Air Adventure from Melbourne to the Gulf

The Australian outback is constantly changing and when you see it from the air, you really notice the changing landscape. From the deserts in central NSW and Qld to the indescribable but beautiful waterways that spread throughout the gulf like veins. We were lucky enough to take friends on an air adventure from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria over a few weeks. We chose a path that enabled us to enjoy some of the quintessential outback destinations in NSW and Queensland. No outback air adventure is complete without a visit to the great pubs along the way. Innamincka Hotel, Tibooburra Hotel and the iconic Birdsville Hotel all represent simple jumps on the way up north to the small town of Karumba for some R&R and of course Barra fishing in the many rivers. There are two pubs in town, the Animal Bar and the Sunset Tavern with the latter being a nice place to sit and enjoy a meal while the sunsets over the water – just beautiful. The Animal Bar is a welcome relief as you bring the boat up the boat ramp after a solid day’s fishing and in desperate need for a beer. A colourful place that seems to attract the crowds at the end of a hard day on the water. Our next leg on this trip was a short hop over to Sweers Island; a popular fishing location where owners Lyn and Tex make you feel like part of the family. On this occasion we were lucky enough to see the revered Morning Glory rolling cloud formation build from the south and traverse the island. We have since been to Sweers at least a dozen times, attracted by the hospitality, the freedom and of course some amazing fishing from a boat that is yours for the duration of your stay. Look it up and if you can get there, I promise you it’s worth the effort. www.sweers.com.au From Sweers, we flew across to Birri Fishing Resort on Mornington Island, the largest of the Wellesley Islands. Although resort is probably a stretch, what is lacked in style it certainly made up for in service. We were well looked after and the fishing charters they took us on each day yielded great catches of quality reef fish as well as some larger pelagic species like Long Tail Tuna and Queenies to die for. As far as I am aware, the lease on Birri Fishing Lodge was not renewed by the traditional owners and as a result the resort closed some time after 2017. The last multiple night stay for us was a short hop to Adels Grove near Lawn Hill National Park. This is an absolute must do regardless of whether you drive in with your van or fly into the on-site airstrip like we did. Adel’s can provide you some glamping options if you don’t have your house on wheels behind you. A short drive from Adels Grove will get you to Lawn Hill National Park where you can hire a kayak and paddle up the gorge to the first waterfall. If you are adventurous, you can drag your kayak up a short track and continue to paddle along the upper river. The whole place is spectacular with the colours of the gorge walls changing as the morning turns to afternoon. Lawn Hill has a number of walks along the tops of the gorge also offering amazing views of the gorge itself and the surrounding areas. You have to take your time and just absorb what is an absolute gem in the Australian outback. Our holiday time finished, it was time to head home via Birdsville and Mildura. Flying the outback is an amazing experience but we are now looking forward to spending more time doing the trip by 4wd and taking time out to explore areas in more depth.