Alternative Itinerary, 2023
Please Note: Due to the effects of ex Tropical Cyclone Ellie in January 2023, some traditional attractions are closed for the season to give Country time to rest and recover. There is so much more to see in the Kimberley though, and we have been easily able to adapt our itineraries to include additional and extended activities, that we are normally not able to do! Plus, the landscape will be looking spectacular this year after such a great wet season: waterfalls will be thundering, swimming holes will be clean and fresh and our native wildlife will be thriving. So, while there are two destinations that we are unable to visit in the short term due to flood damage, those same big rains will mean the Kimberley has never been fresher. The season of 2023 promises to be a special opportunity to experience the Australian outback at its best.

Day 1 Beagle Bay, Lombadina & Buccaneer Archipelago

The Dampier Peninsula is an extraordinary blend of pristine beaches and dramatic coastlines, rich in traditional Aboriginal culture. Travelling north, learn about the region’s fascinating history from our guided commentary. Our first stop is the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community, home of the Beagle Bay Church with its glimmering pearl shell altar, for morning tea. Next, we visit the garden community of Lombadina, home to an old bush church, a local craft shop and a delightful community bakery – enjoy their fresh wood-fired bread for our picnic lunch. Across the peninsula we discover the remote Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. In 1946 Dean Brown skippered a rickety wooden lugger into an unknown frontier to discover this hidden paradise: his descendants continue to operate what is now the oldest Pearl Farm in Australia. Embark on an extraordinary Sea Safari through the Islands of the Giant Tides to experience the remarkable tidal flows of King Sound. (LD)

Day 2 Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm & One Arm Point

This morning we gain an insight into this remote pearling industry on the Farm Tour, concluding with an in-depth pearl grading and appreciation session that will leave you feeling like a pearl expert. We then journey further north to the One Arm Point Aboriginal Community to tour a local aquaculture hatchery perched right on the tip of One Arm Point overlooking the impressive Buccaneer Archipelago. We also enjoy the company and cultural insight of our local guide, as he shares stories of growing up in the remote Bardi Jawi community and a few bushtucker secrets. After a picnic lunch visit the Round Rock viewpoint to search the bay for dolphins and turtles, while a refreshing dip at nearby Jologo Beach is a great way to finish up. On the return journey to Broome, keep an eye out for wildlife, such as dingoes, wallabies and wild donkeys, before arriving at your accommodation at approximately 5.00pm. (BL)

Days 3-5 West Kimberley Gorges

As we travel through the remote and beautiful Kimberley landscape, our guide shares stories of local history, people and the environment. Enjoy a morning tea break by the Fitzroy River, the biggest waterway in the Kimberley which floods annually, but recently swelled to record levels in a once in a 100 year weather event! Soon enough we hit the Gibb River Road and journey to our campsite in Silent Grove, where we set up camp for our first night under the Kimberley stars. In the morning we discover Bell Gorge, a hidden highlight of the West Kimberley. This idyllic retreat, considered amongst the most beautiful in the area, boasts cascading waterfalls and crystal clear pools formed over millions of years – an easy place to while away a few hours! Further up the Gibb River Road, we settle into our seasonal camp by a billabong on Mt Barnett Cattle Station. Two nights here allows time to bathe in the cool waters of water lilie-laden Galvans Gorge and stunning Adcock Gorge. Also, trek to Manning Falls, where, amid rugged beauty, we relax, explore wandering streams, encounter local wildlife and take a dip in the waterfall pools. (LD/BLD/BLD)

Days 6-7 El Questro Wilderness Park

Our journey up the Gibb River Road continues to the iconic El Questro Wilderness Park. Two nights in our private campsite allows free time to join one or more of the many activities on offer. We include a refreshing dip in the Zebedee Springs and walk into Emma Gorge while a cruise on Chamberlain Gorge, bush tucker walk or bird watching tour are amongst the many optional activities. You may choose to simply explore this beautiful wilderness park at your own leisure. (BLD/BL)

Days 8-9 Kununurra & Lake Argyle

Emerge from the Gibb River Road for a few hours free time in Kununurra: sample locally-made rum at the Hoochery and pick up some local sandalwood inspired beauty, health and lifestyle products at the Sandalwood Factory. After lunch, travel on to the shores of the expansive Lake Argyle, the heart of the Ord River Irrigation System which has transformed this dry region into a lush agricultural oasis. Two nights allows time to enjoy a refreshing afternoon swim in the Infinity Pool, with a magnificent view across the lake, and take up one of the many optional activities on offer such as scenic flights and kayak hire. You may like to join our guide to visit the historic Durack Homestead Museum or take on one of the many bush trails to explore the area. A sunset boat cruise on the lake is highly recommended (approx AU$100pp, own expense). (BD/BL)

Days 10-11 Purnululu National Park: Bungle Bungles

Journey south down the Great Northern Highway to Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungles. Two nights here, staying in our private Bungle Bungle Safari Camp in the heart of the park, allows a full day to explore the highlights of this extraordinary National Park, the most famous of which, are the Bungle Bungle domes. Rivers created this landscape of unique orange and black striped ‘beehive’ geological formations over a period of 20 million years. Unbelievably, only the locals knew it existed until the early 1980’s; once discovered by others, the area was made a national park in 1987. We explore Echidna Chasm (2km), known for its towering Livistonia Palm trees, and take a short walk (2-3km) into stunning Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks create a natural amphitheatre. There is time in the afternoon to take an optional scenic helicopter flight and enjoy a birds-eye view of the beehive domes (approx $450pp, own expense) to put it all into perspective. (BLD/BLD)

Day 10 China Wall & Fitzroy Crossing

Enroute to Fitzroy Crossing, we break the long journey with a visit the gold rush town of Halls Creek to see the remarkable China Wall. We also enjoy lunch at Marys Pool, visit a remote Aboriginal Art Gallery, and enjoy a cultural walk with a local Indigenous guide before an evening by the Fitzroy River at Fitzroy Crossing. (BLD)

Day 11 Tunnel Creek

The morning is the devoted to exploring Tunnel Creek, a 750-metre cave system carved through the Napier Range, in which we discover stalactites, secret caves and a large variety of wildlife. It is here we also learn the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hide-out in the late 1800’s. Travel along the Fairfield-Leopold Road, pausing for a peak into history at the ruins of Lillimiloora Police Station and to visit the Derby ‘Boab Prison Tree’, enroute back into Broome. (BL)