5 Day Broome to the Bungle Bungles

Overview

This 5 day adventure offers the best way to really experience the Kimberley wilderness: enjoy campfires under a canopy of Kimberley stars, check out one of the world’s most unique landscapes at the famous Bungle Bungles, take a cruise through majestic Geikie Gorge, delve into Dreamtime at Mimbi Caves, explore the outback oasis of Windjana Gorge, venture into Tunnel Creek and swim in an idyllic waterhole.

tOUR hIGHLIGHTS

Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Bungle Bungles, Echidna Chasm, Cathedral Gorge, Mimbi Caves, China Wall, Geikie Gorge Cruise

Itinerary

Day 1: Geikie Gorge & Fitzroy Crossing

We ease into our adventure as we travel east towards Fitzroy Crossing. Visit the Old Fitzroy Crossing and colourful Mangkaja Aboriginal Arts Centre before joining a local National Park Ranger on a guided cruise through majestic Geikie Gorge that nature carved between the Geikie and Oscar Ranges. Learn of the fascinating geology of this natural wonder and discover the huge array of wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles, birds and fish. That evening, camp by the Fitzroy River and enjoy our famous Kimberley BBQ.

Day 2: China Wall & Purnululu National Park

Visit the gold rush town of Halls Creek and see the remarkable China Wall enroute to Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungles. On arrival in Purnululu, there is time to orient ourselves and set up camp amidst the spectacular National Park surrounds. After a delightful bush sunset, relax with a delicious meal and evening under the stars.

Day 3: Bungle Bungles

Spend the next day exploring the highlights of Purnululu National Park, the most famous of which are the Bungle Bungle domes. Rivers created this landscape of unique orange and black striped ‘beehive’ geological formations over a period of 20 million years. Unbelievably, only the locals knew it existed until the early 1980’s.

To protect its unique landscape, the area was made a national park in 1987 and now enjoys World Heritage status. We explore the 2km long Echidna Chasm, known for its towering Livistonia Palm trees, and take a short walk (2-3km) into stunning Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks create a natural amphitheatre. There is time in the afternoon to take an optional scenic flight and enjoy a birds-eye view of the beehive domes (approx $300pp, own expense) to put it all into perspective.

Day 4: Mimbi Caves

We bid farewell to Purnululu and travel to the ancient realm of Mimbi Caves, one of Western Australia's largest cave systems, in the heart of Gooniyandi Country. Spiritually significant, these limestone caves are one of the oldest identified sites of human occupation in Australia. Delve into Dreamtime with our local Gooniyandi guide who shares traditional stories and reveals the secrets of Mimbi Caves, a sanctuary of crystal clear pools, rare fossils and ancient rock art. Share fresh damper and billy tea with the Gooniyandi traditional owners before we head for Fitzroy Crossing.

Day 5: Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek

Following another night by the Fitzroy River, we head for Bunuba country - once a Devonian reef, this terrain is over 350 million years old and home to a diverse array of animals and plants. In the morning we seek the adventure of Tunnel Creek, a 750-metre cave system in which we discover secret caves and a large variety of wildlife. It is here we also learn the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hide-out in the late 1800’s.

Freshen up with a swim in the idyllic waterhole at the end of the tunnel before we travel to the geological wonder of Windjana Gorge, a delightful oasis in the outback. Beneath gorge walls rising 90m, we enjoy a picnic lunch and search for freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and Indigenous bushtucker. The Gibb River Road then leads us from the picturesque Napier Ranges as we begin the return to Broome via the Derby ‘Boab Prison Tree’.

Further Information

Notes

1. April departures are subject to weather conditions and road closures.
2. Dinner on Day 4 is not included - allow approximately AU$40.

Meals

4 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 3 Dinners

Accommodation

Lodge Camping(2nt), National Park Camping (2nt)

What to Bring

Travellers on this trip must bring a pair of shoes/sandals that they don’t mind getting wet and a torch. Other recommendations include: a broad-brimmed hat with sun visor for all round protection, swimming costume and towel, walking shoes, a long-sleeved cotton shirt (sun protection), 1 pair of loose-fitting pants, a warm jumper (particularly if travelling in July & August), personal water bottle, personal toiletries, first aid (with any personal medication required), a day pack for everyday use and a sleeping bag (10ºC sleeping bags are available for hire at $20pp - must be requested prior to travel; an inner sheet is recommended)