Bullo River Station

Style

Bovine beauty

Setting

Gorges, waterfalls and bushland

Bullo River Station isn’t a hotel, it’s an experience – and a gloriously hot and dusty one at that. Discover Australia’s pioneer spirit at this hospitable working cattle station, which occupies half a million acres and works closely with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Unleash your inner bushman or bushwoman by roaming the grounds in a 4WD or croc-spotting by the river. After all that, you’ll definitely deserve a dip in the pool, a drink in the lodge and a gourmet meal.

Facilities

Rooms

12.

Checkout

11am; earliest check-in, 3pm. Both are flexible on request, subject to availability.

More Details

Rates usually include all meals and drinks (including beer, wine and spirits), free WiFi, and all land-based touring activities with a private guide.

Also

This working cattle station isn’t suitable for guests with reduced mobility.

Hotel Closed

Bullo River Station shuts its doors from October until May.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

At the Hotel

Half a million acres; herd of around 4,000 Brahman cattle; communal lounge stocked with drinks and snacks; gym and yoga studio. In rooms: air conditioning, Vasse Virgin Olive Oil bath products, kettle, tea and coffee kit.

Our Favourite Rooms

The 12 guest rooms are all born equal, styled with earthy colours and decorated with natural materials that riff on the surrounding landscapes. Towel holders have been braided by a local whip-maker; hardware comes courtesy of an accomplished blacksmith. If you bring a pioneering spirit to the bedroom, spend a night or two in a remote Lake View Hut, perched atop a hill and only accessible by helicopter. (Meals will be brought to you by air.)

Poolside

Wash away some of that rust-red dust by plunging into the sparkling alfresco pool, which overlooks the leafy paddock where the cattle graze. Speak nicely to the staff and they’ll take you to Marlee’s swimming hole: the only freshwater (ie, croc-free) bathing spot on the property…

Packing Tips

Bring binoculars and some warm clothes for after sundown. Your sense of adventure helps, too.

Also

Acclaimed Sydney designer Sibella Court is responsible for the accommodation wing’s good looks, having previously strewn sartorial fairy dust over Sydney stars such as Hotel Palisade and Palmer & Co cocktail bar.

Children

Little Smiths are very welcome; adventurous types will love it. Cots are free; children aged between three and 15 stay for a reduced rate ($900 a night).

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Take a place at the communal table on the patio.

Dress Code

Channel your inner cowboy/Calamity Jane.

Hotel Restaurant

The lodge dates back to the Fifties, and has the retro style to prove it. Renovations to the lodge are in the planning; in the meantime, guests tend to dine outside on the patio, in the company of Mother Nature. Breakfast and dinner are eaten at the homestead; other meals and snacks are built into guests’ adventures, with a range of potential locations: an impromptu barbecue by a waterhole, perhaps. Instead of a formal menu, guests are asked about their dietary preferences; if the station’s planned meals don’t take their fancy, an alternative will be helpfully suggested. Sociable barbecues with the team take place one a week, starring the freshest beef from the farm, barramundi from the river, plus a bounty of local produce.

Hotel Bar

There’s no formal bar as such, but you can enjoy drinks in the restaurant and lounge.

Last Orders

Dinner is usually a group affair at around 7pm; breakfast, lunch and tea breaks are timed around guests’ activities. To kick dinner off in style, guests are invited to sunset canapés at the homestead.

Room Service

None, but help yourself to drinks and snacks from the fridge in the communal lounge between meals.

Planes

The closest airport is Kununurra in Western Australia, a three-hour drive from Bullo; let Smith24 book your flights. You can also catch a private charter flight from Darwin to the hotel (staff will sort all the logistics with advance notice). The hotel can arrange airport transfers for an additional charge, on request.

Automobiles

The drive from Kununurra is somewhat ‘adventurous’; the hotel advises guests to come by air transfer instead. Alternatively, staff can arrange return transfers in a Land Cruiser (an extra cost).

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Boredom is unheard of here, thanks to awe-inspiring indigenous art, wildlife adventures galore, hiking, helicopter tours and Bullo River expeditions – not to mention the daily distractions of cattle-station life. Fish for barramundi in the Bullo River or cruise the Bullo River Gorge, admiring the red cliffs, mangroves, fig trees and pandanus. Keep a keen eye out for wildlife: birds, wallabies, crocodiles (including the rare pygmy croc), goannas and other reptiles gather at the water’s edge, especially in the cooler mornings and evenings. Bird-watchers can expect more than 100 resident and migratory bird species, including emus, magpie geese, whistling ducks, wedge-tailed eagles, red wing parrots, brolgas and the elegantly long-legged jabiru. Join a farm tour for a comprehensive masterclass in station life. If the friendly team from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy are around, have a chat with them about their sustainable methods. Embark on an Aboriginal rock art tour: around 200 rock-art sites are hidden away in the station’s cliffs and ridge lines. These ancient artworks are thought to belong to the Miriuwung-Gajerrong people, who originally lived on and managed the land. The galleries can only be accessed by guided tour in an all-terrain vehicle or helicopter. Don’t forget to take a picture of the largest boab tree found so far…

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .