At a Glance
Discover the “real” outback Australia on this action-packed, 12-day, 4WD camping expedition through the incredible Kimberley region. Highlights include Gibb River Road, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, El Questro Wilderness Park, Lake Argyle, Bungle Bungles and Geikie Gorge.
Departing from Broome, set out with a group of maximum 20 travellers to explore ancient landscapes including the region’s most beautiful gorges and waterfalls and the famous Bungle Bungle Range. Driving along the iconic Gibb River Road and Great Northern Highway, you’ll visit cattle stations the size of small countries (including the famous El Questro), Australia’s largest manmade lake (Lake Argyle), true-blue outback towns and remote Indigenous communities. You’ll also meet local Indigenous guides who will show you sacred caves and rock art sites and share fascinating Dreamtime stories.
You’ll stay at some of the ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Community entry permits & national park entry fees
- Indigenous guided Tunnel Creek experience
- 1 hour ranger guided Geikie Gorge Boat Cruise
- Meals: 11 x breakfasts, 9 x lunches, 9 x dinners
- Camping accommodation with basic upgrades on nights 5, 6, 7 & 10
- Bungle Bungles Safari Camp Stay (2 nights)
- 2 x tour hosts including an experienced Kimberley tour guide and tour assistant (on all tours with 8+ travellers)
- Zebedee Springs Permit
Itinerary
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Distance Travelled: 400km/249mi | 4.5hrs Buckle up because today is the first day of your once-in-a-lifetime 4WD adventure. Leave 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 or Fitzroy River Lodge in dome tents containing swags with fitted sheets and pillows. Hot showers and flush toilets are available onsite. |
Camping at Fitzroy River Lodge or Windjana Gorge National Park
Lunch, Dinner |
Distance Travelled: 250km/155mi | 3hrs Delve deeper into the mighty over 350 million years old 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. |
Camp at Mt Barnett Cattle StationBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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. |
Camp at Mt Barnett Cattle StationBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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. |
El Questro Station TentsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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! |
El Questro Station TentsBreakfast, Lunch |
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. You will stay at Lake Argyle Resort for two nights, 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. You have an another day relaxing at the Lake Argyle - enjoy a refreshing swim in the Infinity Pool, with a magnificent view across the lake, and take up one of the many optional activities on offer such as scenic flights and kayak hire. |
Lake Argyle Resort Cabins, Lake ArgyleBreakfast, Dinner ( Day 6) | Breakfast, Lunch ( Day 7) |
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. |
Eco-safari tent at Bungle BunglesBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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. |
Eco-safari tent at Bungle BunglesBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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. |
Camping at Fitzroy River LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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. Explore Old Fitzroy Crossing and enjoy lunch by the river before beginning the journey back to Broome. With any luck, you’ll be back in time to enjoy the sunset on Cable Beach! |
NoneBreakfast, LunchAccommodation
Dates & Prices
Single supplement is available. Please contact us for group bookings or private departures. Optional Single Supplement On Request $650pp.
More Info
- The start and finish point for this tour is Broome, Western Australia.
- The closest airport is Broome International Airport (BIA), which is serviced by Qantas from most Australian capital cities.
The Kimberley has two distinct seasons: wet season (December to March) and dry season (April to November). During ‘the Wet’ most 4WD roads and National Parks are closed. As such, this tour operates during ‘the Dry’ with daytime temperatures ranging from 28-30-degrees Celsius. Be aware, however, that the region can get surprisingly cold overnight: Broome can get to 12-degrees Celsius, while Purnululu can drop to a frosty 5-degrees Celsius!
Note: In September and October, as ‘the Wet’ approaches, temperatures increase accordingly, and it can be very hot during the day. It is essential you are prepared for this.
This tour uses custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage (no risky trailers!). These comfortable and robust remote area vehicles provide a comfortable amount of space (including standing room) and full air-conditioning with adjustable air-vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand that the roads can be heavily corrugated. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which the 4WD trucks are designed.
Telstra users will get phone reception in most towns and the occasional remote hot spot. However, there will be long stretches on no reception at all. Nevertheless, power points will be accessible on most nights for recharging cameras and other electronic equipment.
Travel insurance that covers medical expenses, including emergency repatriation, is an essential requirement of this tour. Your policy should also cover personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects, though this is not essential.
1. It is essential that you call the tour operator, the day prior to departure to confirm pick up, and provide a mobile number for any late notifications.
2. Departures are all subject to regional weather conditions and road closures – usually only a concern in April and October/November.
3. Space in a 4WD is limited so please keep luggage light. Bring only essentials in a small soft bag, no more than15 kilograms. Suitcases are NOT suitable. Excess luggage must be left in Broome or sent to a forward destination.
4. Due to distances covered, this trip involves early departures on some morning and frequent stops between destinations.
5. The trip hosts reserve the right to assess the fitness capability of passengers prior to tour departure.
6. It is your responsibility to advise us if you have any dietary requirements or medical conditions (including allergies).
7. It is important that you participate in setting up camp each night (the tour hosts will assist as much as possible). Tour hosts also appreciate the assistance or one or two group members in preparing/clearing meals. It is essential that all groups leave the camps they stay in as they found them for the next travellers; the Kimberley is a pristine wilderness and it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure it stays this way.
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 prior to departure, your deposit will be retained as a credit for a new departure date of the same tour within 24 months
- Between 60 and 89 days (inclusive) prior to departure, money will be refunded less deposit
- Within 59 days prior to departure 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
Covid Cancellation: 10% cancellation fees for any bookings cancelled more than 14 days prior to departure. The remaining balance will be held in credit for a new departure of the same tour for 24 months.
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.
