Kimberley Darwin to Broome Gibb River Rd with Home Valley and Manning Gorge 9 days

Kimberley Darwin to Broome via Gibb River Road – 9 days/8 nights with Home Valley Station & Manning Gorge / Mt Barnett. 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.  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 – 9 days Kimberley Tour with Bungle Bungles & El Questro

Day 1 – Overland to Kununurra departing from Darwin at 800 am -fly to Kununurra options available  Travel via the Stuart Highway via Adelaide River, 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.

Day 2 – Depart to view the Ord River Scheme and Kununurra highlights,  ‘the eastern gateway to the Kimberley’. Visit the Sandalwood Factory and optionally the Rum Distillery plus Zebra Stone gallery. Travel the Savannah Way overland to the Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park) and overnight at the Bungle Bungles Safari Camp. BLD

Day 3 - Travel deep into the BungleBungles to Cathedral Gorge where we walk into Picanninny Creek, and Cathedral Gorge, 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 before returning to our 4WD. Enjoy a delicious lunch in this unique environment before we journey to the western side of Purnululu for a walk amongst the Livingstonia Palms in Echidna Chasm  Consider an optional scenic helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungle domes.   Return to our overnight accommodation at the  Bungle Bungles Safari Camp. BLD

Day 4 –  Check out the fabulous Warmun art gallery displaying local works (if open) before we depart for the Gibb River Road and El Questro Station, a million acres of spectacular Kimberley scenery, rivers and gorges. It's here that the movie Australia was filmed, nestled under the Cockburn Ranges. This afternoon after lunch by the riverside, enjoy a cruise in the Chamberlain River Gorge and afternoon swim in the Pentecost River. Overnight at El Questro. BL Dinner own at expense at the station restaurant.

Day 6 – Today we 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 Ellenbrae Station and a bird lovers billabong. We take a left turn at the Kulumburu Rd junction, cross the Hann River and visit Manning Gorge waterhole for our overnight stop near Mt Barnett. More swim and walks time in this beautiful paperbark lined waterhole BLD

Day 7 – 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 and river crossings and climb the King Leopold Ranges and travel through the picturesque Inglis Gap and King Leopold Conservation Park. This is a spectacular mountain country with impressive views over the ranges and vast woodlands and plains. We 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 mega fauna 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 8– 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 sunset at Cable Beach over the Indian Ocean, and possibly an optional camel ride. Enjoy a celebratory meal before overnight in Broome or late flights ex Broome. Hotel accommodation included tonight BLD

Day 9 – A free day to celebrate starting with a morning swim and/or  breakfast at Cable Beach or a relaxing start to the day. Tour ends after breakfast by 10am.  Broome optional activities include a scenic flight to the awesome Horizontal Waterfalls, a Cape Leveque day tour or visit the Willie Creek Pearl Farm, or simply shop or relax in Broome’s balmy climate.  Home Flights depart from Broome or consider travelling with us to Alice Springs via the Tanami Track, Wolfe Creek Crater and art centres or down the West Coast of Western Australia on a Pilbara Karijini National Park Tour, and Burrup Peninsula rock art and more B

Inclusions

• Bungle Bungles ground tour and walk in to Echidna Chasm, Cathedral Gorge & Piccanniny Creek
• El Questro Chamberlain Gorge cruise
• Fitzroy Crossing, Geike Gorge cruise
• 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
• Delicious meals as shown , including vegetarian optional.
• All meals as shown.
• Comfy Camping gear. Modern camp gear includes options of stretcher, self inflating foam or air mattress pillows & linen.
• 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.
• You – and Your involvement in a creation much bigger than most can imagine

Exclusions

• 2 dinners own purchase in restaurants
• Alcohol
• Accommodation upgrades if required. Available at all locations if booked early.
• 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