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10
Day Kimberley Camping Safari
Broome to Darwin
Day 1:
Broome to Windjana Gorge
You
will be collected from your hotel at 7.30 am this morning
to begin your 10 day 4WD safari through the Kimberley region.
We
head north to Derby, stopping at the boab prison tree on the
way, before having a look around the town and the wharf area.
Onto
the Gibb River Road and our stop for the night - Windjana
Gorge, where we’ll have a picnic lunch.
The
afternoon is spent exploring Tunnel Creek, a 750m long limestone
tunnel, carved into the rock over thousands of years. View
stalactites and stalacmites and hear the story of aboriginal
leader Jandamarra, who used the tunnel as a hideout in the
late 1800’s.
Back
to Windjana Gorge for a walk into the gorge before sunset
and dinner. Windjana Gorge is part of an ancient Devonian
reef system where the Lennard River has cut through the Napier
range. Freshwater crocodiles can often be seen lazing around
on the river banks.
Camping:
Overnight Windjana Gorge campground.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day
2: Windjana Gorge
to Silent Grove
After
breakfast, we’ll make our way through the Napier Ranges
onto the King Leopold ranges and Lennard Gorge.
This
is a spectacular narrow gorge featuring, after a good wet
season, a spectacular cascade watefall. It tumbles off red
rocks and plunges into the narrow gorge below.
Our
final destination for the day is Bell Gorge, believed to be
the most picturesque in the Kimberley.
Camping:
Overnight camp at Silent Grove.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
3: Silent
Grove to Manning Gorge
Today
is spent swimming and exploring Adcock, Galvans and Manning
gorges.
The
three walls of Adcock Gorge exceed thirty metres in some places
and a small waterfall cascades down over rock benches into
a small pool beside what is believed to be an Aboriginal burial
ground.
Galvans
Gorge is a small picturesque gorge, surrounded by boab trees.
It has some interesting rock art and is a great place for
a relaxing swim.
Finally
onto Manning, where we have another swim and then watch the
sunset before dinner.
Camping:
Overnight Manning Gorge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
4: Manning
Gorge to King Edward River
This
morning, we head north onto the Kalumburu road and to Drysdale
River Station.
After
a lunch stop, we continue onto King Edward River, set up camp
and then head off to explore 2 unique galleries of Bradshaw
and Wandjana figures.
Back
to camp for a swim before sunset.
Camping:
Overnight camp on the banks of the King Edward River.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
5: King Edward River
to Mitchell Falls area
Today
is spent swimming and exploring in the Mitchell Falls area.
On our 3km walk into the falls, we’ll visit Little and
Big Mertens Falls, 2 rock art sites and delve into some bushtuckers
and medicines.
The
rest of the day is spent swimming and relaxing at Mitchell
Falls, a three-tiered waterfall cascading over the plateau’s
edge and into the Mitchell River. There is also an opportunity
to take a hike along the banks of the Mitchell River to explore
an Aboriginal occupational site.
We’ll
take a short helicopter ride back to the car park enjoying
the amazing views on the way and then make our way back to
camp.
Camping:
Overnight camp on the banks of the King Edward River.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
6: King
Edward River to El Questro
This
morning we head south, stopping on the banks of the Gibb River
to view an art site. Then we make our way onto the Gibb River
road, stopping at Paddymelon Springs for lunch.
After
lunch, we carry on to the ‘cuples’, which are
man made rock indentations.
Continuing
on towards El Questro Wilderness Park, we stop to view the
mighty Pentecost River and Cockburn Ranges.
Camping:
Overnight El Questro campground.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
7: El
Questro - Zebedee Springs
An
early start this morning to beat the crowds to Zebedee Springs
for a relaxing dip in the thermal pools, set amongst palm
trees.
Then
we’ll return to camp to enjoy a cooked breakfast , before
exploring the park, including several lookouts.
There
is time after lunch for a refreshing swim before the afternoon
cruise through Chamberlain Gorge, viewing the scenery and
rock art sites.
Camping:
Overnight camp at El Questro Campground.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
8: El Questro Campground
to Bungle Bungles
This
morning we leave El Questro and head south to Turkey Creek
and then into the Bungle Bungles.
Purnululu
National park is famous for the ancient range of unusual beehive-shaped
domes, gorges and chasms over 350 million years old. The section
of road into the Bungles from the highway is quite challenging
and will give you a real sense of off-road adventure!
The
afternoon is spent in Echidna Chasm and at various lookouts.
Echidna Chasm is a narrow gorge of conglomerate rock, passing
endemnic livistonia palms.
Camping:
Overnight Bungle Bungles campground.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
9: Bungle Bungles
to Lake Argyle
There’s
time this morning for optional helicopter flights over the
Bungle Bungles Range (own expense) and then we’ll walk
into Cathedral Gorge. On our way back we take the ‘Domes
trail walk”.
Then
onto Kununurra for a look around at the Warringari Art Centre
and Kelly’s Knob lookout.
Finally
we head to Lake Argyle, which is Australia’s largest
man- made lake, covering 1000sq km and built as part of the
Ord River scheme. It offers a greater expanse of water from
which steep red rocky slopes reach up a hundred to a hundred
and fifty metres, in awe-inspiring grandeur.
Camping:
Overnight camp at Lake Argyle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
10: Lake
Argyle to Darwin
This
morning we’ll pass through the border into the Northern
Territory and travel through Timber Creek and Gregory National
Park.
We’ll
have lunch on the banks of the Victoria River and then continue
east to Katherine.
After
a short break, we head north towards Darwin, arriving at approximately
6.30 pm and you will be dropped off at your accommodation.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch.
END
ITINERARY
B
= Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner
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