LE ER Y W B I M L I D K

2021 Trip Notes 15 DAY DARWIN TO BROOME

Zebedee Springs, a cruise on Chamberlain natural beauty of an oasis is the Itinerary Gorge, a bush tucker walk or a bird 3.5km geological wonder of Windjana Day 1 Darwin watching tour. Or simply explore this Gorge. Beneath gorge walls rising 90m, beautiful wilderness park at your own we search for freshwater crocodiles, local You can arrive in Darwin at any time today. leisure. (BLD/BL) birdlife and Indigenous bush tucker before In the evening, perhaps get to know some setting up camp. (BLD) of your fellow travellers at one of the Day 8 Drysdale Station nearby cafes, while we prepare for the Station is an oasis in the Day 14 Tunnel Creek adventure that lies ahead. (No meals) outback. This million acre, family owned The morning is spent exploring Tunnel Day 2 Nitmiluk Gorge & Katherine and operated , runs approxi- Creek, a 750-metre cave system carved mately 10,000 head of cattle and lies in the through the Napier Range, in which we Departing Darwin at approximately 7am North Kimberley on the Road. discover stalactites, secret caves and we travel south to the natural spring of Hanging out in the true blue Australian a large variety of wildlife. It is here we Edith Falls. After a break and a refreshing outback means you have all the magical also learn the legend of Jandamarra, an dip, we head for the remote outback town scenery and feeling of isolation you could Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the of Katherine, home to the spectacular ask for. On arrival you may wish to explore tunnel as a hide-out in the late 1800’s. A Nitmiluk Gorge. This inspiring natural won- the nearby surroundings or sit back and refreshing swim in an idyllic waterhole is a der comprises 13 different gorges, carved enjoy a cold drink in the beer garden, highlight of the day. After lunch, we return over a millennia by the Katherine River. warm yourself around the log fire in the to the and visit the Derby On an afternoon NitNit Dreaming Cultural cool night air. (BL) ‘Boab Prison Tree’ before completing our Cruise, we explore two of these gorges journey to Broome. (BLD) and discover the customs of the traditional Days 9-10 Mitchell Plateau land owners, the Jawoyn people. (LD) Our two day diversion to the majestic Day 15 Broome Day 3 Lake Argyle Mitchell Plateau is a highlight of the trip. You are free to depart Broome at any Enter real 4WD country as we travel the time today. If you have more time we We continue west along the Victoria rugged then turn off onto recommend you consider a Broome Highway and cross the border into Western the Mitchell Plateau Track. After crossing Sights town tour to discover the secrets of as we travel to expansive Lake rivers and passing through ancient this fabulous outback town, or take a trip Argyle, the heart of the Irrigation Livistonia palm forests, we emerge from up to Cape Leveque for a day. (B) System which has transformed this dry the savannah and onto the Mitchell region into a lush agricultural oasis. Visit Plateau. With two nights camping in the the historic Durack Homestead Museum National Park, we trek to Little and Big or take on one of the many bush trails to Merten Falls, take a dip in pristine plunge explore the area. The sunset cruise on the pools and view Bradshaw rock art. Return lake is a stunning way to end the day. (BL) to camp on a short helicopter flight for a Days 4-5 Purnululu National Park: bird’s eye view of this extraordinary Bungle Bungles landscape. (BLD/BLD) Head south down the Great Northern Day 11 Mt Elizabeth Station Highway to Purnululu National Park, home Descending from the plateau we travel of the magnificent Bungle Bungles. Two to the Mt Elizabeth Station Homestead, nights here allows a full day to explore the where you will be able to enjoy the highlights of this extraordinary National scenery and see what Kimberley cattle Park, the most famous of which, are the station life is really like. Surrounded by Bungle Bungle domes. Rivers created this water spots, rocky rises and grasslands, landscape of unique orange and black you will be sure to take a great photo, striped ‘beehive’ geological formations enjoy bush walks and settle in for a lovely over a period of 20 million years. Unbe- evening in the Kimberley outback. (BLD) lievably, only the locals knew it existed until the early 1980’s; once discovered by Day 12 Silent Grove others, the area was made a national park Discover lily-laden Galvans Gorge, and in 1987. We explore Echidna Chasm (2km), the tranquil retreat of Adcock Gorge, known for its towering Livistonia Palm pausing for a refreshing swim on our way trees, and take a short walk (2-3km) into to Silent Grove. The afternoon is devoted stunning Cathedral Gorge, where towering to exploring Bell Gorge, a hidden highlight rocks create a natural amphitheatre. There of the West Kimberley. This idyllic retreat, is time in the afternoon to take an optional considered amongst the most beautiful in scenic helicopter flight and enjoy a birds- the area, boasts cascading waterfalls and eye view of the beehive domes (approx crystal clear pools formed over millions of $450pp, own expense) to put it all into years – an easy place to while away a few perspective. (BLD/BLD) hours! (BLD) Days 6-7 El Questro Wilderness Day 13 Windjana Gorge Park Once a Devonian reef, these mountains Two nights here allows free time to join are over 350 million years old and home to one or more of the many activities on offer. a diverse array of animals and plants. The This could include a refreshing dip in the perfect place to experience the stunning www.kimberleywild.com.au  1300 73 88 70 LE ER Y W B I M L I D K

