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10
Day Kimberley Camping Safari
Darwin to Broome
Day 1:
Darwin to Lake Argyle
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 south, along the Stuart Highway to the township of Katherine
and, after a short break, continue west along the Victoria
Highway.
We
have lunch on the banks of the Victoria River and then
travel through Gregory National Park and Timber
Creek towards the Western Australian border.
Camping:
Overnight camp at Lake Argyle.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day
2: Lake
Argyle to Bungle Bungles
After
breakfast, we take a look around Lake Argyle, which
is Australia’s largest man- made lake, covering 1000sq
km and built as part of the Ord River scheme.
We
pop into Kununurra to collect fresh supplies ( due
to border restrictions) , take a look around at the Warringari
Art Centre and Kelly’s Knob Lookout, which gives
great views over Kununurra.
Mid-
morning, we head down 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 camp at Bungle Bungles campground.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
3:
Bungle Bungles to
El Questro Wilderness Park
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”.
This
afternoon, we make our way north onto the Gibb River Road
and El Questro Wilderness Park, which is a million
acres in size.
Camping:
Overnight camp at El Questro campground.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
4: El
Questro Wilderness Park to 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
5: El
Questro Wilderness Park to
King Edward River
Leaving
El Questro, we head back onto the Gibb River Road where we’ll
stop to view the mighty Pentecost River and Cockburn Ranges.
Then
we’ll make our way to an art site to view the rock art
as well as ‘cuples’, which are man made rock indentations.
Once
we reach the Kalumburu Road, we’ll take a walk around
an aboriginal rock art and burial site.
Your
guide will interpret these art sites for you and explain their
significance.
After
a lunch stop at Drysdale River Station, we continue
north to the King Edward River and onto our camp in
time for a swim.
Camping:
Overnight camp on the banks of the King Edward River.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
6: King Edward River
to exploring in the 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
7: King Edward River
to Manning Gorge.
After
leaving camp this morning, we’ll view 2 unique galleries
of Bradshaw and Wandjana figures.
Then
onto Mt. Barnett Station and Manning Gorge,
arriving in time for a walk into the gorge for sunset and
a refreshing swim.
Camping:
Overnight camp at Manning Gorge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
8: Manning
Gorge to Silent Grove
Our
first stop this morning is Galvans Gorge, a small picturesque
gorge, surrounded by boab trees. It has some interesting rock
art and is a great place for a relaxing swim.
Then
we’ll head to Adcock Gorge for a swim. 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.
Bell
Gorge is our final destination for the day, which is said
to be the most picturesque gorge in the Kimberley.
Camping: Overnight camp at Silent Grove.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
9: Silent Grove to
Windjana Gorge
Leaving
our Silent Grove camp, we continue west through the
King Leopold ranges, stopping en-route at some lookouts before
we reach Windjana Gorge, where we have lunch and set up camp.
The
afternoon is spent exploring Tunnel Creek, a 750m long
limestone tunnel in the Napier Range, carved into the
rock over thousands of years. View stalactites and stalacmites
and hear the story of Jandamarra, who used the tunnel as a
hideout in the late 1800’s.
Back
to camp in time for sunset over the Napier Range.
Camping:
Overnight camp at Windjana Gorge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
10: Windjana
Gorge to Broome
After
breakfast we take a walk into Windjana Gorge, part
of an ancient Devonian reef system, set in the Napier Range.
Freshwater crocodiles laze around, basking in the sun, on
the banks of the Lennard River, which runs through
the gorge.
The
last leg of our journey along the Gibb River Road takes
us into Derby, where we spend time exploring the town
and the wharf area. As we leave, we’ll stop at the prison
boab tree and have lunch on the banks of the Fitzroy River.
Then
we make our way into Broome, arriving late afternoon and you
will be dropped off at your accommodation.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch.
END
ITINERARY
B
= Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner
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