10 Day Kimberley Tour, Darwin to Broome - 6th August 2022 only

*** 2023 tours are coming soon ! ***

Day 1- Saturday 6th August 2022 (L,D)

You will be collected from your hotel in Darwin at 7.30am this morning

your 10 day 4WD safari through the Kimberley region.

Today we're heading south to the township of Katherine. En-route, we call into we call into Leilyn (Edith Falls), part of Nitmiluk National Park and well known for it's picturesque waterfalls and pools. In particular, the large pool at the base of the escarpment is great for a swim.

We arrive at our Katherine accommodation, freshen up and then late this afternoon we travel to nearby Nitmiluk Gorge, home to 13 spectacular gorges, carved out of the rock by torrential rains, over millions of years. Here you'll cruise for 2 hours through the gorge, discovering the customs of the traditional land owners, the Jawoyn people. Discover the stories and ways of the Jawoyn people against the magnificent backdrop of the Nitmiluk Gorge, changing colour with the setting sun. The tour includes a three course candle light dinner, featuring fresh, local Australian produce cooked on board, a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, tea and coffee.

Overnight accommodation- Motel room with en-suite in Katherine

Day 2- Sunday 7th August (B,L)

This morning we'll take a hands on cultural experience at Top Dij Art Gallery. Activities on offer include sitting down with resident artist, Manual, who will tell you tales of tribal life, language, the hunting and gathering techniques, ceremony, weapons used and aboriginal contemporary life. Experience your own Rarrk painting with Manual and you will also have an opportunity to participate in one of the traditional hunting activities (fire lighting, spear throwing, etc.)

We now travel through Gregory National Park and Timber Creek and into Western Australia. We stop to view the Victoria River, one of the largest tidal influenced rivers in the Territory with an abundance of saltwater crocodiles.

Our destination today is Lake Argyle, 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. 

The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax in your room, have a swim in the infinity pool or take a walk.

Overnight accommodation - Lake Argyle Resort, in en-suite rooms

Day 3- Monday 8th August (B,L)

At 10am you'll take a 3 hour cruise on Lake Argyle, with great scenery and unique wildlife with a smorgasboard lunch included.

Enjoy expert commentary from the experienced tour guides and skippers including information about the history of the area, the Ord Irrigation Scheme, pioneering Durack Family and unforgiving rugged landscape. This cruise meanders across the northern reaches of Lake Argyle exploring the many bays and inlets that make this immense body of water so unique. Wallabies, wallaroos, fish feeding, birdlife and freshwater crocodiles are just part of the Lake Argyle family whom you may meet.

Stop at a remote island beach for a swim in the pristine waters while the crew prepare your buffet lunch including a taste of the fresh caught Lake Argyle Silver Cobbler, cold meats, salad, fruits and a couple of complimentary beers, glasses of wine, soft drinks and / or cold water.

On return to the boat ramp, Lake Argyle Tours will continue with a 20 minute bus tour of the Main Ord Dam site for a closer look at the dam wall, intake tower, hydro power station and irrigation outlet valves and down into the spectacular Ord River Gorge below the towering wall. Lunch with beverages included plus tea, coffee, iced water available throughout the cruise.

Overnight accommodation- motel rooms with en-suites in Kununurra

Day 4- Tuesday 9th August (B,L)

Today you have a full day tour to Mitchell Falls, the Kimberley Coast and Kalumburu Aboriginal community.

In the culture of the Kimberley people, the Wandjina is the supreme Creator and a symbol of fertility and rain. People have been painting Wandjina and Gwion Gwion figures in rock art sites scattered throughout the Kimberley for millennia.

Fly across to the Mitchell Falls, then continue to Port Warrender and the Kimberley Coastal Camp, the rich pearl farms and the historic WW11 Truscott airbase and miles of exotic and pristine coastline. Arrive at the remote settlement of Kalumburu where your Wunambal guide will meet you for an incredible journey into the coastal communities. Visit the art centre, historic WW11 aircraft graveyard, amazing Gwion Gwion rock art sites that are along the coast and to check out the beach. If the tide is low, then oysters are on the menu with fresh periwinkles on the fire.

