PRINT Kimberley Itineraries

Kimberley Itinerary

Travelwise can organise your flight from any state to join this tour or call for local coach pick-up

Day 1

06.00am – Depart Boomerang Beach

06.30am – Depart Golden Ponds

06.50am – Depart Club Forster

07.20am – Tallwoods

07.40am – Depart Taree South Service Centre

08.05am – Depart Club Taree

08.20am – Depart Caravilla Motor Inn

08.30am – Depart Taree Airport Service Station

12.00pm – Arrive Walcha Bowling Club (lunch provided))

01.00pm – Depart Walcha

05.00pm – Arrive Burk & Wills Motor Inn, Moree NSW                               

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 2

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Moree

11.15am – Arrive Saint George QLD (lunch at own leisure)

12.00pm – Depart Saint George

05.45pm – Arrive Tambo Mill Motel, Tambo QLD

Enjoy the slower pace and all the history that the oldest town in Outback Queensland has to offer (including town chicken races).

07.30pm – Dinner Provided (Tambo Tavern)

Day 3

06.30am – Breakfast Provided (Fanny Mae’s)                                               

07.45pm – Depart Tambo

11.15am – Arrive Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame Longreach (lunch at own leisure)

Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre is Australia’s premier outback heritage institution. Since its opening in 1988, the Hall of Fame has played host to over one million interstate and international visitors – providing each one with a spectacular outback experience.

Situated in Queensland’s central western town of Longreach, the museum, stunningly constructed from timber, stone and corrugated iron, is truly reminiscent of the outback. With its unique design, the Hall of Fame stands comfortably amongst the rugged yet vibrant rural landscape.

(optional) Qantas Founders Museum Longreach (lunch at own leisure)

Qantas Founders Museum is an award winning, world-class museum and cultural display, eloquently telling the story of Qantas through interpretive displays, interactive exhibits, original and replica aircraft and an impressive collection of genuine artifacts.

Our aircraft collection incorporates five of the world’s most significant aircraft – the Consolidated PBY Catalina Flying Boat, Douglas DC-3, Lockheed L1049 Super Constellation, Boeing 707-138 and the legendary Boeing 747- 238. In addition, we have full scale replicas of some of the most important aircraft in the early Qantas fleet – de Havilland DH-61 Giant Moth, de Havilland DH-50, and Avro 504K Dyak; Qantas’ first aircraft.

01.00pm – Depart Longreach

03.00pm – Arrive Age of Dinosaurs, Winton

The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History is excited to provide a unique experience in the Australian Outback. The Museum houses the largest collection of unique Australian dinosaur fossils and they're here for everyone to see. Our inspiring and educational tours take your group of visitors to the heart of the Museum, our Fossil Preparation Laboratory, Collection Room and Dinosaur Canyon. We discover and uncover dinosaur bones every day in our working Laboratory giving visitors a real dinosaur experience. Apart from dinosaurs, the Museum offers amazing views overlooking the black soil plains, the Cretaceous Café and a Museum Shop.

05.00pm – Depart Age of Dinosaurs

05.30pm – Arrive Outback Motel, Winton QLD

Winton is the Dinosaur Capital of Australia, home of Waltzing Matilda and Queensland’s Boulder Opal; abundant in nature, culture and heritage.

“Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong…” You’ll be forgiven for relentlessly whistling this famous tune while you’re in Winton, as it’s the very home of Banjo Patterson’s ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Reputedly inspired by an 1894 shearer’s suicide at the nearby Combo Waterhole and first performed in Winton’s North Gregory Hotel on 6th April 1895, you can learn all about Banjo and the adopted national anthem at the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton.

07.00pm – Walk Across Road to Tattersall Hotel (dinner provided)

Day 4

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.45am – Depart Boulder Opal Motor Inn

09.00am – Arrive Waltzing Matilda Centre Winton

Winton's Waltzing Matilda Centre tells the story of Waltzing Matilda, Winton, and the Outback region. An experience you will remember forever. From the ashes of the fire on 18th June 2015, the Waltzing Matilda Centre has been reborn.

10.30am – Depart Waltzing Matilda Centre

01.15pm – Arrive Crocodile Dundee’s Walkabout Creek Hotel, McKinlay (lunch provided)

McKinlay and the Walkabout Creek Hotel. If it sounds familiar, then it should. This quirky hotel was made famous in the blockbuster movie Crocodile Dundee. Inside the pub you'll find plenty of memorabilia from the days when Paul Hogan swaggered up to the bar as Mick Dundee. These days you are assured of a hearty pub meal and great outback hospitality, so it's definitely worth the trip.

02.15pm – Depart McKinlay

05.00pm – Arrive Abacus Motel, Mt Isa QLD

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 5

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Abacus Motel, Mt Isa

11.00am – Arrive Camooweal (comfort stop)

Driving from Mount Isa across the deserted lands of western Queensland we reach the tiny town of Camooweal to be greeted by a sign which proudly declares: 'Gateway to the Northern Territory' and adds 'Population 310'. The population has increased, at least by the signage, by 10 people in the last 30 years. It also happens to be the most westerly town in Queensland as the Northern Territory border is only 14 km to the west. (Camooweal, possibly one of the best ballads Slim Dusty ever recorded - it was written by "Mack" Cormack - Slim sang this in just about every concert he did)

11.30am – Depart Camooweal

Crossing the NT boarder, we gain 30 minutes - put your clocks back 30 minutes

01.45pm – Arrive Barkly Homestead, Tablelands NT (lunch provided)

Barkly Homestead is a remote roadhouse situated on the Barkly Highway, halfway between Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory and Camooweal in Queensland. It is the first and only stop for travellers crossing the border into the Territory.

02.45pm – Depart Barkly Homestead

05.00pm – Arrive Bluestone Motor Inn, Tennant Creek NT

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 6

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Bluestone Motor Inn

09.25am - Arrive John Flynn Memorial Obelisk

Located at the junction of the Stuart and Barkly Highways, 25 kilometres north of Tennant Creek, a local point of interest is the Flynn Memorial. Reverend John Flynn pioneered the Royal Australian Flying Doctors Service. The memorial originally sat at the exact meeting spot of the Barkly and Stuart Highways, but the point has now been moved 250 metres south.

10.45am – Arrive Renner Springs Desert Inn, Pamayu (Rest Stop)

11.15am – Depart Pamayu

01.00pm – Arrive Newcastle Waters Ghost Town (lunch provided)

Newcastle Waters is a ghost town that attracts large flocks of water birds after rain. Explore the remains of the 1960s buildings. Newcastle Waters has a rich, vibrant history as a gathering place for drovers on their gruelling overland cattle drives. It is located at the junction of three major overland stock routes and was an important source of provisions and a place to rest before drovers continued on their way.
The township has become a ghost town, but you can safely explore preserved historic buildings such as Jones's Store and the Junction Hotel - both reminders of the pioneering era. The Drover's Memorial Park, featuring a bronze statue of a drover, is also a must see.

02.00pm – Depart Newcastle Waters

03.30pm – Arrive Daly Waters Historic Pub, Daly Waters NT

 A true-blue outback pub - the Daly Waters Pub is a colourful pub, clad in corrugated iron, draped with bougainvilleas and crammed with decades of memorabilia.

It began its current incarnation serving passengers arriving on the new Qantas airline in 1934 and was the first international runway and airport in Australia. As a popular watering hole along the track, the Daly Waters Pub holds a liquor licence that has been in continuous use since 1938. The pub is on the old droving track and was a watering hole for the drovers as well as travellers heading north and south. It was used as a staging post during the Second World War for the Australian and American Air force. There is a static historical display housed in the WWII hangar at the airport.

07.00pm – Dinner (Barra n Beef on the BBQ provided)

Day 7

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Daly Waters

12.30pm – Arrive Katherine Gorge Nitnit Dreaming Cruise (lunch provided)

A trip to the Northern Territory is not complete without visiting the spectacular “Nitmiluk Gorge”. Open all year round, it features some of the most stunning gorge scenery in the Northern Territory, with raging waterfalls, a myriad of wildlife and breathtaking views of the Jawoyn country. Nitmiluk Gorge winds along 12km of sheer rock extending more than 70m high. Consisting of 13 seperate gorges, Nitmiluk Gorge is a maze of waterways sculpted from the sandstone over countless millennia by the Katherine River.

