You're not going to need the suit & tie, twin set and pearls here.
I don't think a bunch of pilots has ever laughed as much as we did whilst visiting Drysdale River Station in 2010. Forced to extend our one-night stay into two nights, due to torrential rain making the strip unserviceable, we found we had to embrace all that Drysdale had to offer and then invent the rest.
The only pace they know at Drysdale
You'll find a good 1380m airstrip when you arrive; it's hard gravel though not an all-weather strip, and the owners of the station will come out and drive you the short distance into the station accommodation. The rooms are not special, OK? However, most have ensuites and they're a short stroll from the dining area and internationally known Beer Garden, the "Kimberley North". We girls all loved the alfresco coffee patio, albeit furnished with plastic chairs, surrounded by mud and overlooking the coin-operated laundry.
Wander down to the billabong
Beer garden and dining room
Things to do at Drysdale: whilst you're waiting for your socks to tumble dry, take a wander along the bush track down to the billabong. Actually, it's all flat, so better still put the runners on and jog down. Exercise seems to get forgotten on air safaris, so take the opportunity of a lay day to get off your behind. There's a handy little store back at the station for essentials like jelly snakes, deisel and batteries and a wonderful swap library of books. There were seven books on offer whilst we were here, and to the absolute delight of me and the girls, we were able to snap up a dog-eared copy of the Essential Fuel Load Guide Australia and a well read issue of Zoo Magazine, complete with their awfully well researched Sky High Club special liftout. Honestly, never a dull moment in the bush.
Knock yourself out at Drysdale
Maidens are continually emerging from the exotic Day Spa
It's all hilariously basic, but that's what you come out here for, and you'll soon forget about the lack of sophistication after a few sundowners around the bar. There's a camping area here too, so you'll probably meet road travellers who are looking a good deal more worthy of a drink than you and your pilot mates. Don't be in a rush to tell them you've just swanned in from a sight-seeing flight over the Mitchell Falls; they'll still be trying to put their teeth back in after rattling along the bone-jarring Kulumburu Road since lunchtime.
Go see what's in store for you: www.drysdaleriver.com.au
In all seriousness, I give it the thumbs-up. It's fairdinkum Australia, through and through. You've got to check it out.
Checklist:
Drysdale River Station (YDRD) strip details in ERSA and AOPA
AVGAS: With prior notice, all year round