For the past two years, as editor of What’s Up Downunder eMagazine, it’s been a personal indulgence and pleasure to curate an amazing selection of first-hand experiences, written with passion by our incredible writing team.
Today, I share with you some of the most absolute blindingly beautiful high-ticket destinations–the kind that attract travellers globally–that our Barra-loving lot say were worth every penny.
Horizontal Falls
This 18-hour experience includes flights to and from Derby via alternative routes that take in the Horizontal Falls and Buccaneer Archipelago, detailed and photographed in Alison Huth’s fun and inspiring story experiencing what’s now known as the Soar Cruise and Overnight Stay ex Derby.
“Over the ocean [we] get our first sight of the Horizontal Falls. They look interesting from the air, but it’s the strength of the water I wanted to experience.”
On this tour, Alison, Peter and crew dinned on Barra aboard a luxury pontoon, shared a divided pool with sharks (eek!), and passed through the mouth of the falls. Exciting stuff!
Animal Tracks Safari
This Animal Tracks Safari story is hands-down one of my favourite experience pieces I’ve published in What’s Up Downunder eMagazine. I gave it the cover, but frankly it didn’t get the traction I thought it deserved (rant over), so I’m giving you another chance to enjoy this cracking yarn on of the Animal Tracks Safari, where Indigenous guides call on guests to help source ingredients for a traditional feast. (Do it man, click the link).
“The mussels hid inside the mud … The guides entrusted Jordan to carry them in a quickly fashioned paperbark and vine basket, while Jaiden set out with a poking rod probing for the delicacies.”
A rainbow-coloured sunset, croc and buffalo sightings, campfire-cooked feast and an open-air Toyota Coaster, ‘nough said.
Nabilil Dreaming and Sunset Cruise
Three courses, three vessels, oh boy, did Fireman Ron and Di Sinclair enjoy a big day aboard the Nabilil Dreaming Sunset River Cruise, which they’ve lovingly chronicled here.
“It seemed almost too good to be true but the night was to get better … Each of us received a tasting plate of kangaroo filet with rose apple relish; paperbark-smoked chicken with ginger sesame vinaigrette; and NT crocodile with roasted eggplant and dehydrated olive. Not a bad start.”
On this wild, luxury experience, Ron and Di spotted crocs, examined exquisite rock art deep into the gorge, dined on three glorious courses watching the moon rise and sun set 😍 before watching river life unfold under green light in a nocturnal setting.
Undara Tubes
The Morning Undara Tour is a physical one, but well worth the effort writes Alison Huth, editor at large. Two providers are permitted to guide guests through this dramatic lava tube system, thought to the world’s largest. The tour begins with a rim walk around Kalkani Crater before a rock crawl into the system.
“A problem with very long ones is airflow and, following the idea of the canary in the coal mine, the guide uses a cigarette lighter. If it flares you get out because there isn’t enough oxygen in the tube”
