The Kimberley: 8-Day Small-Group Tour with Horizontal Falls Seaplane, Bungle Bungle Flight, El Questro Visit & Wilderness Stays
Let the awe-inspiring beauty of the Kimberley captivate you on an eight-day small-group tour (max. eight travellers) through Western Australia’s rugged terrain. Capture magnificent natural wonders from every angle, soaring above the iconic Bungle Bungle Range on a scenic flight, taking a seaplane and fast boat right into the rushing heart of Horizontal Falls, then sleeping above the water on the Horizontal Falls houseboat. Dive deep into creeks and gorges, plunge into fresh springs, then come up for air to traverse the iconic Gibb River Road by 4WD.
Immerse yourself in the heart and soul of this wildly unique region, learning its history via a visit to the Boab Prison Tree, taking in the cultural significance of Wandjina and Gwion Gwion paintings at an Indigenous art centre, and hearing the tales of local legend Jandamarra and early settlers. Past and present come to life amid the breathtaking scenery and verdant wildlife of the Kimberley, from Hollywood-worthy views at El Questro Wilderness Park to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonders of Purnululu National Park. Breathe deep and take it all in – this is the soul-stirring magic of the Kimberley.
Your journey takes you to: Broome – Derby – Horizontal Falls – Fitzroy Crossing – Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) – Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) – Wunaamin Miliwundi (King Leopold) Ranges – Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge) – El Questro Wilderness Park – Kununurra – Purnululu National Park – Kununurra. This tour will also operate in reverse, please choose your packages carefully.
Covid-19 health and safety practices: Our expert Tours team is working hard to ensure the highest health standards at every point of your journey. Find out more.
Your tour includes:
- Seven nights of accommodation, including unique stays on a Horizontal Falls houseboat, a working cattle station, El Questro Station and a Bungle Bungle lodge stay
- Daily breakfast, six lunches and four dinners
- Take in breathtaking views of the Bungle Bungle Range and surrounding scenery during roundtrip scenic flights between Kununurra and Purnunulu National Park
- Take a seaplane flight to Horizontal Falls, followed by a thrilling fast boat ride through the gorges and relaxing cruise through tranquil bays and creeks
- Spend a night on the Horizontal Falls houseboat with stargazing
- Tour the Bungle Bungles, Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm by foot and 4WD bus
- Witness the scenery from Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia’ at El Questro Wilderness Park
- Visit the town of Derby with its horseshoe-shaped wharf and the Boab Prison Tree
- Cruise through the majestic Danggu Geikie Gorge
- Experience the impressive 750-metre cave system of Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek)
- Enjoy a picnic lunch amid the natural beauty of Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge)
- Swim in the fresh waters at Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge)
- The services of expert driver-guides and knowledgeable local guides
- All national park entry fees
- Transportation in an air-conditioned 4WD throughout
Your tour begins in Broome on Day 1 and ends at East Kimberley Regional Airport (KNX) on Day 8. Pick-up from Broome hotels in the Chinatown/Town Beach area is at 8.15am, and pick-up from Broome hotels in the Cable Beach area is at 8.30am on Day 1. We recommend booking a night of pre-tour accommodation in Broome.
Please note that this tour also operates in reverse from Kununurra to Broome. Please choose your packages carefully. Tours departing from Kununurra begin in Kununurra on Day 1, with pick up at 5.15am, and end in Broome on Day 8 at 12pm.
Roundtrip flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. If your chosen tour departure date is guaranteed at the time of booking, you may be able to purchase flights immediately. If your tour departure date is not yet guaranteed (still pending minimum numbers), flights should not be booked until you receive an update on the status of your tour.
Guests are recommended to book their flights to arrive at Broome International Airport (BME) or East Kimberley Regional Airport (KNX) the day before their tour departs, and to depart from Broome International Airport (BME) or East Kimberley Regional Airport (KNX) any time after 1pm on Day 8.
You MUST complete your booking form within 7 days of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements – including flights.
When travelling within Australia, please check current state/territory border entry requirements to ensure you’re eligible to travel and have completed any required permits or passes.
Need flights? Australian customers can now purchase flights with or without accommodation packages. We are working hard to launch this functionality in other markets. For now, our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements. Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.
Important Destination Information:
Time zone: AWST GMT +8
Telephone: +61
Currency: AUD
Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within cities. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas.
Language: English
Climate: Tropical monsoon climate, defined by a distinct wet (November-April) and dry season (May-October).
Please Note: This tour also operates in reverse from Kununurra to Broome. Please choose your packages carefully.
Day 1: Broome – Derby – Horizontal Falls
Your adventure begins in Broome, with pick-up at 8.15am from Chinatown or 8.30am from Cable Beach. This morning, travel through the remote and beautiful landscape of the western Kimberley, learning about the local history, people and environment, before crossing the majestic Fitzroy River. After lunch, pay a visit to the town of Derby with its horseshoe-shaped wharf. Then, it’s time to board a thrilling seaplane flight to the rushing heart of Horizontal Falls, where an experienced skipper and the fastest boat in the Kimberley will be waiting. Jump aboard for a heart-pumping ride through the gorges, then kick back on a relaxing cruise through tranquil bays and creeks.
The Horizontal Falls overnight experience captures the breathtaking majesty of the vast Kimberley and the tranquility of its untouched bays and creeks. Your visit to the falls is followed by swimming and snorkelling in the clear blue waters of Talbot Bay and an indulgent evening aboard a luxury houseboat. Enjoy a chef-cooked BBQ dinner and star-gazing with a nightcap before a peaceful night in your air-conditioned cabin.
