Top End & Kimberley Spectacular

Welcome to Darwin, the cosmopolitan capital of the Top End. Despite surviving two cyclones and several wartime air raids, Darwin is distinguished by its relaxed lifestyle and proximity to the Northern Territory’s abundance of natural wonders. Crocodiles, culture and colourful characters abound as you explore the northernmost capital in Australia.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and the first of two nights at your hotel in Darwin, which overlooks the picturesque Darwin Harbour. (D)

Today, expand your visit to Darwin with your choice from a range of illuminating activities. (B)

Freechoice:

• Jumping Crocs and Nature Adventure: Experience these reptiles in the wild on the beautiful Adelaide River, where crocs leap out of the water pursuing their prey. Your tour also includes a visit to Fogg Dam, a wetlands nature reserve teeming with wading birds and other unique wildlife. The wetlands of the Top End are of great international importance on account of their accessibility, splendour and cultural significance.
• Litchfield National Park: Litchfield National Park abounds with permanent spring-fed waterfalls, remnant monsoon vine forests, unusual rock formations and interesting scenery. An hour easily becomes a day relaxing in this wonderful park, which reveals its considerable wonders the further you explore.
• Darwin City Sights – Hop-on-Hop-off Tour: The perfect introduction to the Top End city of Darwin. The tour takes in all of Darwin’s main historical and cultural attractions with an opportunity to stop and visit during the tour.
• WWII Bombing of Darwin Tour: Learn about the history and significance of the Pacific Campaign of WWII; the largest attacks ever launched against Australia. Visit landmarks, view relics of the war and take a cruise on Darwin Harbour in this informative guided tour, which outlines the shocking extent of the damage suffered by Darwin during the war.

Travel to the amazing World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park to experience its stunning raw beauty first hand. One of the largest national parks in Australia, this living cultural landscape is unmissable for any visitor to the Northern Territory. From rivers and waterfalls to spectacular floodplains and rich cultural history, Kakadu’s story spans 20,000 square kilometres and 65 thousand years.

Marvel at ancient Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie Rock, some of the oldest and most evocative of its kind, and visit Bowali Visitors Centre for a greater understanding of Kakadu and its cultural significance.

Then it’s time to take a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong. One of the best-known parts of Kakadu, Yellow Water is a 2.6 kilometre walk across the South Alligator River floodplain during the dry season. In the wet, it’s a completely different story – look forward to fantastic cruise across southern Kakadu. See huge crocs, water buffalo and remarkable birdlife in their habitat: Kakadu’s stunning World Heritage-listed wetlands.

Your overnight stay is an idyllic retreat inside Kakadu National Park. Relax in the large outdoor pool or have a drink at the Escarpment restaurant and bar before dinner. (B/D)

Explore the gems and stark escarpments of Kakadu National Park, including Jim Jim and Twin Falls, by fixed wing plane for a bird’s-eye view of the wetlands and rocky terrain (at additional cost, please book prior to departure).

Then it’s time to move on to Katherine, the “Crossroads of the North”. The third-largest town in the Northern Territory, Katherine is a gateway between outback desert and the tropical climate of the Top End. You’ll explore Nitmiluk National Park, owned by the Jawoyn people and home of the breathtaking Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, renowned for its towering sandstone cliffs, ancient rock art and serene waterways. Tonight, your Special Stay lodge is an 18-room outback sanctuary nestled in the bush and imbued with indigenous culture and artwork. (B/D)

Enrich: Take a dinner cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge, where you’ll marvel at the famed towering red ochre sandstone walls and hear stories of the local Jawoyn people.

Journey to Western Australia and let the vast expanse of the Kimberley slowly reveal itself. Visit Lake Argyle, one of the largest man-made lakes in the Southern Hemisphere. The Ord River Dam led to the creation of Lake Argyle which, at more than 18 times the size of Sydney Harbour, classifies as an inland sea. The freshwater lake contains more than 70 islands and features an incredible array of native wildlife, from freshwater crocs to hundreds of species of birds.

This afternoon, take a breathtaking cruise on the Ord River, which flows over 650 kilometres across the state. The damming of Ord River in the 1970s led to the creation of several new ecosystems, while the river itself provides a habitat for more than 75 species of birds. Marvel at the vast variety of birdlife, immense gorge walls and river scenery.

From there, it’s on to the town of Kununurra. Founded in the early 1960s as the Ord River Dam project got underway, the relatively young town of Kununurra contains a lifetime of delights. Lakes, waterfalls and rivers abound, as does a vibrant fishing scene. El Questro Wilderness Park is a particular highlight.

Tonight, enjoy the first of a two-night stay at your resort in Kununurra, home of the popular Kelly’s Bar & Grill. (B/D)

Surrounded by the ancient landscapes of the East Kimberley, Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungles beyond, Kununurra is 33 hours’ drive from Perth. It’s a perfect base for exploring this wild and remote part of Western Australia.

Opt for a flight over the Bungle Bungles and a chance to see the orange and black stripes of these massive sandstone structures (at additional cost, please book prior to departure). (B/D)

Enrich: Learn about Miriuwung country around Kununurra with our local Indigenous guide. Conservation of Miriuwung culture was given a huge boost in the early 1980s, when the Mirima National Parks were established to protect natural features and sites of importance to the Miriuwung people. Today, visitors to East Kimberley are invited to share the culture and traditions of the Miriuwung.

