THE EXPERIENCE

For a visitor to Bullo River, this is not a choreographed experience, but one that changes according to the dictates of station life.  There is no such thing as a typical day at Bullo, and our friendly and capable team will arrange all of your activities tailor-made each day to suit your wishes.  For anyone who wants to learn some real Aussie bushcraft, from cracking a bullwhip to roping cattle aboard a bull catcher, the team at Bullo are the experts to show you.  Barramundi fishing, cattle mustering and branding, horseriding and quad biking are all possible at the station, depending on the weather and what is going on at the time.  That's not to say there aren't places to just read a book and take a leisurely swim in remote, beautiful waterholes and sandy beaches, most accessible only be helicopter.
 
"You can fish, watch cattle being worked and see rock art all in the one place," says Marlee of her home.  "It's a complete ecosystem with escarpment, open plains, saltwater and freshwater, gorges and waterfalls.  It's just like a little lost valley."
 
Some of the many activities available to guests during a stay include the following:
 
Cattle Mustering & Station Work

Cattle mustering is seasonal, over the dry season months May to October, and guests are welcome to watch or participate with the handling of stock.  With most of the mustering now done by helicopter and quad bikes, guests are welcome to take a front seat view on the huge range of activities that are associated with the running of an outback cattle station, which might be anything from mustering work to branding and dehorning of cattle in the yard.  To stay at Bullo River Station is to be caught up in the energetic life of a working cattle station.
 
Horse Riding

Whilst helicopters and quad bikes are predominantly used in the modern era of Station work, horses are still an important part of the operations at Bullo River.  There are stock horses available for guests to ride subject to your riding ability.  All riding is with the expert assistance and guidance of one of our team members.  If you are a keen horse rider please let us know in advance, so we can arrange guided rides during your stay.  It is also recommended you bring suitable riding boots.
 
Fishing

For the novice or enthusiast the opportunity for some of the best fishing in northern Australia can be found here.  The Bullo River runs for 80km through the property providing the opportunity for fresh and tidal salt water fishing.  The Bullo River then joins the Victoria River, one of the largest and most remote rivers in Australia and the property's eastern boundary.  Whilst Bullo is famous for Barramundi fishing there are also other species including Thread Fin Salmon, Jew Fish, Mangrove Jack and Black Bream.  We have boats to get you where the fish are biting.  Of course you can fish from the river bank or, for an optional extra, you can travel by helicopter to some of the more remote fishing spots. 
 
The best time to fish at Bullo is during the run-off from the wet season, which is March, April.  Alternatively the build-up to the wet season, which is October and November.  If a visit at those times is not suitable it does not matter as the fish bite at Bullo all year round.  If fishing is your primary interest, we can advise the best dates and tides for superb fishing.  Mighty barramundi, tipping the scales at 20-plus kilograms, are found throughout the waterways and it's the prospect of tangling with these spectacular and hard-fighting fish that consistently draws angling die-hards.  Your guides have many years' experience on Bullo River and they consistently put clients on to big barra in beautiful surroundings.  Heli-fishing, although an additional cost, provides access to some of the waterway's more remote locations and comes highly recommended.  Quality fishing gear is supplied at the Station and included in the nightly rate.
 
Aboriginal Rock Art & Gorge Cruising

Visit Aboriginal rock art sites and discover more about this ancient culture with one of our guides.  Gain an insight into the significance of their culture through their art and the history of the Aboriginal people in this part of Australia.  The station is home to a number of galleries of dramatic Aboriginal rock art, and each year, Franz and Marlee uncover more sites of the very early Bradshaw art and more recent Wandjina art.  Combine this with a river cruise up the spectacular Bullo River Gorge to fish or spot crocodiles, or simply take in the pristine landscape that is northern Australia. 
 
Helicopter Tours

The view of Bullo’s vastness from a chopper is truly breathtaking and comes highly recommend.  There are several large freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls high up in the escarpment away from the crocodiles which can only be accessed by helicopter and whilst it is an additional cost, this is a wonderful way to explore parts of the property that are inaccessible by any other means. 
 
One of the best ways to spend an afternoon at Bullo River is a visit to the 'Cascades'.  A 20 minute helicopter flight from the homestead, a spring-fed stream trickles through a sandstone cliff, carving a series of magnificent jade-green rock pools connected by waterfalls.  Spending a couple of hours here, alternating between the cool water and the warm rocks, is an experience to treasure.   Or for the more adventurous, according to Franz, the ultimate honeymoon is to be dropped at the white sand beaches of the Cascades, "our thirteenth room", with a swag, picnic and bottle of wine, with time spent dipping in and out of the pure, clear water that tumbles over the sandstone rocks into a series of perfectly formed swimming pools in a land barely touched by human footprint.  Not that you need the excuse of a honeymoon to do it!
 
The helicopter is a Robinson 44, capable of seating up to 3 passengers at a time and Franz is your fully licensed pilot.  Helicopter hire is charged on flying time and prebooking is recommended.
 
Bungle Bungle Tours

The Bungle Bungle National Park, or Purnululu National Park as it is officially called, features spectacular rounded rock towers alternately striped in orange and black and is a World Heritage Site.  These tiger-striped, beehive-shaped sandstone domes rise 300m out of the arid landscape in a 320,000 hectare National Park.  A scenic flight is the best way to gain a perspective of its massive size and we offer a scenic flight from the Station in our Cessna 210 Aircraft - a 2.5 hour return trip.   If you also wish to see this incredible landscape from the ground we can also fly guests in to meet a ground tour and then fly back to the Station at the completion of the tour.  Refer to Packages & Rates for further details on each of these options.