Day 1: Welcome to Darwin
Welcome to Darwin, where the air is warm, the sunsets are fiery and the vibe is as laid-back as it gets. Set out on a city sights tour and get a feel for this tropical capital, from its distinctive architecture to the stories that shaped it, including the 1942 bombing and Cyclone Tracy in 1974. You’ll take in key sights like the Botanic Gardens and the sweeping coastal views from East Point Reserve. Tonight, round things off with dinner at a waterfront restaurant, the perfect way to ease into Top End life.
Day 2: Darwin - Katherine
Today you head south with history and nature sharing the spotlight. Stop by the Adelaide River War Cemetery, a moving place that brings the region’s WWII story into focus. Then it’s onto Nitmiluk National Park on Jawoyn land for a real showstopper. Cruise through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that supports the Traditional Owners and their living culture. The sandstone cliffs shift colour as the light changes and every bend feels like a new reveal. Later, enjoy the Katherine Outback Experience, packed with songs, stories and plenty of laughs.
Day 3: Katherine - Kununurra
Cross the border from the Northern Territory into Western Australia and arrive in Kununurra, a town that feels wonderfully remote. Step back in time at the Durack Homestead Museum, relocated piece by piece before the original site was flooded as part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. That project transformed the region, creating farmland and the vast expanse of Lake Argyle. Later, get out on the water for a cruise, keeping an eye out for freshwater crocs and birdlife. Kununurra might look quiet at first glance, but it’s your gateway to some of WA’s most postcard-ready scenery.
Day 4: Kununurra
Today is all about smart choices. If you want the Kimberley’s headline act, you can opt for a scenic flight over World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and the beehive-shaped Bungle Bungles. Prefer to stay grounded? Choose an Optional Experience 4WD tour instead. Or keep it local with your Travel Director on a walk through Mirima National Park, often called the ‘mini Bungles’. You’ll hear how these rugged landscapes were formed while soaking up the views close to town. Whatever you pick, you’ll get a big hit of Kimberley scenery with zero fuss.
Day 5: Kununurra - Emma Gorge
Kick off the day with a behind-the-scenes visit at Hoochery Distillery, a long-time local favourite. Learn how their award-winning rums and whiskies are made, with time for a tasting if you fancy it, plus morning tea to keep you going. Then it’s time for a taste of the legendary Gibb River Road as you travel to El Questro Wilderness Park, framed by the rusty red Cockburn Range. Tonight’s stay is a treat, with safari-style tents tucked among pandanus palms. Expect frogs, cicadas and a sky absolutely packed with stars.
Day 6: El Questro Wilderness Park
Wake up to the sounds of the bush and the light streaming into your tent. This morning, you’ll travel to Wyndham, the most northerly township in Western Australia. It’s small, rugged and full of character. Explore the town and take in the surrounding landforms and wetlands, where the wide-open scenery makes you feel a million miles from anywhere. It’s the kind of place that reminds you how vast the Kimberley really is. Then return to El Questro with time to relax and enjoy your unique wilderness setting, with another night under those seriously dazzling skies.
Day 7: Emma Gorge - Fitzroy Crossing
The Kimberley boasts a geological history that is nothing short of spectacular. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, explore the Mimbi Caves with an Indigenous guide to observe the delicate limestone formations, brilliantly vivid colours and crystal-clear freshwater pools that remain from the Devonian Great Barrier Reef that formed over 350 million years ago. Travel through the Kimberley towards the remote township of Fitzroy Crossing.
Day 8: Fitzroy Crossing - Broome
The reason Broome was born is because of pearls. Today, it’s just as well known for its sizzling Indian Ocean sunsets, best enjoyed from the Cable Beach sand. This stretch of sand is long. So long that it can accommodate 4WDs, camels and foot-traffic. Perch here, or head to a waterside cafe. Order a drink, and settle in.
Day 9: Broome Free Time
Now that you have your bearings thanks to your Broome tour, today is yours to explore. Take your time to discover the charms of the town, and embark on a leisurely stroll along the magnificent Cable Beach, stretching over 22 kilometres. If you're feeling more adventurous, you can choose to embark on Optional Experiences that will take you to breathtaking destinations.
Day 10: Broome - Port Headland
The eye-opening colours of the Pilbara are your backdrop today - rich red earth streaked with mineral deposits. Settle in Port Hedland, home to the world's largest bulk export port.
Day 11: Port Hedland - Karijini National Park - Tom Price
A frontier like no other, Karijini National Park is a place where gorges seem to cleave off the edge of the Earth, waterfalls tumble from escarpments and remote turquoise rock pools shimmer like precious gems. Your Karijini tour weaves deep into the national park. It took billions of years to create the geological wonders you see: the red layered cliffs, the quiet gorges, the soaring gum trees, and distinctive termite mounds.
Day 12: Tom Price - Karratha
After Karijini’s rugged heartland, you’ll journey back towards the coast, travelling through tough Pilbara terrain where mining and nature sit side by side. Your destination is Karratha, known for its major role in the resources industry and its gateway position to the stunning north-west coastline. Along the way, you’ll stop to visit the Red Dog statue, a true Aussie legend with a wandering heart. Hear the story of this canine larrikin and why he became famous across the region. Tonight, enjoy a more coastal feel and a chance to reset before you head for the Ningaloo Coast next.
Day 13: Karratha - Exmouth
There are a few (hundred) kilometres of Pilbara region to cover between Karratha and Exmouth on the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast. On your hypnotic journey, just imagine all the magical marine creatures you might glimpse when you dive into Ningaloo Reef – Exmouth is the gateway. Your accommodation is only metres from the waterline, so you can be assured of a mesmerizing view on the North West Cape.
Day 14: Exmouth Free Time
Depending on the time of year, Ningaloo Reef is home to both whale sharks and humpback whales. Book Optional Experiences to snorkel with both (ethically). Or if prefer to stay dry, there are still ways to take in the coastline on a sunset cruise and you may well see a humpback breaching and blowing, dolphins in your wake.
Day 15: Exmouth - Carnarvon
Don’t want to get your hair wet? You’re in luck. Today’s cruise in a glass-bottomed boat allows you to glimpse Ningaloo Reef and the extraordinary marine life in style. From this thriving underwater ecosystem to overhead attractions, your next stop is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know this unassuming destination played a role in the 1969 moon landing?
Day 16: Carnarvon - Monkey Mia
Prepare yourself for the ‘living fossils’ at Hamelin Pool, home to the most abundant colony of stromatolites in the world. You’re officially in the state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay, the largest of its kind in Australia with more than 1,000 kilometres of beaches. Not all of them sandy – welcome to Shell Beach. And just when you thought the outlook couldn’t get any better, you arrive at Monkey Mia.
Day 17: Monkey Mia Free Time
If you didn’t fall in love with the gin-clear waters, powdery sand and rusty-red dunes of Monkey Mia last night, you certainly will today. Meet the wild resident dolphins that turn up to the shore every morning to interact with humans. They arrive in a pod, and splash about in the shallows, before dancing off. The rest of the day is free for you to explore or relax.
Day 18: Monkey Mia - Geraldton
Kalbarri National Park is known for its gorges, towering coastal cliffs, and rare wildlife that you can witness from the Kalbarri Skywalk. And then there are the wildflowers, which bloom and blanket much of the countryside in spring. In Geraldton, pay homage to the 645 Australian sailors who were lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial.
Day 19: Geraldton - Perth
Nambung National Park’s Pinnacles are a staggering collection of natural limestone structures. It’s a spiritual place, as is Yanchep National Park, where, on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience your Aboriginal guide decodes native plants and tells Dreamtime stories of how the land was created. This evening, join your Travel Director and companions for a celebratory dinner.
Day 20: Farewell from Perth
It’s hard to believe this epic adventure has come to an end. Three weeks of incredible memories to take home with you.
