Wild Kimberley Explorer 13D12N (Broome - Broome), Fully Guided & Camping in Comfort

Distance travelled: 250km/155mi | 3hrs

Welcome to Western Australia, home to larger-than-life landscapes covering nearly one third of the country.

With complimentary pick up from most hotels and B&Bs in Broome, journey north to the Dampier Peninsula, renowned for its extraordinary blend of dramatic coastlines and pristine beaches, rich in traditional Aboriginal culture. Your first stop is the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community, home of the Beagle Bay Sacred Heart Church with its glimmering mother-of-pearl shell alter. The church was built entirely by hand by local Aborigines and the Pallottine monks, whom started the Catholic mission in the late 1800s.

After morning tea, stop in at the One Arm Point Community, perched on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, to visit the Community’s aqua culture hatchery with a range of local art and artefacts on sale. Purchase trochus shells and jewellery carved from these shells, which only the local Aboriginal people are allowed to collect.

After a picnic lunch, continue on to the remote Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, the oldest pearl farm in Australia dating back to 1946. Embark on an extraordinary cruise through the Islands of the Giant Tides to experience the incredible tidal flows of King Sound.

In the evening, relax in the private Cygnet Bay Safari Camp. Shared onsite ablutions have hot showers and toilets.

Distance travelled: 250km/155mi | 3hrs

After a hearty breakfast, delve deeper into the workings of the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. Discover how some of the world’s most sought-after and beautiful pearls are cultivated and enjoy an in-depth pearl grading and appreciation session that will leave you feeling like an expert.

Midmorning, depart for Cape Leveque and the remote wilderness camp of Kooljaman, which is owned and run by the Indigenous Bardi Jawi Communities. Swim in crystal-clear blue waters. Beach comb for unique shells. Wander the rugged coastline. Or, do nothing but soak up the sheer tranquillity and beauty of the surrounds.

Driving back at dusk, keep an eye out for local wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies and emus before arriving in Broome at approximately 6:30pm.

Tonight, enjoy an included upgrade to The Oaks Broome. Occupying a central position in the heart of Roebuck Bay, this deluxe resort features beautifully furnished apartments with a king bed or twin beds and ensuite bathroom. The onsite swimming pool is a great place to cool off!

Distance Travelled: 400km/249mi | 4.5hrs

BLeave the civilisation of Broome behind and get your first glimpse of the beautiful and remote Kimberley landscape. Enjoy a morning tea break by the Fitzroy River and visit the Derby ‘Boab Prison Tree’ before hitting the famous Gibb River Road. Along the way, you will stop in at the fascinating Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre for insight into the culture of local Aboriginal tribes.

In the afternoon, explore Tunnel Creek with a local Indigenous guide. Inside this 750-metre cave system carved through the Napier Range, you will find hidden recesses, stalactites and stalagmites, and a large variety of wildlife. Your guide will enthral you with the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter, whom used the tunnels as a hideout in the late 1800s. After, cool off in an idyllic waterhole – the first of many!

Tonight, you will camp at Windjana Gorge National Park in dome tents containing swags with fitted sheets and pillows. Hot showers and flush toilets are available onsite.

Distance Travelled: 250km/155mi | 3hrs

Delve deeper into the mighty Napier Range and discover the geological wonder of the Windjana Gorge. Beneath gorge walls riding 90 metres, spend the morning hunting for freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and indigenous bush tucker.

In the afternoon, journey on to Bell Gorge where you will find cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear pools formed over millions of years that are just perfect for a refreshing afternoon swim.

For the next two nights, you will camp by a billabong on Mount Barnett Cattle Station. The camp features tourer-style tents on raised platforms with twin stretcher beds and a private sheltered kitchen area. Nearby shared ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets.

Distance Travelled: 250km/155mi | 3hrs

Walking Distance: 5.6km/3.5mi return | 2hrs

Spend the day swimming in outback paradise. Cool off among the water lilies in Galvans Gorge, a pretty and popular swimming spot, with a small seasonal waterfall flowing into a horseshoe-shaped pool. Enjoy the privacy and seclusion of lesser known Adcock Gorge, with its emerald green water and lush, grassy edges. If you’re up for a 5.6-kilometre loop walk, enjoy spectacular views of the ranges and savannah woodlands to the mighty Manning Gorge, where you will find the day’s most impressive waterfall and a picturesque pool to cool off in.

Distance Travelled: 400km/249mi | 5hrs

Continue along Gibb River Road and cross the Pentecost River to the iconic El Questro Wilderness Park. One of Australia’s last true frontiers, El Questro stretches across 700,000 acres of pure Kimberley: deep gorges and majestic mountains, thermal springs, mud and salt-flats, rainforests and cascading waterfalls and more.

Included in your tour is a refreshing swim in Zebedee Springs and a guided hike of Emma Gorge. Tucked away in prehistoric forest, Zebedee Springs is a natural oasis of thermal pools and waterfalls. Emma Gorge, meanwhile, is one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular and accessible gorges, with cliffs spearing up over 65 metres (213 feet). The serene surroundings of Emma Gorge waterfall make it a tranquil and relaxing place to swim. (Your guide will advise you the timings for these activities upon arrival).

