Untamed Kimberley

The balmy Darwin climate sets the pace for your city tour: relaxed. Things don’t happen in a hurry here. Even the fiery sunsets seem to linger. You’ll catch one later, but first an orientation tour to meet locals, discover the city’s architecture and learn about the events that have shaped life, from Cyclone Tracy to WWII when the Northern Territory capital was bombed. Now it’s time to watch the day disappear and meet your fellow adventure seekers for a Welcome Dinner.

As you begin your travels south, yet more reminders of the impact of WWII line the banks of the Adelaide River, where the headquarters of a military base once stood. Then nature takes over at Nitmiluk National Park bordering Kakadu. This is Jawoyn land, and a place where you’ll feel your spirit soar. Particularly when you’re cruising through dramatic Nitmiluk Gorge, your boat the only sound in this enormous chasm. There’s no time to catch your breath – you’re off to the Katherine Outback Experience, where you'll be entertained with songs, stories, and a Be My Guest dinner under the stars.

Say goodbye to the NT and hello to WA, your introduction to the state the unexpected delights of Kununurra. It’s in the middle of nowhere, and only exists because of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. Before it was a twinkle on the map, farming pioneers came here to establish vast cattle stations. The life of one family is chronicled at the Durack Homestead Museum, which you’ll visit before enjoying yet another sunset, this time cruising the Ord River and Lake Argyle. Some experiences burn into your memory.

How active and adventurous do you want today to be? Rise early to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the beehive-like rock formations of the Bungle Bungles on a scenic flight or stay grounded on a 4WD tour through the national park (both own expense). Otherwise, lace up your walking shs and wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as the ‘mini-Bungles’ for its rocky resemblance.

It’s not every day that you get to go behind the scenes of a rum distillery with the family that owns it. Discover how Hoochery Distillery makes its lip-smacking, award-winning rums and whiskys. Try a tasting paddle to get your heart started (own expense) and then sit down to morning tea. Get a taste of the Gibb River Road before arriving at El Questro Wilderness Park. Your safari-style tents for the night are surrounded by an oasis of pandanus palms.

The best way to wake up? With the sun streaming through your tent, wildlife all around. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River, a mecca for those who love a spot of barramundi fishing. Arriving at Chamberlain Gorge, an enormous fresh waterhole, your cruise chariot awaits. Jump aboard to feel very small indeed, your boat dwarfed by soaring 65-metre escarpments. When it’s time to cool down, take an afternoon dip in the resort pool.

When the Argyle Diamond Mine was in operation, it produced more than 95% of the world’s pink diamonds. Oh, the carats that have come out of here! It stopped mining these rare (and dazzling) gems at the end of 2020, but you can still visit the immense site with an Aboriginal guide. Which means you not only go behind the scenes of operations, but also learn about the significance of the land – the traditional Barramundi Dreaming site – to First Nations communities. Your destination for the night, Halls Creek is small in population, but big in personality. Like your last destination, Aboriginal Songlines are strong, with communities living here, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, for millennia. European influence is more recent, thanks to a brief gold rush which revealed the potential of the land for cattle stations.

The Kimberley boasts a geological history that is nothing short of spectacular. Explore the Mimbi Caves with an Indigenous guide to observe the delicate limestone formations, brilliantly vivid colours and crystal-clear freshwater pools that remain from the Devonian Great Barrier Reef that formed over 350 million years ago. Discover ancient rock paintings before listening to songs and hearing the Gooniyandi Dreaming story, while enjoying billy tea and damper. Travel through the Kimberley towards the remote township of Fitzroy Crossing.

Among the most multicultural cities in Australia, Broome became a base for fortune-seekers the world over during its ‘pearl rush’. The pristine waters here grow great oysters, and the resulting pearls are prized by lovers of all things that gleam. A city tour will give you your bearings. Then it’s time to settle in for Broome’s other attraction: its sunsets. Follow locals to the sand or find a perch in a beachside bar to salute the end of another spectacular day in WA.

A day of decisions. Head north to feel the full force of nature on a scenic flight over the magical Horizontal Falls (own expense). Or simply enjoy Broome’s tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, and browsing the pearl boutiques in town. It’s hard to resist a purchase; even harder when you go straight to the source at a pearl farm, to see how they’re harvested (own expense). This evening, join your Travel Director for dinner.

Eleven days, countless memories, a bunch of new friends… you’ll leave Broome with your travel wanderlust ignited.