Grand Kimberley Expedition - 16 Days

Meet your friendly and professional Tour Director and set off on an orientation tour of Broome, the gateway to the Kimberley. Spend a relaxed afternoon discovering this vibrant coastal town. As evening falls, marvel at the breathtaking sunset Broome is famous for, then connect with fellow travellers over a warm welcome dinner at the hotel.

We depart Broome early, with a convenient mid-morning break in Derby, marking the start of our journey along the legendary Gibb River Road. Our next stop is Winjana Gorge, a highly spiritual place for the Bunuba people, where we stretch our legs on a guided walk amid towering cliffs and refreshing pools.

Later, we arrive at Mount Hart, a former cattle station located within the Wunaamin Conservation Park and rich in history and natural beauty. As the day winds down, we enjoy a drink at the property's bar before dinner.

Step into the remote beauty of Mount Hart, where open-back safari trucks take us off-road to explore vast wilderness and hidden waterholes. We learn about the area's unique ecology and conservation efforts, with the chance for a refreshing swim or simply time to soak in the tranquility of this remote paradise.

After returning to the accommodation, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure - perhaps relax and explore the gardens.

Back on the legendary Gibb River Road, we pause for a refreshing swim at Galvans Gorge, tucked within the King Leopold Ranges. From here, we continue north along the remote Kalumburu Road to Drysdale, our home for the night.

This working cattle station runs an astonishing 9,000 head of cattle across more than one million acres. We reflect on this incredible scale over a drink at the bar before retiring to a comfortable cabin with a private ensuite bathroom.

We continue north, fording the King Edward River before visiting a series of remarkable Wanjina rock art sites - sacred places of deep cultural significance, considered among the most extraordinary in the Kimberley. We then journey through ancient Livistona palm forests on our way to our accommodation at Mitchell Plateau.

Here you can take a dip in the property's private palm-fringed waterhole or simply relax in your suite. As evening falls, we gather for a sunset drink around the campfire to unwind from a day on the road.

After a short drive to the ranger station, we set off on a guided 4km walking tour to the incredible four-tiered Punamii-Uunpuu, Mitchell Falls. Accompanied by a Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owner, we discover incredible Gwion and Wanjina cultural art sites along the way, passing Bunjani (Mertens Falls) before reaching the top of the falls.

We find the perfect picnic spot and admire the falls, before taking to the skies for a short, spectacular helicopter flight over Mitchell Falls, returning us to where the walk started.

Please note: The Mitchell Falls walk requires a good level of fitness and mobility, including some rock-hopping. For those who prefer not to do the walk, an optional helicopter transfer to the top of the falls is available with local operators, at an additional cost - you'll still be accompanied by a guide for a relaxed exploration of the site. Passenger weight restrictions apply.

Today we retreat from Ngauwudu and the Mitchell Plateau, following the Kalumburu Road back to the Gibb River Road. Heading east, we ford the Durack River before arriving at the foothills of the Cockburn Range, where we admire the majestic orange cliffs and the view in the soft late afternoon light. We then cross the mighty Pentecost River and arrive at El Questro Wilderness Park, our home for the next two nights.

We delve deeper into El Questro Wilderness Park for a tranquil 90 minute cruise through Chamberlain Gorge, a striking freshwater haven framed by towering cliffs, feeding the cheeky archerfish along the way. From here we head to Zebedee Thermal Springs, where warm, crystal-clear waters invite a relaxing soak beneath swaying palms.

This afternoon, you can choose your own adventure - unwind at the accommodation, or head off on a guided hike to Emma Gorge's waterfall, rewarded with a swim in its cool, emerald pool.

Please note: The guided hike to Emma Gorge's waterfall is 2.5 hours return and requires a good level of fitness.

