8 Day Spirit of the Kimberley: Broome return

HIGHLIGHTS:  Experience the true spirit of the Kimberley - from the saltwater Bardi culture, pristine beaches and rugged red cliffs of Cape Leveque to the World Heritage Bungle, ancient Mimbi Caves and the picturesque gorges of the 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: Kelk Creek & Cape Leveque
The Dampier Peninsula is a pristine coastal environment, rich in history, scenic landscape and 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.  

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 or mud crabbing 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 for which that Cape Leveque is famous. 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. From here we can view the spectacular Buccaneer Archipelago and witness the huge tidal flows of the Kimberley, the second biggest in the world. We visit the Community's aquaculture hatchery, complete with barramundi, pearl and trochus shell. Travelling on, we enjoy lunch in the laid-back Lombadina Community, a beautiful and welcoming community, which is home to a local craft shop and interesting bush timber church. Driving back through the dusk, keep an eye out for wildlife, before arriving back in Broome at approximately 6.30pm to check into your hotel for a free evening.

Day 4: Geikie Gorge & Fitzroy Crossing
Enjoy the contrast in Kimberley landscape as we leave the coast and enter the Kimberley savannah.  Visit the old Fitzroy Crossing and colourful Mangkaja Aboriginal Art Centre before joining a local National Park Ranger on a guided cruise through the majestic Geikie Gorge that nature carved between 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.  That evening, camp by the Fitzroy River.  

Day 5: China Wall & Purnululu National Park
Visit the gold rush town of Halls Creek and see the remarkable China Wall enroute to Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungles. On arrival in Purnululu, there is time to orient ourselves and set up camp amidst the spectacular National Park surrounds. After a delightful bush sunset, relax with 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 $300pp, own expense) to put it all into perspective.

Day 7: Mimbi Caves
Australia's largest cave systems, in the heart of Gooniyandi Country.  Spiritually significant, these limestone caves are one of the oldest identified sites of human occupation in Australia.  Delve into Dreamtime with our local Gooniyandi guide who shares traditional stories and reveals the secrets of Mimbi Caves, a sanctuary of crystal clear pools, rare fossils and ancient rock art.  Share fresh damper and billy tea with the Gooniyandi traditional owners before we head for Fitzroy Crossing.

Day 8 Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek:                
Following another night by the Fitzroy River, we head for Bunuba country - once a Devonian reef, this terrain is over 350 million years old and home to a diverse array of animals and plants. In the morning we seek the adventure of 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 before we travel to the geological wonder of Windjana Gorge, a delightful oasis in the outback. Beneath gorge walls rising 90m, we enjoy a picnic lunch and search for freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and Indigenous bushtucker. The Gibb River Road then leads us from the picturesque Napier Ranges as we begin the return to Broome via the Derby ‘Boab Prison Tree'.

NOTES:  (1) April departures are subject to weather conditions and road closures. (2) Breakfast on Days 1 & 4 and Dinner on Days 3 & 8 are not included - allow approximately AU$150.  (3) This trip is a combination of 2 trips - 3DIL and 4DBB. 

Travellers on this trip must bring a pair of shoes/sandals that they don't mind getting wet. Other recommendations include: a broad-brimmed hat with sun visor for all round protection, swimming costume and towel, walking shoes, a long-sleeved cotton shirt (sun protection), 1 pair of loose-fitting pants, a warm jumper (particularly if travelling May-Aug), personal water bottle and personal toiletries and first aid, with any personal medication required. If you are camping, you should bring a sleeping bag. (10ºC sleeping bags are available for hire at $20pp - must be requested with our office prior to travel; an inner sheet is recommended).