2021 Trip Notes 15 DAY DARWIN TO BROOME Meals Included: Day 12 Mt Elizabeth to Bell Gorge Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Itinerary Facts Day Highlights: Stay Overnight: Please note that this is an indication Adcock & Galvans Gorges El Questro Station Campground (Camping only. All details are subject to change Distance Travelled: Travellers), El Questro Station Tents (Camping according to local conditions, itinerary Approximately 165km / 3 Hours Driving Plus Travellers) updates and other circumstances Meals Included: beyond our control. Day 7 El Questro Wilderness Park Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Day 1 Darwin Day Highlights: Stay Overnight: Silent Grove Campground (All Travellers) Day Highlights: Zebedee Springs & Emma Gorge Welcome Distance Travelled: Day 13 Bell Gorge to Windjana Distance Travelled: Approximately 40km / 1 Hour Driving Gorge Meals Included: 0km Day Highlights: Breakfast & Lunch Meals Included: Bell Gorge & Tunnel Creek Stay Overnight: No meals included. Distance Travelled: El Questro Station Campground (Camping Stay Overnight: Approximately 140km / 2.5 Hours Driving Travellers), El Questro Station Tents (Camping The Cavanagh Twin Rooms (All Travellers) Meals Included: Plus Travellers) Day 2 Darwin to Katherine Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Day 8 El Questro Wilderness Park Stay Overnight: Day Highlights: to Drysdale Station Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise & Edith Falls Windjana Gorge National Park (All Travellers) Distance Travelled: Day Highlights: Day 14 Windjana Gorge to Broome The Crossing Approximately 400km / 6 Hours Driving Day Highlights: Distance Travelled: Meals Included: Windjana Gorge, Boab Prison Tree & Broome Approximately 250km / 5 Hours Driving Lunch & Dinner Distance Travelled: Meals Included: Stay Overnight: Approximately 400km / 4.5 Hours Breakfast & Lunch Katherine Camp (All Travellers) Meals Included: Stay Overnight: Day 3 Katherine to Lake Argyle Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Drysdale Station Campground Stay Overnight: Day Highlights: (Camping Travellers) OR Drysdale Station The Kimberley Travellers Lodge Twin Rooms Crossing into the Northern Territory & Lake Twin Rooms (Camping Plus Travellers) Argyle Sunset Cruise - shared facilities (All Travellers) *Broome Stay Day 9 Drysdale Station to The Distance Travelled: Upgrade available. Approximately 500km / 7 Hours Driving Mitchell Plateau Day 15 Broome Meals Included: Day Highlights: Day Highlights: Breakfast & Lunch , Livistonia Palm Forests Clean clothes! Stay Overnight: Distance Travelled: Distance Travelled: Lake Argyle Resort Campground (Camping Approximately 180km / 4 Hours Driving 0km Travellers) OR Lake Argyle Resort Cabins Meals Included: Meals Included: (Camping Plus Travellers) Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Breakfast Day 4 Lake Argyle to The Stay Overnight: Stay Overnight: Bungle Bungles National Park Campground (All Travellers) You are welcome to book additional accommodation at the The Kimberley Day Highlights: Day 10 The Mitchell Plateau Travellers Lodge or depart for your forward Kununurra & Bungle Bungles Sunset Day Highlights: arrangements. Distance Travelled: The Mitchell Plateau, Little & Big Merten Falls, Approximately 400km / 6 Hours Driving Scenic Helicopter Transfer Meals Included: Distance Travelled: BROOME STAY UPGRADE OPTION Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 0km If you would prefer more comfort while Stay Overnight: Meals Included: in Broome, you can add the Broome Stay National Park Campground (All Travellers) Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Upgrade to your Kimberley experience Day 5 The Bungle Bungles Stay Overnight: and enjoy night 14 at The Oaks Broome. National Park Campground (All Travellers) (Note: Breakfast here not Day Highlights: included) Book online or ask our Echidna Chasm, Cathedral Gorge Day 11 The Mitchell Plateau to Mt Reservations team for more detail. & the Bungles Elizabeth Distance Travelled: Day Highlights: Approximately 60km / 2 Hours Driving King Edward River, the Gibb Meals Included: River Road Darwin Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Distance Travelled: Stay Overnight: Approximately 300km / 5 National Park Campground (All Travellers) Hours Driving Mitchell Katherine Day 6 the Bungle Bungles to El Meals Included: Plateau Kununurra Questro Wilderness Park Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Stay Overnight: Drysdale Lake Argyle Day Highlights: Mt Elizabeth Station El Durack Ranges & the Gibb River Road Silent Grove Questro Campground (Camping Broome Distance Travelled: Travellers) OR Mt Elizabeth Windjana Purnululu N.P. Approximately 450km / 8 Hours Driving Station Twin Rooms Tunnel CreekGorge Halls Creek (Camping Plus Travellers) Fitzroy Crossing www.kimberleywild.com.au  1300 73 88 70 LE ER Y W B I M L I D K

2021 Trip Notes 15 DAY DARWIN TO BROOME

Those who have chosen Camping Plus Accommodation will be booked into the private rooms at On the 15 Day Darwin to Broome, we offer the the Mount Elizabeth Station Homestead. choice of comfortable Camping or Basic but comfortable, they have twin beds Camping Plus, on which we assist you to and shared facilities. Our stay here offers a make the most of basic upgrades where glimpse into Kimberley cattle station life. available: on nights 4, 7, 8, 9 & 12 Night 12 Silent Grove  (look for the symbol) as follows: Camping in the Department of Parks & Night 1 Darwin Those who have chosen Camping Plus will Wildlife operated Silent Grove Campground Anytime after 2pm, check into a central retreat to the permanent Safari Tents (above), involves dome tents (single/twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow Darwin city hotel, The Cavanagh, featuring which offer an affordable upgrade option cases. On site ablutions have hot showers private rooms with ensuites. nearby. With twin beds, lighting and a quality ablutions block nearby, these tents ensure and flush toilets. Night 2 Katherine you have a comfortable nights sleep while Night 13 Windjana Gorge The Permanent Tents at our private still enjoying the outback essence of Camping in the Windjana Gorge National Katherine Safari Camp feature twin beds Kimberley camping. Park involves dome tents (single/twinshare), while the shared amenities, including Night 8 Drysdale Station  swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow toilets and hot showers, are located cases. On site ablutions have hot showers Camping on the grounds of Drysdale nearby. and flush toilets. Station involves dome tents (single/ twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. On site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets.

Night 14 Broome Night 3 Lake Argyle  The Kimberley Traveller’s Lodge is a budget adventure property, close to town and Camping on the grounds of Lake Argyle features double or twinshare rooms with involves dome tents (single/twinshare), shared amenities, a beer garden and a pool. swags with fitted sheets & pillows with Those who have chosen Camping Plus will If you are a single traveller, you will share a pillow cases. On site ablutions have hot be upgraded to the basic Twinshare Rooms room with a fellow traveller of the same showers and flush toilets. There is also a (above) at Drysdale Station. gender unless you pay a Single Supplement. fabulous infinity pool overlooking the lake! Nights 9 & 10 Mitchell Plateau Camping in the Department of Parks & Wildlife operated ‘Mitchell Plateau’ Campground involves dome tents (single/ twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. On site ablutions are basic.

BROOME STAY UPGRADE OPTION If you would prefer more comfort while in Broome, you can add the Broome Stay  Upgrade to your Kimberley experience and Those who have chosen Camping Plus will enjoy night 14 at The Oaks Broome. enjoy the comfort of the Standard Rooms (below) at Lake Argyle Resort each have a queen & single bed, private ensuite bathroom, a small fridge, tea/coffee making facilities. airconditioning and a private verandah to enjoy the beautiful surrounds. Night 11 Mt Elizabeth Station Nights 4 & 5 Bungles Bungles Camping on the grounds of Mt Elizabeth Camping in the Department of Parks & Station involves dome tents (single/ Important Notes! Wildlife operated Purnululu National Park twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & • Single travellers who do not pay the optional Campground involves dome tents (single/ pillows with pillow cases. On site ablutions Single Supplement, will be twin-shared with twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows have hot showers and flush toilets. another of the same gender. with pillow cases. On site ablutions are basic. • You will need a Sleeping Bag - bring your Nights 6 & 7 El Questro Station  own or we can provide for $45pp if requested Travellers on our Camping option will enjoy prior to travel. our private camp on the grounds of El • This trip is adventurous and explores very Questro, which also features large remote locations. As a result, on some nights tourer-style tents on raised platforms with the facilities are quite basic. stretcher beds. On site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets. www.kimberleywild.com.au  1300 73 88 70 LE ER Y W B I M L I D K

2021 Trip Notes 15 DAY DARWIN TO BROOME

Important Information FREE Hotel Pick Up Kimberley Wild offers free pick up from selected hotels in Broome and Itinerary Updates Darwin, 6.30am - 7.30am. Please advise where you are staying and let us know if there are any changes. We appreciate your patience if we are There are no recent itinerary updates to this trip. running a little late. You being there on time will help make sure we are! Have your mobile phone turned on in the morning in case we need to Meals reach you. Call 1300 73 88 70 if you are concerned you have missed pickup. This tour includes: 13 x Breakfasts, 13 x Lunches, 10 x Dinners Tour Style Our healthy meals feature fresh ingredients, gourmet salads and local This is a Kimberley Expedition: perfect for those seeking to experience the Kimberley flavours. We cater for necessary dietary requirements where real Kimberley in depth - either with comfortable Camping or making the possible, so please discuss with us when booking. Meals NOT included are: most of basic upgrades where available on the Camping Plus option. dinner at Drysdale Station* (1nt) dinner in El Questro (1nt), dinner in Lake Important Notes! Argyle (1nt). Allow approximately $200pp. *Drysdale Station are famous for 1. It is essential that you call the Kimberley Wild office on 9193 7778, the their burgers! day prior to departure to confirm pick up, and provide a mobile number for any late notifications. 2. Departures are all subject to regional weather conditions and road Inclusions closures – usually only a concern in Apr & Oct / Nov. • Experienced Guide 3. Space in a 4WD is limited so please keep luggage light – bring only • Meals as specified essentials in a small soft bag, MAXIMUM 15kg. Suitcases are NOT suitable. • National Park Entry Fees Excess luggage must be left in Broome or sent to a forward destination. • Indigenous Guided Walk in Tunnel Creek 4. Due to distances covered, this trip involves early departures on some • Mitchell Falls Scenic Helicopter Transfer morning and frequent stops between destinations. • Zebedee Springs 5. Kimberley Wild reserves the right to assess the fitness capability of • NitNit Dreaming Cruise (Katherine Gorge) passengers prior to tour departure. • Lake Argyle Sunset Cruise 6. It is your responsibility to advise Kimberley Wild if you have any dietary requirements or medical conditions (including allergies). Optional Activities 7. It is important that travellers participate in setting up camp each night, • Chamberlain Gorge Cruise - approx $60 though the guide can assist where necessary. Kimberley Wild guides also appreciate the assistance or one or two group members in • Bungle Bungles Scenic Helicopter Flight - approx $450 preparing/clearing meals. It is essential that all our groups leave the camps they stay in as they found them for the next travellers - the What to Bring: Checklist Kimberley is a pristine wilderness and it is our responsibility to ensure □ A pair of shoes/sandals that you don’t mind getting wet - and we mean it stays this way. fully immersed in water. Ideally, wet shoes or sandals. Vehicles □ A torch (ideally a head torch) 4WD tours are operated in custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA □ A broad-brimmed hat with sun visor for all round protection system and built-in storage (no risky trailers!). These comfortable, strong □ Swimming costume and towel remote area vehicles allow our small groups extra space (including □ Bath towel standing room), are fully air-conditioned and fitted with adjustable □ Walking/trekking shoes air-vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that □ Personal water bottle (ideally 1.5L capacity) when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand □ Small day pack that the roads we travel on can be heavily corrugated. Rest assured, these □ Personal toiletries are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed. □ Insect repellent & sunscreen Power & Phone Reception □ Long-sleeved cotton shirt (sun protection) and loose-fitting pants Telstra users will get phone reception in most towns and the occasional (warmth and insect protection for evenings) remote hot spot. There will be long stretches where we are out of phone □ Warm jumper (particularly in May-Aug) range. Power points will be accessible on most nights for recharging □□□ Sleeping Bag *Note: 10ºC sleeping bags are available for sale at $45pp - cameras and other electronic equipment. must be requested prior to travel and can be kept following your trip or Travel Insurance donated to indigenous communities. It is essential that you have travel insurance that covers medical expenses, Note: Maximum bag weight limit is 15kg - no suitcases including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Itinerary Notes Fitness Level: Advanced Alcohol This itinerary involves some clambering over rocks, wading in water by Alcohol is not provided. Travellers may bring a personal supply if desired torchlight, walking on rocky creek beds that are unstable underfoot and – preferably no glass bottles cask wine cannot be purchased in Broome. ascending/descending into gorges. The ability to swim and a reasonable Enroute, alcohol can be purchased in some locations. Note: alcohol level of fitness and being sure on your feet is required to participate. restrictions are in place throughout the Kimberley. is a big state, so travelling significant distances is Climate necessary to fully experience the highlights. You will soon discover that The Kimberley has a Wet Season (DEC to MAR) and a Dry Season (APR they are well worth the journey. to NOV). During ‘the Wet’ most 4WD roads and National Parks are closed. Our tours operate during ‘the Dry’, when it can get surprisingly cold overnight, depending on where you are – in Broome it can get down to 12ºC, while in Purnululu, it can fall as low as 5ºC! During the day, we usually enjoy 28 to 30ºC. Note: in September and October, as ‘the Wet’ approaches, temperatures increase accordingly and it can be very hot during the day. It is essential that you are prepared for this – ask our office for advice prior to booking. www.kimberleywild.com.au  1300 73 88 70