The essential cultural cruise, Nitnit Dreaming incorporates travel along two gorges, where you’ll discover the customs of the traditional landowners, the Jawoyn people.

04.00pm – Depart Nitnit Dreaming Cruise

05.00pm – Arrive Pine Tree Motel, Katherine NT

The Northern territory’s third-largest town, Katherine is on the banks of the Katherine River, which flows from the nearby world-renowned Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk National Park). The Katherine region extends from the Gulf of Carpentaria near the Queensland border towards the Kimberley in the west.

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 8

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Katherine

11.15am – Arrive Victoria River Roadhouse (morning tea provided)

The Victoria River Crossing is 194km west of Katherine. The Stunning escarpment country provides a perfect backdrop for fishing and boat cruises, with Red Valley Gorge providing a shady and scenic rest area. The Roadhouse is close to the crossing, with camping and accommodation available. You can even take a helicopter flight over this incredible landscape.

Diverse and awe-inspiring landforms, history, heritage, abundant wildlife, climate and economic pursuits, the region challenges you to discover its unique attractions.

11.45pm – Depart Victoria River

12.45pm – Arrive Timber Creek Hotel (lunch provided)

Timber Creek was named in 1855 when the explorer Augustus Gregory used timber from the banks of the creek to repair his expedition’s boat. The first inhabitants were the Nagaliwurra and Nangali Aboriginal people, decedents of whom still live in Timber Creek. Today, this small town has a range of accommodation, activities and other facilities for the traveller. Walk along the Heritage Trail to see wildlife, historic sites and pioneer graves.

01.45pm – Depart Timber Creek

Crossing the WA boarder, we gain 90 minutes - put your clocks back 1 hour 30 minutes

02.45pm – Arrive Kelly’s Knob Lookout, Kununurra

For sweeping views over Kununurra, the Ord River Irrigation Area and Mirima National Park, a trip to Kelly’s Knob is a must. Sunrise and sunset are the most spectacular times to visit the lookout.

03.30pm – Depart Kelly’s Knob

03.45pm – Arrive Hotel Kununurra, Kununurra WA (free time)

Kununurra is booming town on the eastern edge of the Kimberley. According to the Mirima Language Centre the name is based on the Miriwoong word "Goonoonoorrang", which simply means big water. The vast majority of the attractions here involve water, lots of water. And water means life, both an amazing flora and abundant wildlife.

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 9

Option - 05.15am - Spectacular sunrise Bungle Bungle Flight Tour over the “lost world” of the unique and fascinating beehive-like striped rock dome formations starting with a pre-dawn breakfast. $445pp (needs to be pre-booked)

07.00am – Breakfast

08.00am – Depart Hotel Kununurra for Lake Argyle Lunch Cruise & Ord River Discoverer Cruise

08.15am – Depart East Kimberley Regional Airport (pick up Bungle Bungles guests)

This cruise includes a stop on one of the many islands on Lake Argyle plus lunch and a swim in the pristine waters of Australia’s largest man-made, freshwater lake. A personalised commentary from your tour guide/skipper will include information about the history of the area and you will also see amazing wildlife including crocodiles, birdlife, rock wallabies and more! Lunch with beverages included plus tea, coffee, iced water available throughout the cruise. Remember to take your bathers and towel as you are able to have a swim as part of your tour on Lake Argyle.

After your cruise you will drive across the Ord Top Dam wall and see the Ord Hydro-Power Station before boarding the Triple J Tours boat for a scenic 55km Ord River journey back to Kununurra. Marvel at the spectacular scenery, wildlife, flora and fauna found along the way, including the elusive freshwater crocodile! Enjoy afternoon tea at our riverside camp before heading back to Kununurra. Take in a colourful East Kimberley sunset before docking back at the Marina and re-boarding your coach for your accommodation drop-off.

