Kimberley & Top End Expedition - 18 Days

Once we arrive in Darwin, we are met by our Tour Directors to begin the adventure with an orientation tour, visiting Cullen Bay, Stokes Hill Wharf, and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.In the afternoon, we check in to our accommodation along the Darwin Esplanade. This evening, we come together for our first dinner - a Territory-style sunset dinner cruise aboard a historic vessel.

Please note: please confirm your required arrival time with the office before booking flights.

Departing Darwin, our first stop is Litchfield National Park, where waterfalls tumble from the Tabletop Ranges into tranquil waterholes. We visit Florence Falls and Wangi Falls, with a picnic lunch along the way, before continuing to the iconic Kakadu National Park, our base for the next two nights.

We begin the day with breathtaking views over the Arnhem Land floodplains from Ubirr Rock, exploring ancient rock art sites along the way. We then ford the East Alligator River into Arnhem Land, visiting the Injalak Arts and Crafts Centre in Gunbalanya, where talented local artists create their work before our eyes.In the afternoon, we return to Kakadu for a wildlife cruise on Yellow Water Billabong, taking in the diversity of this remarkable wetland ecosystem, before our final night in the park.

Today we head south to Katherine and on to Nitmiluk National Park, home to Katherine River Gorge - a deep gorge carved through ancient sandstone by the Katherine River, with towering rock walls among the most impressive in the Territory.

We leave the Northern Territory behind, crossing into Western Australia via Victoria River and Timber Creek en route to Lake Argyle. Along the way, we stop at the historic Durack Homestead, before a picnic lunch at the dam wall and a tour through part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme on the Ivanhoe Plains, where melons, mangoes, sandalwood and other crops are grown.We also have some time to browse the shops in Kununurra before checking in to our accommodation for the night.

Before leaving Kununurra, we join a three-hour cruise down the Ord River, learning about the Ord River Irrigation Scheme from our skipper along the way.Later in the morning, we head south past Mabel Downs Station to the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, home to the Bungle Bungles, arriving in the late afternoon for a two-night stay.

Today we explore the Bungle Bungles' unique orange and black beehive-shaped domes. We begin with an 18-minute scenic helicopter flight over the park, taking in its extraordinary formations from above.

Please note: weight limits apply to all scenic flights.

Afterwards, we walk along Piccaninny Creek to the natural Amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge, before following the Dome Trail for a closer look at the park's unique geology. In the afternoon, we head to the northern region of the park to visit Echidna Chasm before returning to our accommodation.

We head back to the Great Northern Highway and north to Wyndham for the Five Rivers Lookout, enjoying a picnic lunch with views over the Cambridge Gulf.We then backtrack to the start of the Gibb River Road, following it a short distance to the world-renowned El Questro Wilderness Park, our base for the next two nights in unique tented cabins.

We start the day with a relaxing morning swim in the warm, crystal-clear waters of Zebedee Thermal Springs, before visiting the station township at the heart of El Questro.We return for lunch, followed by an afternoon at your leisure - you might choose to relax around the resort, or join a guided walk to the stunning Emma Gorge waterfall (2.5 hours return, requiring a good level of fitness).

Our journey along the Gibb gets more remote today. We cross the Pentecost River and continue past Ellenbrae Station to the "Y junction," following the Kalumburu Road past Drysdale River Station before turning onto the Mitchell Plateau track.We ford the King Edward River and pass through ancient Livistona palm forests before arriving at our exclusive safari camp, our base for the next two nights and the ideal starting point for exploring Mitchell Plateau and Mitchell Falls.

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 the incredible Mitchell Falls (a good level of fitness and mobility is required), passing rarely seen Gwion and Wanjina rock art galleries with a local guide from the Kandiwal community, and Mertens Falls along the way.

Please note: those not wishing to complete the walk have the option of a helicopter flight down instead, still accompanied by a guide, at an additional cost.

After a picnic lunch and time to admire Mitchell Falls, we take to the skies for an included helicopter flight back to our starting point - a spectacular way to see the falls and surrounding landscape from above.

Please note: weight limits apply to all scenic flights.

Back at camp, there's time to relax, and perhaps take a swim in the palm-fringed creek.

This morning, we depart Mitchell Plateau and head back to the Kalumburu Road, visiting several exceptional Wanjina rock art galleries near the King Edward River, with a picnic lunch along the way.In the afternoon, we arrive at Drysdale River Station, a pastoral lease running over 9,000 head of cattle across more than a million acres, where we spend the night in comfortable cabins.

After an early start, we return to the Gibb River Road, travelling west past Mount Barnett to Bell Gorge, one of the most spectacular gorges in the Kimberley. We take a guided walk down to the falls (a good level of fitness and mobility is required) and enjoy a swim in the rock pools at the top, taking in views down this enormous canyon towards Walcott Inlet.After a picnic lunch, we continue on to Mt Hart Station, established in 1914 as a working cattle station and now on the lands of the Ngarinyin people, for a two-night stay in safari-style tents. This evening, we gather for drinks before dinner.

Today we explore Mount Hart's wilderness aboard specially built open-back safari trucks, with our guides sharing insights on the area's national park programs as we visit Barkers Pool and Dolerite Gorge, with a picnic lunch at one of the waterholes.In the afternoon, the rest of the day is free, with the option to walk and explore the gardens near the lodge.

This morning, we travel back to the Gibb River Road, heading west through the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges (formerly known as the King Leopold Ranges) to Tunnel Creek. Once the hideout of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal man who led a resistance against colonial stockmen in the 1890s, the site features a 750-metre underground river running through the Napier Range, which we explore on foot with our guides.

Please note: water or reef shoes are recommended for the Tunnel Creek walk.

We continue on to Fitzroy Crossing, arriving in the late afternoon for an overnight stay.

We depart Fitzroy Crossing towards Derby for a brief town tour, taking in Myalls Bore and Cattle Trough, the Boab Prison Tree, Derby Jetty, and a local art gallery, before arriving in Broome in the late afternoon for a two-night stay.

We start early for a full-day adventure to the 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 either a hot breakfast or a locally sourced barramundi lunch aboard a houseboat.

Please note: 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. A 2kg hand luggage allowance applies - please bring a water bottle, sun protection, a camera and a light towel.

Throughout the day, we take a scenic cruise through the Horizontal Falls and enjoy 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: depending on the day's schedule, this tour may run drive-first/fly-second or fly-first/drive-second; inclusions and activities remain the same either way.

We return to Broome, where we gather for a final dinner together to celebrate our journey through the Kimberley.

After breakfast, our tour comes to an end, with transfers available to the airport or your accommodation if you're staying on.