Wild Kimberley Overland

Trip Type: Overland
Australia | 11 D | 1 - 20 People
Starts From:

NZD 4,515.00 /Person

Get wild on an 11-day trip through the remote Kimberley.

Wild Kimberley Overland

Get wild on an 11-day trip through the remote Kimberley. Sparsely populated and ruggedly beautiful, the Kimberley is the ultimate adventure destination. Swim in gorges filled with clear waters and under waterfalls. Hike through red-rock formations and palm oases. Learn about the rich First Nations history of the area from Traditional Custodians, take guided walks that illuminate local geography and listen to Outback yarns over a beer in the pub. Whether you’re visiting from overseas or travelling from an urban part of Australia, this trip through the Kimberley is not to be missed.

Departing Broome we travel through the remote and beautiful Kimberley landscape, as our guide shares stories of local history, people and the environment. Enjoy a morning tea break by the Fitzroy River and visit the Derby 'Boab Prison Tree' before we hit the Gibb River Road. The afternoon is devoted to exploring Tunnel Creek. In this 750-metre cave system carved through the Napier Range, we discover stalactites, secret caves and a large variety of wildlife. It is here we also learn the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hide-out in the late 1800's. That night we settle into our first night under the Kimberley night sky just outside Windjana Gorge.

The Napier Range is over 350 million years old and home to the geological wonder of Windjana Gorge. Beneath gorge walls rising 90m, we spend the morning searching for freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and indigenous bush tucker. In the afternoon we head off for Bell Gorge, a hidden highlight of the West Kimberleys. This idyllic retreat, considered amongst the most beautiful in the area, boasts cascading waterfalls and crystal clear pools formed over millions of years - an easy place to while away a few hours! Spend day 3 swimming in paradise: discover the cool waters of water lilie-laden Galvans Gorge and stunning Adcock Gorge. Amid the rugged beauty of Manning Falls we swim in deep clear pools, relax, explore wandering streams, uncover local wildlife and take a dip in the waterfall pools.

Our journey up the Gibb River Road continues to the iconic El Questro Wilderness Park. Two nights in our private campsite allows free time join one or more of the many activities on offer. We include a refreshing dip in the Zebedee Springs and walk into Emma Gorge while a cruise on Chamberlain Gorge, bush tucker walk or bird watching tour are amongst the many optional activities. You may choose to simply explore this beautiful wilderness park at your own leisure.

Emerge from the Gibb River Road for a few hours free time in Kununurra. In the afternoon, travel onto the shores of the expansive Lake Argyle, the heart of the Ord River Irrigation System which has transformed this dry region into a lush agricultural oasis. There is free time to join a sunset boat cruise on the lake (approx AU$100pp, own expense), visit the historic Durack Homestead Museum or take on one of the many bush trails to explore the area.

After a leisurely morning, head south down the Great Northern Highway to Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungles. With two nights here staying overnight in our private Bungle Bungle Safari Camp in the heart of the park, allows a full day to explore the highlights of this extraordinary National Park, the most famous of which are the Bungle Bungle domes. Rivers created this landscape of unique orange and black striped 'beehive' geological formations over a period of 20 million years. Unbelievably, only the locals knew it existed until the early 1980's; once discovered by others, the area was made a national park in 1987. We explore Echidna Chasm (2km), known for its towering Livistonia Palm trees, and take a short walk (2-3km) into stunning Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks create a natural amphitheatre.

Enroute to Fitzroy Crossing, we break the long journey with a visit the gold rush town of Halls Creek to see the remarkable China Wall. We also enjoy lunch at Marys Pool and visit a remote Aboriginal Art Gallery, before an evening by the Fitzroy River at Fitzroy Crossing.

This morning join a Darlgunya Cultural Walk where our local Indigenous guide greets you with a smoking ceremony and billy tea, then leads a stroll through the remnants of the old postal settlement. Learn about the wild Fitzroy River: its plants, wildlife and significance to local culture. Enjoy lunch by the river before returning to Broome – hopefully in time to enjoy the sunset on Cable Beach.

Meals
10 Breakfast(s), 10 Lunch(s), 8 Dinner(s)

Transport
4WD Vehicle

Accommodation
Camping (with shared facilities) (4 nights), Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities) (4 nights), Eco safari camp (with shared facilities) (2 nights)

Included Activities

  • Explore the Tunnel Creek cave system and learn about Jandamarra, a First Nations freedom fighter who used the caves to evade police in the late 1800s.
  • Take a guided hike through the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges Conservation Park to Manning Gorge, where you can swim under a waterfall and see ancient First Nations rock art.
  • Spend two nights in a private safari camp in the heart of Purnululu National Park, with glorious views of the Bungle Bungle Range.
  • Go inside Cathedral Gorge and wonder at the natural amphitheatre of red rock, hollowed out over millions of years to create this massive acoustic wonder.

This trip is operated and run by our trusted partner, Kimberley Wild Expeditions. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Kimberley Wild Expeditions customers and Intrepid customers. Intrepid works closely with Kimberley Wild Expeditions to ensure that all of our customers enjoy their time away. On some days of the trip, you’ll spend several hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. Our leaders are the classic do-it-all Aussie – they know the best spots to watch the sunset, can drive you to your next destination, take you on a guided hike or even whip up dinner for the group on some trips. While they won’t always do all these jobs on every trip, be aware they will be juggling many things on your tour and may have less time to spend with you. They will always be working hard to ensure you and your group have a fantastic time exploring Australia. This trip involves activities like hiking on uneven terrain and clambering over boulders. It is best suited to travellers with a very good level of mobility and fitness. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary. This is a camping trip. Simple facilities and lack of emphasis on creature comforts make this an authentic experience of the Australian outback. A Single Supplement is not available on the default version of this trip. As a single traveller you will have a tent to yourself on camping nights, however in the permanent tented camps you will be paired up with another single traveller of the same gender. An accommodation upgrade (Camping Plus) for nights 4, 5, 6, 7 & 10 is available upon request and subject to availability at an additional cost. Camping Plus can also be booked with the option for a single supplement. Please see the accommodation section of your trip notes or speak to your travel agent for more details. You’ll be travelling through regions with very little mobile service or internet connection.

Departing

Finishing

Booking Enquiry

Destination Details
Australia | 11 D | 1 - 20 People
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Australia
Trip Finishes:
Australia
Countries Visited:
Australia
map

More Experiences From Australia