05.30pm – Arrive Hotel Kununurra, Kununurra WA                                   

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 10

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Hotel Kununurra

09.15am – Arrive The Sandalwood Shop

Visitors of The Sandalwood Shop Kununurra will have the opportunity to learn about the sandalwood processing journey and the global industry whilst experiencing the extensive range of sandalwood skincare products manufactured at our sandalwood distillery in Albany, WA. 

Indulge your senses, sample the fragrances, cosmetics and skin care products and try the 2bYoung anti-aging range, made from the Australian sandalwood nut oil.

A visit to The Sandalwood Shop in Kununurra is not complete without taking time to enjoy the local art and sandalwood crafted items featured throughout the showroom, and to indulge in a range of local produce.

10.30am – Depart The Sandalwood Shop

11.00am - Arrive Kimberley Ornamental Stone Craft (lunch provided) 

269 River Farm Road, Kununurra

Kimberley Ornamental Stone Craft is an icon of the East Kimberley. Browse the gallery, watch the craftsmen at work carving the famous zebra rock and other siltstones unique to the East Kimberley. Visit the jewellery section; new jewellery styles are continually being produced.

12.30pm - Depart Ornamental Stone Craft

04.30pm – Arrive Kimberley Hotel Halls Creek WA

This is a very significant place. It is the site of the first gold discovery in Western Australia and where the WA gold rushes began. In 1885 Charles Hall found a 28-ounce nugget.
The 'Golden West' had its beginnings in Halls Creek.
This is the site of the original gold mining community where prospectors followed the gold up the creeks and gullies from Brockman to Old Halls Creek.
The Halls Creek gold rush might have been short lived but it nevertheless left an important legacy. The gold strike contributed to the establishment of the Ports of Derby and Wyndham as well as the town of Halls Creek as men and mining equipment were brought in from places as far away as California.

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 11

07.00pm – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Kimberley Hotel

12.30pm – Arrive Fitzroy River Lodge, Fitzroy Crossing (lunch provided)

Fossil Downs Station located 50km’s North East of Fitzroy Crossing

In March 1883 two brothers, Charlie and Willie Macdonald set out on an epic three and a quarter year journey to drive their mob of cattle 5,600 kilometres from Goulburn in NSW to the Kimberley. Their wagon was the first vehicle to cross the Australian continent from east to west and their diary entry for June 1886 reads: “Arrived here and called it Fossil Downs” No cattle have been over landed as far before or since.

01.30pm – Depart Fitzroy River Lodge

02.15pm – Arrive Fitzroy River, Geikie Gorge Cruise (Cruise departs at 02.30pm)

Darngku Heritage Cruises provide the opportunity for you to see the magnificent features of Darngku, Geikie Gorge National Park, in the West Kimberley, through the eyes of its traditional Aboriginal owners. With your indigenous Bunuba guides you will cruise the placid waters of Geikie Gorge within the Napier Range, hear the story of Mangunambi and look for bush foods on the Larrawan Walk. Fresh water crocodiles and bird life abound. Fish in the waters of the Fitzroy River in Darngku are the home of barramundi, freshwater sharks, bream and other species.

03.30pm – Depart Geikie Cruise

04.00pm – Arrive Fitzroy River Lodge, Fitzroy Crossing WA

Set on the banks of the mighty Fitzroy River, Fitzroy Crossing is a true outback town, and a great base for exploration of the nearby Devonian National Parks – Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge and Geikie Gorge. Fitzroy River lodge was a setting featured in the movie “Australia” starring Nicole Kidman.

07.00pm – Dinner Provided

Day 12

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.30am – Depart Fitzroy Crossing

10.15am – Arrive Giant Boab Tree (morning tea provided)

10.45am – Depart Giant Boab Tree

01.30pm – Arrive Mangrove Hotel overlooking Roebuck Bay (lunch at own leisure)

02.30pm – Depart Mangrove Hotel

02.45pm - Arrive Broome Time Resort (check-in)

04.15pm - Depart Broome Time Resort

04.30pm – Arrive Zanders Cable Beach Sunset (dinner provided)

06.30pm – Depart Cable Beach

06.45pm – Arrive Oaks Broome Hotel, Broome

Broome is a large coastal community in the Kimberley region. This great city is known for its numerous tourist attractions such as Cable Beach, Roebuck Bay and has an intriguing Pearling Industry. Broome is also known as home for the world’s oldest open-air cinema popularly known as the Sun picture Garden. Broome was established in the 1880s during the time of John Forrest. John Forrest can historically be regarded as the founding father of the land due to the fact that he was the first person who chose the site (coastal side of Kimberley) for the establishment of Broome town.

