WESTERN AUSTRALIA55El Questro HomesteadEL QUESTROWILDERNESS PARK This private park contains a million acres ofincredible Outback scenery characterised bycascading waterfalls, gorges, meandering rivers,thermal springs and sprawling mountainousranges. Take a boat along Chamberlain Gorge, afresh waterhole bounded by tropical vegetation,or visit the thermal pools of Zebedee Springs.These pools make a wonderful place to soakand relax, surrounded by dense palms, feralhorses, frilled neck lizards, goannas andcolourful parrots. A knowledgeable ranger is onhand to introduce you to the full spectrum ofthese curious creatures. El Questro Homestead This handsome homestead is cantilevered over themagnificent Chamberlain River and has just sixstylish ensuite guestrooms, decorated with artifactsand antiques collected from Indonesia and tropicalAustralia and with private verandas overlooking thegarden and river. Guests may dine al fresco beneaththe canopy of stars in a number of quirky locationsand this is the ideal place to let the massive beautyof the untamed Kimberley work its magic.Emma Gorge Resort,El Questro Wilderness ParkHidden within the fiery red of the Cockburn Rangesthis lovely resort is shaded by palms and pandanus.Gravel paths link the tented cabins to the resort,where a swimming pool is set amongst native treesand landscaped gardens line the banks of EmmaCreek. Barbecues of fresh fish and Kimberley beefare dinner specialties, all served in the open air ofthe main building's spacious verandas. Each of thesuperior tented cabins is ensuite and has a raisedroof, allowing the tropical sounds and scents topermeate the air. Emma Gorge offers a greatexperience of Kimberley and its myriad wildlife. tailor-made travelAll our travel arrangements are on a private,individual basis to offer you complete freedom ofchoice. The itineraries and accommodation optionsthroughout the brochure are designed to give you aflavour of what is possible and can be tailor-made tosuit your preferences. Prices vary according toselected accommodation and season. Please callour Australia specialists on 01869 276 345 todiscuss your individual requirements.PURNULULU (BUNGLEBUNGLE) NATIONAL PARKThis UNESCO World Heritage National Parksouth of Kununurra protects a fascinatinggeological landmark, the magnificent BungleBungle range, a unique panorama of beehive-like mounds, dyed a vivid orange and black bymetallic deposits. One of the best ways to seethem is from the air, giving a perspective of theirmassive scale. Further into the range there is ahidden world of gorges and pools where fanpalms cling precariously to the dome walls. Thebest sites are reached on foot at CathedralGorge in the south and Echidna Chasm in thenorth. Aboriginal heritage runs deep and thearea is rich in rock art and sacred burialgrounds, while the plentiful birds, includingrainbow bee-eaters and flocks of noisybudgerigars, are your constant companions.Emma Gorge ResortMustering at El QuestroKimberleyCompleteThis itinerary, a small group guided tour, sets out tothoroughly explore this marvellous region. Discoverthe gorges of the Gibb River Road, the vibrantAboriginal culture of the Mitchell Plateau and thespectacular Bungle Bungle range at PurnululuNational Park. Guided in places by Aboriginal land-owners you will stay in comfortable permanentcamps in and around the main national parks aswell as the lovely Emma Gorge Resort.Day 1:Leave Broome and head for Derby andWindjana Gorge and Tunnel Creeknational parks. Day 2:Travel along the Gibb River Road and visitBell Gorge. Day 3:Turn off the Gibb River Road towards theMitchell Plateau and King Edward River. Day 4:Explore Mitchell Plateau and the rock artsites of Wangjina and Gwion.Day 5:Take a flight over the waterfalls and atour of the area with an Aboriginal guide. Day 6:Leave the plateau and head back towardsthe Gibb River Road.Day 7:Cross the Durack and Pentecost riversinto El Questro Wilderness Park. Day 8:Explore El Questro Wilderness Park orsoak in Zebedee Springs. Day 9:Take a cruise on the Ord River and LakeKununurra. Day 10:Head south and enter Purnululu NationalPark to see the spectacular Bungle Bunglerange and trek to Echidna Chasm.Day 11:Trek to Cathedral Gorge and walkamongst the domes. Learn aboutbushtucker, bush medicine and the area'ssignificance to the local Aboriginal people. Day 12:Visit historic Halls Creek. Day 13:Cruise through Geikie Gorge escorted bya traditional Bunuba Aboriginal landowner. Later, return to Broome.EXTENSIONThere are a number of different touring optionsavailable within the Kimberley, some of which startand finish in Kununurra or Darwin, makingdiscovering this area - often presumed remote andinaccessible - a breeze. Combine your tour with astay in Kakadu National Park, cruise back toBroome from Darwin exploring the Kimberley coastor arrange your tour to finish in Kununurra to visitthe Outback cattle station of Bullo River Station.Bungle Bungle National Park

THE GHANThe Ghan completed its first journey fromAdelaide through the ruggedly beautiful RedCentre to Darwin in 2003, reviving a dreamborn in the colonial era. It follows the trailblazed by the early explorers and Afghan'cameleers' who tirelessly supplied the OverlandTelegraph stations ensuring that the remoteOutback and Red Centre kept in touch with therest of the world. The 1,850 mile two-nightjourney through the heart of Australia begins inAdelaide and proceeds to the Flinders Rangesbefore crossing the Simpson Desert andreaching Alice Springs in the Red Centre. Thenewest stretch of line heads across Australia'sarid heartland to Katherine, famous for itsstunning gorges, before tracking through thelush tropical scenery of the Top End. A twiceweekly service operates the overnight journeybetween Adelaide and Darwin, while Adelaideto Alice Springs runs weekly. Guests boarding inAdelaide can connect with incoming trainservices from both Sydney and Melbourne.THE INDIAN PACIFICAs the name implies, The Indian Pacific links twooceans in one of the world's longest andgreatest train journeys. Travelling from Sydneyto Perth, or vice versa, it covers a distance of2,720 miles over three nights. Starting in thespectacular Blue Mountains of New SouthWales, you thread through the famous greenand gold 'Sun Belt' of Australia, historic BrokenHill and Adelaide, before heading out into thetreeless plains of the Nullarbor Plain on theworld's longest stretch of straight railway track,travelling for 299 miles without a bend. Hereyou pull into a remote outpost called Cook,before heading on to gold-rich Kalgoorlie andthen onwards to Perth, capital of WesternAustralia. On every side, unique landscapesunfold and you can spot mobs of kangaroofrom the comfort of the lounge. Along theroute, keep your eyes peeled for the elusiveAustralian wedge-tailed eagle, whose massivetwo-metre wingspan makes it easy to spot in aclear desert sky. The train departs twice weekly.Great Rail Journeys56In a bygone age when to travel was toseek adventure, when the travellingitself was as important as getting thereand the people you met along the waywere a key part of the experience, thecomfort and romance of rail offered theultimate in style and speed. And thoughthese days aircraft are the fastest way tocross Australia's great distances, twotranscontinental railway lines give youthe opportunity to appreciate the sheerscale and grandeur of this vastlandmass. Running from Sydney toPerth the historic Indian Pacific linecrosses three states and one of theworld's largest deserts, while The Ghanrailway heads from the temperatesouthern coast to the hot and humidOutback capital, Darwin, in the north.These epic journeys allow you toexperience Australia's immenseOutback in comfort, safety and style,and arrive at your destination with areal sense of geographical perspective.