Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

Across the Kimberley
Exploring Australia's Untamed Outback

Perth - Broome - Fitzroy Crossing - Mount Hart - Mount Elizabeth - Kununurra - Katherine - Darwin - Cairns - Palm Cove

The Kimberleys - An Adventurer's Dream

Starting from between £4,745 to £6,605 per person for 18 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • A road trip for real adventurers in Australia's Wild West
  • Cruise the red tracks of Gibb River Road and explore the Top End
  • Swim under waterfalls and in natural swimming pools, gorges and canyons
  • The itinerary includes a view of the Bungle Bungle Range from a helicopter
  • Our service includes private transfers, a local Concierge, 4X4 and GPS
If you've already seen the country's great classics and you still have a thirst for adventure, this trip to the edge of the Australian wilderness is for you. The Kimberleys is a land of savannahs, gorges and tropical plateaus, Aboriginal lands, livestock farmers and gold miners. The region is scarcely populated and is visited by very few tourists, which means that it has been able to maintain its almost untouched nature. However, there are roads everywhere, even in the more remote areas, which makes it possible to cross the Kimberleys in complete freedom. In a nutshell, this is a real exploration, a dream for any adventurer in pursuit of landscapes that you won't find anywhere else. Starting from the famous Cable Beach in Broome, this trip focuses on the most spectacular scenery in Western Australia, including the Top End National Parks (Tunnel Creek, Bungle Bungle Range, Nitmiluk, Katherine Gorge) and the Kimberleys self-drive tour. For a seamless journey, head to Palm Cove and the Queensland sun, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

In the heart of the Outback

After hours of driving and rattling around in the 4x4, an impromptu swim under the waterfalls and in the natural swimming pools is just incredible. At each stop, you'll have breather before hitting the road again to explore every corner of this part of the world. You'll stay a country hotel, a homestead or campsite under a sky blanketed with stars, where the songs of birds ring out in the night.

Things we love

Travelling for miles along the red earth track of the Gibb River Road with water supplies, a gas can and spare wheel at the ready - bathing under Mitchell Falls - camping under baobab trees and getting woken up by wallabies - drinking a beer with cowboys in a Mount Elizabeth pub - diving into the natural swimming pools at Bell Gorge - hiking through the moon-like landscapes of the Bungle Bungle Range - discovering Aboriginal rock art, which is unique to the Kimberley area.
Osmond Ranges - Kimberley - Australia © Lincoln Fowler / Tourism Australia
Osmond Ranges - Kimberley - Australia © Lincoln Fowler / Tourism Australia
Torndirrup National Park beach - Australia © Droits reservés
Torndirrup National Park beach - Australia © Droits reservés
Nitmiluk - Australia © totajla/stock.adobe.com
Nitmiluk - Australia © totajla/stock.adobe.com
Kangaroos in Flinders Ranges - Australia © BenGoode/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Kangaroos in Flinders Ranges - Australia © BenGoode/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Kimberley - Australia © Droits reservés
Kimberley - Australia © Droits reservés
Kid jumping in water - Australia © Droits reservés
Kid jumping in water - Australia © Droits reservés
Kimberley - Australia © Oliver strewe/Tourism Australia
Kimberley - Australia © Oliver strewe/Tourism Australia
Mitchell Falls - Mitchell River National Park - Australia © tugodi/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Mitchell Falls - Mitchell River National Park - Australia © tugodi/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Overnight flight, arriving the next day.

Arrive in Perth and overnight stay in a stylish, Art Deco-inspired hotel in Perth's cultural centre. The hotel consists of 74 elegant and comfortable rooms, a lounge bar, library, wine bar, bistro-style restaurant and a pretty roof terrace. The hotel also offers free bicycles so you can explore the city.

Fly to Broome. Spend two nights in an elegant hotel just a stone's throw from the beach. A 27-acre hideaway in the middle of the tropical gardens. The decor is relaxed, a combination of Asian serenity and colonial charm. It's the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the lovely beach before exploring the Kimberleys.

Located in the north-west of the country in a remote location between the Great Sandy Desert and the Kimberleys, Broome is an ancient pearl capital converted into a charming small seaside town. Its intriguing past is reflected in the faces of its inhabitants, who are descendants of Japanese, Chinese, Aboriginal and European pearl fishermen. With its magnificent Cable Beach, Broome is busy during the high season, which runs from May to October. We love this place.

Pick up 4x4 hire car. Drive to Fitzroy Crossing. Fitzroy Crossing, which is a small town in the Kimberley area on the Great Northern Highway and just a short distance from the Fitzroy River Road, is an ideal base for exploring Tunnel Creek National Park, renowned for its 2,460ft long natural cave and rock paintings.
Spend the night in a comfortable and well-appointed hotel, which has a swimming pool and restaurant.

Head to the King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park and its stunning scenery in Mount Hart, which is home to some spectacular gorges and natural pools. Spend the night in a small country hotel.

Drive the Gibb River Road to Mount Elizabeth, which is home to a few large livestock farms. This little corner of the Kimberleys is one of the wildest places in the world, with its untouched beauty and vast, uninhabited landscapes. Spend the night in a rustic but clean homestead, one of the only places to stay in the area.

Now it's off to El Questro Nature Park which covers almost a million acres and has exceptional biodiversity. El Questro Nature Park is an operational livestock breeding site and offers stunning scenery of the mountains and gorges, which is home to parts of the rainforest. Take a boat trip to the Chamberlain Gorge, swim in the natural pools in Zebedee Springs, or ride through the fabulous scenery with a ranger who will tell you epic stories about the Outback.

Drive to Kununurra, through an arid land of wild beauty. The land and sand have made this their home, forming strangely-shaped cliffs thanks to the winds. The wide Gibb River-Wyndham Road takes you into this mineral landscape, which is scarcely dotted with vegetation. On the way you'll stop off at the creeks, before getting back on the road again on the Great Northern and Victoria Highway. As you go, plant life becomes more abundant; you're now getting closer to Kununurra, crossing over the Ord River.
A comfortable hotel with a lovely outdoor swimming pool awaits you. We love the spacious and contemporary rooms and the welcoming atmosphere.

Kununurra is named after the huge Lake Argyle, renowned for having the world's largest diamond mines. If you are unable to get out on a boat, there's nothing like a flight over the area to really appreciate its beauty. The city streets are packed with diamond jewellery of all shades from white, pink and brown to red and yellow, and Aboriginal art that is typical of Western Australia. In the Itinerary: Helicopter flight over Lake Argyle and the famous Bungle Bungle Range, followed by a walk around Cathedral Gorge and Piccaninny Creek.

To get to Katherine, you'll travel from Western Australia to the Northern Territory along the Victoria Highway. The plains stretch as far as the eye can see, and are only interrupted by the occasional mountain. As you head north, you'll notice that the earth is tinged a beautiful red colour, which is spectacular at a sunset.
Things to see - Nitmiluk National Park and the stunning Edith Falls, where, after a short walk, you can swim in the natural pools. In a savannah landscape, which is characteristic of the Australian Outback, the magnificent gorges on the Katherine River also display the rock paintings of the Jawoyn indigenous people.
Spend the night in a lodge in the National Park. It's the best place to stay in this remote region of the Northern Territory's Top End. The view of the gorges on the Katherine River is quite sublime.

Return to Darwin. After returning your hire car, you'll flue to Queensland, the Sunshine State, which is known for the famous Great Barrier Reef, but that's not all. On arrival in Cairns, embark on a 20-minute drive with a driver to Palm Cove. Spend three nights at the Reef House Resort, a hotel just two minutes from the beach. It has tropical gardens, a swimming pool, colonial architecture and a Mediterranean decor. The hotel, which is very stylish and low-key, also boasts a renowned spa.

About half-an-hour's drive from Cairns, at the northern end of Australia, the small town of Palm Cove is perfectly situated between the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. The coastline is bordered by a lovely beach where you both can relax and visit the many restaurants and shops. Out at sea, the coral reefs flaunt their bright colours whilst the rainforest to the north is potentially the oldest forest in the world. Palm Cove allows you to venture out into the surrounding areas and easily reach the Mossman Gorge where you can bathe, visit the beautiful Cairns Tropical Zoo as well as the village of Kuranda and its many artisans.

Travel to Cairns to catch an international flight home. Overnight flight, arriving the next day.

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

Lanes and Arcades in Perth

Perth is full of shaded alleyways and covered passageways, which are great to walk around even in the summer, due to its warm to very hot climate all year round. With its art deco buildings, shopping malls, pop art and new emerging neighbourhoods, a two-hour walk with a Perth resident will reveal the dynamic nature of this great city.

Option


In the Kimberleys, experience a touch of luxury in El Questro

Upgrade to a homestead: Here, in the heart of the Kimberleys, baobab trees line the slopes and herds run wild. It's about an hour-and-a-half away from the nearest town. For those who want a luxurious break in the middle of the journey, we've found a timeless hotel. The property, located on a farm, is set against a wonderful backdrop of hills dotted with gorges above the splendid Chamberlain River. Everything is perfect: the welcome, the rooms - some of which are on the shore - the cuisine, the Australian wine and the view of the sunset from the pool. You can also marvel at the scenery from the bathroom, which overlooks the horizon.

Option


Sailaway cruise in Palm Cove

Sail on a catamaran to discover a coral island surrounded by a blue lagoon. Explore the seabed on a glass-bottom boat with a guide, where you can also do a bit of snorkelling.

Option

Why visit Australia with Original Travel

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Australia

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £4,745 to £6,605per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost will vary according to several factors, including the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised itinerary. The average starting price for this trip is £5,715 per person.

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