Northern Territory, Australia
Bullo River Station
Remote, intrepid and about as authentically Aussie as you can get, Bullo River Station is a working cattle ranch of enormous scale and beauty. The combination of luxury accommodation with thrilling experiences and serene spots for unwinding makes this place fascinating, rejuvenating and unforgettable. Remote, intrepid and about as authentically Aussie as you can get, Bullo River Station is a working cattle ranch of enormous scale and beauty. The combination of luxury accommodation with thrilling experiences and serene spots for unwinding makes this place fascinating, rejuvenating and unforgettable.
Remote, intrepid and about as authentically Aussie as you can get, Bullo River Station is a working cattle ranch of enormous scale and beauty. The combination of luxury accommodation with thrilling experiences and serene spots for unwinding makes this place fascinating, rejuvenating and unforgettable. Remote, intrepid and about as authentically Aussie as you can get, Bullo River Station is a working cattle ranch of enormous scale and beauty. The combination of luxury accommodation with thrilling experiences and serene spots for unwinding makes this place fascinating, rejuvenating and unforgettable.
Location
A working cattle ranch spanning almost half a million acres, Bullo River Station lies deep in the Northern Territory outback, about 800 kilometres by road from Darwin. Just west of here, beyond the Keep River National Park, is the border with Western Australia.
Meandering through the property, from the sublime swimming holes of its upstream gorge to its confluence with the mighty, saline and tidal Victoria River, is the Bullo River. That means there are more than 80 kilometres of riverbank, not only enjoyed by more than 2,500 head of Brahman-cross cattle but also by an array of native marsupials and birds. Water has also drawn people here for millennia, and they have left their legacy as Aboriginal rock art galleries.
The Bullo River Station is known throughout Australia as the setting of Sarah Henderson’s inspirational autobiography, ‘From Strength to Strength’.
Meandering through the property, from the sublime swimming holes of its upstream gorge to its confluence with the mighty, saline and tidal Victoria River, is the Bullo River. That means there are more than 80 kilometres of riverbank, not only enjoyed by more than 2,500 head of Brahman-cross cattle but also by an array of native marsupials and birds. Water has also drawn people here for millennia, and they have left their legacy as Aboriginal rock art galleries.
The Bullo River Station is known throughout Australia as the setting of Sarah Henderson’s inspirational autobiography, ‘From Strength to Strength’.
Accommodation
Its driveway may be 75-kilometres long, but the honey-coloured sandstone homestead at Bullo River Station is worth the dusty journey. Life must once have been extremely tough here, and there’s no doubt that the ranch workers still require impressive fortitude, but for guests it’s a sophisticated and luxurious haven of calm relaxation.
There are just 12 ensuite double rooms here, and even though there’s air conditioning throughout, we suggest you just open the sliding doors onto the lush lawns to let in the breeze and calls of the kookaburras. Interiors are stylishly bush-modern, with colours and accessories inspired by the outback environment: cast iron beds and forged hardware mix with burnished wood and subtle-toned fabrics.
There are just 12 ensuite double rooms here, and even though there’s air conditioning throughout, we suggest you just open the sliding doors onto the lush lawns to let in the breeze and calls of the kookaburras. Interiors are stylishly bush-modern, with colours and accessories inspired by the outback environment: cast iron beds and forged hardware mix with burnished wood and subtle-toned fabrics.
The same informal, elegant and comfortable feel extends around the homestead, and as you make your way to grab a snack from the communal pantry, you’ll be making mental notes of colour combinations and inventive bushcraft furnishings. Where will you relax next? Perhaps in the library or the lounge, or maybe in the shade of a palm tree by the outdoor pool. Or will that have to wait until you’ve browsed the cabinet of curiosities?
Breakfast will be in the garden, lunch is likely to be out in the wilds by a swimming hole or under a boab tree, and dinner will be at a long communal table with fellow adventurers. Needless to say, you can enjoy your fill of organic beef or local barramundi. Then, perhaps, it’s time for a drink by the firepit and a chat with your hosts about what might unfold tomorrow.
Breakfast will be in the garden, lunch is likely to be out in the wilds by a swimming hole or under a boab tree, and dinner will be at a long communal table with fellow adventurers. Needless to say, you can enjoy your fill of organic beef or local barramundi. Then, perhaps, it’s time for a drink by the firepit and a chat with your hosts about what might unfold tomorrow.
Experiences
With almost half a million acres of land, the territory of Bullo River Station contains serene spots and endless fascination. It’s far from empty — except of people.
- Explore the languid waters and burnt red sandstone cliffs of the Bullo River Gorge on the station’s electric vessel. You’ll see the occasional crocodile amid the mangroves
- Working days on the station are fascinating, and you’ll be encouraged to watch and learn from the hardy experts of this environment. There’s a purpose-built viewing platform above the cattle yards.
- Safari-style expeditions in all-terrain vehicles take you to stunning locations such as waterholes that attract wild buffalo, all nature of marsupials and dozens of species of birds. See if you can spot the rare and elusive pygmy crocodile.
- We recommend Marlee’s Bath, a remote swimming spot for cool dips and romantic meals.
- Take in the enormous scale of the station by helicopter, the ideal way to discover the remotest spots, including Aboriginal rock art sites.
- If you’re an equine fanatic, you’ll love spending time with the workers who look after the stock horses. Bred for the rigours of the outback and for the calm temperament vital for working with cattle, these horses are both gorgeous and impressive.
- Fish the Bullo River for Barramundi with the help of a local expert who’ll take you to the best locations.
- Spot the Milky Way constellation known as the Giant Emu using the station’s state-of-the-art telescope.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Elders past, present and emerging, on whose land Bullo River Station stands. In sharing elements of their history, heritage and culture we honour their deep connection to country.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that address location-specific needs from education to conservation and environmental sustainability. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that address location-specific needs from education to conservation and environmental sustainability. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
Conservation
Key to its ethos as a sustainable tourism venture, Bullo River Station’s operations are carried out at an intensity that allows a coexistence of cattle and native species. Habitat maintenance and regeneration are constant guiding principles, and the station pioneered the concept of pastoralism and conservation in partnership with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
Environment
The station captures rainwater using tanks with a capacity of almost 3 million litres, and this will double in the coming years. The majority of the electricity needs of the station are supplied from solar panels. The station is becoming self-sufficient in its fruit and vegetable requirements.
Community
Bullo supports Australian and Northern Territory companies owned and operated by indigenous communities. In the bathrooms, you’ll find hand soap made by a Wola/Gija woman based in Kununurra. The shampoo is from Yaye, an Alice Springs enterprise.
Why Travel with Journeysmiths
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.