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Map of The Great Kimberley Overland including Australia

Discover pristine beaches, Outback oases and unique wilderness

Get wild on a 13-day tour through the remote Kimberley. Sparsely populated and ruggedly beautiful, the Kimberly is the ultimate adventure destination. Swim in gorges filled with clear waters and under waterfalls. Hike through red-rock formations and palm oases. Learn about the rich First Nations history of the area from Traditional Custodians, take guided walks that illuminate local geography and listen to Outback yarns over a beer in the pub. Get active in this unique and captivating corner of Australia.

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Offer applies to trips departing in 2022.

Terms & Conditions
Start
Broome, Australia
Finish
Broome, Australia
Destination
Australia
Style
Basix
Theme
Explorer, Overland
Code
PKOL-B
Physical rating
Ages
Min 8
Group size
Min 6, Max 20

Why you'll love this trip

  • Cruise between the sheer, multi-coloured walls of Geikie Gorge and discover the huge array of wildlife like freshwater crocodiles, wallabies and wren.

  • Explore the Tunnel Creek cave system with a Bunuba guide and learn about Janamarra, a First Nations freedom fighter who used the caves to evade police in the late 1800s.

  • Take a guided hike through the King Leopold Ranges to Manning Gorge, where you can swim under a waterfall and see ancient First Nations rock art.

  • Spend two nights in a private safari camp in the heart of Purnululu National Park, with glorious views of the Bungle Bungle Range.

  • Walk on the white sands of Kooljaman’s Western Beach, where red pindan cliffs meet the crystal-clear waters of the ocean.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip involves strenuous activities like hiking on uneven terrain. It is best suited to travellers with a very high level of mobility and fitness. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.

  • Weather conditions can be extreme in the Kimberley. Have a think about what time of the year best suits you best to travel in.

  • Accommodation on this tour is a mixture of camping with limited facilities, camping with full facilities and a hostel.

  • You’ll be travelling through regions with very little mobile service or internet connection.

  • Rise and shine! This trip includes lots of early starts.

Cape Leveque, Western Australia
Couple at the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park, Western Australia
Friends around a campfire at El Questro, Western Australia
Tour group on a boat at Lake Argyle, Western Australia

Itinerary
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This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 Apr 2020 to 31 Dec 2021.
 View the 2022 itinerary

Depart Broome in the early morning, travelling up the red 4WD track and learning about the region's fascinating history with a guided commentary. The Dampier Peninsula is an extraordinary blend of stunning coastline and First Nations cultures. Your first stop is morning tea at the Beagle Bay Community – home of the Beagle Bay Church and its glimmering pearl shell altar. By mid-morning, arrive at Ardyaloon, or One Arm Point, which is home of the Bardi-Jawi people – a local community living on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula. Visit the community’s aquaculture hatchery for barramundi, pearl and trochus shell, and also meet local First Nations people from One Arm Point who will tell you about their history and life on the peninsula. After lunch, spend time at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm to enjoy a pearl appreciation tour and then embark on an extraordinary cruise through the Islands of the Giant Tides. This phenomenon is part of some of the world’s strongest tropical tides, creating standing waves and if you’re lucky, a waterfall in the ocean!
Accommodation
  • Basix permanent tents with proper beds. Sheets provided, sleeping bag required. Hot showers and flushing toilets. (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Dampier Peninsula - King Sound & Giant Tides Cruise
  • Dampier Peninsula - Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community & Church Visit
  • Dampier Peninsula - One Arm Point Aquaculture Hatchery Visit
Meals Included
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Undertake a tour of Australia’s oldest pearl farm. Learn about this fascinating history from local guides who are descended from the very first pearlers. Next, head to Kooljaman at Cape Leveque for some free time to relax. You could take a swim on the Eastern Beach, have a walk over the Cape itself, or go for a wander below the red sandstone cliffs on Western Beach. Drive back to Broome in the afternoon and arrive at approximately 6 pm. Keep your eyes peeled during the drive, this time of day is great for wildlife spotting. 
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Embrace an early start this morning and leave Broome when the sun begins to rise. While travelling your leader will share stories of local history, people and the environment. Enjoy a morning tea break by the Fitzroy River and visit the Derby 'Boab Prison Tree' and Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Cultural Centre. Continue along the Gibb River Road. The afternoon is devoted to exploring Tunnel Creek with a local Bunuba guide. Go inside this 750-metre-long cave system and discover stalactites, secret caves and a large variety of wildlife. You'll also learn the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hide-out in the late 1800s. From here you’ll travel to Windjana Gorge in time to set up camp and go for a walk down to the gorge itself where you’ll be able to spot freshwater crocodiles and enjoy the sunset over the Napier Range. Tonight, settle into your first night under the Kimberley night sky.
Included Activities
  • Tunnel Creek NP - Tunnel Creek National Park
  • Tunnel Creek National Park - Tunnel Creek Visit & Exploration Walk
  • Derby - Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Cultural Centre
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Rise and shine! Head for Bell Gorge early this morning. A hidden highlight of the West Kimberleys, this idyllic retreat boasts cascading waterfalls and crystal clear pools formed over millions of years. Spend a few hours enjoying the serenity, then continue slowly along Gibb River Road to Mt Barnett Cattle Station. On the way, make stops to explore the ancient King Leopold Range. Tonight, camp by the Manning River.
Included Activities
  • Windjana Gorge - Gorge Exploration
  • Manning Gorge - Gorge Exploration & Waterfalls Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Spend today exploring this wild paradise. Cross the Manning River and hike through the rugged King Leopold Ranges to arrive at Manning Gorge. Swim beneath the cascade of Manning Falls, relax in the deep clear pool, discover Aboriginal rock art and look out for wildlife on the edges of the water. Tonight, camp on Mt Barnett Cattle Station.
Included Activities
  • Manning Gorge - Manning Falls
  • Mt Barnett Station - Adcock Gorge or Galvans Gorge
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

