Bamurru Plains

Each individual suite is designed to blend with the surrounding bush, and as such exposes guests to the sights and sounds of the bush around you, whether it is the haunting call of a Whistling Kite, the raucous cacophony from the Blue-winged Kookaburras as dawn breaks or the sound of a full grown buffalo splashing its way through the floodplains just a short distance from your bed. The morning chorus of tens of thousands of Magpie Geese, after whom the camp is named, is an experience in itself.

With no telephones, TVs, CD players or the typical features of a hotel room to distract you, your focus turns to the surrounding environment.  The concept is simple - they have focused on key creature comforts, a supremely comfortable Living Areabed, 100% cotton linen, large soft bath towels, a high pressure shower and providing lots of space. Meals in the lodge building are wholesome and innovative with a hint of native produce in many dishes.  Your hosts will provide an informal level of attention that is only possible when you are one of a small number of guests. It is their knowledge of the area that brings the experience alive.

With just 13 suites built amongst the savanna bush fringing the floodplains, the camp is exclusive and guests will not see other tourists on the property.

Each suite is en suite and raised on a timber platform, with space for sitting out the heat of day with a good book or watching the local wildlife.

The floodplains of the Mary River region form one of the most significant ecosystems in Australia. Dominated by the climatic extremes of the tropical monsoon, the wetlands and savannah woodlands that fringe the coastal regions between Darwin and Kakadu National Park harbor an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna.

Airboat Tours: The floodplain wetlands of the Mary River catchment are the key natural feature of this area and some of the most important in the country, home to thousands of Magpie Geese, Plumed Whistling-Duck, Egrets, Ibis and a host of other birds. A morning trip out on the plains in an airboat is utterly exhilarating and the only way to truly experience this environment.

Bird Watching: The Mary River catchment is home to some 236 species of bird, many of which are found at Bamurru Plains. The significance of this particular property comes in the variety of habitat: black soil floodplains, paperbark swamps, savannah woodland, river mangroves and coastal beaches support an extraordinary diversity of birdlife. Even in the dry season the Swim Creek floodplain retains large areas of water where the birdlife congregates in vast numbers. The floodplains on the property still retain large areas of water to which the birdlife congregates in extraordinary numbers rarely seen elsewhere in Australia.

Wildlife Viewing: The floodplains and neighboring savannah woodlands host an immense variety of wildlife. Species that you might encounter include Agile Wallabies, Antilopine Wallaroos, Dingos, Estuarine Crocodiles, wild pigs and buffalo. Other species appear at night and include a variety of reptiles, possums, water monitors and other amphibians.

River Cruises (April - October): The Sampan River, which forms the western boundary of the station, harbors one of the largest crocodile populations in the world. Cruising amongst the mangroves in search of these prehistoric reptiles will also uncover a huge variety of birdlife.

4WD Safaris: With the recession of the waters from much of the floodplain in the dry season, the plains become accessible to 4WD vehicles and an afternoon out with one of the guides will provide a unique insight to this fragile yet very important environment. The open top safari vehicles provide for the best possible viewing and are equipped so that you can enjoy a cool drink and bite to eat while out on the property.

Scenic Helicopter Flights: Enjoy the thrill of a helicopter flight and an exclusive aerial experience over the spectacular floodplains and coastline of Northern Australia.  A bird's eye view of the thousands of Magpie Geese, Egrets, Whistling Ducks and flocks of Corellas provides a different and inspirational perspective of the floodplains, river systems, and prolific wildlife of Australia's north coast.  The rivers of this part of Australia play host to the largest salt water crocodiles in the world and the property is also home to almost 5,000 head of buffalo.

Explore Aboriginal Culture: While Bamurru Plains does not provide sites of specific Aboriginal interest, the rock art galleries of Kakadu and Arnhem Land are only a short distance away and Bamurru provides an ideal base from which to visit Kakadu or Arhnemland and yet return to an exclusive bush camp at the end of the day.

In addition to its extraordinary natural beauty and prolific wildlife, this region boasts one of the worlds great sports fish, the mighty Barramundi, both in the river systems and in the 'run off' on the floodplains.  Whether you choose river fishing or floodplain fishing, you will certainly reel in the memories.