Forrest was also the person who gave the site the name. He named the town after Sir Frederick Broome, who was the Western Australia Governor during 1883 when forest discovered that the land would be suitable for living and properties to dwell in.

Day 13

Option 1 - 05.15am - Fly the Falls ($645pp optional - must be pre-booked)

DAMPIER PENINSULA, KING SOUND & THE KIMBOLTON RANGES - View Dampier Peninsula cattle station county, majestic King Sound and the ancient Devonian rock formations of the Kimbolton Ranges.

HORIZONTAL FALLS - Witness the natural phenomenon of the unique, world-renowned Horizontal Falls (fly over), described by naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, as “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world”.

BUCCANEER ARCHIPELAGO - Enjoy the raw beauty of the stunning thousand islands and the breathtaking tidal patterns of the magnificent Buccaneer Archipelago.

CAPE LEVEQUE (KOOLJAMAN) - Land in true outback style on the red dirt runway and enjoy a relaxing breakfast at Raugi’s open-air restaurant and swim (2 hour stop over).

COASTAL VIEW RETURN - Return to Broome coastal, flying over Lombadina, Pender Bay, Beagle Bay, Carnot Bay, James Price Point, Willie Creek, Cable Beach and Dampier Creek.

Option 2 - 05.15am – Horizontal Falls Seaplane and Cruise Adventure ($865pp optional - must be pre-booked)

This awe-inspiring tour lets you experience the incredible Horizontal Falls and the pristine beauty of the Kimberley by air and water. Enjoy low level flying over the amazing islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago and Cape Leveque before your seaplane lands safely in the calm waters of Talbot Bay right near the Horizontal Falls. Then enjoy a thrilling ride on the fastest boat in the Kimberley through the waterfalls, followed by a laid-back island cruise. Return to our luxury houseboat for a freshly prepared breakfast before returning to Broome on the seaplane to complete your memorable Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventure.

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

08.45am – Discover Broome plus Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour (lunch provided)

Discover Broome tour is the perfect way to see Broome’s major landmarks and local attractions, from ancient rocky outcrops to rugged landscapes and the spectacular coastline. Our expert guides will walk you through the colourful heritage that has shaped Broome into the rich, multi-cultural community it is today.

11.30am – Depart Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures  (Willie Creek Pearl Farm Buses)

12.45pm – Arrive Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour (lunch provided)

The Willie Creek Pearl Farm tour gives unique insight into the fascinating process of modern cultured pearl farming, from shell to showroom. You will discover exactly what makes the perfect pearl and leave Willie Creek a pearling expert! The journey starts with the collection and spawning of oysters in our state-of-the-art hatchery, then moves on to the delicate operations of seeding and harvesting oysters, and finally the valuing of pearls and the creation of stunning jewellery. You will cruise Willie Creek’s azure waters and view live oysters suspended in their natural environment amongst our native flora and fauna.

04.30pm – Arrive Oaks Broome Hotel, Broome

05.45pm – Dinner Provided

06.45pm – Depart Oaks Broome Hotel (for those that are up to it)

07.00pm - Arrive Town Beach Staircase to the Moon (07.01pm)

The Staircase to the Moon is a natural phenomenon caused by the rising full moon reflecting off the exposed mudflats in Roebuck Bay at extremely low tide, to create a beautiful optical illusion of a stairway reaching to the moon. This spectacular sight occurs on only a few nights per year.

08.00pm - Depart Town Beach

08.15pm - Arrive Oaks Broome Hotel

Day 14

07.00am – Breakfast Provided

09.00am – Depart Oaks Broome Hotel

09.15am – Arrive Broome Airport (Various Flights to Home Cities)