About Australian Air Safaris
A fair amount of time has passed since I bought my first aircraft and flew my first air tour back in 1974.
The Bungle Bungle in the Kimberley had not yet been rediscovered. Adel’s Grove had no proper visitor amenities, just one caravan and an outside BBQ, so we slept under the stars on wooden benches.
Since then, Keith, myself and Kirkhope Aviation have run more than 2000 departures and flown more than 3.5 million kilometres across the country.
In recent years, the business has grown to cater to more Australians who are eager to discover our vast country. As our experience has deepened, more pilots and tourism professionals have joined the business to service the demand and lead it into the future.
With many decades of experience behind us, Keith and I will continue to mentor our pilots and staff who have the drive and passion to continue what we love doing - delivering an enriching Australian touring experience in the joy of travelling by private aircraft.
2023 witnessed a solid rebound in travel following the pandemic years, despite the economic challenges created by supply chain difficulties and inflation. It exemplifies how important it is for Australians to leave their comfort zone to experience something different or have a break from everyday life.
We trust you will enjoy browsing through our 2024 brochure. Over 90 percent of the images used in the brochure come from the pilot and passengers on the actual tours. Our frequent flyers will understand the value of our unique journeys, packing in experiences and adventures that you would spend months doing any other way.
We have been working hard with our suppliers to keep price increases to the minimum required to keep trips at the same high standard you’ve come to expect from us.
Over the past few years, Kirkhope Aviation's Australian Air Safaris has grown to be the largest air tour operator in the country, with departures from Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast. We offer the broadest range of tours with the most departures, while maintaining our small groups, personalised experience and excellent service. Our constant 5-star TripAdvisor reviews are a testament to the high level of service and quality of experience we offer on tour. if you are thinking of travelling with us for the first time in 2024, I invite you to check out our customer reviews.
We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you on an Australian Air Safari in 2024.
- Tony Kirkhope
Founder and Owner of Kirkhope Aviation and Australian Air Safaris
Packaged Air Tours
We know the outback, and currently offer packaged outback air tours to diverse destinations. Fly with us to Cape York, the Northern Territory’s Top End, Tasmania and the Bass Strait Isles, coastal and outback South Australia, and Western Australia’s Pilbara and Kimberley region. We also offer a range of one day tours and are specialists in creating custom air tours.
Air Charters, Australia-wide
Kirkhope Aviation offers private and corporate air charters throughout Australia. Utilising our fleet, travellers can select their own flight schedules to travel when they want. We also offer a turbine pressurised ten-seat King Air aircraft that allows executives to travel in style to their next business meeting.