PUB WITH NO FEAR
Go on - would you take a helicopter bar crawl?
So, what do you think of your ride? When pilot Jesse Morgan introduces you to his shiny R44 helicopter, you realise this is going to be a pub crawl with a difference. A very big difference. For the next seven hours, Morgan will hop between half a dozen iconic destinations up to 90 minutes south of Darwin. The tour is, perhaps, Australia’s most decadent pub crawl.
Run by NT charter company Airborne Solutions, the initiative is one of its most popular offerings — along with heli fishing and the more traditional Darwin scenic flights.
While the 23-year-old Morgan might give the impression he is a bit casual, looks can be deceiving. The veteran chopper pilot has flown extensively in New Zealand, New South Wales and the NT in jobs as diverse as crop dusting to cattle mustering. His flying skills are as honed as his local knowledge.
After completing the introductory safety checks, Morgan gently lifted the R44 off from the pad at the aviation museum and climbed to 2000 feet as we headed southwest over Fannie Bay. With the doors removed, it was an exhilarating experience.
First stop was a spectacular beach located on the northern side of Indian Island. The 2km long stretch of pristine sand was idyllic. After landing above the high tide mark, Morgan disappeared into the thick rainforest and emerged with a couple of comfortable beach chairs — followed by an Esky from the chopper crammed with icy cold beers.
Even though it was only 10am, the temperature was already in the low 30s and the humidity high. On the northern horizon, tremendous thunderstorms were making their way closer. The first beer went down very well.
While the magnificent beach is the first stop on the heli pub crawl itinerary, Morgan says the company also takes couples there for romantic sunset dinners by arrangement.
After taking off from the beach, Morgan scoots the chopper along the beach for a low level flight for a few km to a tidal flat that holds a surprise. Covered with sand until a year ago are the remains of a fighter plane — a reminder of the bombing of Darwin by Japanese forces in 1942.
The wreck is instantly recognisable, with its airframe, cockpit, huge radial engine and even two of its three propeller blades surviving intact.
After 20 minutes of flying we reached stop two on the pub crawl — Crab Claw island resort. Perched on the waterfront, the resort is simply stunning. A magnificent deck facing northwest overlooks the sea and a volleyball court doubles as a helipad.
The bar is character-laden with walls adorned with guests posing with their catch — including some imposing mud crabs. It is also the first bar I have ever seen that includes a tackle shop.
Stop three on the crawl was the magnificent Darwin River Tavern, operated by owner Scott Olive. Impeccably presented and clean, the pub is 45 minutes south of Darwin off Darwin River Rd.
It boats one of the best sports bars imaginable, a kid friendly area and it even has its own resident freshwater crocodile whose enclosure overlooks the restaurant.
A foodie, Olive says the business is based around food — particularly his weekend trade with the tavern becoming a destination for Darwin residents. While the menu is extensive, it is hard to go past the freshly caught barramundi — beer battered of course.
Olive, who first came to the NT for a holiday 25 years ago, says he bought the tavern “on a whim’’ 17 years ago.
“I saw a cold beer sign and we came into this tiny little pub and stayed overnight,’’ he said.
“On the way out I saw the ‘for sale’ sign and thought about it all the way home to the Gold Coast. I ended up coming back and buying it.’’
A decade ago he closed the place for a year and renovated it. A mini zoo for rescued animals, that already includes water buffalo and wild pigs, is opening soon.
With lunch still settling, Morgan had his chopper hurtling toward stop four, Goat Island Lodge on the Adelaide River. Covered in a dense forest of bamboo, a helipad that appeared to be the size of a 20 cent piece from the air is the only access point unless you fancy a 90 minute boat ride.
Goat Island Lodge is owned and operated by Dutchman Kai Hansen, who bought the island 14 years ago. Despite being a work in progress, it is a comfortable destination favoured by anglers chasing big barramundi.
The eccentric Hansen, who features on today’s Frontier front cover, says he bought the island when traffic lights started popping up in Darwin, where he owned several businesses.
Besides being recognised for its fishing, the Adelaide River is renown for its crocodile population. Goat Island’s bar is named after one such local — Casey. The four-metre saltie has been a resident for the past 30 years and believe it or not, comes for lunch when called by Hansen. And as if that wasn’t bizarre enough, Hansen’s other pet, a terrier named Pippa, puts on an even better show. Once Casey has eaten her chicken carcass for lunch, Pippa promptly chases her back to the water —
even latching onto the croc’s tail for the last few metres.
Adorned with signs warning its visitors they are in a “politically incorrect zone’’ Hansen has another name for his dog, based on her hair colour — Dumb Blonde.
The final stop on the heli pub crawl was the iconic Humpty Doo Tavern. Crammed with locals in high vis gear enjoying a cold beer after work, its open air bar area was brimming.
But a word of warning to those tempted to cool off under the sprinklers running on the front lawns. Don’t. The purple pipe is a hint.
It might not be an ideal family day out, but for those keen on seeing some of the Top End’s trademark destinations, sampling their ice cold beers and enjoying some magnificent scenery for a few hours, Airborne Solutions Heli Pub Tour is just the trick.