wild bush luxury in northern Australia

sunset silhouette at Bamurru Plains (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Bamurru Plains is a safari camp in the far north of Australia, east of Darwin. Separated from the ocean by 100 square miles of flood plains, airboat excursions to view wildlife are the most popular activity. Because our visit came at the end of the dry season, we did not have the chance to enjoy this particular activity as the floodplains were dry — but we did take advantage of sunrise and sunset excursions by 4x4 and boat. The best times to visit are May through August.

Birdwatching was the passion of an English couple we met at Bamurru Plains. Equipped with extremely long telephoto lenses, they were rewarded with photographic opportunities of a vast variety of local birds. It was fun hearing them excitedly calling out the names of birds they spotted and checking that species off their list. Wallabies hopped all around our camp, and we saw crocodiles in abundance when going for a nature cruise down the Mary River.

Our cabin was plain but comfortable. Screened walls brought in the sights and sounds of the surroundings. No need for alarm clocks, as the birds will reliably wake you at dawn. The camp is completely off the grid, electricity being provided by generators and hot water from the solar collector on your roof (keep your showers short!). Being off the grid, your stay at Bamurru Plains will be a vacation from emails, phone calls, and news. Food was good, with guests dining "family style" around a long table.

   

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

One&Only Wolgan Valley

bounding wallabies (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Clients have raved about One&Only Wolgan Valley, so being given the opportunity to visit, I grabbed the chance to spend two evenings here. I can report that Wolgan Valley is one of the finest luxury resorts I have ever visited. Here are answer to questions you might have about the property.

How to get there. Three hours west of Sydney by car, there are several ways to arrive. Least expensive is to rent a car, but bear in mind that they drive on the wrong side of the road in Australia. I wouldn't recommend a self-drive for jet-lagged American tourists arriving Sydney at 6 a.m. Rather, spend a few days in Sydney to get acclimated, and then rent that car for the drive out west. Your other options are hiring a driver ... or taking a helicopter. Flight time is just 45 minutes, and you'll enjoy views of Sydney Harbor and the Blue Mountains en route. Helicopter transfers are expensive but not exorbitant.

The suites. A boutique property that is part of a 7,000 acre nature conservatory, there are just 40 freestanding casual elegant "suites" (actually, self-contained cottages) measuring 1800 square feet in area. The front door leads into your large living room with sofa and easy chair with a wall-mounted flatscreen. Through a door to the right is an indoor-outdoor lap pool (about 8' x 23'). A large screened porch behind the suite overlooks a lawn toward the mountains beyond; at this very moment, there is a wombat grazing on the grass! The bedroom features a very comfortable four-poster King bed (or two twins), a second flatscreen, a built-in desk, and two chairs by a round table. A large walk-in closet area has plenty of hanging space, and the brown slate-tiled bathroom has dual vanities, soaking tub-with-a-view, step-in rain shower, and a WC with toilet and bidet. A two-sided gas fireplace stands between the bedroom and living room.

All-inclusive. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the price of your room (including local wines and beers), and I can report that the food is excellent. Each dinner features a six course degustation menu, or you can order a la carte if your appetite is not quite so ambitious. The non-alcoholic snacks and beverages in the minibar in your room are also complimentary, as is the fast wireless internet.

Why come to Wolgan Valley? Not just a gorgeous suite, come for the beautiful scenery and wildlife.  You'll see kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats during your stay! Complimentary scheduled activities include guided nature walks, children's activities, and a colonial heritage tour. Signature experiences, available for additional charge, include the Wildlife & Sundowners Tour (on which the photo above was shot), a trail ride on horseback (which I skipped, opting instead for a great massage at the One&Only Spa), and a nocturnal spotlighting and stargazing tour.

Virtuoso guests receive added value in the form of the Virtuoso amenities, namely a $100 resort credit towards one of the activities described above (or perhaps towards a premium bottle of wine).

copyright  (c)  2016 by David Ourisman LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

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