This morning, drive the back end of the Gibb River Road into the Pentecost Range. Stop at a lookout for views over the mesas (flat-topped elevations) of the Cockburn Range with the Pentecost River snaking its way past the mountains out to the sea. Drive down to the Pentecost River for a photo opportunity, then cross the river to El Questro Wilderness Park. Get settled into your permanent camp.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Enjoy a full free day at El Questro today. If you want a little guidance there are plenty of optional activities to choose from. Perhaps take a refreshing dip in the Zebedee Springs or join an optional cruise on Chamberlain Gorge. Or maybe sample local bush tucker on a guided walk. The choice is yours.
Included Activities
  • El Questro - Zebedee Springs
  • El Questro - Emma Gorge or El Questro Gorge
Optional Activities
  • El Questro Station - Bird Watching Tour - AUD80
  • El Questro Station - Bush Tucker Tour - AUD99
  • El Questro - Horse Riding - AUD70
  • El Questro - Chamberlain Gorge Cruise - AUD68
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Enjoy free time this morning to sleep in or continue exploring El Questro at your own pace. In the afternoon, travel to the shores of the expansive Lake Argyle, the heart of the Ord River Irrigation System and a lush agricultural oasis. On arrival, you have free time to do as you please. Maybe visit the historic Durack Homestead Museum or take on one of the many bush trails to explore the area.
Optional Activities
  • Lake Argyle - Sunset Cruise - AUD100
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After a leisurely morning, head south down the Great Northern Highway to Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungle Range. Spend the next two nights in a private safari camp in the heart of the park, with glorious views of the Bungle Bungle Range. Today, you will have time to begin exploring the area, including the famous ‘beehive domes’.
Optional Activities
  • Lake Argyle - Durack Homestead Museum - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Explore Echidna Chasm on a roughly two-kilometre walk. Next, take another short walk of roughly three kilometres into Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks create a natural amphitheatre. There's time in the afternoon to take an optional scenic flight and enjoy a birds-eye view of the beehive domes (approximately AUD 379 per person) to put it all into perspective. Otherwise, you can relax at camp or keep exploring on the ground.
Included Activities
  • Bungle Bungles - Echidna Chasm Walk
  • Bungle Bungles - Cathedral Gorge Walk
Optional Activities
  • Bungle Bungle - Scenic Helicopter Flight - AUD375
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Leave Purnululu National Park for Fitzroy Crossing. Break the long journey with a visit to the gold rush town of Halls Creek to see the remarkable China Wall – a natural ‘wall’ of white quarts that rises from the ground. Enjoy lunch at Mary Pool and perhaps visit the remote Laarri Aboriginal Art Gallery, before an evening camping by the Fitzroy River at Fitzroy Crossing.
Included Activities
  • Halls Creek - Laarri Aboriginal Art Gallery
  • Fitzroy Crossing - Camping by the Fitzroy River
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Take a morning cruise through the majestic Geikie Gorge. Nature carved this wonder through the Napier Range during the Devonian geological period. Learn of the fascinating geology and discover the huge array of wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles, birds and fish. Explore Old Fitzroy Crossing and enjoy lunch by the river before returning to Broome. Free evening.
Included Activities
  • Geikie Gorge - Geikie Gorge Experience
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

This adventure comes to an end after breakfast.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners

Transport

4x4

Accommodation

shared facilities (5nts), Camping - shared facilities (3nts), Bungle Bungles Safari Camp - shared facilities (2nts), Private Room - shared facilities (2nts)

Included activities

  • Dampier Peninsula - King Sound & Giant Tides Cruise
  • Dampier Peninsula - Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community & Church Visit
  • Dampier Peninsula - One Arm Point Aquaculture Hatchery Visit
  • Tunnel Creek NP - Tunnel Creek National Park
  • Tunnel Creek National Park - Tunnel Creek Visit & Exploration Walk
  • Derby - Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Cultural Centre
  • Windjana Gorge - Gorge Exploration
  • Manning Gorge - Gorge Exploration & Waterfalls Visit
  • Manning Gorge - Manning Falls
  • Mt Barnett Station - Adcock Gorge or Galvans Gorge
  • El Questro - Zebedee Springs
  • El Questro - Emma Gorge or El Questro Gorge
  • Bungle Bungles - Echidna Chasm Walk
  • Bungle Bungles - Cathedral Gorge Walk
  • Halls Creek - Laarri Aboriginal Art Gallery
  • Fitzroy Crossing - Camping by the Fitzroy River
  • Geikie Gorge - Geikie Gorge Experience

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our The Great Kimberley Overland trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

From 01 September 2021, all travellers on Intrepid trips will be required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Excludes Australia, New Zealand and Cook Islands tours. Read details here.

1. This is a Basix-style trip. For the same itinerary in our Original style, please see code PKOL-O.
2. This trip starts in Broome on Day 1 at 7 am and finishes in Broome on Day 13 after breakfast.
3. This trip requires a sleeping bag
4. An upgrade to a room with ensuite bathroom in Broome is available upon request. Please speak to and Intrepid booking agent if you are interested in this.
5. This trip is operated by our partners Kimberley Wild

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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