Broome to Darwin
10 day tour
Come and experience 10 days exploring the best of two states! Starting in Broome we venture to Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge, El Questro Station, the world-heritage listed Purnululu National Park, Lake Argyle and many more iconic Western Australian hotspots. You’ll complete the bucket list Gibb River Road and experience Australia’s most incredible waterfalls, caves and escarpments rich in Indigenous culture. Less rugged than our 9-day tour, we’ll spend two nights camping at most campsites and you’ll have facilities almost every night of the tour.
If you find our tours advertised elsewhere at a cheaper price, please book direct with us and we’ll match the price.
NT Park Pass not included you must purchase your own NT Parks pass to participate on this tour. You can find out more information here and buy your parks pass using the NT Parks booking system.
Itinerary
Day 1
Your Kimberley off-road tour will start when we pick you up from your accommodation at 6am and we’ll start making our way to the Gibb River Road. The first stop will be at the impressive Derby Prison Tree before continuing on to Tunnel Creek, a spectacular 750 metre long limestone cave system where your guide will tell you stories of Jandamarra and the Bunuba resistance. Our final stop for the day is Windjana Gorge; we will set up camp and walk into the gorge for sunset and to hopefully see the abundance of Freshwater crocodiles that live here. (Breakfast not included on this day)
Day 2
Today our Kimberley off road adventure will start with a visit to the remarkable teared waterfall known as Bell Gorge in King Leopold Conservation Park where you will have the opportunity to swim. In the afternoon we will swim at Adcock Gorge; a great place to spot the Magnificent Tree frogs. Our last stop for the day will be our campsite at Manning gorge.
Day 3
Today is all about the hike into Manning Gorge where you can swim as well as see the ancient Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art and spot the Northern Red-Faced turtle. There is also time to appreciate the birdlife and native fauna and flora. When we are ready we will return to our campsite. In the afternoon we go for a short drive to Galvans gorge to take a swim in the picture-perfect swimming hole and observe some Wandjina rock art, then we’ll head back to our campsite at Manning gorge.
Day 4
Today we will cross the Kimberley's Pentacost River as we make our way to El Questro station to set up camp for the next two nights. You’ll be able to explore the swimming holes around camp and spot colourful Gouldian finches and other birdlife. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a meal at the restaurant* and if you choose, you can quench your thirst at the Swinging Arm Bar and rub shoulders with the locals and fellow travellers.
Day 5
This morning we make a stop at a series of crystal-clear hot springs known as Zebedee Springs. Here, we will take a moment to admire the scenery and relax in the spring-fed pools. Afterwards, we will embark on an adventurous hike up El Questro Gorge* where you will be rewarded with a refreshing swim.
*This gorge is difficult, for those who don’t want to go all the way there is the option to wait at the halfway pool before it gets tricky
Day 6
This morning we hike into the stunning Cockburn Ranges to Emma Gorge where you will be able to take a swim surrounded by the impressive, dominating rockface. Once back at the truck we will make our way to the Bungle Bungles. Tonight, we will set up camp in the Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles) where we will stay for two nights.
Day 7
This morning we will watch the sunrise over the Bungle Bungle domes before hiking to Cathedral Gorge, Piccaninny Creek lookout and the Window. After exploring the Bungles you’ll have the opportunity to take a scenic helicopter flight from around $320 for an 18-minute scenic flight (at your own expense). After lunch, we will visit Echidna Chasm, where you’ll stand in the centre surrounded by the impressive 200-metre-high cliffs.
Day 8
This morning we make a stop in Kununurra before heading to Lake Argyle, Australia’s largest man-made lake, where we will embark on our Lake Argyle island adventure. Our island adventure will begin when we board the cruise vessel with our camping gear and head out on to the lake. We’ll explore the islands and bays in search of wildlife including the Short-eared rock-wallaby, wallaroo, Freshwater crocodile, and numerous fish species and bird-life. We’ll also have the opportunity to plunge into the cool waters and take a refreshing swim before we head to the island to set-up camp.
