The Kimberley & Northern Territory
Australia’s north-west and Top End are vast, sparsely populated, and strikingly beautiful. The Kimberley region of Western Australia is a place of red gorges, ancient pearl farms, and some of the most powerful tidal phenomena on the planet. Cross into the Northern Territory and you get Kakadu’s 20,000-year-old rock art galleries, the waterfalls of Litchfield, and – further south – Uluru and Kata Tjuta rising from the red desert floor.
Our small group touring itineraries cover this country properly. The 13-day Kimberley and Top End Discovery travels from Broome through Kununurra to Darwin, taking in the Horizontal Falls, Willie Creek Pearl Farm, the Bungle Bungle Range, Kakadu National Park, and Litchfield. The 14-day Red Centre and Top End Safari starts at Uluru and works north through to Darwin. Both are land-based adventures with multiple departures, a mix of guided touring and free days, and optional activities that let clients shape their own experience. Designed for travel agents building itineraries where the real Australia – not just the postcard version – is the point.
COMPLETE ITINERARY
13-Day Kimberley & Top End Discovery – Day by Day
Arrive in Broome
Guests arrive at Broome Airport and make their own way to accommodation for four nights. Hotels are located between 1 and 3 kilometres from the airport, so transfers are straightforward. The rest of the day is free to settle in and explore Broome’s relaxed tropical atmosphere at your own pace.
Accommodation options include The Continental Hotel, set among peaceful tropical gardens with pool, tennis court, and restaurant facilities. For clients wanting self-contained apartments, Bayside Holiday Apartments offers a quieter option overlooking Roebuck Bay with just 12 units. Oaks Broome provides a more upscale option in the heart of the Roebuck Bay precinct – modern apartments with a resort feel.
Trade tip: Broome is a destination that benefits from arriving a day early. Flights from Perth are around two and a half hours, and the time zone difference catches some international travellers off guard. An extra night at the start gives clients space to adjust.
Free Day in Broome – Optional Activities
Today is unstructured, which gives your clients flexibility. The standout optional activity is the Horizontal Falls Half Day Adventure – a seaplane flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago and Cape Leveque before landing in Talbot Bay. From there, guests take a fast boat ride through the Horizontal Waterfalls, cruise the islands, and experience the shark show and marine viewing enclosure. Morning or afternoon departures are available, each including a meal.
The Horizontal Falls are one of those experiences that sounds almost too dramatic to be real. The massive Kimberley tides force seawater through two narrow gorge gaps, creating a waterfall that flows sideways. It needs to be seen.
Trade tip: Early booking for the Horizontal Falls is essential – this optional activity sells out regularly. If your clients are only going to do one add-on in Broome, this is the one to recommend. The seaplane flight alone is worth it.
Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour
Located 38 kilometres north of Broome on a protected tidal estuary, Willie Creek Pearl Farm is a working commercial operation that gives guests a genuine look at how South Sea pearls are produced. Guides walk visitors through the entire process – from oyster collection and spawning in the hatchery through to harvesting and the finished jewellery.
There is a live pearl oyster demonstration showing the delicate, technical operation of starting the pearl process. Guests then cruise the azure waters of Willie Creek to view farming operations firsthand. Coach transfers from Broome and refreshments of damper and tea are included.
Trade tip: Pearling is deeply woven into Broome’s identity. This tour gives context to the town’s history that clients will appreciate throughout their stay. The jewellery shop at the end is hard to walk past without buying something – fair warning.
Free Day in Broome – Optional Activities
A second free day in Broome with two strong optional activities. The full-day Dampier Peninsula Adventure heads north to the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community to visit the Sacred Heart Church with its remarkable pearl shell altar – built in 1918 with a mosaic of mother of pearl, cowrie, and snail shells blending Nyul Nyul, Nimanborr, and Bardi cultural symbols with Christian iconography. Guests continue to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, Australia’s oldest working pearl farm open to the public, for an in-depth tour and lunch at their licensed restaurant overlooking King Sound. The day finishes at One Arm Point Aboriginal Community with a beach swim, dolphin and turtle spotting, and a visit to the Ardyaloon Trochus Hatchery on the tip of the peninsula overlooking the Buccaneer Archipelago.
