APT wilderness lodges get make-over
for 2012 Kimberley Adventures
APT is giving all its Wilderness Lodges a soft refurbishment in readiness for its 2012 small group 4WD and air safari Kimberley Wilderness Adventures program which is launched today.
APT General Manager Marketing, Debra Fox said the make-over includes new linen packages, cushions, interior furniture and art work, as well as king beds for the Bungle Bungle and Mitchell Falls lodges.
“The idea is to standardise the level of the lodges but ensure each still has its own unique feel and point of difference, based on its environment,” she said. “We have invested over $20 million in building these ‘touch of luxury’ lodges in key locations throughout the Kimberley. We’re in effect looking after our wilderness accommodation assets which give us a distinct marketing advantage for discovering the Kimberley, Arnhem Land and the Top End.”
Included in the lodges upgrade are ensuite bathrooms to Hawk Dreaming which takes it from camp to lodge status and the granting of liquor licences to all lodges in the Kimberley.
Ms Fox said regions of the Kimberley recently proposed for National Heritage listing were those visited by Kimberley Wilderness Adventures. This region really is the last frontier in Australia.
APT has added several components to its 13 day tour, including Parry’s Lagoon, a bird watcher’s paradise and lunch in an Outback pub in Wyndham) and introduced a five-day Great Kimberley Air Odyssey (from $6395 per person, twin share), a fully- escorted air safari.
This latter tour ticks all the ‘must see’ boxes, according to Ms Fox, and with minimum two passengers and maximum four, it is essentially a private tour. It includes one night at each of Bell Gorge lodge, Bungle Bungle lodge, El Questro and Mitchell Falls lodge.
The itinerary includes Windjana Gorge, King Leopold Range, Bell Gorge, Cathedral Gorge, Piccaninny Creek, Echidna Chasm, Chamberlain Gorge, Zebedee Springs, Mitchell Falls (heli flight and art, scenic coastal flight over Buccaneer Archipelago and Horizontal Waterfalls), Cape Leveque, glass bottom boat cruise and sunset champagne flight into Broome priced
The 2012 brochure has 75 pages, carries 34 itineraries and offers 253 departures.
More departures have been created for the 15-day Kimberley, Kakadu & Arnhem Land Explorer tour, priced from $8295, a tour described by an APT senior guide as “the hamburger with the lot”.
Lead in tour is the 13-day Kimberley Complete from $7145 (for April 27 departure) which includes small group 4WD touring, 35 meals, accommodation including APT’s exclusive wilderness lodges, all sightseeing, park fees, cruise and permits.
The Broome-Broome itinerary highlights are Mitchell Falls (with helicopter flight and two nights at Mitchell Plateau), discovering Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek, Gibb River Road, hiking and swimming at Bell, Barnett River and Galvans gorges, viewing Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art, Emma Gorge at El Questro, cruising the Ord River and Lake Kununurra, the world-heritage Purnululu National Park and cruising Geikie Gorge.
Accommodation includes, Bell Gorge and Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodges as well as APT’s award-winning Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge.
Agents call 1300 278 278, visit www.aptgroup.travel