Overview
Itinerary
You'll fall for the capital of the NT; its balmy tropical climate, fiery sunsets and laid-back locals. Take in the city sights on a tour, learning about the events that have shaped it over the years.
Later, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner. (D) Stay: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
Nature takes over at Nitmiluk National Park, where you cruise through dramatic Nitmiluk Gorge. There's no time to catch your breath - you're off to a cattle station for the Katherine Outback Experience, where you'll be entertained with songs, stories, and a Be My Guest dinner under the stars. (B/D) Stay: Contour Hotel Katherine
Kununurra exists thanks to the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. The project not only helped water the countryside, but created Lake Argyle. You won't forget your cruise to sunset. (B/D) Stay: Kununurra Country Club Resort
Today is one of decisions: A scenic flight over (or 4WD tour of) the Bungle Bungles (own expense). Or a wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park. In between, explore the Waringarri Aboriginal Art Centre on a guided tour. (B) Stay: Kununurra Country Club Resort
Go behind the scenes at Hoochery Distillery, which not only makes lip-smacking rum, but also delicious rum cake. Get a taste of the Gibb River Road en route to El Questro Wilderness Park, where an oasis of pandanus palms envelops your safari-style accommodation. (B/D) Stay: Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
The Kimberley's sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River to freshwater Chamberlain Gorge, your boat dwarfed by its soaring escarpments while you cruise. Afternoon remedy? A splash in the pool, perhaps, or a dip in the waterhole within Emma Gorge. Take your pick. (B/D) Stay: Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities
When you arrive in Halls Creek you'll visit the Yarliyil Art Gallery, an Aboriginal owned enterprise which has more than 100 artist members who practice art in a wide range of styles and mediums. Equally important to Aboriginal communities is the Great Sandy Desert, on the edge of which is Halls Creek. This place is small in population, but big in personality. (B/L/D) Stay: Kimberley Hotel
The Kimberley boasts a geological history that is nothing short of spectacular. Explore the Mimbi Caves with an Indigenous guide to observe the delicate limestone formations, brilliantly vivid colours and crystal-clear freshwater pools that remain from the Devonian Great Barrier Reef that formed over 350 million years ago. Discover ancient rock paintings before listening to songs and hearing the Gooniyandi Dreaming story, while enjoying billy tea and damper. Travel through the Kimberley towards the remote township of Fitzroy Crossing. (B/L/D) Stay: Fitzroy River Lodge
The reason Broome was born is because of pearls. Today, it's just as well known for its sizzling Indian Ocean sunsets, best enjoyed from the Cable Beach sand. (B) Stay: Cable Beach Club Resort
Today is yours to explore. Perhaps veer off to a pearl farm, to witness the precision that goes into growing and harvesting these gems (own expense). Or simply enjoy Broome's tropical climes, strolling along 22-kilometre Cable Beach, hunting for dinosaur footprints and browsing boutiques. (B/D) Stay: Cable Beach Club Resort
The eye-opening colours of the Pilbara are your backdrop today - rich red earth streaked with mineral deposits. Settle in Port Hedland, home to the world's largest bulk export port. (B/D) Stay: Hospitality Port Hedland
A frontier like no other, Karijini National Park is a place where gorges seem to cleave off the edge of the Earth, waterfalls tumble from escarpments and remote turquoise rock pools shimmer like precious gems. The wilderness is wilder, the colours brighter, the air clearer. It took billions of years to create the geological wonders you see: the red layered cliffs, the quiet gorges, the soaring gum trees, and distinctive termite mounds. (B/D) Stay: Tom Price Motel
Journey through rugged terrain back towards the coast - destination Karratha. Known for its significant role in the mining and resource industry. Stop in at Ngajarli (Deep Gorge) and follow the trail to see incredible petroglyphs and learn about its indigenous history. Finally, pay a visit to Red Dog Statue, the canine larrikin with a wandering heart, and learn why he is famous in this region. (B/L/D) Stay: Comfort Inn, Karratha
There are a few (hundred) kilometres of Pilbara region to cover between inland Karratha and Exmouth on the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast. On your hypnotic journey, just imagine all the magical marine creatures you might glimpse when you dive into Ningaloo Reef - Exmouth is the gateway. (B/D) Stay: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort
Depending on the time of year, Ningaloo Reef is home to both whale sharks and humpbacks. Opt to snorkel with both (ethically) or book a sunset cruise, sparkling wine in hand. The decision is yours. (B/D) Stay: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort
Today's cruise in a glass-bottomed boat allows you to glimpse Ningaloo's extraordinary marine life in comfort.
Next stop is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know it played a role in the 1969 moon landing? (B/D) Stay: Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon
Prepare yourself for the ‘living fossils' at Hamelin Pool, home to the most abundant colony of stromatolites in the world. The state's World Heritage listed Shark Bay is also characterised by Shell Beach, formed from billions of coquina bivalve shells. (B/D) Stay: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
Meet the wild resident dolphins that turn up to the shore every morning, then spend the afternoon at leisure. Optional sunset cruise or scenic flight over the bay, anyone? (B) Stay: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort
Kalbarri National Park is known for many things: its gorges, towering coastal cliffs, and rare wildlife that you can witness from the Kalbarri Skywalk. And then there are the wildflowers, which bloom and blanket much of the countryside in spring, transforming it into a floral wonderland. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to the 645 Australian sailors who were lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial. (B) Stay: Nesuto Geraldton Apartment Hotel
Nambung National Park's Pinnacles are a staggering collection of natural limestone structures, jutting into the sky. It's a spiritual place, as is Yanchep National Park, where your Aboriginal guide decodes native plants and tells Dreamtime stories on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
This evening, join your Travel Director and companions for a Farewell Dinner. (B/D) Stay: Crowne Plaza Perth
It's hard to believe this epic adventure has come to an end. Three weeks of incredible memories to take home with you. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Cruise with a local guide down the Ord River from Lake Argyle, to be rewarded with the setting sun over the water in Kununurra.