The alternative is a half-day Broome Sights tour covering Chinatown’s pearling history, the world’s oldest operating open-air cinema at Sun Pictures (Guinness World Records listed), Old Broome architecture, Matso’s Brewery for a tasting of their handmade ales and famous ginger beer, the Japanese Cemetery, and Gantheaume Point with its dinosaur footprints and the story of Anastasia’s Pool.
Trade tip: The Dampier Peninsula is the deeper cultural experience, but it is a full day. The half-day Broome Sights tour works better for clients who want a lighter pace or who are planning to spend the afternoon at Cable Beach. Both need to be pre-booked.
Fly Broome to Kununurra
Guests make their own way to Broome Airport for the flight to Kununurra, gateway to the East Kimberley. On arrival, accommodation is within 5 kilometres of the airport for a three-night stay. Airfares for this sector are not included in the land content.
Accommodation choices include the Kimberley Croc Motel in central Kununurra – a tropical oasis behind a rugged facade, close to shops, cafes, and local attractions. Kununurra Country Club Resort is a more established option with resort-style facilities, less than 5 kilometres from the airport and on the doorstep of the Bungle Bungles and Lake Argyle. Hotel Kununurra offers that classic Kimberley pub hospitality with comfortable rooms and a palm-lined garden to unwind in after a day of touring.
Trade tip: Kununurra is small and walkable. All three accommodation options are well-positioned. For clients who like a cold beer in a genuine outback pub setting, Hotel Kununurra is the authentic pick. For something more polished, the Country Club Resort.
Ord River Explorer with Sunset
The day’s highlight is a 55-kilometre cruise from Lake Argyle back to Kununurra along the Ord River. The scenery is spectacular – towering gorges, rich floodplain vegetation, and regular sightings of freshwater crocodiles along the banks. The boat pauses at a riverside camp for afternoon tea before continuing downstream.
Photographers will appreciate how the light transforms the landscape on the return journey. The contrast in colour across the gorges and ranges shifts constantly as the afternoon wears on. Guests arrive back at their Kununurra accommodation around 6pm, having watched an East Kimberley sunset from the water.
Trade tip: This is one of the most popular day tours in the East Kimberley for good reason. The 55-kilometre river cruise gives clients an extended, immersive experience rather than a quick look. Afternoon tea on the riverbank is a nice touch. Make sure clients bring a camera with decent zoom for the crocodile sightings.
2-Hour Scenic Flight over the Bungle Bungles
Guests make their way to Kununurra Airport for a two-hour fixed-wing scenic flight over Purnululu National Park. From the air, the Bungle Bungle Range is an imposing sight – the distinctive orange and black striped sandstone domes are one of Australia’s most extraordinary geological formations. The flight also takes in Lake Argyle, the Argyle Diamond Mine site, the Ord River Irrigation Area, the Carr Boyd Ranges, Osmand Ranges, and the Bow River.
The aircraft is air-conditioned with high wings for optimal viewing. This is an award-winning scenic flight for good reason – it covers an extraordinary amount of the Kimberley’s best landscape in a single outing.
For clients wanting to get even closer, an optional 30-minute helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungle domes is available. This flight takes in the hidden red rock gorges, Horseshoe Valley, Piccaninny Gorge, Cathedral Gorge, and the striped domes that contributed to Purnululu’s World Heritage listing.
Trade tip: The fixed-wing flight is included, but the helicopter add-on is the upgrade worth recommending. The helicopter gets lower and closer to the domes, and the experience is visceral in a way the fixed-wing cannot quite match. Pre-booking is essential.
Free Day to Explore Kununurra
An unstructured day for guests to explore the East Kimberley at their own pace. Options include visiting the Mirima National Park (sometimes called the “mini Bungle Bungles”) on the edge of town, browsing the local art galleries, or simply relaxing by the pool. The Kununurra markets run on certain days during the season and are worth a look.
Trade tip: Some clients will want to arrange additional optional activities for this day – a fishing charter on Lake Argyle, a 4WD tour to El Questro Wilderness Park, or a helicopter flight to the Argyle Diamond Mine viewpoint. We can arrange any of these. Contact us with your clients’ interests and we will put together options.