Departing El Questro, we head to Wyndham and Five Rivers Lookout, taking in views over Cambridge Gulf where five mighty Kimberley rivers meet and flow into the ocean. En route, we also visit Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, an important breeding area for a vast array of birdlife, with over 160 species recorded. We then make our way to Kununurra, the busy hub of the East Kimberley, for our two-night stay.

We ease into the day with time to explore Kununurra, a town born from the ambitious Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Our exploring takes us to Lake Argyle, WA's largest freshwater man-made reservoir, with a stop at the historic Durack Homestead, home to some of the Kimberley's original European settlers.

This afternoon, a three hour Ord River cruise showcases the region's landscapes, abundant wildlife and history, ending with a spectacular sunset return to Kununurra.

Before departing Kununurra, we explore the fertile farming country, driving through parts of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme on the Ivanhoe Plains, where melons, mangoes, sandalwood and more are grown. From here, we begin our journey south to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park, arriving in time for a late afternoon sundowner.

We spend the next two nights here, with comfortable ensuite cabins and a swimming pool making for a delightful stay.

Today is full of adventure as we explore the wonders of Purnululu, including its unique orange and black beehive-shaped domes. First up, a short scenic helicopter flight (included) over the park gives us a bird's eye view of its astounding natural features. Afterwards, we walk along Piccaninny Creek to the natural amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge, then follow the 'dome trail' for a closer inspection of the park's unique geological formations. The northern region of the range is home to Echidna Chasm, where steep-sided gorge walls rise up to 200 metres high, with narrow passes to squeeze through on a 2km guided walk. A well-deserved drink awaits back at the accommodation.

Please note: Weight limits apply to all scenic flights.

Departing the Bungle Bungle Range early, we set our sights on Halls Creek, the site of Western Australia's first gold discovery in 1885. From here, we turn off the highway to Mt Pierre Station, veering onto a track leading to the Mimbi Caves.

Guided through this natural wonder - part of the 350-million-year-old Devonian Reef system - we listen to Dreamtime stories and learn about one of the most significant Devonian fossil sites in the world from the local Gooniyandi people, over freshly brewed tea and damper. We then continue our journey on the Great Northern Highway to Fitzroy Crossing, our destination this evening.

We discover the wonders of Dimalurru Tunnel Creek National Park, venturing underground through a limestone passage sculpted by nature over millions of years. Up to 20 metres high and 15 metres wide in parts, this natural cathedral-like cavern - with its towering walls and flowing river - is a truly unique experience.

Later, we journey to Broome, arriving in time to check in to our accommodation at Cable Beach and unwind. You can head down to the beach to enjoy the spectacular sunsets Broome is renowned for.

We start the day early, setting off on a full-day adventure to the Dampier Peninsula and Horizontal Falls. Along the way we visit the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community, home to the Mother of Pearl Church, and the third-generation, family-owned Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, learning about its history and culture over a hot meal and some free time in Cygnet Bay.

We then take a scenic seaplane flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago, landing in the calm waters of Talbot Bay for a hot breakfast and a lunch of locally sourced barramundi, served either in Cygnet Bay or on a floating dining pontoon at Horizontal Falls. Throughout the day we enjoy a scenic cruise through Cyclone Creek and the Horizontal Falls, along with a swim in the marine viewing enclosure to get up close to the local marine life.

After a day full of adventure, we make our way back to Broome for our final dinner together, celebrating new friends and our journey through the Kimberley.

Please note: Today's tour may run as drive-first/fly-second or fly-first/drive-second, depending on the day's schedule - the same inclusions and activities are provided either way. All guests travelling on the seaplane must declare their accurate weight, with clothes on, at the time of booking, and will be weighed again upon boarding for safety and weight verification. There is an upper weight limit of 120kg per guest, in addition to individual weight declarations. Horizontal Falls does not operate on NEAP tide dates. If your booking date falls on a NEAP tide date, the Horizontal Falls experience will be excluded from the itinerary, and this will be indicated in the fare type at the time of booking.

Embrace a leisurely morning before checking out.