Two of Australia’s burgeoning tourist destinations finally have direct flights from Melbourne

Couple walking through the vines at Wills Domain, Margaret River
By Christian Fleetwood


One of the world’s last true wilderness areas and Lonely Planet’s top destination in the Asia Pacific finally have direct flights from the eastern seaboard.

Both the Kimberley and the Margaret River region will be closer than ever for Melburnians following the launch of direct flights with Alliance Airlines and Jetstar from March 2020.

Here’s what to expect from the services and where you need to send your clients once they arrive.

Melbourne to Kununurra: Get ready to explore one of the world’s last true wilderness areas

Couple enjoying a swim in the infinity pool, Lake Argyle Resort at sunset.

The Kimberley is home to some of Australia’s most unique bucket-list attractions, including the World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Lake Argyle (one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Southern Hemisphere), the Ord River, the iconic Gibb River Road, El Questro (home to watering holes Emma Gorge and Zebedee Springs), and Home Valley Station.

Kununurra also play hosts to the Ord Valley Muster event, which will occur between 15 and 24 May 2020.

The Kimberley is also home to animals and plants that are not found anywhere else in the world and is one of the country’s best destinations to have an authentic Aboriginal experience.

Couple enjoying sunset drinks by the Pentecost River with the Cockburn Ranges in the background.

And thanks to a new service from Alliance Airlines – bookable with Virgin Australia – coined the Kimberley Express, flights to the region will be available three times per week between May and August 2020.

Flights on the Kimberley Express are set to depart Melbourne on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with returns departing Kununurra on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Melbourne to the Margaret River region: Asia Pacific’s number one destination has never been closer

Injidup Natural Spa, Margaret River region.

In July, Lonely Planet named Margaret River and Southern Western Australia the number one destination to visit in the Asia-Pacific region for 2019.

This is largely owed to Margaret River being the only premium wine region in Australia, where visitors can hop from award-winning wineries, breweries and restaurants, to stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, world-class surf breaks and ancient caves.

Equally as notable, the region is also home to an abundance of soft adventures, with whale watching, fishing, rock climbing, abseiling, mountain biking and canoeing on offer, among other experiences.

Couple walking through the vines at Wills Domain, Margaret River.

Flights from Melbourne direct to the region are now on sale with Jetstar, which will operate the first-ever commercial airline service between Melbourne and Busselton, Margaret River – the gateway to the region – from 25 March 2020.

Operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, the three-per-week service will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Flights will depart Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport at 8am (AEST), arriving at Busselton-Margaret River Airport at 9:05am (WST), before returning to Melbourne at 9:40am (WST).

To find out more about Tourism Western Australia, visit its website or follow it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation using the hashtag #thisisWA.

Featured image: Couple walking through the vines at Wills Domain, Margaret River/Tourism Western Australia.

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