12 Day Kimberley Photography Tour

Day 1 (L,D)

You will be collected from your hotel at 7am this morning to begin your private 12 day photography tour through the Kimberley region.

We head south, along the Stuart Highway to the township of Katherine, stopping at historic Adelaide River en-route.  

On arrival in Katherine, we make our way to Nitmiluk Gorge, home to 13 spectacular gorges, carved out of the rock by torrential summer rains, over millions of years. Here we cruise for 2 hours, viewing the beautiful scenery and discovering the customs of the traditional owners, the Jawoyn people. 

After lunch, we make our way to the Katherine Art Gallery for a cultural experience. Activities on offer include sitting down with resident artist, Manuel whowill tell you tales of tribal life, language, the hunting and gathering techniques, ceremony, weapons used and aboriginal contemporary life. Experience your own Rarrk painting with Manuel or Dot painting with Adrianna from the desert community of Yuendumu. You will also have an opportunity to participate in one of the traditional hunting activities (firelighting, spear throwing etc.).

Our accommodation this evening is in the cabins at Nitmiluk Gorge. It’s a great place to see wallabies and after we check in, you have some free time before dinner to go for a walk or relax in your cabin. 

Overnight accommodation in Katherine- cabins at Nitmiluk Gorge 

**there are permanent tents here also but no power is available in them**

Day 2 (B,L,D) 

Today we head west along the Victoria Highway, into Western Australia. En-route, we stop to view the mighty Victoria River, one of the largest tidal influenced rivers in the Territory with an abundance of saltwater crocodiles.

We cross through the border into Western Australia and onto Lake Argyle, Australia’s largest man- made lake, covering 1000sq km and built as part of the Ord River scheme. It offers a great expanse of water from which steep red rocky slopes reach up approximately 150m, in awe-inspiring grandeur. 

This afternoon we take the sunset cruise on the lake, where you will cruise through some of the 90 islands and inlets and take in the magnificent scenery of the Carr Boyd Ranges. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and nibblies as the sun sets over the rugged red cliffs and azure blue water.  

Dinner tonight will be served in the restaurant.  

Overnight accommodation – Cabins with en-suites at Lake Argyle Resort  

**there are permanent tents here also but no power is available in them**

Day 3 (B,L,D)

This morning we pop into Kununurra to collect fresh supplies (due to border restrictions) so there is some free time while your guide shops.

Then we head south towards the Bungle Bungles. Purnululu National park (the Bungle Bungles) is famous for the ancient range of unusual beehive-shaped domes, gorges and chasms over 350 million years old.

There’s time this afternoon for optional helicopter flights (additional cost).

Dinner tonight will be served in camp

Overnight mobile camp - Bungle Bungles campground, with toilets and showers (2 night stay).

**There is also the option of permanent (fixed) tents with en-suites** 

Day 4 (B,L,D)

We spend today in the Bungle Bungles. The section of road into the park is quite challenging and will give you a real sense of off-road adventure !

Our first stop in the park is Cathedral Gorge, a huge natural amphitheatre, with fantastic acoustics.

We then take the walk to the Piccininny Lookout, followed by the “Domes trail walk”. This afternoon we take a walk into Echidna Chasm, which is a narrow gorge of conglomerate rock. The walk in is beautiful, passing endemnic livistonia palms.

Dinner tonight will be served in camp 

Overnight mobile camp - Bungle Bungles campground, with toilets and showers (2 night stay). 

**There is also the option of permanent (fixed) tents with en-suites**.

Day 5 (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we leave the Bungle Bungles and head north again to visit the beautiful Parrys Lagoon Nature Reserve, which is a haven for birdlife and great for photography.

Our destination today is Diggers Rest Station, a working cattle station, nestled in the King River Valley. Crossing vast mudflats, we make our way to the station via an art site and a prison boab tree.The majestic Cockburn Ranges to the West and the Erskine Ranges to the East provide a stunning backdrop to the station.

After checking in, we may have time to explore or take a sunset horseride

Overnight accommodation – Diggers Rest Station- bush huts, with fan and en-suite, twin share

Day 6 (B,L,D)

Today we head to El Questro Wilderness Park, which is a million acres in size.

En-route we stop to view an Aboriginal art site, which consists of East Kimberley peg figures, Wandjana figures and contemporary styles.

This afternoon we walk into the stunning Emma Gorge. A cool reward awaits you at the end of the walk, where you can swim at Emma Gorge pool and the 200ft waterfall that is fed from a series of natural springs high above the plateau of the Cockburn Range.

Overnight mobile camp - El Questro campground, with toilets and showers (3 night stay)

**There is also the option of Emma Gorge cabins or the station bungalows- Dinner cannot be provided by your guide with accommodated options **

Day 7 (B,L,D)

We start today with a relaxing dip at the Zebedee Springs thermal pools, set amongst palm trees.