Fly Kununurra to Darwin
Guests make their own way to the airport for the flight from Kununurra to Darwin. Airfares for this sector are not included. On arrival in Darwin, accommodation is centrally located for a four-night stay.
Rydges Darwin Central sits in the heart of the CBD, moments from Bicentennial Park and the harbour esplanade, surrounded by the cafes, bars, and restaurants of the waterfront precinct. Travelodge Resort Darwin is a centrally located option with easy access to the Darwin Waterfront, Crocosaurus Cove, and all key attractions.
Trade tip: Darwin is a very different vibe from the Kimberley – tropical, cosmopolitan, and compact. Most attractions are within walking distance of central accommodation. The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets (seasonal, Thursday and Sunday evenings) are a highlight that clients should not miss if the timing works.
Kakadu National Park & Jumping Croc Cruise
A full-day guided tour departing Darwin. The first stop is the Jumping Croc Cruise on the Adelaide River – a genuinely exhilarating experience getting up close to saltwater crocodiles in their natural waterways. Then on into Kakadu National Park, a 20,000-square-kilometre World Heritage area teeming with wildlife, significant Aboriginal rock art, and diverse landscapes.
Guests visit the Bowali Visitor Centre and Murrawuddi Gallery to learn about the rich Indigenous culture and history of Kakadu. There is a stop at Cahills Crossing – the only road access point between Arnhem Land and Kakadu, and a spot famous for crocodile sightings. The day culminates at Ubirr, home to some of the oldest and best-preserved rock art galleries in the world, with paintings dating back 20,000 years. A guided walk reveals the hidden details.
Trade tip: Kakadu is the standout day on this itinerary for many clients. The combination of the croc cruise, the rock art at Ubirr, and the sheer scale of the landscape is powerful. Lunch is at guests’ own expense – make sure they know in advance. Cahills Crossing can be confronting if crocodiles are visible, which they usually are.
Free Day in Darwin – Optional Activities
A day to explore Darwin independently. The recommended optional activity is the Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise – a 2.5-hour sunset cruise on Darwin Harbour with Territory-style dining featuring fresh seafood and local produce. Darwin’s sunsets are legendary and this is one of the best ways to experience them.
For clients who prefer a daytime activity, there is plenty to fill the hours. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is free and excellent – particularly the Cyclone Tracy exhibition. Crocosaurus Cove in the CBD offers the “Cage of Death” experience. The waterfront precinct has a wave lagoon and recreation area.
Trade tip: The dinner cruise includes the meal, making it good value as an optional add-on. It is a relaxed, social evening that works well as a contrast to the more adventurous days either side. Pre-booking recommended.
Litchfield National Park Day Tour
A guided day trip to Litchfield National Park, home to some of Australia’s most spectacular waterfalls. The itinerary takes in the iconic magnetic termite mounds, Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve for birdwatching and wetland wildlife, and a journey through diverse landscapes of sandstone pillars, panoramic floodplain views, and dense monsoon forest.
The highlights are Florence Falls – cascading plunge pools nestled in monsoon forest – and Wangi Falls, where guests can cool off with a swim in the pool at the base of the falls. The park’s crystal-clear pools and lush vegetation feel like a different world from the red dirt of the Kimberley.
Trade tip: Litchfield is often compared to Kakadu, but it offers a different experience – more accessible waterfalls, more swimming opportunities, and a slightly more intimate feel. Clients who have done Kakadu the day before will appreciate how different this is rather than seeing it as repetition. Pack swimmers and a towel.
Departure from Darwin
The Kimberley and Top End Discovery comes to an end. Guests make their way to Darwin Airport at the appropriate time for their onward journey – or continue exploring.
Trade tip: For clients wanting to extend, we can arrange connections to the Red Centre (Uluru, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon), the Great Barrier Reef, or east coast destinations. The 14-day Red Centre and Top End Safari itinerary works as a natural companion piece – starting at Uluru and finishing in Darwin, it can be packaged before or after this Kimberley itinerary for clients wanting the complete Northern Australia experience. We build complete Australian itineraries with flights, accommodation, touring, and transfers across our full range of product.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Inclusions & Accommodation
Frequently Asked Questions
