13 Day 4WD Kimberley camping safari

Tour Details

Operator

Sacred Earth Safaris

Destinations

Kimberley Region, Kununurra, Bungle Bungles, Gibb River Road, Geikie Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge, Mitchell Falls, Fitzroy Crossing, El Questro Station, King Leopold Ranges, Lake Argyle, Turkey Creek and Katherine Gorge

Departs From

Darwin

Tour Description

This is a comprehensive small group Kimberley 4WD safari, starting and finishing in Darwin. Highlights include 2 nights in the Bungle Bungles, the gorges of the Gibb River Road, Mitchell Falls, Lake Argyle, Nitmiluk Gorge (Katherine Gorge) ,Geike Gorge and El Questro.

Day 1 (L,D)

You will be collected from your hotel at 7.30 am this morning to begin your 13 day 4WD safari through the Kimberley region.

We head south along the Stuart Highway towards the township of Katherine, with a stop at the historic Adelaide River en-route.

On arrival in Katherine, we make our way to our permanent camp at Maud Creek Lodge and have lunch.

This afternoon, we head to Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), where you get to view the Gorge from 2 different perpectives- from the air and by boat.

Firstly take a spectacular helicopter flight ! The 13 Gorge Helicopter tour gives an aerial perspective of the breathtaking gorge, a maze of waterways sculpted from the sandstone over countless millennia by the Katherine River. The flight is enhanced with a remote landing in the rugged rock country. This is a fabulous opportunity to capture some truly amazing photographs.

This epic air adventure is all about remoteness and beauty that will give an appreciation for Outback Australia that will stay with you forever !

Now you’ve seen the gorge from the air, it’s time to see it on ground level, as you cruise for 2 hours viewing the beautiful scenery and discovering the customs of the traditional owners, the Jawoyn people.

Overnight permanent camp – Maud Creek Lodge

Day 2 (B,L,D)

Today we head west along the Victoria Highway, into Western Australia. En-route, we stop to view the mighty Victoria River, one of the largest tidal influenced rivers in the Territory with an abundance of saltwater crocodiles. We travel through Gregory National Park and Timber Creek before crossing through the border into WA.

There is some free time for you to have a look around Kununurra (we recommend the Warringari Art Centre),while your guide shops for fresh supplies (due to border restrictions).

After lunch on the banks of Lake Kununurra, we turn off onto the famous Gibb River road begin our adventure through the Kimberley !

Our destination this afternoon is El Questro Wilderness Park, which is a million acres in size. Just before the turn off, we stop to view an Aboriginal art site, which consists of East Kimberley peg figures, cuples and contemporary styles.

After setting up camp, there’s the opportunity for a swim in the rockpools (part of the Pentecost River) before dinner.

Overnight camp - El Questro campground (2 night stay)

Day 3 (B,L,D)

An early start this morning to beat the crowds to Zebedee Springs for a relaxing dip in the thermal pools, set amongst palm trees.

We’ll return to camp for breakfast and then take a walk into El Questro Gorge, which is a trail through a deep, narrow gorge, flanked by sheer cliffs. The walk features clear pools and lush tropical vegetation and the rainforest canopy has a diverse ecosystem, while keeping us shaded and cool through most of the walk. There are a couple of places to stop for a swim along the way.

Back to camp for lunch and this afternoon we explore the park including the Durack Tree and Branco’s lookout.

Overnight camp - El Questro campground

Day 4 (B,L,D)

Leaving El Questro, we head back onto the Gibb River Road where we’ll drive through the mighty Pentecost River to a lookout, for fantastic views of the river and the mighty Cockburn Ranges.

We visit another art site along the way, for your first taste of Wandjana figures as well as Petroglyphs (rock carvings) and where the local Aboriginal people used to shelter and sharpen their spears.

Turning onto the Kalumburu Road, we have lunch on the banks of the Gibb River.

After lunch, we continue north to Miners Pool for a swim and some time to relax. Many species of birdlife can be seen here and for the early risers, kangaroo’s often come out at sunrise.

This evening, we’ll have a traditional camp oven roast, cooked in the hot coals.

Overnight camp - Miners Pool campground

Day 5 (B,L,D)

We have a later start this morning and after breakfast we continue north to King Edward River, where we’ll view 2 unique art sites and a burial site. Your guide will interpret these art sites, of Gwion (Bradshaw) and Wandjana figures and explain their significance.

This afternoon there’s plenty of time to swim before sunset and the riverbank is home to an array of birdlife.

Overnight camp - on the banks of the King Edward River (2 night stay).

Day 6 (B,L,D)

Today is spent swimming and exploring in the Mitchell Falls area. On our 3km walk into the falls, we’ll visit Little and Big Mertens Falls, 2 rock art sites and delve into some bushtuckers and medicines.

