Kimberley Darwin to Broome Gibb River Road Home Valley Manning Gorge Mt Hart 8 days

Kimberley Darwin or Kununurra to Broome via Gibb River Road – 8 days/7 nights with Home Valley Station Manning Gorge Mt Hart. Tour via Bungles Bungles, El Questro, Zebedee Hot Springs, Galvans Gorge, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Cable Beach, Broome.  Opportunity to meet Aboriginal elders & Aboriginal artists, visit Wandjina and Bradshaw / Gwion Gwion rock art sites, swim in pristine waterholes on this Gibb River Rd by 4WD tour, Fully Accommodated or camping options 

Darwin to Broome – 8 days Kimberley Tour with Bungle Bungles & Mt Hart Station

Day 1 – From Darwin Overland to Kununurra departing from Darwin at 700 am (fly to Kununurra options available)  Travel via the Stuart Highway via Adelaide River, Pine Creek (Ghan history) and Katherine, the NT’s 3rd largest town. We turn west on the Victoria Highway (part of the Savannah Way) and pass through rich cattle country and spectacular rugged mountain landscapes through Gregory National Park to Victoria River and Timber Creek. Enjoy views of the Stokes Range. We travel to cross the NT/WA state border and arrive in Kununurra for overnight.  LD

If flying in from Darwin - From Kununurra (airport or town pickup for 1030 flight arrival from Darwin), we take a short tour which includes the Ord River Scheme. Kununurra is a prosperous centre of mining, agriculture, tourism and Aboriginal art. We take a short tour through the Ord River Scheme of irrigated croplands, to the Sandalwood Factory. Here we learn of sandalwood types and production and can sample some of the sandalwood products. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the lake side before a short walk in Mirima National Park also known as Hidden Valley National Park. We check out the Zebra Rock and local Aboriginal art galleries, and complete essential shopping at the Argyle (pink) Diamond gallery. We check you into your hotel for the evening and enjoy a meal in local restaurant. Kununurra overnight.  LD

Day 2 – Depart 815 am to experience Kununurra, ‘the eastern gateway to the Kimberley’ and surroundings by air with a morning scenic flight over the renowned Ord Irrigation area, mighty Ord River Scheme and the enormous man made Lake Argyle before arriving at the Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park) where you transfer to an air-conditioned 4WD. On your short overland travels to Cathedral Gorge learn of the Bungle Bungles heritage and hear some of local nature’s hidden secrets. Be amazed on your walk into Cathedral Gorge, where you will be surrounded by the Beehive Domes for which the park is so famous. Arrival into the gorge displays a magnificent amphitheatre designed by nature at its best. Relax in this shaded area and enjoy a memorable picnic lunch before returning on your walk to rejoin the 4WD. Travel to the Bungle Bungle Bush Camp for afternoon tea then rejoin the aircraft to complete your afternoon scenic flight over the ancient Ragged Ranges and the Argyle Diamond Mine. Arriving back in Kununurra approx. 500 pm. Day includes easy to moderate 3 km walk into Cathedral Gorge via the Beehive Domes. Overnight Kununurra  BL

Day 3 –  Check out the fabulous Aboriginal art galleries displaying local works, and time permitting the Sandalwood Factory & plantations of the Ord River Scheme. Depart for El Questro Wilderness Retreat and working cattle station to relax and soak up the healing warm waters of Zebedee hot springs. Enjoy a morning tea at Jackaroos Waterhole before we take a 2-3 hour walk in El Questro's jewel, Emma Gorge with its spectacular veil waterfall and freshwater pool. Return to the resort for a picnic lunch then we head for Wyndham on the coast and Five Rivers Lookout overlooking the spectacular Cambridge Gulf and Wyndham, and old Wyndham port, the original main town of this region. We drive to the top of the mountain to Five Rivers Lookout to view the Ord, Durack, Pentecost, King and Forrest Rivers and the Cockburn Range, and country depicted in the Baz Luhrmann movie Australia. We visit Parry’s Lagoon a Ramsar listed world heritage site attracting massive numbers of migratory and local wetlands birds including Brolga, Jabiru, Whistling Ducks, Magpie Geese, waders and many more.  Overnight Parry Creek Farm BLD

