15 Day Kimberley 4WD Safari, including Mitchell Falls

Day 1 (L,D)

You will be collected from your hotel at 7am this morning to begin your private 15 day 4WD safari through the Kimberley region.

We head south along the Stuart Highway towards the township of Katherine, with a stop at the historic Adelaide River en-route.

On arrival in Katherine, we make our way to the Katherine Art Gallery for a cultural experience. Activities on offer include sitting down with resident artist, Manuel who will 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.).

This afternoon, we cruise for 2 hours through Nitmiluk Gorge, home to 13 spectacular gorges, carved out of the rock by torrential summer rains, over millions of years. View the beautiful scenery and discover the customs of the traditional owners, the Jawoyn people.

Overnight permanent camp - Maud Creek, in fixed tents with proper beds and shared bathrooms (for our group only).  

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.

Once we reach Kununurra, there is some free time for you to have a look around (we recommend the Warringari Art Centre), while your guide shops for fresh supplies (due to border restrictions).

After lunch, we turn off onto the famous Gibb River road begin our adventure through the Kimberley !

Our destination this afternoon is El Questro Wilderness Park, which is a million acres in size. Just before the turn off, we stop to view an Aboriginal art site, which consists of East Kimberley peg figures, Wandjana figures and contemporary styles.

After setting up camp, there’s the opportunity for a swim in the rockpools (part of the Pentecost River) before dinner.

Overnight mobile camp - El Questro campground, with toilets and showers (2 night stay)

Day 3 (B,L,D)

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

Then we take 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. 

Back to camp for lunch and this afternoon there’s some free time for swimming, birdwatching, hiking or relaxing at camp. 

Optional longer hikes are available this afternoon. 

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

Day 4 (B,L,D)

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

We visit another art site along the way, with cuples, Wandjana figures as well as Petroglyphs (rock carvings). This is also where the local Aboriginal people used to shelter and sharpen their spears. Turning onto the Kalumburu Road, we stop on the banks of the Gibb River and view a rock art site before making our way to camp.

There may be time this afternoon for a swim at Miners Pool. 

Overnight mobile camp – Drysdale River Station campground, with toilets and showers

Day 5 (B,L,D)

We continue north today to King Edward River, where we’ll view a unique art site of Bradshaw (Gwion Gwion) figures, Thylacine and a burial site. Your guide will interpret the art and will explain it’s significance.

This afternoon there’s plenty of time to swim before sunset and the riverbank is home to an array of birdlife.  

Overnight remote mobile camp - on the banks of the King Edward River, with toilets only. Swimming is available (2 night stay).

Day 6 (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 isspent swimming and relaxing at Mitchell Falls, a three-tiered waterfall cascading over the plateau’s edge and into the Mitchell River.  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 remote mobile camp - on the banks of the King Edward River, with toilets only. Swimming is available.

Day 7 (B,L,D)

We have a later start this morning, with the option for another swim at King Edward River. The riverbank is lined with pandanus and paperbark trees and is surrounded by ancient rock formations. Before we begin our drive back down the Kalumburu road, we stop to view the Wandjana art, which your guide will interpret.

Overnight mobile camp – Drysdale River Station campground, with toilets and showers

Day 8 (B,L,D)

Leaving Drysdale, we continue our journey along the Gibb River road.

Our destination today is Mt. Barnett Station and Manning Gorge, where, this afternoon, we relax and enjoy a swim in the picturesque surrounds.

There is also the option of taking the longer hike to Upper Manning Falls.

Day 9 (B,L,D)

Our first stop this morning is 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.

We continue west to Bell Gorge, which is said to be the most picturesque gorge in the Kimberley. We have lunch here and spend the rest of the afternoon swimming and relaxing at the waterfall.

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

Day 10 (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 at Windjana Gorge, we take a walk into the 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, before we watch the sunset over the Napier Range. 

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

Day 11 (B,L,D)

This morning we head off 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.

The last leg of our journey today takes us to Fitzroy Crossing,  where, at 3pm, we take the ranger lead boat cruise through Geike Gorge, where flood waters of the Fitzroy River have carved the 30-metre-deep Gorge through the limestone at the junction of the Oscar and Geikie Ranges. 

Overnight mobile camp- Fitzroy River Lodge campground, with toilets and showers  

Day 12 (B,L,D)

Today we continue our journey to Purnululu National park (the Bungle Bungles), famous for the ancient range of unusual beehive-shaped domes, gorges and chasms over 350 million years old.

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

Day 13 (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 !

There’s time this morning for optional helicopter flights (additional cost).  Then we’ll walk into Cathedral Gorge, a huge natural amphitheatre, with fantastic acoustics.

We take the “Domes trail walk” and then have lunch overlooking the Bungle Bungle massif. 

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.  

Overnight mobile camp - Bungle Bungles campground, with toilets and showers.

Day 14 (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we leave the Bungle Bungles, heading towards Kununurra and onto Lake Argyle.

Lake Argyle is 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.

For our final evening together as a group, we have dinner in the restaurant at Lake Argyle, followed by a night in permanent tents.

Overnight permanent camp - Lake Argyle (in fixed tents with proper beds & shared bathrooms)

Day 15 (B,L)

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

We stop to view the Victoria River, one of the largest tidal influenced rivers in the Territory with an abundance of saltwater crocodiles.

Continuing east to Katherine, we make our way to the Katherine Hot Springs. We have lunch here and you can enjoy a soothing dip in the thermal pools or sit and relax under the small waterfall.

We arrive back in Darwin at approximately 5.30pm 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 June to October (due to road conditions) - please enquire for prices and further details.

Itinerary is exclusive to Sacred Earth Safaris, subject to availability, road, weather and cultural conditions.

Inclusions:

• Sole use of Luxury 4WD with professional driver guide & purpose built heavy duty trailer
• All meals as stated, including 1 x restaurant dinner
• Camping equipment hire and camping fees

• 1 night accommodation in Stockmans room at Mt Bundy Station

• 2 nights in a permanent camp

• Permits and entry fees including El Questro Wilderness pass

• 2 hour cruise at Nitmiluk Gorge

• Hands on cultural experience in Katherine

• Helicopter flight over Mitchell Falls

• Geike Gorge cruise

• Sunset Lake Argyle cruise

Exclusions:

• Pre & Post tour accommodation
• Travel insurance
• Alcohol

• Arrival / departure flights

• Optional extra activities such as Bungle Bungle helicopter flight (approx $215pp for 18 mins and $325 pp for 30 mins)