Gibb River Road Exploration - 13 Days

We meet our Tour Director for an orientation town tour and a leisurely afternoon in Broome, the gateway to the Kimberley, taking in a spectacular sunset from the iconic Cable Beach Club Resort before a welcome dinner to mark the start of the journey.

Please note: a passenger weight limit of 120kg applies to flights included in this tour; please contact us in advance if your weight exceeds this amount.

We set off early on a full-day adventure to Horizontal Falls and the Dampier Peninsula, beginning with a scenic seaplane flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago before landing in the calm waters of Talbot Bay. We enjoy a hot breakfast and a locally sourced barramundi lunch prepared by our hosts aboard the Horizontal Falls houseboat.The adventure continues with a cruise through the Horizontal Falls, followed by a swim in a marine viewing enclosure, getting close to local marine life. We also visit the third-generation, family-run Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm to learn about its history, and explore the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community, home to the Mother of Pearl Church.

Please note: this tour may run drive-first/fly-second or fly-first/drive-second depending on the day's schedule, with the same inclusions either way. Seaplane travel is governed by individual weight; guests must declare accurate weights (with clothes on) at booking, with weigh-ins on boarding and an upper limit of 120kg per guest.

We return to Broome, where the Horizontal Falls team transfers us back to our accommodation, before dinner this evening.

We board our custom all-terrain coach for the journey north, stopping in Derby to visit the culturally significant Boab Prison Tree. From here, we travel the Gibb River Road, stopping at Windjana Gorge for a guided walk beneath towering limestone cliffs.This afternoon, we venture into Tunnel Creek National Park, wading through its underground river system, before continuing on to Fitzroy Crossing for the night.

Departing Fitzroy Crossing, we travel the Great Northern Highway towards Halls Creek, stopping to explore the Mimbi Caves, where Dreamtime stories from Traditional Owners bring the site's ancient fossil history to life. We stop for lunch in Halls Creek.From here, we continue into Purnululu National Park, home to the Bungle Bungle Range, for a 2-night stay.

We take in the grandeur of Purnululu from above on an 18-minute helicopter flight.

Please note: maximum passenger weight limits apply to all scenic or transfer flights.

Back on the ground, we follow Piccaninny Creek to Cathedral Gorge, a natural amphitheatre carved by nature, before continuing along the Dome Trail through the park's beehive-shaped formations and on to Echidna Chasm, where sheer rock walls glow in the afternoon light.

Leaving Purnululu behind, we travel north to Kununurra, stopping at Five Rivers Lookout for a picnic with panoramic views across the Cambridge Gulf. Arriving in Kununurra by the afternoon, the rest of the day is free to relax or explore at your own pace.

We set out for a 3-hour cruise up the Ord River from the banks of Lake Kununurra, taking in the scenery and wildlife as our skipper takes us upstream towards Lake Argyle. Afterwards, we visit the Argyle Homestead Museum before continuing on to the Cockburn Range and the iconic El Questro Station for a 2-night stay.

We delve deeper into El Questro Wilderness Park with a tranquil 90-minute cruise through Chamberlain Gorge, a striking freshwater setting framed by towering cliffs, feeding the resident archerfish before returning via the station township.In the afternoon, we choose our own adventure - relaxing at the resort, or taking on a guided hike to Emma Gorge's waterfall (2.5 hours return, requiring a good level of fitness), with a swim in its cool, emerald pool as a reward.

We spend the morning relaxing in the warm, crystal-clear waters of Zebedee Thermal Springs, before resuming our journey west along the Gibb River Road, crossing the Pentecost River. We continue along the Kalumburu Road to Drysdale River Station, a working cattle property running 9,000 head across more than a million acres.

Heading north, we continue along the Kalumburu Road and onto the remote Mitchell Plateau track, crossing the King Edward River to reach ancient Wanjina rock art galleries, among the most remarkable in the Kimberley. We venture deeper into the plateau through towering Livistona palm forests before arriving at our exclusive safari camp by mid-afternoon, for a 2-night stay.

Today brings a big walk and an equally big highlight. After a short drive to the ranger station, we set off on a guided 4-kilometre walking tour to Mitchell Falls (a good level of fitness and mobility is required), passing unique Gwion and Wanjina rock art galleries along the way, with interpretation from a local guide from the Kandiwal community, and Mertens Falls before reaching the top of Mitchell Falls itself.

Please note: for those not wishing to complete the walk, an optional helicopter transfer to the top of the falls is available at an additional cost, still accompanied by a guide. Maximum passenger weight limits apply to all scenic or transfer flights.

We find a spot for a picnic lunch overlooking the falls, before an included helicopter flight back to our starting point - a spectacular way to see the falls and surrounding landscape from above. Back at camp, there's time to relax, and perhaps a swim in the palm-fringed creek.

Another flight sees us leaving the Mitchell Plateau behind, bound for Darwin, heading east across Joseph Bonaparte Gulf before hugging the coastline into the city, arriving early in the afternoon.

Please note: maximum passenger weight limits apply to all scenic or transfer flights.

Our accommodation offers easy access to the Darwin Esplanade and several kilometres of walkways through lush gardens. The afternoon is free to relax, before we gather this evening for a final dinner together, celebrating a wonderful Kimberley adventure.

Today, the tour comes to an end. There's the option to join a city tour, including a visit to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, or spend the morning exploring the Territory's capital at your own pace, before transferring to the airport or onward accommodation.