Day 4 – Today we journey the scenic and spectacular Gibb River Road via the  Cockburn Range,  and many Boab trees to cross the mighty Pentecost River and view from a high vantage point. We visit Home Valley Station and stop to view some special Aboriginal rock art including Wandjina and Bradshaw (Gion Gion) rock art.  The days' journey takes us through varying terrain including high mountains and “jump ups”, and some great river crossings as we travel from East to West Kimberley including a stop on the banks of the Durack River. Enjoy a break at a bird lovers billabong. We take a left turn at the Kulumburu Rd junction, cross the Hann River and visit Gibb River Station for supplies and catch up with the locals, plus Aboriginal Art for sale. arrive at Manning Gorge waterhole for our overnight stop near Mt Barnett. More swim and walk time in this beautiful paperbark lined waterhole BLD 

Day 5 – From Mt Barnett, we travel south on the Gibb River Rd to secluded and majestic Galvans Gorge with more Wandjina rock art, great scenery and good swimming and photos too!  We travel through spectacular Kimberley woodlands, mountains and river crossings and enjoy a visit to the Imitji store and Aboriginal community and Imitji art centre.  The option here to take a detour off the Gibb for a walk and swim at picturesque Bell Gorge via Silent Grove campground before the scenic drive to Mount Hart Station through spectacular Kimberley range and cattle country and climb the King Leopold Ranges and travel through the picturesque Inglis Gap and King Leopold Conservation Park now known as Wunaamin Conservation Park. This is a spectacular mountain country with impressive views over the ranges and vast woodlands and plains. Another cooling swim in the local waterhole at sunset sounds like a good idea. Overnight Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge. BLD 

Day 6 - We come back to the Gibb River rd and Wunaamin Conservation Park to cross the Lennard River and pass through the ancient Devonian era Napier Range at Queen Victoria Pass to arrive at Windjana Gorge National Park before a walk in Windjana Gorge. Here is abundant wildlife including freshwater crocodiles in this eerie, ancient seabed environment – where the megafauna roamed. We then follow the Devonian Reef / Napier Range road to Tunnel Creek with its many Boab trees and picturesque complex shapes to Tunnel Creek. Here we don our torches and shorts to wade through this incredible underground river system full of stalagmites and stalactites and even an underground spring. This is where the Aboriginal freedom fighter Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance was centred in the 1890s, depicted in 2 novels and recent stage production. After our walk in the shady and refreshing underground system, we follow the ranges and cross through them again, to arrive Fitzroy Crossing for overnight. BL – dinner own expense at restaurant

Day 7– After breakfast enjoy a relaxing Geike Gorge Fitzroy River cruise and marvel at the high cliffs, annual flood records, stunning wildlife and river tales from our knowledgeable local guide. Enjoy a visit to the local Aboriginal art centre then comfortable highway cruising to Derby to visit the famous Prison Boab tree, and then Derby highlights including the Derby wharf (10 metre/30 ft tides!) on King Sound, the world’s longest cattle drinking trough, the new Mowanjum Aboriginal Art Centre (opportunity to meet the artists, learn and buy from source) at Mowanjum Aboriginal Community. Depart Derby for Broome to arrive late afternoon to be delivered to your accommodation. Time permitting enjoy the sunset at Cable Beach over the Indian Ocean, and possibly an optional camel ride. Enjoy a celebratory meal on the beachfront before overnight in Broome or late flights ex Broome. Broome accommodation own expense BLD

Day 8 – A free day to celebrate starting with a morning swim and/or breakfast on Cable Beach or a relaxing start to the day. Tour ends after breakfast by 10 am.  Broome optional activities include a scenic flight to the awesome Horizontal Waterfalls, a Cape Leveque day or overnight tour or visit the Willie Creek Pearl Farm, or simply shop or relax in Broome’s balmy climate.  B

Inclusions

• Bungle Bungles flight and walk into Cathedral Gorge & Piccanniny Creek
• El Questro Zebedee Hot springs and Emma Gorge walk
• Fitzroy Crossing, Geike Gorge cruise
• Fully accommodated - Manning Gorge camping option TBC
• Professional and experienced driver/guides
• Long established relationships with local Aboriginal people enriches experiences
• Access to remote areas and rock art sites unreachable by most tour vehicles
• All meals as shown.
• All World Heritage and National Park entry and accommodation fees
• Aboriginal Art community visits for “direct from artist” purchases
• Contributions of tour price supports Outback Kids and nature care programs.

Exclusions

• 2 dinners own purchase in restaurants
• Alcohol
• Flights to and from departure points

Kimberley Darwin to Broome via Gibb River Road – 9 days/8 nights with Home Valley Station & Mt Barnett and extension options. If departing Darwin tour via Katherine, Kununurra, (alternatively from Broome via Fitzroy  Crossing & Halls Creek) to Bungles Bungles, El Questro, Zebedee Hot Springs, Galvans Gorge, Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Cable Beach, Broome.  Tour Code KDM9