The Kimberley, Western Australia
The Kimberley is three times the size of England with a population you could fit into a small stadium. It’s ancient. Geologically, parts of this landscape date back over 350 million years. The Gibb River Road – originally built in the 1960s to move cattle from remote pastoral leases – cuts through the middle of it, linking gorges, waterfalls, Indigenous rock art sites, and some of the most dramatic scenery anywhere in Australia. During the wet season, river crossings close the road entirely. In the dry, it becomes one of the great overland routes on the planet.
These extended touring adventures are operated in fully equipped 4WDs – Toyota LandCruisers, Toyota HiAces, or Mercedes Sprinters – with a maximum of 8 guests per vehicle. Departures are guaranteed with just 2 guests. Accommodation ranges from comfortable outback lodges to exclusive wilderness retreats. Every tour is led by an experienced local driver-guide with deep knowledge of the region. For agents building tailor-made Australian itineraries, these are the kind of experiences that turn a holiday into something clients genuinely remember.
ITINERARY OPTION 1
9 Day Gibb River Road Explorer – Day by Day
Western Kimberley & the Prison Boab Tree
The journey begins in Broome, heading north-east through the remote landscape of the Western Kimberley. Your guide shares the local history and stories of the people and environment as the scenery shifts from coastal scrub to red-earth cattle country.
A key stop is the infamous Prison Boab Tree – over 1,500 years old with a hollow girth of more than 14 metres. It was used in the 1890s as a lockup for Indigenous prisoners being transported to Derby for sentencing. There’s also a visit to one of the local Indigenous art centres, where guests see paintings of the culturally significant Wandjina and Gwion Gwion figures. Derby itself is home to some of the highest tidal movement in the world, and a walk along the horseshoe-shaped wharf rounds out the day.
Accommodation: Spinifex Hotel
Meals: Lunch
Trade tip: Broome is the natural gateway for this itinerary. Most international clients will arrive via Perth or Darwin. We can arrange pre-tour accommodation in Broome – Cable Beach is worth at least one night before departure.
Danggu Geikie Gorge Wildlife Cruise
A relaxed morning drive takes guests to the remote township of Fitzroy Crossing. After lunch, the group joins a cruise through the majestic Geikie Gorge – a natural wonder carved between the Geikie and Oscar Ranges during the Devonian period, over 350 million years ago. The cruise reveals the gorge’s fascinating geology and its wildlife: freshwater crocodiles basking on the banks, a large variety of waterbirds, and fish visible in the clear water.
The group visits the picturesque old Fitzroy River ford before checking into accommodation for the evening.
Accommodation: Fitzroy River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Trade tip: The Geikie Gorge cruise is a good early-trip experience for clients who might be apprehensive about outback touring. It’s comfortable, accessible, and sets up the more adventurous days ahead.
Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge & the Gibb River Road
A big day. The route follows the Fairfield Leopold Road through stands of boab trees and limestone escarpments to Tunnel Creek – a 750-metre cave system carved through the Napier Range. Inside, stalactites, hidden caves, and wildlife. This is also where guests hear the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hideout in the late 1800s.
Next is Windjana Gorge, with its spectacular cliffs and resident freshwater crocodiles – close enough for photographs, far enough for comfort. After a picnic lunch inside the gorge, the group hits the Gibb River Road proper. The legendary track traverses the scenic King Leopold Ranges before arriving at the wilderness lodge.
Accommodation: Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trade tip: This day combines three genuinely different experiences – cave exploration, gorge scenery, and the start of the Gibb. It photographs well, which matters for clients who are active on social media. The freshwater crocs at Windjana are always a highlight.
Adcock Gorge & Bell Gorge
The morning begins with a visit to Adcock Gorge, off the beaten track and usually quiet. Then it’s on to Bell Gorge – one of the Kimberley’s most beautiful spots. A short walk leads down to a stunning waterfall and swimming hole. There’s ample time to explore, swim in the pristine gorge waters, and enjoy a picnic lunch with the sound of falling water as a backdrop.
Late afternoon, the group returns to accommodation at the base of the Precipice Range.
Accommodation: Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trade tip: Bell Gorge is the kind of place that sells the Kimberley to clients who haven’t been. The waterfall, the swimming hole, the walk in – it’s all very photogenic. This is a relaxed day by design, which works well after the busier Day 3.
Cattle Country & Home Valley Station
Heading east along the Gibb, the landscape shifts into the harsh but inspiring country that early cattle pioneers set through hoping to build a life. Many came and went. Some perished. Others became the backbone of Northern Australia’s pastoral industry. The guide brings these stories to life as the kilometres pass.
A surprise stop at an outback oasis for Devonshire tea breaks up the drive. The afternoon arrival at Home Valley Station, owned and operated by the Indigenous Land Corporation, is a welcome change of pace. Modern outback facilities set in beautiful lush surrounds.
Accommodation: Home Valley Station
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Trade tip: Home Valley operates a training academy in hospitality and tourism for local Indigenous men and women. It adds an authentic community dimension to the journey that resonates with internationally minded travellers.
El Questro Wilderness Park
After a short tour of Home Valley, the group crosses the mighty Pentecost River and journeys into the iconic El Questro Wilderness Park. This is the most famous station and tourism resort along the Gibb River Road, and the landscape – dotted with boab trees and framed by spectacular gorges – will be recognisable to anyone who has seen Baz Luhrmann’s film Australia.
Guests explore the station, take a dip in the warm spring waters of Zebedee Springs, and have the option of walking into the surreal Emma Gorge. The evening is free to wander the native gardens of the resort.
Accommodation: El Questro
Meals: Breakfast
Trade tip: El Questro is a name international clients recognise. The combination of Zebedee Springs and Emma Gorge gives guests flexibility – the springs are easy and relaxing, Emma Gorge is a bit more of a walk. Good for mixed-ability groups.
Purnululu National Park & Echidna Chasm
Departing El Questro and the Gibb River Road, the journey heads deep into World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park. This spectacular wilderness region is home to some of Australia’s most striking geological formations – the Bungle Bungle Range, with its distinctive orange and black striped domes shaped by rivers over 20 million years.
The group travels the Spring Creek Track and hikes to Echidna Chasm, a natural cleft in the rock. Narrow in width with walls reaching 100 metres high, the chasm is at its most dramatic when the afternoon light penetrates the gap. It is a genuinely extraordinary place.
Accommodation: Bungle Bungles Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trade tip: Remarkably, the Bungle Bungles were only known to locals until the early 1980s. The national park was established in 1987 and World Heritage listed in 2003. That backstory surprises most international clients and adds to the sense of discovery.
Bungle Bungle Domes & Cathedral Gorge
A full day to continue exploring Purnululu. The famous beehive domes are the main event – their distinctive banding of orange silica and dark cyanobacteria creates a landscape unlike anywhere else on earth. A short walk leads into Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks form a natural amphitheatre with remarkable acoustics.
In the afternoon, there’s the option of a helicopter scenic flight that puts the entire Bungle Bungle range into perspective from above. It’s well worth recommending to clients. The evening finishes with drinks and nibbles as the sunset colours shift across the domes.
Accommodation: Bungle Bungles Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trade tip: The optional helicopter flight is the single best way to appreciate the scale of the Bungle Bungles. It’s at the guest’s own expense but strongly recommended. Two nights at the lodge means clients can take their time rather than rushing through.
Scenic Flight & Tour Conclusion
The final morning includes a scenic flight transfer to Kununurra, passing over the Argyle Diamond Mine and the vast Kimberley landscape from above. It’s a spectacular way to end the journey. The tour concludes with a drop-off at Kununurra airport or town, with regular onward flight connections to Broome, Perth, and Darwin.
Meals: Breakfast
Trade tip: The included scenic flight is a strong closing note. Luggage weight and size restrictions may apply on this transfer – we can assist with forwarding excess baggage if necessary. For clients continuing their Australian itinerary, Kununurra connects easily to Darwin, Perth, or back to Broome. We can build seamless onward arrangements.
ITINERARY OPTIONS
Additional Touring Options
Frequently Asked Questions
