10 Day Kimberley Camping Safari, Broome - Darwin

Day 1 (L,D)

You will be collected from your hotel at 7.30 am this morning to begin your 10 day 4WD safari through the Kimberley region.

We head north to Derby, stopping at the boab prison tree on the way, before having a look around the town and the wharf area.

Onto the Gibb River Road and our stop for the night - Windjana Gorge, where we’ll have a picnic lunch.

The afternoon is spent exploring Tunnel Creek, a 750m long limestone tunnel, carved into the rock over thousands of years. View stalactites and stalacmites and hear the story of aboriginal leader Jandamarra, who used the tunnel as a hideout in the late 1800’s.

Back to Windjana Gorge for a walk into the gorge before sunset and dinner. Windjana Gorge is part of an ancient Devonian reef system where the Lennard River has cut through the Napier range. Freshwater crocodiles can often be seen lazing around on the river banks.

Overnight Windjana Gorge campground.

Day 2 (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we’ll make our way through the Napier Ranges onto the King Leopold ranges and Lennard Gorge.

This is a spectacular narrow gorge featuring, after a good wet season, a spectacular cascade watefall. It tumbles off red rocks and plunges into the narrow gorge below.

Our final destination for the day is Bell Gorge, believed to be the most picturesque in the Kimberley.

Overnight camp at Silent Grove.

Day 3 (B,L,D)

Today is spent swimming and exploring Adcock, Galvans and Manning gorges.

The three walls of Adcock Gorge exceed thirty metres in some places and a small waterfall cascades down over rock benches into a small pool beside what is believed to be an Aboriginal burial ground.

Galvans Gorge is a small picturesque gorge, surrounded by boab trees. It has some interesting rock art and is a great place for a relaxing swim.

Finally onto Manning, where we have another swim and then watch the sunset before dinner.

Overnight Manning Gorge.

Day 4 (B,L,D)

This morning, we head north onto the Kalumburu road and to Drysdale River Station.

After a lunch stop, we continue onto King Edward River, set up camp and then head off to explore 2 unique galleries of Bradshaw and Wandjana figures.

Back to camp for a swim before sunset.

Overnight camp on the banks of the King Edward River.

Day 5 (B,L,D)

Today is spent swimming and exploring in the Mitchell Falls area. On our 3km walk into the falls, we’ll visit Little and Big Mertens Falls, 2 rock art sites and delve into some bushtuckers and medicines.

The rest of the day is spent swimming and relaxing at Mitchell Falls, a three-tiered waterfall cascading over the plateau’s edge and into the Mitchell River. There is also an opportunity to take a hike along the banks of the Mitchell River to explore an Aboriginal occupational site.

We’ll take a short helicopter ride back to the car park enjoying the amazing views on the way and then make our way back to camp.

Overnight camp on the banks of the King Edward River.

Day 6 (B,L,D)

This morning we head south, stopping on the banks of the Gibb River to view an art site. Then we make our way onto the Gibb River road, stopping at Paddymelon Springs for lunch.

After lunch, we carry on to the ‘cuples’, which are man made rock indentations.

Continuing on towards El Questro Wilderness Park, we stop to view the mighty Pentecost River and Cockburn Ranges.

Overnight El Questro campground.

Day 7 (B,L,D)

An early start this morning to beat the crowds to Zebedee Springs for a relaxing dip in the thermal pools, set amongst palm trees.

Then we’ll return to camp to enjoy a cooked breakfast , before exploring the park, including several lookouts.

There is time after lunch for a refreshing swim before the afternoon cruise through Chamberlain Gorge, viewing the scenery and rock art sites.

Overnight El Questro Campground.

Day 8 (B,L,D)

This morning we leave El Questro and head south to Turkey Creek and then into the Bungle Bungles.

Purnululu National park is famous for the ancient range of unusual beehive-shaped domes, gorges and chasms over 350 million years old. The section of road into the Bungles from the highway is quite challenging and will give you a real sense of off-road adventure!

The afternoon is spent in Echidna Chasm and at various lookouts. Echidna Chasm is a narrow gorge of conglomerate rock, passing endemnic livistonia palms.

Overnight Bungle Bungles campground.

Day 9 (B,L,D)

There’s time this morning for optional helicopter flights over the Bungle Bungles Range (own expense) and then we’ll walk into Cathedral Gorge. On our way back we take the ‘Domes trail walk”.

Then onto Kununurra for a look around at the Warringari Art Centre and Kelly’s Knob lookout.

Finally we head to Lake Argyle, which is Australia’s largest man- made lake, covering 1000sq km and built as part of the Ord River scheme. It offers a greater expanse of water from which steep red rocky slopes reach up a hundred to a hundred and fifty metres, in awe-inspiring grandeur.

Overnight camp at Lake Argyle.

Day 10 (B,L)

This morning we’ll pass through the border into the Northern Territory and travel through Timber Creek and Gregory National Park.

We’ll have lunch on the banks of the Victoria River and then continue east to Katherine.

After a short break, we head north towards Darwin, arriving at approximately 6.30 pm and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.

END ITINERARY

B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner