8 Day Kimberley Art & Gorges Safari
This safari is accommodated - utilising station stays and permanent campsites. Beginning and ending in Kununurra, the itinerary can be changed to start or finish in Darwin or Broome.
Day 1 (L,D)
You will be collected from your accommodation in Kununurra at 7 am to begin your 8 day accommodated private charter of the Kimberley.
Our first destination is Wyndham and on the way we'll stop at Parry's Lagoon Nature reserve, which is a haven for birdlife.
Once we reach Wyndham, we'll take in the sensational views of the 5 rivers lookout and the Cambridge Gulf before continuing on to a local rock art site and a prison boab tree.
A picnic lunch will be served en-route.
El Questro is our final destination for the day and we'll arrive in plenty of time to take the 3pm cruise at Chamberlain Gorge, to view the scenery and Bradshaw style rock art.
El Questro is a wilderness park of about a million acres in size, running for roughly 80km into the heart of the region.
Overnight El Questro Station bungalows, located on the banks of the Pentecost River.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
An early swim in Zebedee hot springs will start our day and then we'll have a cooked breakfast before we say goodbye to El Questro.
Heading back onto the Gibb River Road, 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.
Continuing along the Gibb River Road, we'll stop for a picnic lunch at Paddymelon Springs before we turn onto the Kalumburu Road to view some more rock art in the Gibb River Road area.
We'll have a quick comfort stop at Drysdale River Station before heading out to Miner's Pool for a refreshing swim and BBQ dinner.
Overnight Drysdale River Station motel room.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
Leaving Drysdale River, we head north this morning to Kalumburu Aboriginal community.
Kalumburu is the most northern settlement in Western Australia. The catholic mission was originally established at Pago and was destroyed and re-located to Kalaumburu in 1932. The community was utilized by the air force during World War II, due to it's location and as a result was bombed several times by the Japanese. The community and the mission survived and several remnants of the war are located nearby.
After lunch, we'll pick up a local Aboriginal guide for an afternoon cultural tour, who will show us some little- known art sites as well as teaching us about the ancient aboriginal way of life, culture and bush tuckers.
Overnight Kalumburu Mission motel room with shared facilities.
Day 4 (B,L,D)
An early start today as we head to the Magnificent Mitchell Falls on the Mitchell Plateau (Ngauwudu), ancestral home of the Wunambal Aboriginal people.
There's a 3km walk to the falls and we can view rock art and some gorges along the way.
The rest of the day is spend swimming and relaxing at Mitchell Falls, a three-tiered waterfall cascading over the plateau's edge and into the Mitchell River.
After a tiring day of swimming and exploring, we'll take a helicopter flight back to the car park, enjoying the amazing views on the way.
A 3 course dinner will be served tonight in camp.
Overnight - Ungolan - Mitchell Falls Permanent Safari camp, close to a beautiful waterhole at Camp Creek. Ungolan boasts minimal environmental impact – giving guests the unique opportunity to be surrounded by untouched habitat. Facilities are shared.
Day 5 (B,L,D)
Leaving the Mitchell Falls area, we'll stop at the King Edward River to view 2 unique art sites, of Bradshaw and Wandjana figures.
Back onto the Gibb River Road and then we spend some time at Galvans Gorge, a small picturesque gorge, great for swimming with a rock art site as well.
A 3 course dinner will be served tonight in camp.
Overnight Imintji Permanent safari camp, on Saddlers Creek near Imintji Aboriginal community. Environmentally friendly, Imintji was created with the area's unique ecosystem in mind. Facilities are shared.
Day 6 (B,L,D)
Our first stop this morning is Windjana Gorge, part of an ancient Devonian reef system. We'll take a walk into the gorge, passing freshwater crocodiles lazing in the sun in the Lennard River, which runs through the gorge.
Onto 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.
Overnight Fitzroy River Crossing, Safari Lodge (Private en-suite), Fitzroy River.
Day 7 (B,L,D)
Today we'll drive to the Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park), an 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!
Overnight Permanent safari camp in the Bungle Bungles with en-suite.
Day 8 (B,L)
This morning we'll explore the Bungle Bungles, starting at Cathedral Gorge. Onto Echidna Chasm for a walk through the narrow gorge of conglomerate rock, passing endemic livistonia palms.
There is the option here for a scenic helicopter flight (own expense).
You'll make our way back to Kununurra and you will be dropped at your accommodation around 8 pm.
END ITINERARY
B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner
This tour is only operated as a private charter (sole use of vehicle and driver guide for a maximum of 6 passengers)
Inclusions:
- GXL Landcruiser 4WD with professional driver guide & purpose built heavy duty trailer
- All meals as stated
- Entrance fees
- Accommodation, as stated
- Permits
- El Questro Wilderness pass
- Mitchell Plateau helicopter flight
- Chamberlain Gorge cruise
- Aboriginal Guide & tour at Kalumburu
Exclusions:
- Pre & Post tour accommodation
- Travel insurance
- Bungle Bungles helicopter flight (approx $220)
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