Want to know more about the Kimberley? Our insider travel guide includes handpicked places to eat and drink, the best activities in the area, and special experiences to make your trip memorable.
Accommodation: Horizontal Falls Floating Hotel
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Horizontal Falls – Derby – Fitzroy Crossing
After a freshly cooked breakfast, return to Derby on another scenic low-level seaplane ride over the majestic Kimberley wilderness. Back in Derby, visit the infamous 1,500-year-old Boab Prison Tree, an immense hollow tree with a girth of over 14 metres, which was used in the 1890s as a lockup for Indigenous prisoners on their way to Derby for sentencing.
Continue on to Fitzroy Crossing, calling into an Indigenous art centre on the way to see culturally significant Wandjina and Gwion Gwion paintings.
This afternoon, cruise through the majestic Danggu Geikie Gorge. Learn about its fascinating geology and discover the huge array of wildlife here, including freshwater crocodiles, birds and fish. Stop to visit the picturesque old Fitzroy River ford, before checking into your comfortable accommodation for the evening.
Accommodation: Fitzroy River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3: Fitzroy Crossing – Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) – Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) – Wunaamin Miliwundi (King Leopold) Ranges – Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge)
Today, turn onto the Fairfield-Leopold Downs Road and track through a stunning landscape of boab trees and limestone escarpments, before arriving at Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek). This 750-metre cave system was carved through the Napier Range and is rich in stalactites, secret caves and a variety of wildlife. Learn the story of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hideout in the late 1800s.
The journey continues to the stunning natural beauty of Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge), with spectacular cliffs and an opportunity to get up close (but not too close!) to the endemic freshwater crocodiles that line the banks of the gorge to sunbathe. After a picnic lunch inside the gorge, hit the Gibb River Road, the legendary track completed in the 1960s to expedite the movement of cattle from remote pastoral leases. Although the road is now regularly maintained, it still presents a challenge to the intrepid traveller and is closed by the numerous water crossings during much of the wet season.
Traverse the scenic King Leopold Ranges, arriving at your comfortable wilderness accommodation in time for dinner.
Accommodation: Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge) – Gibb
After breakfast, venture back to the Gibb River Road and drive towards beautiful Bell Gorge. A short walk leads down to the stunning waterfall and swimming hole, with ample time to enjoy the scenery, explore the area and swim in the fresh gorge waters. Continue your outback journey, calling into the iconic Mt Barnett Roadhouse, a popular spot to stop for coffee on the Gibb River Road. Late in the afternoon, arrive at your accommodation on a genuine working outback cattle station.
Accommodation: Mt Elizabeth Station
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gibb – El Questro Wilderness Park
Travelling east, get an appreciation for the harsh but inspiring country the early cattlemen and their families travelled through in the hope of improving their lives. This afternoon, cross the mighty Pentecost River and journey through the iconic El Questro Wilderness Park, used as a setting for the Baz Luhrmann movie ‘Australia’. Take this evening to do whatever you please. The 700,000-acre property is home to a range of stunning hikes that take in ancient gorges, waterfalls and swimming holes. The property also offers guided tours, including helicopter flights, 4WD tours and fishing (additional charges apply).
Accommodation: El Questro Wilderness Park
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: El Questro Wilderness Park – Kununurra
Enjoy a full day to explore the most famous station and tourism resort in the Kimberley. The dramatic landscape, dotted with boab trees and spectacular gorges, is the perfect environment to appreciate the captivating beauty of this remote region. Explore the station, take a dip in the thermal waters of Zebedee Springs, and take an optional walk into the surreal Emma Gorge. Late this afternoon, take the short drive to the East Kimberley town of Kununurra, your base for the night.
Accommodation: Kununurra Country Club
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Kununurra – Bungle Bungle Range
Rise early this morning for an unforgettable scenic flight over the Bungle Bungle Range, Lake Argyle, Argyle Diamond Mine, Carr Boyd and Osmand Ranges, and Ord and Bow Rivers. Upon reaching Purnululu National Park, land at the remote and unsealed Bellburn Airstrip, where you will be met by a tour guide and an air-conditioned 4WD bus.
From the airstrip, your guide will drive you further into the park, where you will disembark and enjoy a guided walk of moderate intensity through the famous eroded towers and black and orange banded beehive domes of the Bungle Bungle Range. Follow your guide into Cathedral Gorge, where towering cliffs form a space with incredible natural acoustics. After a short rest, walk along the dry creek bed of Piccaninny Creek, before boarding the 4WD bus for a scenic drive to the northern end of the park.
A tasty picnic lunch will be provided to keep you fuelled while exploring the park. After lunch, follow your tour guide on a 1.5-hour return walk into the incredible Echidna Chasm. The rocky path weaves between towering cliff faces and at times will narrow to a width of fewer than two metres. Gazing up to the bright blue sky, admire the orange towering walls, which look as if they are lit from within and scattered with Livistona palm trees. This walk requires climbing over boulders and navigating stairs, so we recommend this part of the tour to those with a high level of mobility. After a long day of exploration, retreat to Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge, and enjoy a delicious farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Bungle Bungle Range – Kununurra
After breakfast, return to Bellburn Airstrip for your return flight to Kununurra Airport (East Kimberley Regional Airport, KNX), where your tour comes to an end. Soar over the intriguing Argyle Diamond Mine, where rare pink diamonds were once mined, before touching back down in Kununurra for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast