Explore the Kimberley

A Full Day in the Wilderness

This is a no-fly day. Guests choose how they spend it – and that freedom is part of what makes this camp special. Fish for the fabled Barramundi and dozens of other tropical species in pristine azure waters. Explore on foot or by boat to encounter local birdlife, bush tucker, ancient rock art, and bush medicines firsthand. Or do nothing much at all – cruise to deserted islands fringed by boab trees, picnic on a beach, sip something cold from the day bed.

The camp’s size – maximum 12 guests – means nothing feels scheduled or hurried. The guides know this stretch of coast intimately and tailor the day around individual interests.

Trade tip: This day is important for the rhythm of the itinerary. After the intensity of Day 1’s scenic flight, the pace drops right down. Clients who fish will be in their element. Clients who don’t will find plenty to do. All meals, drinks, and tours are included at Kimberley Coastal Camp.

Mitchell Falls, Prince Regent River & El Questro

The longest flying day of the safari and arguably the most spectacular. After early breakfast, the helicopter soars over the Mitchell Plateau to orbit and land at the top of the mighty four-tiered Mitchell Falls. The pilot guides guests on a walk to the best vantage points of this iconic Australian landmark.

From there, the flight continues to Naturaliste Island on the coast (turtles are often spotted here), then into Prince Frederick Harbour – a vast natural harbour with bays, coves, spectacular cliffs, and mangrove forests. Guests land at Careening Bay, where the carpenter of Philip Parker King’s vessel Mermaid carved the inscription “HMC Mermaid 1820” on a boab tree that’s now 12 metres wide and National Heritage listed.

The flight continues past pearl farms, King Cascades flowing into the Prince Regent River, Mt Trafalgar, and Mt Waterloo. The helicopter allows complete flexibility to land and explore wherever catches the eye. A fuel stop at remote Drysdale River Station on the Kalumburu Road provides a chance to stretch legs and chat with locals.

The final leg crosses the central Kimberley, flying over parts of the Gibb River Road, Home Valley Station, and the famous Pentecost River Crossing. The afternoon sun on the red rocks of the Cockburn Range makes a stunning backdrop as the helicopter descends onto the lawn helipad at El Questro Homestead.

Trade tip: This day covers an enormous amount of ground and is packed with hero moments. Mitchell Falls alone justifies the itinerary for many clients – overland access takes days by 4WD on rough tracks, while the helicopter makes it effortless. El Questro Homestead has hosted Elton John, Kylie Minogue, and Nicole Kidman, which is worth mentioning for the right clientele. Garden rooms are included, with upgrades available to Chamberlain Gorge Rooms, the Chamberlain Suite, or Cliff Side Retreats.

El Questro Wilderness Park

Two full days at El Questro Homestead, which sits perched atop an escarpment overlooking the Chamberlain River amid a cool oasis of palm trees and tropical greenery. The property spans over a million acres and roughly 80 kilometres. There’s no shortage of things to do.

The Homestead offers a range of complimentary excursions – gorge cruises, guided walks through ancient gorge systems, scenic helicopter flights over the property, and bushwalking with El Questro’s knowledgeable rangers. Many excursions are exclusive to Homestead guests, keeping group sizes small and the experience personal. Rangers are skilled at tailoring activities to individual interests, whether that’s birdwatching, photography, geology, or simply finding a quiet swimming hole.

Dining at the Homestead is outstanding. All meals are included, though reserve-list wines and premium drinks sit outside the standard inclusions.

Trade tip: El Questro is well known among Australian luxury travellers, but many international clients won’t have heard of it. The combination of genuine wilderness and polished service is hard to find anywhere else in Australia. Two nights is the minimum to do it justice, but clients can extend their stay at additional cost. Room upgrades are also available – let us know and we’ll provide a quotation.

Purnululu National Park, Lake Argyle & Return to Kununurra

After breakfast at El Questro, the helicopter lifts off to fly south over the Elgee Cliffs bordering the Durack River. The flight crosses vast cattle station country and the traditional lands of the Kija and Djaru people, passing over the community at Warmun – home to renowned Aboriginal artists including Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie.

The destination is Purnululu National Park, a World Heritage-listed area celebrated for the Bungle Bungle Range – a 350-million-year-old sandstone massif rising up to 578 metres above sea level, its famous domes banded in distinctive orange and black stripes. Guests land at Bellburn airfield and join an overland tour through the striped sandstone domes and into Cathedral Gorge, named for its remarkable acoustics. A picnic lunch is served in the park.

In the afternoon, the flight continues north over the Argyle Diamond Mine – source of the rare pink diamonds – and then over Lake Argyle, the biggest man-made lake in the southern hemisphere. Its volume is said to exceed 21 times that of Sydney Harbour. The surrounding ranges glow in the late afternoon light. The helicopter lands on a mountain pinnacle where guests can raise a glass to the Kimberley and its landscape before the final leg into Kununurra.

Trade tip: This final day packs in two of the Kimberley’s absolute icons – the Bungle Bungles and Lake Argyle – and the mountain pinnacle sunset moment is the kind of thing clients will photograph and share endlessly. The pilot transfers guests to their Kununurra accommodation on arrival. We can arrange onward flights to Perth, Darwin, Broome, or further Australian destinations from here.