Safari Activities
- Wildlife Viewing
The valleys and slopes of the mountains harbour an extraordinary variety of wildlife. Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Wallaroos, Red-necked Wallabies, Wombats, Echidnas, Brushtail Possums, Platypus, Koalas, Goannas and numerous bird species are all possible sightings. Your guide brings his passion and local knowledge to bear in showing you the very best of the region.
- Bush walking
The Blue Mountains provides some of the greatest bush walking territory in Australia and your guide has been traversing the area for much of his life. His passion is for the southern part of the range, which provides a variety of walking options. Easier walks include viewpoints overlooking the camp and pathways at the nearby Wombeyan Caves. More remote and hardy treks include Bonnum Pic, Kanangra Walls and the Kowmung River.
- Fishing
Our guides are fishing specialists and happy to teach anyone how to cast a line. For the more serious fly fisherman, we can arrange access to the best trout water within a days reach of Sydney.
- Canoeing
The waters of the Wollondilly River provide some gentle options for exploring the area by canoe. A canoeing trip of about 2 hours is possible from just above the camp and provides the opportunity to spot an elusive platypus.
- 4WD Safaris
The tracks and trails of the southern Blue Mountains are rarely visited and your guide knows them intimately. The best way to see them is by joining him on a mobile safari by Toyota Landcruiser and on foot. This is one of the few ways to visit Kanangra Walls, the Kowmung River and the old silver mining town of Yerranderie.
- Heritage Tours - Yerranderie
Yerranderie is a 1,000 acre private property, effectively a private town surrounded by national park, on the Tonalli River. The French explorer, Francis Barallier camped near here when trying to find a route through the mountains but the area only came to fame in the 1890s when silver deposits were discovered here. In its heyday the township had a population of 2000 before the mines closed in 1936. Under the ownership of a remarkable lady, Val Lhuede, key buildings have been restored and maintained and the town now provides a unique insight into those early pioneering days.
- Corporate Retreats
Our riverside camp site is a great place for a very different sort of corporate retreat. Although only a little over 100 kms from Sydney, the seclusion and peace of this site provides the opportunity to escape the office desk, telephone and internet. We have the basic equipment to allow for meetings to be held, brains to be stormed and creative juices to flow. The only communication with the outside is the satellite telephone.
Access
By helicopter:
45 minutes flight by helicopter from western Sydney. A driver will pick you up from central Sydney to join your pilot at Bankstown airport for your flight over Sydney’s west and into the wilderness beyond.
By car:
Your Blue Mountains Private Safaris guide will collect you from the centre of Sydney, the drive to the southern Blue Mountains takes less than 2 hours.
Self-drive:
The drive from the centre of Sydney will take less than 2 hours. At a beautifully rustic little vineyard near Bowral you will meet your Blue Mountains Private Safaris guide. There is time for wine tasting and a chat with the wine maker before you head off to our secret bush location at the southern end of the Blue Mounains World Heritage area.
Accommodation
'Wild Bush Luxury' is a term we coined to encapsulate a uniquely Australian style of bush experience. The focus of your trip is in the environment and the wildlife and birdlife for whom it is home. Our own private camp and safaris are designed to expose guests to the sights and sounds of the surrounding bush, whether it is the dawn chorus from the kookaburras, or a kangaroo that has come down to the river bank to drink in the evening.
Our concept is simple – with none of the appliances we take for granted in modern life, we have focussed on a few key creature comforts. We aim to ensure that you eat well, drink well and sleep well! Your bed is a ‘swag’ - the bedding of choice for generations of pioneers in the Australian bush. Our swag is the deluxe version - a thick mattress, 100% cotton linen (500 threadcount!), a cosy duvet for the cooler bush evenings and a choice of pillows – despite the secluded bush location, we intend for you to have a great night’s sleep. Your swag is laid out on a raised platform, an inlaid cushion provides another layer of comfort underneath your mattress, while above you are the southern skies and a canopy of stars that stretch from one ridgeline to another. You have the privacy of your own ensuite facilities, a bucket camp shower (with hot water!) and camp toilet.
Meals are wholesome, often cooked on the camp fire. As you enjoy a sun downer drink and nibbles, your guide will busy himself preparing a traditional camp-oven roast or perhaps a seafood BBQ followed by a sweet treat. Meals are enjoyed under a simple canvas & timber structure on the banks of the river. A drop of premium Australian wine and the soft crackle of the fire ensures complete surrender to your wilderness surrounds.
The 3 swag platforms allow for double and twin sleeping configurations and provide accommodation for a group of 6 people to be looked after in comfort. Larger groups are possible, additional swags can be rolled out on 'natures' own platform!
For more remote safaris into the Blue Mountains, your guide will take a trailer and mobile camp that allows access to some fabulous wilderness sites that few locals have ever seen or even know about.
Prices for overnight trips include:
- Return transfers from either Joadja Vineyard or helicopter landing point
- All transport in 4WD
- All services of guide
- All meals, tea and coffee, wine, beer and soft drinks
- Deluxe swag accommodation, under the stars with eco-friendly en suite bathroom
- Included activities are – bush-walking, wildlife-spotting, afternoon tea with the wombats, canoeing and ‘donuttting’ on the river, fishing and 4 wheel drives to points of interest and scenic look outs
Prices for day trips include:
- Return transfers from either Joadja Vineyard or helicopter landing point
- All transport in 4WD
- All services of guide
- Morning and afternoon tea as well as lunch picnic (usually a bush BBQ with loads of options)
- Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch
- Included activities are – bush-walking, wildlife-spotting, afternoon tea with the wombats, canoeing and ‘donuttting’ on the river, fishing and 4 wheel drives to points of interest and scenic look outs
* Please contact AusHoliday 5 Star for further information, rates and advise on your personalised itinerary.
