Home Australian Geographic Kimberley Walking Expedition, Western Australia

Australian Geographic Kimberley Walking Expedition, Western Australia

Activities Summary

Duration: 15 days Grade: Introductory to Moderate
Activities: Walking, Swimming, Driving
Accommodation style: 4 Nights Hotel Accommodation, 10 Nights Camping

What to Expect

Take 15 fun-filled days to explore the best that the Kimberley region has to offer. From Gibb River Road gorges, El Questro Wilderness Park to Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle), you will see an abundant array of wildlife, stunning views and historic sites. You will travel for the entire trip in air‐conditioned comfort in a well-appointed 4WD coach, and enjoy fully guided walks along the way.

Spend a little time each day to walk, swim, relax and soak up the surrounding beauty, all the while journeying into the untouched and unparalleled beauty that is the Kimberley.

At a Glance

DAY 1. ARRIVE IN BROOME
DAY 2. BROOME TO WINDJANA GORGE
DAY 3. WINDJANA GORGE TO TUNNEL CREEK
DAY 4. WINDJANA GORGE TO MT BARNETT STATION
DAY 5. MANNING CREEK AND SURROUNDS
DAY 6. MANNING CREEK TO EL QUESTRO STATION
DAY 7 – 8 EL QUESTRO STATION
DAY 9. EL QUESTRO TO KUNUNURRA
DAY 10. KUNUNURRA AND LAKE ARGYLE, ORD RIVER SUNSET CRUISE. DAY 11. KUNUNURRA TO PURNULULU (BUNGLE BUNGLE) DAY 12. PURNULULU (BUNGLE BUNGLE)
DAY 13. PURNULULU (BUNGLE BUNGLE) TO LARRAWA STATION
DAY 14. LARRAWA STATION TO BROOME
DAY 15. TOUR CONCLUDES IN BROOME

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Broome

Fly to Broome and don’t waste time in settling in to your hotel to explore Broome’s many highlights. With your accommodation for the night in the heart of Roebuck Bay, you may choose to take a long walk out to Gantheaume Point, fall in love with the powdery white sands at beautiful Cable Beach, or just simply immerse yourself in the natural and historical wonders of central Broome itself. Be sure to catch one of WA’s stunning sunsets before getting back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep before your early pick up the following day.

Accommodation: The Continental Hotel, Broome

Meals: NIL

Day 2 – Broome to Windjana Gorge

We depart Broome early this morning. Following pick up from your accommodation at 7:30am we head for Windjana Gorge, passing boab trees (including the famous Prison Tree) and vast savannah woodlands interspersed with giant and unusual termite mounds. We’ll visit the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre where local artists display work depicting Wandjina and Gwion Gwion figures in an art form based on cave paintings.

Accommodation: National Park camp site, Windjana Gorge

Meals: B,L,D

Day 3 – Windjana Gorge to Tunnel Creek

Today we explore the length of Windjana Gorge with a 7km return walk. The high walls of this gorge were once part of an ancient Devonian reef that surrounded the Kimberley. With its varied birdlife, interesting reef walls and its many freshwater crocodiles, Windjana will keep us enthralled for hours. In the afternoon we visit Tunnel Creek, spending time walking through the 750m long cave system. Tunnel Creek is a significant site for the local Bunaba people.

Accommodation: National Park camp site, Windjana Gorge

Walking distance: 9km (Windjana Gorge: 7km, Tunnel Creek: 2km)

Meals: B,L,D

Day 4 – Windjana Gorge to Mt Barnett Station

We head through the Napier Range visiting Bell Creek Gorge with its many rockpools, rapids and a waterfall. This is a spectacular spot for a swim and one of the most photographed waterholes in the Kimberley. After a good amount of time exploring, we will drive on to our next campsite at Mt Barnett Station on the banks of the Manning Creek.

Accommodation: Campsite, Mt Barnett Station

Walking distance: 8km

Meals: B,L,D

Day 5 – Manning Creek and Surrounds

Enjoy the scenery and a true blue ‘Gibb River Road massage’ today on this mostly driving day. The typical Kimberley scenery includes the Pentecost River Lookout, with views over the river floodplain and the tabletop Cockburn Ranges beyond. We’ll cross the Durack River and pass the site of the old Durack River Homestead, destroyed by flood in 2002.

Accommodation: Camp site, El Questro

Meals: B,L

Days 7 & 8 – El Questro Station

During these two days there are plenty of walking and swimming options that we can undertake at El Questro. These include Amalia Gorge and Emma Gorge.

Accommodation: Camp site, El Questro

Walking distance: 4km on day 6 and 5km on day 7
(Day 6 at El Questro Gorge: 4km; Day 7 at Emma Gorge: 4km, Zebedee Springs: 1km).

Meals: B,L,D

Day 9 – El Questro to Kununurra

This morning we head for Kununurra, visiting the Ramsar Wetland Parry Lagoons on the way – a wonderful spot to view masses of waterbirds. There will be time in the afternoon to catch up on washing, postcards or just to relax. The crew will be organising the fresh food for the next section of the trip.

Dinner will be arranged for the group at one of the popular local restaurants.

Accommodation: Ibis Styles, Kununurra

Meals: B,L,D

Day 10 – Kununurra and Lake Argyle, Ord River Sunset Cruise

Take advantage of a leisurely morning at your hotel or explore the town of Kununurra before heading out for a day of fun on the Ord River. You will be collected from your accommodation at 11.30am and taken by coach through Durack country to Lake Argyle, where we will take a short break at the historic Durack Homestead Museum. It would be ideal to grab yourself some lunch from one of the local cafes for the journey.

From Lake Argyle you will jump aboard your river cruise boat and begin the 55km journey back to Kununurra. Marvel at the spectacular scenery, wildlife, flora and fauna found along the way, including the elusive freshwater crocodile! You will get to enjoy afternoon tea at our riverside camp before heading back to Kununurra. Also, take in a colourful East Kimberley sunset before docking back at the marina and re‐ boarding your coach for your accommodation drop‐off at around 6.00pm.

Dinner will again be arranged for the group at one of the popular local restaurants.

Accommodation: The Cambridge, Kununurra

Meals: B,D

Day 11 – Kununurra to Purnululu (Bungle Bungle)

This morning we leave Kununurra and head for Purnululu National Park – one of only three natural World Heritage sites in Western Australia. The 53km, 4WD road into the park is our reintroduction to outback tracks with creek crossings, wash aways and rough, slow sections. After setting up camp, we can go for a stroll and watch the sun set against the red rock of the Bungle Bungle Range – bring a drink if you like!

Accommodation: National Park camp site, Purnululu

Meals: B,L,D

Day 12 – Purnululu (Bungle Bungle)

We spend the day exploring the natural wonders of the park, including Echidna Chasm, Mini Palms Gorge, the spectacular orange and black ‘beehive’ domes, Piccanniny Creek and Cathedral Gorge. There is time during our stay for an optional helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungle Range (must be pre‐booked and pre‐paid) – a fantastic way to see and appreciate this unique and beautiful landscape.

Accommodation: National Park camp site, Purnululu

Over the next two days we will choose walks in Echidna Chasm, Mini Palm Springs Gorge and Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Gorge Lookout.

Walking distance: approx. 2–4km but depending on the group/time/abilities may go up to 7–10km

Meals: B,L,D

Day 13 – Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) to Larrawa Station

We will spend the morning in Purnululu National Park, and then pack up and head out of the park. It is about a 5-hour drive to Larrawa Station, where we will have our final night of the tour.

Accommodation: Comfortable Camping, Larrawa Station

Walking distance: approx. 2–4km but depending on the group/time/abilities may go up to 7–10km

Meals: B,L,D

Day 14 – Larrawa Station to Broome

We will break camp after breakfast and then drive the 2 hours through to Geikie Gorge, where we can do a short walk (500m–4.5km), and have morning tea. We will stop briefly in Fitzroy Crossing for lunch and the visitor’s centre before we make our way back to Broome.

Tonight we will indulge in a final farewell meal, one that will be worthy of the past 14 days of travel and celebrate our achievements over the past two weeks.

Accommodation: The Continental Hotel, Broome

Meals: B,L,D

Day 15 – Tour concludes in Broome

All good things must come to an end. Your trip concludes after breakfast at your hotel.

Meals: B

What’s included

14 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 12 dinners
13 morning teas and 9 pre‐dinner nibbles
10 nights accommodation at campsites, 4 nights in twin share hotel accommodation
Transport in air‐conditioned 4WD tour coach
2 professional wilderness guides
All group camping equipment
All park entry fees
Emergency support satellite phones and first aid kit

What’s not included

Flights to and from departure points Travel insurance
Sleeping bag (can be hired) Pillow
Items of a personal nature Alcoholic beverages
Day packs

Climate

The following are the average temperatures of the region in Degrees Celsius. May: 18–33°C / June: 15–30°C / July: 14–30°C / August: 15–33°C.

Please keep in mind that it can get below 10°C during the night at some of the campsites, including Bungle Bungles and Bell Gorge.

Dietary Requirements

Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut‐free or allergen‐free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travellers with life‐threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self‐administering these medications.

Hygiene

There will be opportunities to hand wash clothing during the tour as well as washing machines at El Questro and Kununurra.

Accommodation on the trip

This is mainly a camping tour with lots of comfort – “camping for non‐campers!” You will have access to your own tent, or you can choose to share with one other person. We provide a knee‐high stretcher bed and self‐inflating mattress. You will need to bring a pillow and sleeping bag, or you can hire the sleeping bag from us ($35, please contact us to pre‐arrange).

There are toilets and showers at all campsites, with the exception of Bungle Bungles where we rig up a rudimentary shower.

Spend the evenings relaxing on comfortable armchairs enjoying the sights and sounds as you relax around the campfire, recapping the highlights of the day with your fellow travel companions.

You will however begin and end your trip in 3‐star accommodation in central Broome, along with a further two nights on Days 9 and 10 in Kununurra.

What you carry

The Kimberley Walking Tour is fully supported. You will need to carry just a day‐pack with your water bottles, lunch, camera and other personal items. You should plan on carrying at least 3 litres of water each and every day.

Equipment required

Specialist gear required includes walking shoes, day pack, a sleeping bag and pillow (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre‐departure information provided on booking).

Vehicles and safety

During the course of your trip, we will use a variety of vehicles, all of which are fit for purpose and the conditions encountered. It should be noted that laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and whilst wherever possible, vehicles with seatbelts are provided, on occasion some vehicles may not have seat belts fitted.

Covid 19 requirements for travellers

Your safety and well‐being continues to be our utmost priority as you plan and then depart on your active holiday. Since the outbreak of COVID‐19 we have evolved our operating protocol to build in additional measures on our existing safety and risk mitigation strategies.

We’ve seen the incredible success of the vaccination program and new found freedoms a high level of vaccination brings. On that basis, it is our requirement that you are fully vaccinated in order to join this trip. For more information please contact us at [email protected]. Before you travel make sure you understand and follow all airline and destination requirements related to travel, mask wearing, testing, or quarantine, which may differ from your own country’s requirements. If you do not follow your destination or transit countries’ requirements, you may be denied entry and required to return to your home country.

Keeping up to date with individual countries requirements and restrictions can be difficult as policies are changing daily. The following website is a useful resource https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/ world.php. Please contact us if you have any questions and we will do our best to answer in relation to current conditions.

Visas

Most visitors to Australia require a visa obtained prior to arrival.

Passport holders from the following countries can apply for the Australian Tourist Visa online prior to their arrival which allows you a stay in Australia for up to 3 months:

Canada

United States

United Kingdom

Other nationalities can check their eligibility for an e‐visa here:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting‐a‐visa/visa‐listing/ electronic‐travel‐authority‐601#Eligibility

New Zealand passport holders do not need to obtain a visa prior to arrival they will be granted a visa on arrival.

*All other nationalities should check with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Please bear in mind that visas may be required for countries you are visiting en route or transiting through on the way to your destination. It is important that you check the requirements of all countries you will visit. Visa costs and requirements do change regularly so we suggest you check with your travel agent. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary visas.