Then we drive up to Saddleback Ridge. This very steep, narrow and challenging 4WD track really highlights that getting there is an adventure in itself. From the well watered Pentecost Valley with its abundance of riverside vegetation, the landscape quickly changes to rocky scree slopes sparsely covered with spinifex, grevilleas and a few stands of snappy gums. The end reward is a spectacular 360 view from a platform overlooking sandstone escarpments, The Station and the Homestead in the distance.

We have free time this afternoon for swimming, birdwatching, photography or relaxing at camp.

We finish the day at Branco’s lookout

Overnight mobile camp - El Questro campground, with toilets and showers

**There is also the option of the station bungalows- Dinner cannot be provided by your guide with this option **

Day 8 (B,L,D)

We start today with a walk into El Questro Gorge, which is a trail through a deep, narrow gorge, flanked by sheer cliffs. The walk features clear pools and lush tropical vegetation and the rainforest canopy has a diverse ecosystem, while keeping us shaded and cool through most of the walk. There are a couple of places to stop for a swim along the way and you can choose to take the longer or shorter walk.

We have free time this afternoon for swimming, birdwatching, photography  or relaxing at camp. Optional longer hikes are also available this afternoon, such as Amalia Gorge (3.4km return), Champagne Springs (5km return to halfway point or 9.6km for the whole trail),Moonshine Gorge (5km circuit) or a shorter walk such as Riverside Ramble and Telecom Hill Hike.  

Overnight mobile camp - El Questro campground, with toilets and showers

 **There is also the option of the station bungalows- Dinner cannot be provided by your guide with this option **

Day 9 (B,L,D)

Leaving El Questro, we make our way back onto the Gibb River Road and we’ll drive through the Pentecost River to a lookout, for fantastic views of the river and the mighty Cockburn Range.

We’ll also view an art site of cuples, Wandjana figures and Petroglyphs (rock carvings).

This is also where the local Aboriginal people used to shelter and sharpen their spears.

We arrive at Manning Gorge and have the remainder of the afternoon to swim and relax at the gorge or take the optional longer hike to Manning Waterfall. 

Overnight mobile camp – Manning Gorge, with toilets and showers

Day 10 (B,L,D)

This morning we continue along the Gibb River Road, to Galvans Gorge, a small picturesque gorge, surrounded by boab trees. It has some interesting rock art and is a great place for a relaxing swim.

Our destination today is Bell Gorge, which is said to be the most picturesque gorge in the Kimberley. We set up camp and spend the rest of the afternoon here.

Overnight mobile camp – Silent Grove at Bell Gorge, with toilets and showers

Day 11 (B,L,D)

Today we travel through the King Leopold and Napier Ranges towards Windjana Gorge, part of an ancient Devonian reef system where the Lennard River has cut through the Napier range.

En-route we stop to look at the King Leopold Range lookout, which offers great photo opportunities.

After setting up camp, we head to spectacular Tunnel Creek, a 750m long limestone tunnel in the Napier Range, carved into the rock over millions of years. As we walk through the tunnel, view stalactites and stalacmites and hear the story of Jandamarra, who used the tunnel as a hideout in the late 1800’s.

Overnight mobile camp- Windjana Gorge campground, with toilets and showers

Day 12 (B,L)

After breakfast, we take a walk into Windjana Gorge, part of an ancient Devonian reef system where the Lennard River has cut through the Napier range. We view the fossilised reef system and freshwater crocodiles can often be seen lazing around on the river banks.

There is also the option of taking the longer hike to the end of the gorge.

The last leg of our journey along the Gibb river road takes us towards Derby, where we’ll stop at the prison boab tree, before making our way to Broome.

We arrive into Broome late afternoon and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.

END ITINERARY

B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner

This tour is only operated as a private charter (sole use of vehicle and driver guide for a maximum of 7 passengers) and is valid for travel from May to October only due to seasonal conditions- please enquire for prices and further details.

This itinerary can be changed to suit your requirements, interests and time frame.

We can also include the services and instruction during the trip, from a professional photographer, at your request.

Inclusions:

• Sole use of Luxury 4WD with professional driver guide and purpose built heavy duty trailer
• Meals as stated, including 1 restaurant dinner

• Accommodation / camping, as listed- including hire of camping equipment and campground fees

Entry fees and El Questro Wilderness pass

• 2 hour Hands on cultural experience in Katherine

• 2 hour cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge

• Sunset Lake Argyle cruise

Exclusions:

• Pre & Post tour accommodation
• Travel insurance

• Arrival / departure flights

• Alcohol 

• Photography equipment- please bring your own

• Instruction by a professional photographer- unless requested in advance (extra charges apply)