On the tour learn modern community life and how it encompasses cultural practises including how the rock paintings were made 30,000 years ago. Have a picnic lunch before heading back to the airstrip for a stunning scenic flight along the remote Timor Sea coast, overflying Faraway Bay, the spectacular King George Falls, Berkeley River, and the mighty Cambridge Gulf. You'll track east over tidal floodplains and the Ord River Irrigation Area back to Kununurra over Ivanhoe Crossing.

**please note that this tour does not get onto the ground at Mitchell Falls. It flies over the falls, so you will see them from the air **

Overnight accommodation- motel room with en-suite in Kununurra

Day 5- Wednesday 10th August (B,L)

Our destination today is El Questro Wilderness Park, which is a million acres in size. En-route we visit the beautiful Parrys Lagoon, which offers excellent bird watching in the comfort of the purpose built bird hide or from one of the walkways. We also stop to enjoy the breathtaking views from Telegraph Hill, over the billabong and wetlands.

We arrive at Emma Gorge and this afternoon, you can take the walk to the beautiful Emma Gorge and waterfall. A cool reward awaits you at the end of the walk in, 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.

Overnight accommodation- El Questro Station in Station Bungalows with en-suites

Day 6- Thursday 11th August (B,L,D)

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

Leaving El Questro, we now make our way 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.  The section of road into the poark is quite challenging and will give you a real sense of off- road adventure !

Overnight accommodation- Cabin with en-suite in the Bungle Bungles (2 night stay)

Day 7- Friday 12th August (B,L,D)

We spend today in the Bungle Bungles. 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 train walk".

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

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

Overnight accommodation- Cabin with en-suite in the Bungle Bungles

Day 8- Saturday 13th August (B,L,D)

Today we continue west through Halls Creek and onto Fitzroy Crossing.

This afternoon you'll take a ranger led 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 Geike 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 sections, showing glimpses of life in the Devonian period before reptiles or mammals evolved.

Overnight accommodation- motel rooms with en-suites at Fitzroy River Lodge

Day 9 - Sunday 14th August (B,L)

Our destination this morning is Windjana Gorge, where we can 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

The afternoon is spent exploring Tunnel Creek, a 750m long limestone tunnel in the Napier Range, carved into the rock over thousands of years. View stalactites and stalacmites and hear the story of Jandamarra, who used the tunnel as a hideout in the late 1800’s. 

Overnight accommodation- Derby, motel room with en-suite

Day 10 -Monday 15th August (B,L)

This morning you have a half day tour to the Horizontal Falls. Bring your swimming costumes, towels, sunscreen, hat, water bottle and your camera.

Fly directly from Derby on a seaplane to the Horizontal Falls, where you'll meet your expert skipper for an exhilarating fast boat ride through the narrow gorges.

After the adrenalin rush, wind down with a relaxed cruise, lunch and swim in the turquiose calm of Talbot Bay before boarding the seaplane for another low level scenic flight back to Derby.

You'll now be transferred back to Broome and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.

END ITINERARY

B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner

This tour departs Darwin on 6th August 2022 only

AUD $8695 PER ADULT, TWIN SHARE

$9895 PER PERSON SINGLE

*** 2023 tours are coming soon ! ***

Subject to availability, including GST and valid until 31/10/2022

**solo travellers must have single accommodation, unless twin share of the same sex can be found. Solo travellers can also request single room and pay single supplement**

Maximum 15 passengers

Inclusions:

• Seat in 6WD tour coach, with professional driver guide

• Most meals, as stated

• 9 nights accommodation, as listed
• Entry fees and El Questro Wilderness Permit

• Nitmiluk Gorge dinner cruise

• Hands on Aboriginal cultural experience in Katherine
• Lake Argyle cruise

• Geike Gorge cruise

• Half day tour to Horizntal Falls including seaplane flight and jet boat ride through the falls

• Full day tour to Mitchell Falls (flyover only- no ground touring) and ground tour at Kalumburu Aboriginal community, including scenic flight, rock art and WW11 aircraft graveyard.

Exclusions:

• Arrival / departure flights into Broome / Darwin
• Travel insurance
• Alcohol
• Pre and post tour accommodation in Broome and Darwin

• Optional Bungle Bungles helicopter flight

Itinerary is exclusive to Sacred Earth Safaris and is subject to availability, road, weather and cultural conditions.

Please enquire for private charter prices and details.