An elegant Edwardian homestead in the Australian Outback

The elegant Edwardian homestead of Portee has had a major facelift, and, along with a new husband and wife management team of Pat and Sally Kent, the property now offers visitors to South Australia a first class, fully hosted Outback experience only two hours drive from Adelaide.

Historic Portee Station, set in landscaped gardens with four kms of private Murray river frontage overlooking its own lagoon, is also part of a 23,000 acre fine wool sheep station which was once home to explorer Edward John Eyre.

Activities include:
• Personal tours of the working sheep station
• Sunrise hot-air ballooning launched from the station’s private airstrip
• Wombat, emu and kangaroo sunset safaris (champagne optional)
• Full access to the station’s own private beach on the majestic Murray River
• Didgeridoo playing and boomerang throwing lessons with local Aboriginals
• Hosted tours of the Barossa and Clare Valleys with Pat and Sally
• Murray River cruises by boats launched from the shores of Portee
• Campfire sing-along and after dinner performance by award winning Australian singer/songwriter John O’Dea
• Fine wining and dining
• Massages in a choice of indoor and scenic outdoor locations
• Fishing - kits includes a gourmet hamper and a cold bottle of wine
• Relaxing on the veranda taking in the majesty of the Aussie Outback

Package options, which can be combined within a Big Blue Air Touring itinerary, include:

• The Shearer: one night’s accommodation on a b&b basis, a sunset wombat, emu and kangaroo safari, sundown cocktails on the veranda. AU$149 pp per night (£63.00)
• Wool Classer: two night’s accommodation on a b&b basis, ½ day Barossa wine tour and morning tea in the paddocks
• The Boss: three nights accommodation on a b&b basis, tours as before plus a traditional Aussie pub lunch and a massage treatment
• The Chairman: four nights accommodation, tours as before plus Aboriginal didgeridoo and boomerang lessons, river boat cruise, BBQ lunch followed by a personal concert from John O’Dea.

Pat Kent is no stranger to tourism having gained a reputation with discerning international travellers when hosting their private flight-seeing tours across the Outback with his company Big Blue Air Touring (bigblueairtouring.com). Meanwhile, Sally’s six years as an international stewardess for Caledonian Airways will be put to good use on the hospitality front.

Chef Susan Clark, in charge of dining at Portee, uses fresh local ingredients, many from the station itself, which complement a wine cellar stocked from the Adelaide Hills and Barossa & Clare Valleys.

Commenting on their new management role, Pat says that he has already received great feedback from his first guests as well as several highlights. Pat relates how “We had a couple from the UK spent two nights with us recently as part of a AUD$160,000 (£69,000), four-week tour around Australia. They enjoyed their Portee experience so much that they recently flew back to Australia for a further five nights and spent four of those with us here because it was the favourite part of their first visit. This kind of positive feedback really inspires us to keep trying to over-deliver to each and every guest that visits us here.”

For more information on Portee Station visit Portee.com.au.

To find out more about Southern Australia, visit Southaustralia.com.