Enjoy morning tea and a tour of Hoochery Distillery, a local producer of rum and other spirits made with Australian sugarcane and rainwater from the region’s famed wet season. The Distillery, owned by the Dessert family, has successfully taken its handmade tropical gins and rums around the world, and is the oldest operating legal still in Western Australia.

Then, you’ll travel along the iconic Gibb River Road to the acclaimed El Questro Wilderness Park. Set in the untamed Kimberley landscape, El Questro began life as a working cattle station, but now dedicates its 700,000 acres to those wishing to get to the heart of the Kimberley experience. From thermal springs and waterfalls to deep gorges and majestic ranges, El Questro is a natural treasure.

Enjoy a two-night Special Stay in deluxe safari-style tented cabins at Emma Gorge, a stunning waterfall and ideal swimming spot.

+Optional El Questro Homestead upgrade: Take the opportunity to upgrade your stay to the deluxe El Questro Homestead, an exclusive retreat perched atop the magnificent Chamberlain Gorge (at additional cost, must be booked prior to departure and will substitute accommodation and touring activities). (B/D)

Today, choose from these elevating experiences during your time at El Questro. (B/D)

Freechoice:

• Chamberlain Gorge Cruise: A magnificent cruise through Chamberlain Gorge, a three kilometre waterhole, bound by diverse flora and fauna and set beneath towering sheer walled cliffs.
• Bush Culture and History Tour: Take an insight into the history of El Questro, changed from a working cattle station to a Wilderness Park. Learn about the legends and bush tucker of the local Aboriginal people.
• Injiid Marlabu Calls Us: An opportunity to gain an insight into the Ngarinyin culture and language, fostering a profound connection to Country and its people. Discover ancient healing rituals and generation tales and learn of its rich history and heritage.

Sunset Drinks: Relax over evening drinks at the El Questro Station Airstrip, which happens to enjoy some of the best views in the park. Chat with new friends while capturing stunning views of the sunset over the Cockburn Ranges.

Admire the striking colours of the massive Carr Boyd Range as you travel the Great Northern Highway to Halls Creek. From a distance, the Carr Boyd Range is a striking and desolate vista, but look closer and you’ll find beautiful natural swimming holes and cascading waterfalls.

You’ll arrive at Halls Creek, East Kimberley’s “heart of gold”. An exciting slice of the Australian outback, Halls Creek was put on the map when gold was discovered in 1885 – the first-ever discovery of its kind in Western Australia. The town came up around the prospectors that followed in the wake of the golden find, but by 1954 the town had been abandoned. Residents moved to the current site of the town, but old Halls Creek’s ruins remain today. Outside town, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, is the remarkable Wolfe Creek Crater.

After you’ve arrived in Halls Creek, pay a visit to Yarliyil, a local Indigenous gallery that showcases the work of more than 100 local artists. Enjoy an overnight stay. (B/L/D)

Visit China Wall, a natural white stone wall reminiscent of the Great Wall of China. Look for the vein of white quartz that runs through this fascinating limestone occurrence.

Afterwards, you’ll head west to Fitzroy Crossing, a small town on the banks of the Fitzroy River. Home to five indigenous language groups and the prehistoric Mimbi Caves, Fitzroy Crossing is a window into an ancient world. It also happens to be a quirky outback haven.

Stay overnight at your lodge in Fitzroy Crossing, where you’re likely to spot wallabies early in the morning. (B/D)

Depart Fitzroy Crossing for Broome, the jewel of the Kimberley. The tropical coastal city is truly multicultural, with Indonesian, Malaysian, Chinese, Japanese and European influences blending with the local First Nations culture for a unique feel. Broome was built on pearling, but now features world-class diving in its turquoise waters, craft breweries and iconic camel rides along Cable Beach. However you choose to experience it, you’re sure to fall in love with this unique town.

Today enjoy a cruise on the Ballena catamaran past Broome’s picturesque coastline. Enjoy a selection of chilled alcoholic drinks available for purchase on board as you look for whales, dip your toes in the Indian Ocean or just relax and enjoy the view.

Enjoy a two-night stay at your resort. (B)

Today, choose from these exciting Scenic Freechoice options to make the most of your time in Broome. (B/D)

Freechoice:

• Willie Creek Pearl Farm: During a guided farm tour and cruise, discover how the rare and beautiful ‘Australian South Sea Pearl’ is produced. Your guide will reveal the intricate process of today’s modern cultured pearling industry.
• Broome Harley Davidson™ Tour: Tour Broome Town and surrounds on a Harley Davidson™ Trike. Learn about Broome’s colourful history, today’s Broome and its future. This informative tour is designed to give you your bearings of Broome.
• Broome Indigenous Tour: Join Robert Dann in the place where he was born for a cultural experience. Learn about a small slice of 40,000 years of Broome and Kimberley culture. Visit local landmarks of Broome, the coastline and surrounding bush. Hear local Aboriginal stories and try some bush tucker.
• Cable Beach Camel Ride: Take an iconic one-hour camel ride along the white sands of Cable Beach. Look out over the Indian Ocean and keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life that can often be seen from atop a camel. (Weight restrictions apply)

Take an opportunity to fly in a seaplane and experience the Horizontal Falls on an exhilarating ride (at additional cost, must be booked prior to departure and will replace Scenic Freechoice touring).

Enjoy sunset at Cable Beach as you reflect on your journey around Australia’s central and northern wonders.

It’s time to leave your new friends and the wonders of the Kimberley behind and head home, taking with you stories for life.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the tour will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions. (B)