- Join local indigenous guide on our private Mimbi Caves tour. Observe the delicate limestone formations, brilliantly vivid colours and crystal clear freshwater pools.
- The Ningaloo Coast has World Heritage status for good reason – it cradles one of the most biodiverse marine sanctuaries in Australia.
- Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Ningaloo Coast & Shark Bay. Plus, Purnululu National Park (optional Bungle Bungles)
- Centrally located premium hotels
- Shark Bay, Hidden Valley, Karijini, Nitmiluk, Nambung & Yanchep National Parks and El Questro Wilderness Park entrance fees
- Arrival and departure private airport transfers
- 15 Dinners with Wine
- 20 Full Breakfasts
- 3 Lunches
- 1 Farewell Dinner
- Water bottle
- Warm layers in cooler months
- Camera
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 2.00pm into Darwin Airport
- Day 21 – flights to depart anytime from Perth
- Extreme temperatures can be experienced in this remote region of Australia. Guests should be made aware that this trip is recommended to guests with a moderate level of fitness. In addition, the walk to Emma Gorge considered “Difficult” and not all guests will be able to complete the walk. Some sections of Mimbi Caves have very low light and are rocky in parts. A torch is recommended.
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Prices are for land/cruise and internal flights as specified only. Flights not specified are not included.
Trip Reviews (4) Most Recent 'Untamed Kimberley & West Coast' Reviews
Some excursions offered by our tour guide were limited to where you happened to be seated So those in the first few rows of the coach booked in and never making it to the back rows. We were lucky to be in Broome during a full moon so I was fortunate to take a bus to town to witness Staircase to the Moon.
The group was too large, 46 to start with, and the coach had sound issues with high volumes at the back, shared window shades so some wanted them down while others up and no tv screens on right side of coach made it hard to watch if sitting on left. Even walking options were limited as some accommodation was behind barbed wire fences for security. Most breakfasts and dinners were buffet and the tour guide and driver always sat with the guests. Next time I would choose a smaller group, more active tour, 4WD to get to more areas that the coach could not.
Hanna and Jemma from Global Journeys were top notch in ensuring this pre-Covid shutdown travel credit from a Trafalgar trip was transferred to AAT Kings and kept me up to date with any changes.
Our tour started in Darwin and 49 of us travelled through to Broome where 32 left and another 12 people joined for the journey to Perth. Although initially a large group, we had a great mix of ages and personalities which made for enjoyable company, despite the size of the group.
Living on the East Coast of Australia one can never truly imagine how different the West Coast of Australia can be. The rugged and contrasting landscapes were amazing and despite some days travelling vast distances we were always rewarded with unique experiences and sights. From the various gorges we visited with their steep cliffs and unusual rock formations to cruising the Ord River with all of its amazing wildlife with a stunning sunset at the end, was magical. During our time in the Kimberley we also visited some local indigenous art galleries and had a local indigenous guide, Ted Hall from the Argyle Diamond Mine gave a very informative talk on the operations of the mine and his people.
Accommodation on this tour was varied and at times challenging. Not being campers, we really didn’t know what to expect at Emma Gorge, El Questro. However, our safari-style tented cabins were a truly unique ‘glamping experience’ as was the quality of the food on offer. By contrast camping in Karijini National Park was certainly a very different experience and a word of warning - rug up, bring your thermals – it was very, very cold at night.
Other highlights of our tour were Broome where we were fortunate to witness ‘the staircase to the moon’ phenomenon and a late afternoon camel ride along Cable Beach – highly recommended! The Pilbara region was also very different - lots of red dust which covered everything, even us! Further down the coast we experienced wild dolphins at Monkey Mia, the incredible Ningaloo Reef, wildflowers in abundance, the amazing stromatolites at Hamelin Pool and The Pinnacles – how do those rock formations ‘grow’ out of the sand? Our journey soon came to an end in Perth but we were certainly left with many memorable experiences.
Our thanks also to Madeline at Global Journeys, who was always very efficient in relaying information to us regarding our tour and ensuring all documentation was correct. Some of our fellow travellers had also booked through Global Journeys and were full of praise for their organisation and efficiency.
Other highlights of the tour included all the gorges and some of the amazing views along the west coast. All different and all beautiful, but my favourite on-water experience in the Kimberley, was the Ord River cruise to Kununurra. The Outback experience at Katherine was a lot of fun, as was the visit to the rum distillery. The Bungle Bungles were stunning (I did the optional excursion of the full day 4WD tour) and the half-day tour to the Horizontal Falls from Broome was brilliant (also an optional but well worth it). We were also fortunate enough to see the huge carpets of wildflowers along the west coast, not something every tour gets to see.
Accommodation was good everywhere, particularly when you take into consideration the isolation of some of these townships. I really enjoyed the tented accommodation at El Questro and the resort in Broome. We were well catered for with food along the way, with the exception of our last night at the Crowne Plaza in Perth. Their restaurant definitely does not live up to the hype. All in all, this is one of my favourite tours, I'm just sorry that I didn't add a short trip to Kakadu to the beginning.
Brochure
AAT Kings Australia (2025-26)
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