For the next two nights, you will stay at El Questro Station Tents. With the luxury of a cosy bed, power, towels, outdoor dining setting and fans, you certainly won’t be roughing it. Amenities include hot showers, flushing toilets, laundry facilities and two camp kitchens with BBQs, gas hobs, sinks and power points. Satellite WIFI is available with coverage provided in the bar area only. There is Telstra and Optus service for those with compatible mobile phones.

Distance Travelled: 40km/25mi | 1hr

When you’re not taking part in included activities with the group, choose your own adventure by joining on of El Questro’s many activities and tours. Cruise the three-kilometre fresh waterhole of Chamberlain Gorge. Fish for barramundi on a 4WD fishing tour. Gain insight into the characters that ran El Questro when it was a working station on a bush culture and history tour. Channel your inner cowboy on horseback. Spot a pair of dancing brogas or some colourful rainbow bee-eaters on a morning birdwatch. Or, enjoy a scenic flight over some of Australia’s most stunning landscapes. The choice is yours!

Distance Travelled: 110km/68mi | 2.5hrs

Emerge from Gibb River Road for free time in Kununurra. Translating to “Big Water”, Kununurra came into existence in the early 1960s as a construction camp for the Ord River Scheme, which isn’t surprising considering the close proximity of lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Just be aware, Aussie actress Nicole Kidman believes these waters to have magical fertility powers!

In the afternoon, travel on to the shores of the expansive Lake Argyle, the heart of the aforementioned Ord River Scheme, which has transformed this dry region into a lush agricultural oasis. Take a sunset cruise on the lake (approx. $100AUD per person, own expense). Visit the historic Argyle Downs Homestead Museum to gain insight into the lives of early pioneers in the Kimberley. Or, wander one of the many bush trails in the area.

Tonight, you will stay at Lake Argyle Resort, in a Standard Room. Enjoy a queen and single bed, ensuite bathroom, small fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, air-conditioning and a private verandah to enjoy the beautiful surrounds.

Distance Travelled: 400km/249mi | 6hrs

After a leisurely morning, head south down the Great Northern Highway to Purnululu National Park, home of the splendid Bungle Bungles. Rising 300 metres (984 feet) above grassy plains, these orange and black sandstone domes are one of the world’s most fascinating geological landmarks.

For the next two nights, rest and relax in your eco-safari tent, which boasts views of the Bungles Massif from your door. The camp features modern facilities, a covered dining deck with panoramic views and an open fire around which you can relax beneath a sparkling Kimberley night sky.

Distance Travelled: 60km/37mi | 2hrs

After a hearty breakfast, enjoy a full day in the Purnululu National Park. Although the area was known to Indigenous people for centuries, it was only “discovered” by the rest of the world in the early 1980s.

With the group, set out to traverse Echidna Chasm (2km/1.25mi), known for its towering Livistona Palm trees, before taking a short walk (2-3km/1.25-1.9mi) into the cavernous Cathedral Gorge where colossal rocks create a natural amphitheatre.

In the afternoon, put it all into perspective with an optional scenic helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungle domes. From above, these curious domes look like gigantic ant hills popping out of the earth.

Distance Travelled: 450km/280mi | 6hrs

Break up the long journey to Fitzroy Crossing with a visit to the historic town of Halls Creek, the site of the first payable gold find in Western Australia in 1885. Once a booming township full of keen miners hoping to make it big, Halls Creek is now a picturesque ghost town. Six kilometres outside of town is the remarkable China Wall, a natural vein of sub-vertical quartz rising up to six metres above the ground. This striking formation transects the country in both directions, spearing high out of the ground and disappearing back down into the earth again.

Enjoy lunch at Marys Pool and visit the remote Laarri Aboriginal Art Gallery before venturing onto Fitzroy Crossing. Set on the banks of the mighty Fitzroy River, Fitzroy Crossing is a true outback town that came into existence to support those hoping to cross the river before the original causeway was built in 1935. With the construction of the new bridge in 1970, the town’s centre shifted south to its currently location, but it is worth taking the short journey to the Crossing Inn to see where it all began.

Tonight, you will stay at Fitzroy River Lodge, upgraded to Safari Cabins. This traditional Kimberley style accommodation is similar to a motel room with beds and pillows and linen, ensuite bathroom, fans, power points. Relax on the porch and enjoy the bush ambience.

Distance Travelled: 400km/249mi | 4hrs

Start your day with a leisurely boat cruise through Danggu Geikie Gorge. This mysterious gorge was formed by the Fitzroy River carving through an ancient fossil reef that existed over 350 million years ago. As you cruise between spectacular multi-coloured 30 metre (98 feet) cliffs, keep an eye out for birds, fruit bats and freshwater crocodiles. Learn of the fascinating geology of this natural wonder and discover the huge array of wildlife including freshwater crocodiles, birds and fish. Enjoy lunch by the river en route back to Broome.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.