location means that some food items will not be available on short notice, and once the trip has commenced changes to dietary requirements are not possible.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
As we operate in remote areas, you will need to bring all of your own personal medications with you. While our staff are qualified in remote area or wilderness first aid and carry satellite phones, we do not carry any emergency medications. If a person requires urgent medical attention during the stay, it may take several hours or more for emergency services to attend the scene and take you to a medical facility. If you have any pre-existing medical issues that will affect your ability to complete the trip or may have an impact on other guests’ experiences and you do not disclose these prior to the departure, we reserve the right to remove you from the trip.
Visa information is provided by Sherpa, a third-party. The "Add connection" feature shows transit visa requirements only and does not include full entry visa needs. Please note, additional service fees apply if you choose to purchase a visa through Sherpa.
Travel and visa requirements
Bamurru Plains (various accommodation options)
ROOM AMENITIES
- Body wash, shampoo & conditioner
- Bathrobes
- Pillow menu – a choice of soft, medium or hard
- Cotton sheets
- Ceiling fan (three rooms can be air-conditioned)
- Ensuite with high pressure hot shower
- Insect repellant
- Filtered drinking water
- Hair dryer
Note: There is no cell-phone reception, nor in-room television, stereo, or fridge / mini-bar.
DEFAULT ACCOMMODATION - ECO BUNGALOWS
This is the default accommodation option for all departures. Our seven Eco Bungalows bring you closer to your natural surrounds, with the fresh flow of fan-cooled air and comforts of the safari-style cabins with breathable mesh walls. Carefully positioned around Bamurru Plains camp, Eco Bungalows provide a private sleep oasis that’s ideal for two people and solo travellers.
Surrounded by expansive mesh walls, we invite you to feel connected to the environment while ensuring your comfort and safety. From your king-sized bed, witness nature and wildlife from sunrise to the vast night sky. Enjoy your own private ensuite bathroom with rainfall shower, plush cotton robes and Australian-made personal care items. Each room has a cold water thermos and local flora and fauna reading materials. Our Bungalows are 31 sqm and thoughtfully furnished to offer a harmonious blend of rustic charm and nature. Artwork, natural materials, and earthy tones create an inviting ambiance, reflecting the spirit of the surrounding wilderness.
Rooms can be reconfigured from a King to a Twin room. Please request when booking. Note that this room type does not have air-conditioning
ROOM UPGRADE OPTION - SAFARI BUNGALOW
Safari Bungalows offer the climatic comforts of air conditioning. Designed to enable you to blend into the natural surrounds and enjoy the full Bamurru Plains experience. Three air-conditioned Safari Bungalows are spread across the property and these intimate havens are the perfect space for two people, or solo travellers.
In our air-conditioned Safari Bungalows, we invite you to feel connected to the environment while ensuring your comfort and safety. Enjoy the king-sized bed, your own private ensuite bathroom with rainfall shower, plush cotton robes and Australian made personal care items. Each room has a cold water thermos and local flora and fauna reading materials. Our Bungalows are 31 sqm and thoughtfully furnished to offer a harmonious blend of air-conditioned comfort and nature. Artwork, natural materials, and earthy tones create an inviting ambiance, reflecting the spirit of the surrounding wilderness.
Rooms can be reconfigured from a King to a Twin room. Please request when booking. This room type is an upgrade to the default room type at an additional cost, subject to availability.
ROOM UPGRADE OPTION - KINGFISHER SUITE
This is the largest of the safari bungalows. The Kingfisher Suite is three times the size, featuring a king size bed. An added bonus is a private dining space, for guests that want a more intimate evening dining experience away from Bamurru’s Main Lodge. The Suite shares the signature ceiling to floor mesh walls, to immerse in the natural surrounds with wildlife all around.
Designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment, this spacious and contemporary sanctuary allows you to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the wilderness. With it’s own private dining table overlooking the expansive view, you can request dining in your room. The bathroom features twin basins and showers, with a décor of rustic chic timber and decorative corrugated iron walls, for character in tune with the environment.
Spanning over 81 sqm, Kingfisher suite features an open-plan layout that effortlessly combines the indoors with the outdoors. Floor-to-ceiling mesh walls offer panoramic views of the ever-changing landscape, allowing you to observe the wildlife right from the comfort of your plush king-size bed or lounge area.
Note that this room type does not have air-conditioning. This room type is an upgrade to the default room type at an additional cost, subject to availability.
Your Darwin Hotel - pick-up at 11:00 am
Please advise us well ahead of time
Darwin
AUSTRALIA
Instructions
We will collect you from your central Darwin hotel at 11:00 am on day 1 of your trip. Please advise us of your pick-up location well ahead of time. If we do not have this information we will not be able to pick you up.
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