Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley

Trip Type: Escorted Tour
Australia | 21 Days
Starts From:

NZD 17,540.00 /Person

Three weeks of natural drama awaits on this unrivalled road-trip, covering two states, dozens of gorges, a wonderland of waterfalls and countless e...

Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley

Three weeks of natural drama awaits on this unrivalled road-trip, covering two states, dozens of gorges, a wonderland of waterfalls and countless encounters with wildlife. Fancy swimming with whale sharks, spotting crocs and meeting dolphins? Then there are the World Heritage Sites, national park trips and blazing sunsets. The ultimate in Northern Territory and Western Australia tours, it’s a journey that puts life in perspective – in the best possible way.

Welcome to Perth

The Western Australian capital is colourful in more ways than one. There are alleys lined with eye-popping street art and installations, an homage to the state’s creatives. And wildflowers and natives blanketing 400-hectare Kings Park and Botanic Garden, set on a pretty bend of the Swan River. At the middle of it all is the Anzac Memorial, a spot as humbling as it is serene. Discover the sights on a tour with your Travel Director, then head to your Welcome Dinner to meet your fellow adventurers.

Accommodation:

Crowne Plaza Perth

Locations Visited:
  • Perth

Perth - Geraldton

Talk about starting on a high. First stop is Yanchep National Park, where, on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, your Aboriginal guide decodes native plants and tells Dreamtime stories of how the land was created. Prepare to get hands-on, tasting bush tucker and even playing the didgeridoo. Well, trying to play it… Just as scene-stealing are Nambung National Park’s Pinnacles, a staggering collection of natural limestone structures, jutting into the sky. Some 30,000 years ago, the sea receded and left deposits of shells. Over time, coastal winds removed the sand, leaving behind this surreal moonscape. Arriving in Geraldton, pay homage to the 645 Australian sailors who were lost off the WA coast during WWII at the HMAS Sydney Memorial. Then discover the rest of the seaside town at your own pace, wandering the foreshore or visiting the cathedral.

Accommodation:

Nesuto Geraldton Apartment Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Perth
  • Geraldton

Geraldton - Monkey Mia

Arriving at Kalbarri National Park, enjoy spectacular views from the Kalbarri Skywalk over the Murchison River Gorge. If you’re here during wildflower season, expect acacia, banksia and caladenia in full bloom. And just when you thought the outlook couldn’t get any better, you arrive at Monkey Mia.

Accommodation:

Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Geraldton
  • Monkey Mia

Monkey Mia Free Time

If you didn’t fall in love with the gin-clear waters, powdery sand and rusty-red dunes of Monkey Mia last night, you certainly will today. Meet the wild resident dolphins that turn up to the shore every morning to interact with humans. They arrive in a pod, and splash about in the shallows, before dancing off to catch a few waves. When it’s time to tear yourself away, the afternoon is yours, at leisure. You might choose to enjoy a bird’s-eye perspective of Shark Bay on an optional scenic flight.

Accommodation:

Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Monkey Mia

Monkey Mia - Carnarvon

Prepare yourself for the ‘living fossils’ at Hamelin Pool, home to the most abundant colony of stromatolites in the world. These astounding creatures show us what life was like 3,500-million years ago, when there was no other complex life on Earth. You’re officially in the state’s World Heritage listed Shark Bay, the largest of its kind in Australia with more than 1,000 kilometres of beaches. Not all of them sandy – welcome to Shell Beach. Here, the snow-white colour comes from billions of tiny coquina bivalve shells, up to 10 metres deep and stretching for 70 kilometres. From this thriving marine ecosystem to overhead attractions, your next stop is the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. Did you know it played a role in the 1969 moon landing, and was instrumental in the space race? These are among the gallery’s claims to fame, as you’ll discover touring the collection. Your visit here is interactive, so prepare to try on space suits and climb aboard a supercraft simulator.

Accommodation:

Best Western Hospitality Inn Carnarvon

Locations Visited:
  • Monkey Mia
  • Carnarvon

Carnarvon - Exmouth

Don’t want to get your hair wet? You’re in luck. Today’s cruise in a glass-bottomed boat allows you to glimpse the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Coast, and its extraordinary marine life, in comfort. Gliding around Coral Bay, your guide will point out colourful corals, turtles and playful fish – more than 500 species call this protected patch of ocean home. This pocket of the state is also blessed with Cape Range National Park, where immense gorges and waterfalls characterize the countryside. But your focus here should be firmly on the ocean, whether you’re swimming in it or cruising above it, or gazing over it from Vlamingh Head Lighthouse.

