13 Day Kimberley 4WD Camping Tour, Darwin to Broome

Tour Details

Operator

Sacred Earth Safaris

Destinations

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

Departs From

Darwin

Tour Description

This is a comprehensive small group 4WD Kimberley camping safari, including the Bungle Bungles, the gorges of the Gibb River road, Lake Argyle, El Questro and a day at Mitchell Falls- walking in and helicopter flight out.

Day 1 (L,D)

You will be collected from your hotel at 7am this morning to begin your 13 day 4WD safari through the Kimberley region.

We head south, along the Stuart Highway to the township of Katherine and after a dip in the Katherine Hot Springs, we continue west. En-route, we can stop to view the Victoria River, one of the largest tidal influenced rivers in the Territory with an abundance of saltwater crocodiles.

We cross through the border into Western Australia and onto Lake Argyle.

Dinner tonight will be served in the restaurant.

Overnight permanent camp - Lake Argyle Resort (in fixed tents with proper beds & shared bathrooms)

Day 2 (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we head out to Lake Argyle for a 2 hour morning cruise. 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 a 150m, in awe-inspiring grandeur.

Take in the untamed landscape of the magnificent Carr Boyd Ranges along the inaccessible North Western shoreline as you cruise through some of Lake Argyles 90 islands and inlets.

Then we pop into Kununurra to collect fresh supplies (due to border restrictions) before heading south to the Bungle Bungles.

Purnululu National park (the Bungle Bungles) is famous for the ancient range of unusual beehive-shaped domes, gorges and chasms over 350 million years old.

There’s also time today for optional helicopter flights (additional cost).

Overnight mobile camp - Bungle Bungles campground, with toilets and showers (2 night stay).

Day 3 (B,L,D)

We spend today in the Bungle Bungles. The section of road into the park is quite challenging and will give you a real sense of off-road adventure !

Our first stop in the park is Cathedral Gorge, a huge natural amphitheatre, with fantastic acoustics. We then take the walk to the Piccininny Lookout, followed by the “Domes trail walk”.

This afternoon we take a walk into Echidna Chasm, which is a narrow gorge of conglomerate rock. The walk in is beautiful, passing endemnic livistonia palms.

Overnight mobile camp - Bungle Bungles campground, with toilets and showers

Day 4 (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we leave the Bungle Bungles and head north again to El Questro Wilderness Park, which is a million acres in size.

En-route we stop to view an Aboriginal art site, which consists of East Kimberley peg figures, Wandjana figures and contemporary styles.

This afternoon we take a walk into the beautiful Emma Gorge. A cool reward awaits you at the end of the walk, where you can swim at Emma Gorge pool and the 200ft waterfall that is fed from a series of natural springs high above the plateau of the Cockburn Range.

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

Overnight mobile camp - El Questro campground, with toilets and showers (2 night stay)

Day 5 (B,L,D)

We start today with a relaxing dip at the Zebedee Springs thermal pools, set amongst palm trees.

Then we 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 and you can choose to take the longer or shorter walk.

We have free time this afternoon for swimming, birdwatching or relaxing at camp.
Optional longer hikes are available this afternoon.

Overnight mobile camp - El Questro campground, with toilets and showers

Day 6 (B,L,D)

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

We’ll also view an art site of cuples, Wanjana figures and Petroglyphs (rock carvings). This is also where the local Aboriginal people used to shelter and sharpen their spears.

We turn onto the Kalumburu Road and make our way to Drysdale River Station.

Overnight mobile camp – Drysdale River Station campground, with toilets and showers

Day 7 (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), Wanjana figures, Thylacine and other contemporary styles and will 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 remote mobile camp - on the banks of the King Edward River, with toilets only. Swimming is available (2 night stay).




Day 8 (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.

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 remote mobile camp - on the banks of the King Edward River, with toilets only. Swimming is available.

Day 9 (B,L,D)

We have a later start this morning, with the option for another swim at King Edward River. The riverbank is lined with pandanus and paperbark trees and is surrounded by ancient rock formations.

We drive back down the Kalumburu road to Drysdale Station, where we have a hot lunch.

We spend this afternoon at Miners Pool, for a swim and some time to relax.

Overnight mobile camp – Drysdale River Station campground, with toilets and showers

Day 10 (B,L,D)

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

En-route, we stop on the banks of the Gibb River and view a rock art site.

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 11 (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.

We continue west to Bell Gorge, which is said to be the most picturesque gorge in the Kimberley. We have lunch here and spend the rest of the afternoon swimming and relaxing at the waterfall.

Overnight mobile camp – Silent Grove campground at Bell Gorge, with toilets and showers

Day 12 (B,L,D)

Today we travel through the King Leopold and Napier Ranges towards Windjana Gorge, part of an ancient Devonian reef system where the Lennard River has cut through the Napier range.

En-route we stop to look at the King Leopold Range lookout, which offers great photo opportunities.

After setting up camp and lunch at Windjana Gorge, we 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.

Back to Windjana Gorge for dinner and sunset over the Napier Range.

Overnight mobile camp- Windjana Gorge campground, with toilets and showers

Day 13 (B,L)

This morning we take a walk into Windjana gorge, part of an ancient Devonian reef system where the Lennard River has cut through the Napier range. We view the fossilised reef system and freshwater crocodiles can often be seen lazing around on the river banks.

There is also the option of taking the longer hike to the end of the gorge.

The last leg of our journey along the Gibb river road takes us towards Derby, where we’ll stop at the prison boab tree and have a look around the town, before making our way to Broome.

We arrive into Broome late afternoon and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.

END ITINERARY