Wonders of the Kimberley

Break the ice over a few cool drinks and a suitably dazzling Broome sunset that sinks into the Indian Ocean with a sizzle.

Broome gives you plenty of ways to fill a free day, whether you want to keep it relaxed or head off in search of something extra. You could browse the town’s pearl boutiques, wander through Chinatown or take a long walk along Cable Beach, which stretches for more than 22 kilometres and somehow makes even a simple stroll feel special. If you’re after something more hands-on, there are Optional Experiences to consider, including a visit to a pearl farm where you can learn how these famous gems are cultivated. It’s an easy place to spend a day, with just the right mix of history, character and beachy charm.

Before leaving Broome, there’s time to see another side of this region’s story at Gantheaume Point, where ancient dinosaur footprints remain stamped into the coastline. They date back more than 125 million years, which is a decent reminder that this landscape has been doing its thing for a very long time. Then it’s on to Fitzroy Crossing, your gateway to the Kimberley. This part of Australia is all rugged beauty and geological drama, with ancient rock formations, river systems, gorges and waterfalls shaping the land at every turn. The scenery starts shifting in a big way today, and the Kimberley doesn’t waste time making an impression.

This morning, head to the remarkable Mimbi Caves, where the remains of the Devonian Great Barrier Reef still shine through in delicate limestone formations, crystal-clear pools and vivid natural colour. It’s a striking place in its own right, but what really brings it to life is the perspective of your Indigenous guide. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, you’ll discover ancient rock art, hear Dreamtime stories and connect more deeply with the land and its history. Over billy tea and damper, the stories keep flowing. It’s one of those experiences that slows everything down in the best possible way and stays with you long after you leave. Then arrive at El Questro Wilderness Park, backdropped by the rusty red Cockburn Range.

Waking up in El Questro is not hard to enjoy. There’s the morning light through the tent, birds and wildlife all around and that sense of being tucked deep into the landscape. Today you’ll travel to Wyndham, the northernmost town in Western Australia, to discover its outback setting, local wetlands and surrounding landforms. It’s a small place, but the scenery around it certainly isn’t. Later, cool off however you like, whether that’s back at the resort pool or in the waters near Emma Gorge. Then perhaps settle in on your patio for sundowners as the day winds down. This part of the trip knows how to make itself memorable.

Kununurra might feel remote, but it has a big story to tell. The town grew out of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme, which transformed the region and made agriculture possible on a whole new scale. You’ll get a taste of that local spirit at the family-owned Hoochery Distillery, where there’s time to hear from the owners. Then step into the past at the Durack Homestead Museum, carefully relocated before the original site was flooded. Later, Lake Argyle takes centre stage. A sunset cruise here, with birdlife all around and freshwater crocs in the shallows, is one of those travel moments that really lands.

Today is yours to choose how you want to experience Kununurra. You could join an Optional Experience and take to the skies on a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles, or a 4WD tour to get closer to these extraordinary striped domes on the ground. Either way, it’s a pretty spectacular sight. Prefer to stay local? Join your Travel Director for a walk through Mirima National Park, often called a mini Bungle Bungles thanks to its similar layered rock formations. It’s a chance to stretch your legs and hear how the landscape was shaped. Big adventure or easy exploration, the choice is entirely yours.

Cross from Western Australia into the Northern Territory, swapping one vast outback landscape for another. The scenery remains gloriously wide open, with pastoral lands stretching across the horizon and giving you a proper introduction to this part of Australia. In Katherine, things get lively at the Katherine Outback Experience, where the region’s pastoral history comes to life through songs, stories and plenty of local personality. It’s not a polished performance or a standard sightseeing stop. It’s something more real than that, full of country swagger, humour and a good dose of honesty. Which, frankly, makes it all the more memorable.

Nature and history both step up today. First, head into Nitmiluk National Park on Jawoyn land, where a cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge reveals soaring sandstone cliffs, changing colours and a landscape shaped over millions of years. This is just one of 13 gorges in the park, and each bend of the river feels like it deserves its own photo, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later, the mood shifts as you reflect on the region’s wartime history at the Adelaide River War Cemetery. Then continue to Darwin, where a city tour uncovers the events and influences that have shaped this tropical capital over time. Tonight, gather with your fellow travellers for a final dinner by the waterfront.

It’s hard to believe ten days have passed since you first set out.  After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your Travel Director and fellow travellers and bring this epic journey to an end