Accommodation:

Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Carnarvon
  • Exmouth

Exmouth Free Time

Depending on the time of year, Ningaloo Reef is home to both whale sharks and humpback whales. Thanks to the region’s ethically minded operators, you can now opt to snorkel with both. There’s nothing quite as humbling as spotting these enormous creatures in the wild. But if you prefer to stay dry, there are still ways to take in the coastline. Book an optional sunset cruise and you may well see a humpback breaching and blowing, dolphins in your wake. The decision is all yours today. We wouldn’t blame you for simply strolling along the sand…

Accommodation:

Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Exmouth

Exmouth - Karratha

Take one last look over the Exmouth waters before continuing north to Western Australia's famous Pilbara region. Known for its rich cultural landscape, red earth and vast mineral deposits, the region's diverse landscape will fascinate you.

Accommodation:

Comfort Inn, Karratha

Locations Visited:

Karratha - Karijini National Park - Tom Price

Bring your stamina and your camera – today’s Karijini tour weaves deep into the national park. 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. It covers a staggering 630,000 hectares just north of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Hamersley Range, making it WA’s second-largest national park. Its location also makes it steamy – if you packed your swimsuit, cooling off under waterfalls and drifting about in waterholes comes highly recommended.

Accommodation:

Tom Price Motel

Locations Visited:

Tom Price - Port Hedland

The eye-opening colours of the Pilbara region are your backdrop today – rich red earth streaked with mineral deposits. It’s sparsely populated, but you will find people in the major hub of Port Hedland. Before you leave, head to a lookout to spot migrating humpback whales and snubfin dolphins cruising along the coast, season pending.

Accommodation:

Hospitality Port Hedland

Locations Visited:

Port Hedland - Broome

The reason Broome was born is because of pearls – the waters here grow some of the best oysters in the world, as you’ll discover on a city tour. The ‘pearl rush’ saw fortune-seekers from around the world descend. And many never left, making Broome one of the most multicultural destinations in Australia. Today, the city is just as well known for its sizzling Indian Ocean sunsets, best enjoyed from a vantage on, or near, Cable Beach. This stretch of sand is long. So long that it can accommodated 4WDs, camels and foot-traffic. Perch here, order a drink, and settle in for dinner.

Accommodation:

Cable Beach Club Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Port Hedland
  • Broome

Broome Free Time

Today is a day of exploration and endless possibilities. Take your time to discover the charms of the town, indulge in the delightful pearl boutiques, and embark on a leisurely stroll along the magnificent Cable Beach, stretching over 22 kilometres. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Chinatown, with its colourful streets and cultural offerings. If you're feeling more adventurous, you can choose to embark on an optional tour that will take you to breathtaking destinations. One such experience is a visit to a pearl farm, where you can witness the fascinating process of pearl cultivation and learn about the rich history of the industry. Marvel at the intricate craftsmanship and discover the allure of these exquisite gems.

Accommodation:

Cable Beach Club Resort

Locations Visited:
  • Broome

Broome - Fitzroy Crossing

In Broome, the magnificence is on a grand scale, even in the remnants of ancient dinosaurs at Gantheaume Point. Over 125 million years ago, these prehistoric creatures left their footprints along the coastline, leaving a fascinating legacy. Take a moment to catch a glimpse of their stomping ground before embarking on a journey towards Fitzroy Crossing, a remote town that serves as a gateway to captivating natural wonders. The Kimberley boasts a geological history that is nothing short of spectacular. The rugged terrain showcases a diverse range of natural wonders, including towering ancient rock formations, dramatic gorges, cascading waterfalls, and expansive river systems.

Accommodation:

Fitzroy River Lodge

Locations Visited:
  • Broome
  • Fitzroy Crossing

Fitzroy Crossing - Halls Creek

This morning stop at the spectacular Mimbi Caves 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. Take a deep dive into First Nations culture with an Indigenous guide, discovering ancient rock paintings before hearing Dreamtime stories over billy tea and damper. More Aboriginal history and culture awaits at a local art gallery. The Yarliyil Art Centre in Halls Creek provides a place for local cultural expression by ensuring the ethical production and sale of Indigenous art. Yarliyil artists paint in a variety of styles and palettes, depicting stories that embody a rich culture of country, history and lifestyle. Visit the spectacular Mimbi Caves with an Indigenous guide and take a deep dive into First Nations culture, discovering ancient rock paintings and Dreamtime stories. Observe the limestone formations and crystal-clear freshwater pools that remain from a 350-million-year-old Devonian Great Barrier Reef. More Aboriginal history and culture awaits at the Yarliyil Arts Centre in Halls Creek.

Accommodation:

Kimberley Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Fitzroy Crossing
  • Halls Creek

Halls Creek - Emma Gorge

From here, get a taste of the Gibb River Road, a wild adventure that traverses 660 kilometers across the Kimberley, before arriving to El Questro Wilderness Park, backdropped by the rusty red Cockburn Range. Hidden among the pandanus and palms are a string of slick safari-style tents. Which means you can gaze at the stars while you drift off to a chorus of frogs and cicadas. When darkness falls, expect a bedazzlement of stars overhead.

