Contrasts of the Kimberley

Monday 21 July

An afternoon departure from Auckland on QANTAS for our flight to Darwin via Sydney. 

Tuesday 22 July

After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a half-day tour including Darwin Museum to see exhibits on Cyclone Tracy’s impact in 1974 and East Point Military Museum. This evening enjoy a traditional Dinner Harbour Cruise on board ‘Spirit of Darwin.’ Relax and watch the colourful sunset, see the fish feeding from the ship’s bow and enjoy a sumptuous three course buffet meal.

Wednesday 23 July

Today we travel to the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, starting with a visit to Foggy Dam to spot birds in the wetlands. Later, embark on an informative boat cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong with a picnic dinner. We return to Darwin late evening.

Thursday 24 July

This morning we complete our time in Darwin with a short city tour to include Battery Point and the City Centre before we head south on Stuart Highway to Adelaide River with it’s beautiful War Cemetery and the gold mining town of Pine Creek to Katherine. 

Friday 25 July

Morning cruise on the magnificient Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, a ceremonial significant landscape to the local Jawoyn people. Later, we leave the Northern Territory, following the Victoria River and passing huge cattle stations to arrive at the beautiful and relaxing town of Kununurra.  Kununurra is famous for its wildlife-rich waterways and wetlands.

Saturday 26 July

Today visit Lake Argyle which is 21 times larger than Sydney Harbour and Australia’s second largest freshwater man-made reservoir. We take a cruise encountering rock wallabies, fresh water crocodiles, wallaroos and a diverse array of birdlife that call Lake Argyle home.  In the afternoon, descend nearly 100m to the base of the dam wall, for a scenic cruise along the Ord River.

Sunday 27 July

Drive onto the famous El Questro Station in the heart of the Kimberley region, covering 283,280 hectares of stunning landscape. Next, soak in the oasis-like hot springs at Zebedee Springs. Lunch is at The Station on the Pentecost River before an optional hike up Emma Gorge into the Cockburn Ranges for the serene surroundings.

Monday 28 July

This morning an optional unforgettable flight over Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungles. Later, travel past expansive irrigation fields and visit a Stone craft Gallery and the Hoochery Rum Distillery. In the afternoon, arrive in Halls Creek, an early Kimberley settlement and the northern end of both the Tanami Track and the Canning Stock Route, renowned for their rugged, remote, and scenic landscapes. 

 Optional Scenic Flight over Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungles approx. AUD $529 per person Soar above the expansive Lake Argyle. Then, fly over the rugged landscape of the Bungle Bungles, a World Heritage-listed site known for its distinctive beehive-shaped sandstone formations.

Tuesday 29 July

Today, travel along the winding and diverse track into Purnululu National Park to visit the Bungle Bungle Range, with elevations reaching up to 578 meters. A picnic lunch for the day.

Later, take a stroll into Cathedral Gorge and around its majestic domes. Return to Halls Creek for dinner.

The Bungle Bungle Range is the main feature of the Purnululu National Park.  It is renowned for its striking sandstone domes, which feature unusual and visually captivating stripes of alternating orange and grey bands. This distinctive banding results from variations in clay content and the porosity within the sandstone layers.

Wednesday 30 July

Depart Halls Creek, passing Mary Pool and the Mueller Ranges and arrive in the outback town of Fitzroy Crossing. The Fitzroy River flows 733km from the King Leopold Ranges to its mouth in King Sound. The Fitzroy River is considered to be the “world’s last stronghold” for the critically endangered sawfish.

Thursday 31 July

Drive east along the Gibb River Road to the Napier Range and Windjana Gorge for a picnic lunch. Later, travel along the Lennard River for crocodile viewing as they bask in the sun. Before returning to Derby, explore the impressive Tunnel Creek, one of Western Australia’s most intriguing natural features.

Friday 01 August

Continue on the Great Northern Highway arriving in Broome late morning. This afternoon is an optional half day tour to the unique Horizontal Falls, the unique waterfalls, that pass horizontally through two narrow gorges.  Afternoon at your leisure.

OPTIONAL Horizontal Falls Tour – Approx AU $1200pp. Experience a thrilling excursion where you’ll take a scenic seaplane flight and then a thrilling ride on a fast boat throught the waterfalls.  Here, unlike any other waterfall, the water passes horizontally.   Lunch is provided on the floating dining pontoon and there is the opportunity to swim or snorkel in the marine viewing platform.  

Saturday 02 August

A relaxing day touring Broome including China town, the Port and Gantheaume Point. In the afternoon, we visit the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park at feeding time to see the crocs in action. We finish of the tour with dinner watching the sunset on Cable Beach.  

Sunday 03 August

After a leisurely start we take a mid-morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Melbourne. Arrive Melbourne early evening for a one-night stop.

Monday 04 August

Continue onto Auckland late morning to arrive home early evening.