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 BAMURRU PLAINS

Wild Bush Luxury in the Top End of Northern Territory
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A unique luxury bush camp that exudes ‘Wild Bush Luxury’ and brings a touch of style to a remote and beautiful wilderness wetland and flood plain.  It is the wetland that give the camp its character and enhances its appeal.  Wildlife is in abundance and can be best seen by safaris from the camp or an airboat excursion across the flood plain, from dragonflies to water monitors to lotus flowers and birds that appear to walk on water. Crocodiles, water buffalo, wild horses (brumbies) and wallabies are some of the highlights along with a proliferation of birds such as magpie geese.  There is no roughing it at Bamurru with an open bar, gourmet meals enjoyed in spacious, soft-furnished areas.  See Price Panel.
Water Buffalo at Bamurru Plains

How to get to Bamurru Plains

Location map - Bamurru Plains, Top End Northern Territory
By Road
3 hours’ drive from Darwin, 2½ hours from Jabiru (Kakadu National Park).
Guests wishing to self-drive may do so but, as the property is a working buffalo station, they are required to leave their vehicles at the entrance of the property from where they will be picked up by a staff member for the 20 minute drive back to camp.

By Air
20 minutes flight by light aircraft from Darwin airport, or 20 minutes from Kakadu National Park.
 

About Bamurru Plains
Bamurru is located just to the west of Kakadu National Park on the Mary River floodplains.    The focus of your stay is in the environment around you and the wildlife and bird life for whom it is home. Each individual safari 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. 
Pool at Bamurru Plains
 

Accommodation at Bamurru Plains
Nine Individual Safari Suites ...
Inside a luxury safari suite tent at Bamurru Plains 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 - Bamurru have focused on key creature comforts, a supremely comfortable bed, 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 9 safari suites built amongst the savannah bush fringing the floodplains, the camp is exclusive and guests will not see other tourists on the property.

Each safari suite has an en suite bathroom and is raised on a timber platform, with space for sitting out the heat of day with a good book or watching the local wildlife.
 
Activities at Bamurru Plains
Safaris
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 harbour 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
Airboat tour at Bamurru Plians
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 neighbouring 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
The Sampan River, which forms the western boundary of the station, harbours 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. Our open top safari vehicles provide for the best possibly viewing and are equipped so that you can enjoy a cool drink and bite to eat while out on the property.
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 and yet return to an exclusive bush camp at the end of the day.
Station Activities
Bamurru is located on Swim Creek Station, one of a handful of buffalo pastoral properties in this area, and when the muster is in full swing the sight of helicopters or ‘Mad Max-like’ bull catchers corralling these beasts into the yards is awe inspiring. As musters are conducted on an ad hoc basis, this is not a guaranteed activity. Bamurru is located on Swim Creek Station, one of a handful of buffalo pastoral properties in this area, and when the muster is in full swing the sight of helicopters or ‘Mad Max-like’ bull catchers corralling these beasts into the yards is awe inspiring. As musters are conducted on an ad hoc basis, this is not a guaranteed activity.
Magpie Geese at Bamurru Plains
 

Seasons at Bamurru Plains

The Monsoon – ‘The Wet’ – December to March: The monsoon forms over South-East Asia and pushes a dense blanket of cloud in from the Timor Sea. Where the dry season is test of survival the wet season is an act of environmental rebirth as the floodwaters that empty off the stone country inland spill out over the riverbanks and onto the floodplains. The Estuarine Crocodiles move back onto the plains from the river channels in preparation for their breeding season. The re-growth of aquatic plants provides an abundance of food for the Magpie Geese as they build up for their nesting season. This time of year results in heavy rains most days with some spectacular storms.
March to May: As the waters recede from the floodplains, the Magpie Geese and Brolgas are starting to tend newly hatched young and the shallower areas of water attract a variety of waterbirds (cormorants, pelicans, egrets, spoonbills, herons and ibises). Waterlilies and other perennial waterplants are at their best over this period.  May to July: Early ‘Dry’ Cooler day and night temperatures and lower humidity make this period a more comfortable time of the year to visit from a climatic perspective. Grassfires can be a feature at this time of year which provides an opportunity to spot a variety of raptors, kites especially but also Brown Falcons and Sea-Eagles.
August to September - late 'Dry': The days are warmer and the nights not so cool. Greater concentrations of birds are evident on the billabongs as the waterways and floodplains dry out. Tropical woodland plants flower at this time of year producing an abundance of nectar. Flowering cluster figs bring in a variety of species including Northern Brushtail Possums and the Black Flying-fox. The dry floodplains are susceptible to fire at this time of year but nevertheless provide the opportunity to visit the coastline across the spectacular tidal mudflats.
The Pre-Monsoon - October to December: The clear skies of the dry season transform themselves into build ups of cumulus and sudden massive storm cells. The parched earth soaks up the rain and the transformation of the floodplains to a carpet of greenery is remarkable. Termites use this time of year to build up their nests and there is a constant buzz of cicadas in the air as they undergo their final moult. The concentrations of birds, especially Magpie Geese, on the remaining waterholes are spectacular. The frogs start calling again in the woodlands building up to an evening crescendo. The Antilopine Wallaroos and Agile Wallabies put on condition and resume their breeding cycle.
 
PRICES: Bamurru Plains, Top End, NT Up to 31 March 2011    1 Apr '11 - 31 Mar '12 Truly
Ref
Prices are PER PERSON per night
Minimum stay is 2 nights		 Single Twin/Double Share Triple Share Single Twin/Double Share Triple Share
Luxury safari suite tent  A$1320 A$895 A$823 Request Request Request 1067
Included in the price:  Meals, beverages (based on a select open bar) and scheduled activities (4WD drive, river trips, airboat trips and daily guiding). 
To check approximate prices in other key currencies, see ther Currency Converter
Click here for details of How to Book /How to Make a Secure Payment
Please use the Truly Reference Number when making booking enquiries
  
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