7 Day Spirit of the Kimberley's: Broome return

Departs 2009	Cost 2009
Broome:  Tuesdays from Apr-Oct 2009	Adult $1795pp Child (4-12yrs) $1645pp Concession $1765pp

HIGHLIGHTS:  Experience the true spirit of the Kimberley - from the saltwater Bardi culture, pristine beaches and rugged red cliffs of Cape Leveque to indigenous Bunuba culture, the World Heritage Bungle Bungles and the picturesque gorges of the West Kimberley. This trip is like no other in the Kimberley as it explores both the well-known sights and some of the hidden secrets of this extraordinary, remote part of Australia.

Day 1: Broome to Kelk Creek & Cape Leveque
6:30am The Dampier Peninsula is an extraordinary blend of pristine beaches and dramatic coastlines, rich in traditional Aboriginal culture. Travelling up the red 4WD track, learn about the region's fascinating history from our guided commentary and documentary DVDs. Our first stop is the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community, home of the Beagle Bay Church with its glimmering pearl shell altar, for morning tea. Further north, we visit the Kelk Creek Bush Retreat, where our Aboriginal guide and her family introduce us to their traditional Bardi ‘saltwater country'. A leisurely guided bushwalk offers an in-depth insight into their indigenous lifestyle and culture while the freshly made damper and billy tea at the end of the walk is well worth the wait! Later, after a delicious lunch, we travel to beautiful Cape Leveque to set up camp right on the edge of the Indian Ocean. A spectacular Kimberley sunset is a great way to end the day before our famous Kimberley BBQ under the stars.            
After a delicious lunch we travel to beautiful Cape Leveque to set up camp right on the edge of the Indian Ocean. A spectacular Kimberley sunset is a great way to end the day, before our famous Kimberley BBQ under the stars.

Day 2: Cape Leveque
The day at Cape Leveque is yours to enjoy as you please. You may like to join our guide on a snorkelling or fishing adventure (included), or take up one of the many optional extras on offer including embarking on an Indigenous sea kayaking adventure, hiring a dinghy or splurging on a scenic flight across the archipelago and horizontal falls. Alternatively you may prefer to spend your time simply enjoying the pristine beaches and rugged red coastline that Cape Leveque is famous for. Whether you like swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing or long walks along the beach, Cape Leveque is a great way to relax away a day.

Day 3: One Arm Point & Lombadina
After breakfast we journey to the One Arm Point Community, perched on the tip of the Dampier Peninsula. This is the perfect place to view the spectacular Buccaneer Archipelago and witness the huge tidal flows of the Kimberley. We visit the Community's aquaculture hatchery, complete with barramundi, pearl and trochus shell. Travelling on, we reach the laid-back Lombadina Community, a beautiful and welcoming community, which is home to a local craft shop and interesting bush timber church. The challenging Kimberley terrain leads us back to Broome, arriving at approximately 5.00pm. The evening is free to enjoy Broome at your leisure.

Day 4: Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek
After an early morning pick up (approx 6.30am), we continue our Kimberley experience with a journey inland to the Gibb River Road, via the Derby ‘Boab Prison Tree', and on through the picturesque Napier Ranges. Once a Devonian reef, these mountains are over 350 million years old and home to a diverse array of animals and plants. The perfect place to experience the stunning natural beauty of an outback oasis is the 3.5km geological wonder of Windjana Gorge. Beneath gorge walls rising 90m, we search for freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and Indigenous bushtucker. After a picnic lunch, the afternoon is spent exploring Tunnel Creek, a 750-metre cave system in which we discover secret caves and a large variety of wildlife. It is here we also learn the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hide-out in the late 1800's. Freshen up with a swim in the idyllic waterhole at the end of the tunnel. As dusk settles, we break our journey with a comfortable night camping by the river at the Fitzroy River Lodge, in the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing.

Day 5: China Wall & Purnululu National Park
Leaving Fitzroy Crossing with the birds allows us to arrive in Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungles, in the late afternoon. On the way, we visit the gold rush town of Halls Creek to see the remarkable China Wall. On arrival in Purnululu, there is time to orient ourselves, explore the surrounds and settle into our basic, yet comfortable, permanent tented accommodation at the Walardi Wilderness Camp*. After enjoying a bush sunset, relax as we enjoy a delicious meal and evening under the stars.

Day 6: Bungle Bungles
Spend the next day exploring the highlights of this extraordinary National Park, the most famous of which are the Bungle Bungle domes. Rivers created this landscape of unique orange and black striped ‘beehive' geological formations over a period of 20 million years. Unbelievably, only the locals knew it existed until the early 1980's. To protect its unique landscape, the area was made a national park in 1987 and now enjoys World Heritage status. We explore the 2km long Echidna Chasm, known for its towering Livistonia Palm trees, and take a short walk (2-3km) into stunning Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks create a natural amphitheatre. There is time in the afternoon to take an optional scenic flight and enjoy a birds-eye view of the beehive domes (approx $265pp, own expense) to put it all into perspective.

Day 7: Geikie Gorge & Broome               
Another early morning start sees us return westward, reaching the banks of the Fitzroy River once again for a picnic lunch in Geikie Gorge. It is a long day so relax, watch the Kimberley plains drift by or enjoy a movie. In the afternoon, join a local National Park Ranger on a guided cruise through the majestic gorge that nature carved between the Geikie and Oscar Ranges. Learn of the fascinating geology of this natural wonder and discover the huge array of wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles, birds and fish. Pausing for dinner en route (own expense), we later arrive back in Broome at approximately 10.30pm.

NOTE:  1. April departures are subject to weather conditions and road closures. 2. Breakfast on Day 4 and Dinner on Days 3 & 7 are not included - allow approximately AU$80. 3. This trip is a combination of 2 trips - 3DIL and 4DBB. 4. This itinerary is available in reverse, departing Tuesdays 5. On certain departures the permanent tent site in the Bungle Bungles is not available for both nights - on these departures we will be camping in Purnululu National Park. Please check with our office on booking if this is a concern for you.