At a Glance
Discover the incredible Kimberley region on an all-encompassing five-day-four-night adventure that will bring you breathtakingly close to a wild and untamed region. Immerse yourself in one of the world's last wilderness frontiers. Rugged ranges, dramatic gorges, semi-arid savanna and a largely isolated coastline define a region steeped in ancient mystery and geological wonder.
From the luxury of your Berkeley River Lodge villa, embark on a new adventure each day to marvel at this natural spectacle from land and water. On the Berkeley River Cruise, you’ll discover remote swimming holes and awe-inspiring sights such as Casuarina Falls and Conigrave Creek. You’ll experience a day of fishing among the tributaries of the river system and the ocean surrounding Revely Island for favourites like black jewfish and giant trevally; while guided hikes and 4WD ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Breakfast, lunch and a five-course degustation dinner with matching wines
- A select range of soft drink, beer, wine and basic spirits are provided with meals and on some activities. A reserve wine list, top shelf spirits and cocktails are available at an additional cost
- Quintessential Berkeley river and coastal cruises, beach and bush 4WD excursions, fishing charters and guided walks
- 4 nights luxury accommodation at The Berkeley River Lodge in a private villa (King Bed or Twin Singles)
- Kununurra return air transfers
Itinerary
Arrive at Darwin or Kununurra airport. Meet & greet you at the airport and transfer you to a charter plane. Your experience begins with a stunning 1 hour 45 minutes scenic flight from Darwin across the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf to the far north Kimberley coast. Upon arrival at the Berkeley River Lodge you will be greeted by with a refreshing beverage (beer or sparkling wine). Shortly after arrival, the adventure resumes and you have the option to head off on an exciting 4WD beach drive along the Kimberley coast towards Cape St Lambert Rocks. Your guide will weave the vehicle through the dunes to a spectacular sunset location where you can enjoy your first stunning Berkeley sunset. Beverages and a gourmet cheese platter are provided before returning to the lodge where a delectable five course dinner will be served. |
After breakfast, your first full day rewards you with the iconic Berkeley River cruise. The Berkeley River is arguably the most intriguing river in the Kimberley. The stunning scenic river cruise travels to the far reaches of the Berkeley River system including the spectacular Casuarina Falls, Amphitheatre, Conigrave Creek and the rapids - where the fresh meets the salt. Walking with your expert local guide to learn about the geological formations, flora and fauna that inhabit this amazing river system. And to add to the scenery, a buffet lunch will be served onboard the vessel before returning back home to the lodge. Walking is moderate graded. Distance can be tailored to suit fitness level. Enjoy yet another five course culinary masterpiece. |
Whether you already love fishing or not, you will be converted today. Join the specialist guides for a fishing expedition like no other. Fish the tributaries of the river system and the ocean surrounding Revely Island for favourites like black jewfish, queenfish, giant trevally, mangrove jack, bluenose salmon and fingermark to name a few. Even explore where the fresh water meets the salt for the elusive barramundi. Groups are kept small (maximum of 6 guests per charter) and the options to depart for a morning or afternoon catch awaits. All fishing equipment is provided and a healthy, fulfilling lunch will be served at the lodge in between charters. If the day is a success, the lodge executive chef may also prepare the ‘catch of the day’ for lunch or dinner. |
Your last full day at Berkeley, and your last chance to truly immerse yourself in your vast Australian outback surroundings. Dependent on the tides of the day, you can find yourself enjoying a morning bush drive through the grassland wilderness where your guide will point out local flora and fauna including the chance to spot wild cattle, dingos and birdlife. Also on the day's itinerary is a visit to the hidden natural swimming hole. This is one of the most alluring parts of the Berkeley river system and if you needed to feel even more connected to this land - then a swim here will certainly heighten the senses. Finish the day with another marvelous outback sunset and your final five course dinner with your fellow adventurers before drifting off to sleep in your private villa retreat. |
Rise this morning to savour breakfast before being transferred to the airstrip for your scenic flight back to Darwin or Kununurra. |
Accommodation
Dates & Prices
Departure daily from mid April to end September (subject to weather). Outside of these dates, we can depart the tour for Exclusive Private group bookings (pricing on request. Max. 40 people). Please contact us for group bookings.
More Info
- The departure point is Darwin airport
- The finish point is Darwin airport
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Darwin
Day 1: Arrive Darwin & transfer the Berkeley River Lodge
Day 2: Guided cruise & walk
Day 3: Guided cruise & fishing
Day 4: Guided cruise & walk
Day 5: Guided bush 4WD & walk
Day 6: Depart from the Berkeley River Lodge & transfer to Darwin
From May through to the beginning of October, El Questro Wilderness Park very rarely gets rain and enjoys warm, sunny days. The winter months of June, July and August see daytime temperatures between the high 20’s and low 30's and the nights cool off to between 8 and 18 ̊C. April, May, September and October have warmer temperatures all around, when day time highs can be in excess of 35°C and night time lows are between 15 and 25°C. April and October can be particularly humid with some chance of rain.
(Data sourced from Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Units = °C)
What to bring
You should bring appropriate clothing and footwear. Running shoes are the minimum requirement for the basic gorge walks. For harder treks, good hiking shoes or boots are recommended.
- Aqua shoes or Crocs can be handy in some of the swimming holes if you have very sensitive feet or feel unbalanced, but are not a necessity for most.
- You are advised to bring a hat, sun glasses and sunscreen.
- The Homestead has an outdoor swimming pool and many of the tours allow for swimming in natural waterholes so please don't forget your bathing suit.
- Those visiting in the winter months of late May, June, July and August should bring jackets or sweaters and long trousers for the evening as it is quite cool.
- Shorts and/or lighter clothing are most comfortable for day time activities.
- The dress standard for dinner is smart casual. We request that guests refrain from wearing t-shirts, singlets, thongs and sports shorts however polo shirts and tailored shorts are acceptable. At the communal lunch table we request that guests do not wear bathing suits or singlets.
- The accommodation carries only a small range of toiletries and remedies. If you require special items it is best that you bring them with you.
- The Kimberley offers stunning scenery and you can easily fill your camera’s memory card. Bring an extra card or means with which to transfer your photos.
Time Zone
Kununurra is on Australian Western Standard Time Zone UTC+8
Electricity
Australian electricity is 220-240 volts. Adapters can be provided.
Safe
A Safe is available for the storage of your valuables.
Laundry Service
Valet Laundry service is offered daily. Charges apply.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.