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.
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Two tours in
2009 departing & returning to Alice Springs: TOUR 1 - 30th May 2009
TOUR 2 - 20th June 2009
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 • WW11 airfields and relics • Tennant Creek • 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 • Mataranka Springs • Devils Marbles • Alice Springs
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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 - KATHERINE
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 historic Springvale Homestead near the crocodile infested waters of the
Katherine River at Katherine.
DAY 3: KATHERINE - 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 - TURKEY CREEK
Depart Kununurra and drive via the Great Northern Highway through the
Carr Boyd and O’Donnell Ranges to Turkey Creek where the “Bush Lodge”
is established for the next two nights. The afternoon is free and from
here it is possible to take a spectacular helicopter flight over the Bungle
Bungles (optional at own expense). (B,L,D)
DAY 6: BUNGLE BUNGLES
Today’s drive into the spectacular Bungle Bungles is
along the Spring Creek track through Mabel Downs Station.
The track presents a fair challenge taking us three hours to travel
only 50klms (creek crossings and rugged terrain!) Difficult access has kept
the remarkable Bungle Bungles isolated to this day. The huge tiger striped
domes of ancient sandstone are one of Australia’s most impressive natural
wonders. For the energetic, there is time to walk amongst the formations to
the extraordinary Cathedral Gorge. We return to our “Bush Lodge” at Turkey
Creek. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: TURKEY CREEK - EL QUESTRO STATION
This morning we enjoy the highlights of historic
Wyndam on the Cambridge Gulf. We drive out onto the wharf, visit the abandoned
meatworks and Crocodile Lookout, Durack Store, Boab lined main street,
Dreamtime Park and breathtaking Five Rivers Lookout (picnic lunch). This afternoon we head southward on the adventurous Gibb River Road –
the most scenic route through the Kimberley. Much of this route has only
become trafficable in the past 30 years and is still only passable in the dry
season due to numerous creek and river crossings. Enjoy sensational views of Mt Cockburn and the Pentecost Range.
Tonight’s "Bush Lodge" camp is on the famous El Questro Station (a
one million acre property and wildlife sanctuary). (B,L,D)
DAY 8: EL QUESTRO - DRYSDALE RIVER STATION
First highlight of this great
day’s drive is the fording of the Pentecost River, then we continue along
the Gibb River Road (constructed in the 1960’s to allow road access into
the productive cattle country of the region) to the Kalumburu Road then on
to Drysdale River Station.
DAY 9: 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.
DAY 10: 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 11: WINDJANA GORGE - BROOME
Back into
“civilisation” as we visit the town of Derby on King Sound from where 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. Dinner tonight is not included, allowing you the chance to eat
out and enjoy the night life.
DAY 12: BROOME
Free day to enjoy a great
selection of optional tours, attractions or shopping at your own pace and to
your own interests. Lunches, dinners and tours at your own expense.
DAY 13: 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 14: 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 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)