Kimberley Tours & Holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

The Kimberley is the northernmost region of Western Australia with the Pilbara region to the south and the Northern Territory to the east. It's one of the most remote and sparsely populated places in Australia, with 38,000 residents living in an area covering 423,500 km2.

Nature rules in the Kimberley, and although the human population is low, the region is brimming with furry, scaled and feathery residents. The rivers, gorges, creeks and rocky terrain are a haven for wildlife and some of the native animals you might see on your trip include salt and freshwater crocodiles, goannas, lizards, snakes, dingoes, rock wallabies, bilbies and echidnas.

Most of our Kimberley trips begin in Broome – the largest town in the region. The quickest and most convenient way to get to Broome is to fly. There are direct flights to Broome International Airport from Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in the dry season from May to September with Virgin Australia and Qantas, as well flights to/from Perth and Darwin all year round. You can also fly into Kununurra Airport (also known as East Kimberley Regional Airport) if you plan on travelling east to west.

A slower, but perhaps more immersive, way to travel to the Kimberley is to drive. The Gibb River Road – a 660 km road that runs through the heart of the Kimberley outback – is the gateway to most of the region’s national parks and sites. You can access Gibb River Road from Kununurra/Wyndham in the east, or Derby in the west. If you’re road tripping, it’s super important to plan and prepare as this is a remote region where amenities are few and far between. You will also need to ensure your vehicle is cut out for the trip, which means having a 4WD as many of the roads are unsealed and may be bogged depending on the weather.

Learn more about how to get to the Kimberley

Yes, if you're self-driving you will need a 4WD. A 2WD just won’t cut it for a Kimberley road trip – not if you want to do it safely and properly – as the weather and road conditions are unpredictable and many sections of the roads running through the region are unsealed.

Unlike other parts of Australia, the Kimberley experiences just two seasons: a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. The Kimberley is a popular winter escape for Australians who live in cooler parts of the country, and the busiest period is May to August when daytime highs average a balmy 28°C, there’s plenty of sunshine and the chance of rain is slim. These conditions are prime for exploring and hiking in the national parks.

Travelling to the Kimberley in the wet season isn’t off the cards – in fact, it can be an amazing time to see the gorges, waterfalls and rivers in their full glory. It's also a great time to spot wildlife along the luscious river banks. January and February are the wettest months, but the rain often falls heavily in short bursts with intermittent dry spells. That said, the wet season in the Kimberley is unpredictable and land tours may not run as sections of the road can get cut off when the rivers and creeks swell.

The tail end of the wet season can be a great time to visit as the heavy rains taper off, there’s still plenty of water feeding the waterfalls and it’s not too busy.

You can use your phone and access mobile data in towns throughout the Kimberley, but there is limited or no access to phone reception and internet once you hit the road. Not that you'll notice anyway – you'll be far too engrossed in your spectacular surroundings to think twice about your devices and social media.

A trip to the Kimberley is jam-packed with adventurous activities like hiking in gorges and swimming in waterfall-fed swimming holes, so you’ll need to bring your swimming gear and comfy active wear. Think shorts, vests and t-shirts, as well as long, loose-fitting layers (ideally made of cotton or linen) to stay cool and protect your skin from the sun. You’ll also need a warm jumper for cooler evenings, a pair of walking shoes or runners, a pair of thongs and sun protective gear (wide-brimmed sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen).

The Traditional Custodians of the Kimberley are made up of more than 100 First Nations communities who speak over 40 Indigenous dialects. These communities have been living on these ancient lands for thousands of years and are deeply connected to Country. Culture is rich, and they continue to pass down Creation stories, knowledge of the land, and traditional ceremonies, music and dance through the generations.

There is a lot to learn from the Traditional Custodians of the Kimberley – and all other First Nations peoples – whether it's learning about traditional bush foods, medicine and Indigenous ecology, or listening to stories over fresh damper and billy tea.

Learn more about the Traditional Owners of the Kimberley region

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. The abundance of sand on Fraser Island can make walking difficult for travellers who are less mobile on foot. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid