The Great Kimberley Overland
13 Days Starting and ending in Broome
Visiting: Broome / Dampier Peninsula / Cygnet Bay, Dampier Peninsula / Broome, Broome Fitzroy Crossing / Derby / Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek), West Kimberley Gorges, El Questro Wilderness Park, Kununurra / Lake Argyle, Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles), China Wall / Fitzroy Crossing , Geikie Gorge / Broome
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PKOL-B
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 20
Age range:
8-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Get wild on a 13-day tour through the remote Kimberley. Sparsely populated and ruggedly beautiful, the Kimberly is the ultimate adventure destination. Swim in gorges filled with clear waters and under waterfalls. Hike through red-rock formations and palm oases. Learn about the rich First Nations history of the area from Traditional Custodians, take guided walks that illuminate local geography and listen to Outback yarns over a beer in the pub. Get active in this unique and captivating corner of Australia.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Broome / Dampier Peninsula / Cygnet Bay
Location: Broome / Dampier Peninsula / Cygnet Bay
Accommodation: Safari Tent (with private ensuite)
Meals Included: lunch, dinner
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.
Day 2: Dampier Peninsula / Broome
Location: Dampier Peninsula / Broome
Accommodation: Resort (with private ensuite)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
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 local guide Wossy, 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.
Day 3: Broome Fitzroy Crossing / Derby / Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek)
Location: Broome Fitzroy Crossing / Derby / Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek)
Accommodation: Camping (with shared facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Departing Broome we travel through the remote and beautiful Kimberley landscape, as our guide shares stories of local history, people and the environment. Enjoy a morning tea break by the Fitzroy River and visit the Derby 'Boab Prison Tree' before we hit the Gibb River Road. The afternoon is devoted to exploring Tunnel Creek. In this 750-metre cave system carved through the Napier Range, 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. That night we settle into our first night under the Kimberley night sky just outside Windjana Gorge.
Day 4-5: West Kimberley Gorges
Location: West Kimberley Gorges
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities)
The Napier Range is over 350 million years old and home to the geological wonder of Windjana Gorge. Beneath gorge walls rising 90m, we spend the morning searching for freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and indigenous bush tucker. In the afternoon we head off for Bell Gorge, a hidden highlight of the West Kimberleys. 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! Spend day 3 swimming in paradise: discover the cool waters of water lilie-laden Galvans Gorge and stunning Adcock Gorge. Amid the rugged beauty of Manning Falls we swim in deep clear pools, relax, explore wandering streams, uncover local wildlife and take a dip in the waterfall pools.
Day 6-7: El Questro Wilderness Park
Location: El Questro Wilderness Park
Accommodation: Permanent tented camp (with shared facilities)
Our journey up the Gibb River Road continues to the iconic El Questro Wilderness Park. Two nights in our private campsite allows free time 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.
Day 8-9: Kununurra / Lake Argyle
Location: Kununurra / Lake Argyle
Accommodation: Camping (with shared facilities)
Emerge from the Gibb River Road for a few hours free time in Kununurra. In the afternoon, travel onto 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. There is free time to join a sunset boat cruise on the lake (approx AU$100pp, own expense), visit the historic Durack Homestead Museum or take on one of the many bush trails to explore the area.
Day 10-11: Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)
Location: Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)
Accommodation: Eco safari camp (with shared facilities)
After a leisurely morning, head south down the Great Northern Highway to Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungles. With two nights here staying overnight 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.
Day 12: China Wall / Fitzroy Crossing
Location: China Wall / Fitzroy Crossing
Accommodation: Camping (with shared facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
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 and visit a remote Aboriginal Art Gallery, before an evening by the Fitzroy River at Fitzroy Crossing.
Day 13: Geikie Gorge / Broome
Location: Geikie Gorge / Broome
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
This morning join a Darlgunya Cultural Walk where our local Indigenous guide greets you with a smoking ceremony and billy tea, then leads a stroll through the remnants of the old postal settlement. Learn about the wild Fitzroy River: its plants, wildlife and significance to local culture. Enjoy lunch by the river before returning to Broome – hopefully in time to enjoy the sunset on Cable Beach.
What's Included
11 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 9 dinners
What's Not Included
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
Transport
- 4WD tours are operated in custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage. These comfortable, strong remote area vehicles allow our small groups extra space (including standing room), are fully air-conditioned and fitted with adjustable air-vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand that the roads we travel on can be heavily corrugated, which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed.
Accommodation
- Night 1: Enjoy a night in Cygnet Bay's safari cabins/tents.
- Night 2: Rest up in a Private Room - with ensuite - at a Broome Resort before we depart for the adventure of the Gibb River Road
- Nights 3, 8, 9 & 12: Camping in National Parks and in the grounds of Lake Argyle and the Fitzroy River Lodge involves dome tents (single/twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. On site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets.
- Nights 4 & 5: Enjoy two nights in the comfort of our own private safari camp at Manning Gorge. The camp features large tents on raised platforms with twin stretcher beds, mattresses and our own sheltered kitchen area. Nearby shared ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets.
- Nights 6 & 7: Our private camp on the grounds of El Questro also features large tents on raised platforms with twin stretcher beds, mattresses and our own sheltered kitchen area. Nearby shared ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets.
- Nights 10 & 11: In the heart of Purnululu National Park, our eco safari tents at the Bungle Bungles Safari Camp boast views of the Bungles Massif from your door. The camp features modern facilities, a covered dining deck with panoramic views and an open air campfire around which you can relax beneath a sparkling Kimberley night sky: chatting, star-gazing and sharing the adventure with like-minded travellers.
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
- A Single Supplement is available on the default version of this trip for night 1 & 2 only, subject to availability. You will have a tent to yourself on most camping nights, however in the permanent tented camps you will be paired up with another single traveller of the same gender.
- ACCOMMODATION UPGRADE (CAMPING PLUS)
- An accommodation upgrade (Camping Plus) for nights 6, 7, 8 , 9 & 12 is available upon request and subject to availability at an additional cost. Camping Plus also has the additional option for a single supplement for those nights and nights 1 & 2.
- Nights 6 & 7 (Camping Plus): The Permanent Tents at El Questro Station offer an affordable upgrade option at the famous El Questro Wilderness Park. With twin beds, lighting and a quality ablutions block nearby, these tents ensure you have a comfortable nights sleep while still enjoying the outback essence of Kimberley camping.
- Nights 8 & 9 (Camping Plus): The Standard Rooms at Lake Argyle Resort each have a queen & single bed, private ensuite bathroom, a small fridge, tea/coffee making facilities. airconditioning and a private verandah to enjoy the beautiful surrounds.
- Night 12 (Camping Plus): The new Safari Tents at the Fitzroy River Lodge offer elevated glamping, with twin beds and power. Shared facilities.
Included Activities
- Beagle Bay Pearl Shell Church Visit
- Islands of the Giant Tides Cruise
- Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community
- One Arm Point Aquaculture Hatchery Visit
- Tunnel Creek National Park
- Tunnel Creek exploration walk
- Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Cultural Centre
- Boab Prison Tree
- Windjana Gorge
- Bell Gorge
- Manning Falls
- Adcock Gorge or Galvans Gorge
- Zebedee Springs
- Emma Gorge
- Echidna Chasm Walk
- Cathedral Gorge Walk (Bungle Bungle)
- Laarri Aboriginal Art Gallery
- Fitzroy Crossing
- Geikie Gorge Experience
Important Information
- TRIP STYLE & SLEEPING BAG
- This is a Basix-style trip. Please note that this trip requires a sleeping bag.
- START & END TIME
- This trip starts in Broome with an early pick-up at 7:00am on day 1 at our default pick-up location, unless you request an alternative pick-up location well ahead of departure. The trip finishes in the late afternoon or early evening on the last day. We recommend you arrive a day prior to the trip's departure date and onward travel should not be booked until the following day.
- OPERATOR
- This trip is operated by our partners Kimberley Wild Expeditions.
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT & ACCOMMODATION UPGRADE
- A Single Supplement is available on the default version of this trip for night 1 & 2 only, subject to availability. You will have a tent to yourself on most camping nights, however in the permanent tented camps you will be paired up with another single traveller of the same gender. An accommodation upgrade (Camping Plus) for nights 6, 7, 8 , 9 & 12 is available upon request and subject to availability at an additional cost. Camping Plus also has the additional option for a single supplement for those nights and nights 1 & 2. Please see the accommodation section of your trip notes or speak to your travel agent for more details.
- MINIMUM NUMBERS
- Please note this trip requires a minimum number of booked customers to guarantee the departure. Your Booking Agent will advise at time of booking if the departure has met minimum numbers. If minimum numbers are not met, you will be advised no later than 56 days out from departure (prior to full payment due). We recommend arranging flights and related travel services once your departure is guaranteed. In the event that your departure is cancelled due to minimum numbers not being met, a full refund will be provided of monies paid.
Mode of Transport
- 4WD tours are operated in custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage. These comfortable, strong remote area vehicles allow our small groups extra space (including standing room), are fully air-conditioned and fitted with adjustable air-vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand that the roads we travel on can be heavily corrugated, which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed.
Accommodation
- Safari Tent - with ensuite (1nt), Hotel - with ensuite (1nt), Private Camp - shared facilities (6nts), Camping - shared facilities (2nts), Bungle Bungles Safari Camp - shared facilities (2nts)
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip is operated and run by our trusted partner, Kimberley Wild Expeditions. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Kimberley Wild Expeditions customers and Intrepid customers. Intrepid works closely with Kimberley Wild Expeditions to ensure that all of our customers enjoy their time away
This trip involves strenuous activities like hiking on uneven terrain. It is best suited to travellers with a very high level of mobility and fitness. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.
Weather conditions can be extreme in the Kimberley. Have a think about what time of the year best suits you best to travel in.
Accommodation on this tour is a mixture of camping with limited facilities, camping with full facilities and a hostel.
You’ll be travelling through regions with very little mobile service or internet connection.
Rise and shine! This trip includes lots of early starts. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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