The rest of the day is spent swimming and relaxing at Mitchell Falls, a three-tiered waterfall cascading over the plateau’s edge and into the Mitchell River. There is also an opportunity to take a hike along the banks of the Mitchell River to explore an Aboriginal occupational site.

We’ll take a short helicopter ride back to the car park enjoying the amazing views on the way and then make our way back to camp.

Overnight camp - on the banks of the King Edward River

Day 7 (B,L,D)

We leaving camp this morning to head south again and continue our journey along the Gibb River road.

Our destination today is Mt. Barnett Station and Manning Gorge, where, this afternoon, we relax and enjoy a swim in the picturesque surrounds.

There is also the option of taking the longer hike to Upper Manning Falls.

Overnight camp - Manning Gorge campground

Day 8 (B,L,D)

Our first stop this morning is Galvans Gorge, a small picturesque gorge, surrounded by boab trees. It has some interesting rock art and is a great place for a relaxing swim.

Then we’ll head to Bell Gorge, which is said to be the most picturesque gorge in the Kimberley. Here we take a short hike which leads to the waterfall, where we have a swim.

Continuing west, we pass through the King Leopold and Napier Ranges to Windjana Gorge, part of an ancient Devonian reef system where the Lennard River has cut through the Napier range. Freshwater crocodiles can often be seen lazing around on the river banks.

We set up camp and watch the sunset over the Napier Range.

Overnight camp at Windjana Gorge campground

Day 9 (B,L,D)

This morning we take a walk into Windjana Gorge and then head off to spectacular Tunnel Creek, a 750m long limestone tunnel in the Napier Range, carved into the rock over millions of years. As we walk through the tunnel, view stalactites and stalacmites and hear the story of Jandamarra, who used the tunnel as a hideout in the late 1800’s.

The last leg of our journey today, takes us to Fitzroy Crossing.

Overnight camp- Fitzroy River Lodge campground

Day 10 (B,L,D)

After breakfast we take the ranger lead boat cruise through Geike Gorge, where flood waters of the Fitzroy River have carved the 30-metre-deep Gorge through the limestone at the junction of the Oscar and Geikie Ranges.

In the dry season, the river transforms itself into a quiet stream strung out beneath the towering cliffs of the Devonian reef. Here, layers of fossils and the limestone strata of an ancient reef are exposed in cross section, showing glimpses of life in the Devonian period before reptiles or mammals evolved.

We continue our journey to Purnululu National park, famous for the ancient range of unusual beehive-shaped domes, gorges and chasms over 350 million years old. The section of road into the Bungles from the highway is quite challenging and will give you a real sense of off-road adventure!

Overnight camp - Bungle Bungles campground (2 night stay).

Day 11 (B,L,D)
We start today with a helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungles Range. Depart the Purnululu airstrip for the south west tip of the massif where you will view Y Gorge before flying across the top of the massif to the mouth of spectacular Picaninny Gorge. Fly along the southern face following Picaninny Creek where you can view the mouth of Cathedral Gorge and the famous orange and black striped beehive shaped domes.
Then we’ll walk into Cathedral Gorge and on our way back, we walk up to the Piccaniny lookout for a spectacular view over the domes and the surrounding desert county. We take the “Domes trail walk” and head back to camp for lunch.

This afternoon we head out to Echidna Chasm, which is a narrow gorge of conglomerate rock. The walk in is beautiful, passing endemnic livistonia palms. On the way back we take a detour to the lookout over the Osmond Ranges.

There’s also time this afternoon to take the Mini Palms Walk, to complete your experience in the Bungle Bungles. This walk is optional as it’s a longer and harder walk than the others (approx 2 hours) though the scenery is stunning.

Overnight camp - Bungle Bungles campground .

Day 12 (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we leave the Bungle Bungles, heading towards Kununurra and onto Lake Argyle.

Lake Argyle is Australia’s largest man- made lake, covering 1000sq km and built as part of the Ord River scheme. It offers a great expanse of water from which steep red rocky slopes reach up approximately 150m, in awe-inspiring grandeur.

After setting up camp, take the sunset cruise on the lake, where you will cruise through some of the 90 islands and inlets and take in the magnificent scenery of the Carr Boyd Ranges. As the sun sets over the rugged red cliffs and azure blue water, experience the suns last golden rays.

Overnight camp - Lake Argyle campground

Day 13 (B,L)

This morning we’ll pass through the border into the Northern Territory and travel through Timber Creek and Gregory National Park.

We continue east to Katherine with lunch en-route. After a short break in Katherine, we head north towards Darwin, arriving at approximately 6pm and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.

END ITINERARY

B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner