Bespoke luxury in the skies

Abercrombie & Kent’s Air Safaris

Travelling on board a privately chartered aircraft with the luxury of time, space and access is the latest, most desirable mode of travel in the new post-COVID normal. Expert luxury travel provider Abercrombie & Kent, with its years of experience handcrafting private jet journeys, has adapted the method to a new portfolio of bespoke air safaris throughout Australia and New Zealand. Taking to the skies on eight different itineraries, A&K’s private air safaris enable small groups of discerning travellers to visit, with ease, out-of-the-way destinations which are only feasible to link by private charter flight because of the distances involved and the lack of commercial air routes. These hard-toreach areas like Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Quilpie and Winton in Central Queensland or South Australia’s William Creek and Flinders Ranges, are easily accessed by private aircraft, bypassing airport queues and travelling according to a tailored timetable.

Each A&K air safari is specially curated to include exclusive excursions and activities like an intimate homestead experience in outback Queensland with the property owners, a culinary masterclass with wine pairings in the seafood capital of Australia, Port Lincoln, or a unique wine and artisan experience on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island. Local characters along the way add colour and authenticity, like Dan Walker, fifthgeneration Longreach pastoralist; William Creek’s Trevor Wright, a quintessential outback character dubbed ‘Minister of Most Things Worth Knowing’; Coffin Bay oyster farmer Chris Hank; and King Island local Heidi Weitjens, whose handcrafted gin and vodka is world-class.

Handpicked accommodations are a feature on every journey, each establishment chosen for its location, home comforts, hospitality and character. Take South Australia’s new Sequoia Lodge, a haven of design perfection with original artworks by local painters and sculptors cleverly dotted around the hotel. Or New Zealand’s Farm at Cape Kidnappers where the unique lodge, with its impeccably presented suites, sits on 6,000 rolling acres of stunning pastures in Hawke’s Bay with breathtaking views. Or Hobart’s MACq 01 inspired by tall Tasmanian tales with a storytelling vibe and rich local character. Every hotel featured is an authentic reflection of that destination’s style and spirit.

And meals are more than just a chance to refuel – they are a complete feast for the senses, often in stunning locations. Swap tales over drinks by a roaring gidgee fire in Queensland’s Channel Country and dine on local produce in a homestead dining room; indulge in a sevencourse ‘Valley to Verandah’ degustation menu paired with multi-award-winning wines, sake and creative cocktails in the Adelaide Hills; or sit down to a splendid gourmet lunch of locally sourced fare in the gardens of Dunedin’s Larnach Castle. These are just some of the epicurean extravagances included. A&K’s Air Safaris utilise a range of aircraft, including the eight-seat Citation X (the world’s fastest private charter jet), and the larger VIP Fokker 70. Flying by private charter elevates your journey to an entirely new level of convenience and flexibility.

Journeys are scheduled with specific departures in 2021 and 2022 and if dates don’t suit guest requirements, A&K’s Journey Designers are on hand to tailor bespoke adventures to meet the exact needs of the traveller.

This is air travel as it was always meant to be. • Explore the full range of Abercrombie & Kent air safaris at www.abercrombiekent.com.au

Abercrombie & Kent Australia Level 3 | 290 Coventry Street, South Melbourne P: 03 9536 1800 E: contact@abercrombiekent.com.au