Accommodation:

Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities

Locations Visited:
  • Halls Creek
  • Emma Gorge

El Questro Wilderness Park

No alarm-clock necessary: nature wakes you here. The Kimberley’s sounds follow you across the mighty Pentecost River to Chamberlain Gorge, a dreamy fresh waterhole where wallabies and crocs play (not with each other). Your boat is dwarfed by the gorge’s soaring 60-metre escarpments, a brilliant shade of orange in the morning sun. Days in this part of WA can heat up. This afternoon’s remedy? A splash in the resort’s pool, perhaps. Be sure to be back on your patio in time for sundowners.

Accommodation:

Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities

Locations Visited:
  • El Questro Wilderness Park

Emma Gorge - Kununurra

Kununurra appears to have been dropped in the middle of nowhere, born through the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. It now waters crops like sugarcane, turned into lip-smacking rum at family-owned Hoochery Distillery. Go behind the scenes with the owners; there’s time for a tasting (own expense) before sitting down to morning tea. See what life was like in the region for early pioneers at the Durack Homestead Museum, which was meticulously moved and recreated before the land it formerly sat on was flooded as part of the Irrigation Scheme. The same project not only helped water the countryside but created Lake Argyle. A cruise to sunset here, surrounded by freshwater crocs and birds, is something you won’t forget in a hurry.

Accommodation:

The Kimberley Grande

Locations Visited:
  • Emma Gorge
  • Kununurra

Kununurra

Today is one of decisions: An optional flight over (or 4WD tour of) the dramatic World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, home to the Bungle Bungles, perhaps? Or a wander with your Travel Director through Mirima National Park, known as a ‘mini Bungles’, while hearing about how the landscapes were formed. In between, explore the Waringarri Aboriginal Art Centre on a guided tour, meeting Indigenous creatives at work and maybe picking up a piece to take home. The ultimate souvenir.

Accommodation:

The Kimberley Grande

Locations Visited:
  • Kununurra

Kununurra - Katherine

Say goodbye to WA and hello to the NT, your introduction to the state the vast pastoral lands that characterise the outback here. Locals come with plenty of country swagger, as you’ll discover at the Katherine Outback Experience, celebrating the Northern Territory’s unique pastoral history and culture. After songs and entertainment, your special Be My Guest evening of dining under the stars begins.

Accommodation:

Contour Hotel Katherine

Locations Visited:
  • Kununurra
  • Katherine

Katherine - Darwin

Nature takes over at Nitmiluk National Park on Jawoyn land. The history and culture of the Traditional Landowners comes into full focus as you set off on a cruise through dramatic Nitmiluk Gorge. Remarkably, this is one of 13 gorges carved through the national park, and at every bend in the river, the sun casts its soaring sandstone cliffs a different colour. Your northern sojourn begins with yet more insights into the region’s historic events – the huge impact WWII had here is remembered in a war cemetery on the banks of the Adelaide River. It’s a sombre affair. More reminders of WWII await in sultry Darwin, where a city tour showcases architectural style as well as the events that have shaped it over the years. A Darwin waterfront restaurant is the location for you to join your fellow travellers to reminisce about your travels during your Farewell Dinner.

Accommodation:

Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront

Locations Visited:
  • Katherine
  • Darwin

Farewell from Darwin

It’s hard to believe this epic adventure has come to an end. Three weeks of incredible memories to take home with you.

Locations Visited:
  • Darwin

Departing

Arrival

Availability

Room Type: TWIN
Adult Price: NZD 21,670.00
Child Price: NZD 19,510.00
Room Type: TWINSHARE
Adult Price: NZD 21,670.00
Room Type: SINGLE
Adult Price: NZD 29,230.00

Room Type: TWIN
Adult Price: NZD 22,290.00
Child Price: NZD 20,065.00
Room Type: TWINSHARE
Adult Price: NZD 22,290.00
Room Type: SINGLE
Adult Price: NZD 30,065.00

Room Type: TWIN
Adult Price: NZD 22,290.00
Child Price: NZD 20,065.00
Room Type: TWINSHARE
Adult Price: NZD 22,290.00
Room Type: SINGLE
Adult Price: NZD 30,065.00

Room Type: TWIN
Adult Price: NZD 17,540.00
Child Price: NZD 15,480.00
Room Type: TWINSHARE
Adult Price: NZD 17,540.00
Room Type: SINGLE
Adult Price: NZD 23,659.00

Room Type: TWIN
Adult Price: NZD 18,067.00
Child Price: NZD 15,947.00
Room Type: TWINSHARE
Adult Price: NZD 18,067.00
Room Type: SINGLE
Adult Price: NZD 24,370.00
Provided by
AAT Kings
Reference Code:
278-491
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Perth (WA Aus), Australia
Trip Finishes:
Darwin, Australia
Countries Visited:
Australia

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Destination Details
Australia | 21 Days

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