Our 8 Day Kimberley Tour is designed for people with less holiday time, but still want to experience all the popular Kimberley features such as the Gibb River Road, Elquestro and the Bungle Bungles.
This tour is designed as an active camping program, however Kimberley character accommodation can be incorporated with early bookings.
Tour is available directionally between Darwin & Broome
Highlights:
Bungle Bungles, Gibb River Road, Elquestro, Emma Gorge, Home Valley, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek & more.
Itinerary
Day 1: Edith Falls, Victoria River, Keep River
Your Kimberley experience begins this morning as we collect you from your accommodation at 6am. Our destination for today takes us through the beautiful Victoria River district. En route we visit the gorgeous Edith Falls (Leliyn), part of Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk) National Park. While at Edith Falls, we have time for a refreshing swim before departing and heading west along the Victoria River Highway headed for the WA/NT border and Keep River National Park. The Victoria River district displays some of the most dramatic sandstone escarpment country in Australia, and is one of Australia’s best kept secrets. We arrive at Keep River late in the afternoon, just in time for a short walk through the park’s sandstone country before setting camp and enjoying our first of many outback sunsets. Tonight’s camp will be the first of many under the star filled sky, so sit back and enjoy the camp fire while we cook up a feast.
Overnight: Under The Stars
Meals Provided: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Kununurra, Bungles
After waking to the early morning sounds of the bush and starting the day with a good healthy breakfast (with real coffee!) we cross the NT/WA border, immediately enter the East Kimberley and stop in Kununurra for some supplies. Kununurra was originally constructed as a support base for the Ord River Irrigation Scheme, but today is a thriving East Kimberley community filling a vital role in supporting the surrounding local economy. From Kununurra, we continue our Kimberley experience and turn south onto the Great Northern Highway. This drive is through a narrow corridor between the Carr Boyd Ranges on the eastern side, and the Durack Ranges in the West. This is classic Durack country and one of the most picturesque routes in the Kimberley. After a relaxing drive along the highway, we turn onto the Mabel Downs Station track to tackle the raw rugged terrain of the Osmond Range and surrounding Bungle Bungle landscape. As we continue through Mabel Downs cattle station towards Purnululu National Park, crossing several creeks and rivers, we stop at some lookout points to admire this uniquely striking landscape while giving you time to capture it all through the lens. We end today at one of the park’s great vantage points to view the Bungle Bungle Range as the sun sets behind us.
Overnight: Under The Stars
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Bungle Bungles
After a sunrise breakfast we spend the whole morning hiking around and through the famous World Heritage acclaimed beehive formations of the Bungle Bungle Range. We trek Piccinnini Creek, the main drainage channel of the park, and admire Cathedral Gorge and other outstanding features of this unique semi-arid Kimberley zone. After our morning hiking expedition we have an opportunity for a helicopter flight to view the surrounding Bungle Bungle landscape and get a true perspective of its grandeur and magnitude (own expense). An 18-30 minute flight over the Bungle Bungle Range in an open door chopper is an exhilarating experience and definitely the best way to view this incredible land form, particularly after exploring and hiking the area previously. After lunch we head to the northern section of the Bungle Bungle Range for more hiking. The drive to the north of the park is approx. 45 minutes and skirts the Bungles the whole distance, providing more opportunities to admire the changing aspects of this natural masterpiece. The experience in the park’s North is very different to this morning as we explore the changing habitats in and around Echidna Chasm. This afternoon we make a return journey once again through Mable Downs Station and onto tonight’s camp.
Overnight: Under The Stars
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Gibb River Road, ElQuestro
After breakfast we break camp and head north to the Gibb River Road. Our first stop along the Gibb is Elquestro Station. Upon arrival at Elquestro, we begin our exploration with a hike into Emma Gorge. The Emma Gorge hike leads us through towering sandstone escarpments to eventually arrive at a tall waterfall in a lush tropical paradise. After a swim at Emma Falls, we return hike and head further west along the Gibb to tonight’s camp. Our camp site provides a great perspective of the East Kimberley and surrounding Cockburn Ranges at sunset.
Overnight: Under The Stars
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Home Valley, Galvan’s Gorge, Mt Barnett
This morning as we travel further along the Gibb, we descend and cross the tidal section of the Pentecost River. This can be a tricky crossing if not handled correctly; we may even spot crocodiles as we cross! After a short drive, we arrive at Home Valley Station, nestled in the mighty Durack Ranges and signalling our arrival into the Kimberley Central Plateau area. Owned and operated by the indigenous land corporation, Home Valley is one of the emerging Kimberley Station experiences. While at Home Valley, we stop at the “Cockburn Lookout” aka “Telstra Hill”, to enjoy the view and catch up on some communication if you like. We then continue on the Gibb River Road to our last stop for the day, Galvan’s Gorge. After a late afternoon refreshing swim at Galvan’s, we head to tonight’s serene camp only a short drive away.
Overnight: Under The Stars
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Manning Gorge, Bell Gorge
After breakfast and preparing for our morning hike, we cross the Manning River as we begin our decent into Manning Gorge and waterfalls. We spend the whole morning exploring this rugged remote gorge while swimming at secluded beaches and viewing obscure Rock Art. We also make time to visit the greater falls for more swimming, before hiking back, crossing the Manning River again (final refreshing swim after hiking) and heading to Bell Gorge. Bell Gorge is nestled in the rugged sandstone of the King Leopold Range Conservation Zone, and our late afternoon hike into the gorge reveals one of the most popular Kimberley waterfalls along the Gibb River Road. After a refreshing swim, further exploration of the gorge and some relaxation time, we head for camp just in time for another Kimberley sunset and dinner under the stars.
Overnight: Under the Stars
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge
After breakfast our Kimberley experience continues as we leave the Central Plateau behind for the Western Pindan Plains. As we travel west, the Napier Range rises abruptly from the surrounding plains to reveal the 350 Million year old Kimberley Devonian Reef system. We briefly leave the Gibb River Road to visit Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge. Upon arrival at Tunnel Creek we equip ourselves with lighting and submersible footwear in preparation to experience this unique formation and micro habitat in its true tranquillity. There is often an abundance of wildlife here as we trek through the main 800 meter long tunnel and explore some of the secondary caverns of this amazing protected environment. While at Tunnel Creek we reflect on some of the local Bunuba Indigenous Heritage, important cultural stories and historic events. After our afternoon exploration of Tunnel Creek, we head towards Windjana Gorge for sunset and tonight’s camp.
Overnight: Windjana Gorge- Under The Stars
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Windjana Gorge, Broome
This morning after breakfast, we have time to explore Windjana Gorge. A short hike along the Leonard River through the gorge reveals one of the highest populations of fresh water crocodiles in the world, so no swimming here unfortunately. We will however have time to search for some fossils in the walls of the gorge and this Devonian Reef that was once totally submerged beneath the Timor Sea. After our morning hike through Windjana Gorge, we make our way back to the Gibb River Road and head west to the remote West Kimberley town of Derby. Derby has a fascinating Kimberley pioneering history, is home to one of the highest percentages of Indigenous populations in Australia, and experiences some of the largest coastal tides in the world. While in Derby we also take advantage of the shopping opportunity and grab some fresh supplies before heading out to the seafront for lunch. After lunch we hit the road for Broome, along the way stopping off to view a heritage listed Boab Tree estimated to be 1500 years old, and believed to have once been used as a prison tree during the colonial/aboriginal conflict period of the late 19th century. Upon arrival in Broome we transfer you to your pre-booked accommodation, as we conclude our Kimberley Tour and say our farewells.
Overnight: Your pre booked Broome accommodation
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch
