16 Day Tour - 'Kimberley'
(Alice Springs - Alice Springs)
"Bush Lodge" accommodation
The Kimberley region of north western Australia is the oldest part of the most ancient continent on earth. It's isolation and sheer scale has kept hidden it's magnificent attractions until quite recently. Comfortable travel aboard our large 4WD coach allows access to experience the most outstanding places and to enjoy the best scenery that the Kimberley has to offer.
|
 |
 |
 |
Two tours in
2010 departing & returning to Alice Springs: TOUR 1 - 15th June 2010
TOUR 2 - 4th July 2010
We will also be
operating a 15 Day 'Kimberley Adventure' in 2011 departing Alice
Springs 13th June 2011. Please contact our office if you would like to
register your interest in this tour or to receive further information as it
comes to hand (no obligation or deposit required at this stage).
HIGHLIGHTS:
| • Tanami Desert crossing • Famous Fitrzroy Crossing • Port of Derby • Enormous Boab trees • Windjana Gorge • Historic pearling town of Broome • Five Rivers Lookout, Wyndham • Katherine • Drysdale River Station
|
• Cruise on Geikie Gorge • Extraordinary sunsets and night skies • Wolfe Creek meteorite crater • Bungle Bungles • Many gorge walks • Gibb River Road • Kununurra and Ord River scheme • Alice Springs
|
PRICE: $3095 per person, twin share. Single supplement $200. NB: A group booking rate is available on this tour - one free seat for each 10 booked. Conditions apply, please contact our office for details.
INCLUDES:
• Travel in modern air conditioned special purpose 4WD coach
• 15 nights "Bush Lodge" accommodation
• Entry fees to National Parks
• Meals as shown: B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner
• Numerous morning and afternoon teas
• Cruise on Geikie Gorge
• Services of experienced driver/guide and hostess/cook
• GST
DAY 1: ALICE SPRINGS - BANKA BANKA STATION
Depart from Alice Springs (coach parking area Cnr Leichhardt Tce &
Gregory Tce) at 8:00am. We then head northward on the Stuart Highway
stopping at Ti Tree for morning tea, Wauchope for a picnic lunch and the
famous Devils Marbles. Our comfortable "Bush Lodge" accommodation
will be erected for us at the campground attached to Banka Banka Station, a
working cattle station 100klms north of Tennant Creek. (L,D)
DAY 2: BANKA BANKA STATION - MATARANKA
An
early breakfast at 7:00am with departure at 8:00am. We travel via Daly Waters
(picnic lunch stop at famous pub) to Mataranka where a 1 hour
stop allows time to enjoy the revitalising thermal springs (bring costumes
and towel on coach today) and inspect the replica of Elsey Homestead of
“We Of The Never Never” fame. Tonight our “Bush Lodge” is erected at
the Territory manor, Mataranka.
DAY 3: MATARANKA - KUNUNURRA WA
Today’s route is westward via
Victoria River (morning tea stop), Timber Creek, then crossing the NT/WA
border (picnic lunch) and on to Kununurra arriving early afternoon. The
“Bush Lodge” is established in the Kimberleyland Tourist Park on the
shores of Lake Kununurra. Before dinner tonight we drive to the lookout on top
of Kelly’s Knob and enjoy the sunset viewing of the fertile Ord River
Valley. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: KUNUNURRA
A free day in Kununurra to allow
you to enjoy a huge range of optional tours and attractions (tours and
lunch at your own expense).
DAY 5: KUNUNURRA - EL QUESTRO STATION
Our Kimberley soft adventure section of the tour commences today. We
enjoy the highlights of historic Wyndam on the Cambridge Gulf (old wharf,
meatworks, Durack store, Five Rivers Lookout, Dreamtime Park) before heading
southward along the Gibb River Road. This road was constructed in the 1960's
to allow vehicular access into the remote cattle stations of the region. It is
by far the most scenic route through the Kimberley. Tonight's accommodation in
the “Bush Lodge” is on the
famous El Questro Station, a one million acre property and wildlife
sanctuary. (B,L,D)
DAY 6: EL QUESTRO - DRYSDALE STATION
Highlights of this great day’s drive are the fording
of the Pentecost River and the spectacular Cockburn Range (as featured on the
film "Australia"). Our drive along the Gibb River Road passes by
remote communities, Boab lined ridges and over paperbark rimmed streams. We
turn off the Gibb River Road onto the Kalumburu Road then to Drysdale River
Station for the next two nights. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: DRYSDALE RIVER STATION
Today is free to enjoy the attractions and
facilities at this working cattle station. Perhaps a walk to the river for a
swim or take an optional scenic flight (at your own expense) over the
Admiralty Gulf and Bonaparte's Archipelago or just relax in camp. (B,L,D)
DAY 8: DRYSDALE RIVER STATION - WINDJANA GORGE
First stop this morning at
Galvins Gorge (time for a swim) then on via King Leopold Ranges and Napier
Range to our camp at Windjana Gorge. The impressive limestone
"walls" of the gorge are a backdrop for our campsite and it is a
reasonable walk to the entrance of the gorge to enjoy the wonderful
reflections, colours and abundant wildlife. Hear about the intriguing
"Battle of Windjana Gorge" - a bloody confrontation between white
settlers and native warriors led by Jandamarra, also known as
"Pigeon".
DAY 9: WINDJANA GORGE - BROOME
Back into
“civilisation” as we visit the town of Derby on King Sound. It was through
the port of Derby that many
of the first Europeans arrived to settle the Kimberley. Derby has an 11 metre
tidal range (greatest in the world) and also a massive Boab tree which was
once used as a prison. Nearby is Myalls Bore where, in the droving days, 1000
cattle could be watered at once. Then
on to Broome, a once thriving pearling port established in the 1880’s.
Broome’s mixture of cultures dating back to the pearling era, with it’s
unusual style of colonial/Asian architecture as well as it’s unique natural
beauty, guarantees a most interesting visit. Our “Bush Lodge” is
established in a camping park near the Town Beach overlooking beautiful
Roebuck Bay.
(B,L,D)
DAY 10:
BROOME
Free day to enjoy a great
selection of optional tours, attractions or shopping at your own pace and to
your own interests (tours and dinner at your own expense).
DAY 11: BROOME
Another free day to enjoy the
fascination and beauty of Broome (tours, lunch and dinner at your own
expense).
DAY 12: BROOME - FITZROY CROSSING
A civilised start time today for
the drive to the mighty Fitzroy River and the famous crossing. Tonight’s
camp is established adjacent to the River at Fitzroy River Lodge Park.
DAY 13: FITZROY CROSSING - HALLS CREEK
First highlight today is a boat
cruise on the Fitzroy River where the river cuts it’s path through the
Geikie and Oscar Ranges, formed millions of years ago by an ancient coral
reef. From the boat, the sheer gorge walls can be seen and very likely some
fresh water crocodiles, stingrays, sawfish or even sharks. Then we head
eastward to Halls Creek and visit the China Wall and gold rush town of Old
Halls Creek. Tonight’s “Bush Lodge” stopover is in Halls Creek.
DAY 14: HALLS CREEK (BUNGLE BUNGLES)
Our day in the Bungle Bungles is
one of the great highlights of the tour. We have a very early start and enjoy
an al fresco breakfast along the Spring Creek track. The scenery and creek
crossings provide an enjoyable drive. Following a visit to the Information
Centre we go straight to Cathedral Gorge where plenty of time is allowed to
walk into the landscape of huge tiger striped domes of ancient sandstone - one
of Australia's great natural wonders. Optional helicopter flights can be
arranged in the Bungle Bungles for those who wish to experience this amazing
place from the air. We enjoy the changing afternoon light against the
landscape as we return to Halls Creek for our dinner and camp for the
night. (B,L,D)
DAY 15: HALLS CREEK - RABBIT FLAT
Our highlight this morning is a
stop at Wolfe Creek meteorite crater – the second largest impact crater on
earth! (good walking shoes required for those intending doing the climb to
the rim – steady climb taking about 10 minutes each way).
A great change of scenery as we leave cattle country (passing properties
still operated by the Kidman Pastoral Co) and enter the red sandhill country
on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. Tonight our “Bush Lodge” is
established alongside the world’s most remote roadhouse at Rabbit Flat in
the Tanami Desert. (B,L,D)
DAY 16: TANAMI DESERT - ALICE SPRINGS
The vastness of the outback is
experienced today as we pass remote gold mining operations (still working)
and Aboriginal communities. On
arrival in Alice Springs (approximately 6:00pm) you will be taken to your
central accommodation. (B,L)