Day 9
Today we cross the border into the Northern Territory to visit Keep River National Park and learn about some of the local Aboriginal history at Gingers Hill. We then make our way to the Goorrandalng walk to admire the sandstone escarpment and masses of Livistonia palms. Our next stop will be in Jubarra (Gregory) National Park, where you will see Gregory’s tree. The tree is a sacred site to the Ngarinyman people and is named after the explorer Augustus Gregory and his party, who camped near it in 1855. Tonight we will camp in the Victoria River region.
Day 10
On the final day of the Kimberley off-road adventure tour we will take a dip in Edith Falls for a refreshing swim before making our way to the capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin. On route we will stop at the intriguing Magnetic termite mounds before dropping you off at your accommodation in or near the city.
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Kapalga Travel reserves the right to alter the route or itinerary schedule to adapt to seasonal changes or if one of our stops becomes closed.
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Our tours are participation tours, everyone helps out by contributing to the cooking, cleaning, setting up camp, rolling out swags, collecting firewood, lighting the fire, etc. This allows the tour to run more efficiently, helps the group to bond and gives you the opportunity to get involved in the bush camping experience.
Bush camping is all part of the adventure and the experience of the outback. For many centuries Australia’s ancestors survived in the bush living off nature. Sometimes we will bush camp and there will be no facilities such as a toilet and a shower. We do have ways of dealing with this, which will be explained to you by your guide. One way of dealing with not having a shower is by making the most of the swimming opportunities, which occur on most days.
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• Lake Argyle Cruise
• Exclusive island camping experience at Lake Argyle
• Camping fees
• WA National Park entry fee
• Snacks
• Drinking water (please bring a drink bottle)
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
• Driver and guide
• Licensed air-conditioned tourist vehicle
• Pick up and drop off from accommodation
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• Bungle Bungle Helicopter ride (optional activity)
• NT Park Pass - We don’t include these because it’s a 2 week pass and some people have already purchased, so to save doubling up on this fee we ask you to please buy your own.
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• Sleeping Bag suitable for the conditions (-5 degree Celsius sleeping bag if travelling between May – September)
• Comfortable, appropriate hiking shoes or boots / strapped sandals with ankle support (whichever you feel most confident hiking in)
• Thongs / your comfy breathable shoes for on the truck and around the campsites
• Shoes you are happy to get wet, thongs are fine (You’ll be walking through Tunnel creek)
• Torch
• Large water bottle (2 litre bottle or two 1 litre bottles)
• Swimming gear
• Towel
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Suitable clothing to keep you cool and protect you from the sun
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Toiletries
• iPod / MP3 (We can play your music on the truck)
• Camera
• Jumper / long pants (to keep you warm in the evening)
• Cash for souvenirs
• Small or inflatable pillow
• Rain jacket (from tours running in May, September, October & November)
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Our tours aim to get you off the beaten track and into the remote gorges, waterholes and rock art sites. In order to do this, you will be required to hike for several kilometres a day and occasionally swim and climb (swimming is not essential). You’ll be walking on well-trodden paths as well as rocky, dry creek beds and rough trails.
If you are generally healthy and can walk around 8 kilometres a day, our tours are likely to be suitable for you.
We do not recommend pregnant women travel on our tours; this is due to the risks involved with hiking on uneven ground, and the fact that the roads are corrugated and bumpy which can affect unborn babies.
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Our food is fresh and passengers are often amazed at the meals we are able to cook up in the bush. Our guides aren’t chefs but they can most definitely cook up a great feed in a camp oven or on a BBQ plate.
Our trailers have an 80 litre fridge and an 80 litre freezer so we can deliver nutritious food in the outback.
Breakfast* – Continental style and some mornings we do cook ups
*On day 1 of your tour we’ll pick you up early and we’ll be driving straight away so please have breakfast before you board or pack a snack to eat on the truck
Lunch – Varies from wraps, sandwiches, burgers, salads, cold meats, etc.
Dinner – Roasts, stir-frys, curries, stews, damper, etc.
On the truck we carry camp ovens, frying pans, BBQ plates, pots, etc., so we can cook almost anything.
We cater for vegetarians and gluten-free passengers. Other allergies are also catered for, although our guides are not specialists in these areas, so we ask that you provide some assistance when meals are being prepared to ensure you are correctly catered for. Please make sure you inform us at the time of booking if you have a dietary requirement or allergy.