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21 Day Darwin to Perth Unleashed

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3 Day East Coast Explore
3 Day East Coast Explore

What to bring
• Sturdy walking shoes • hat & sunscreen • towel & toiletries • swimming gear • warm clothing in winter • water bottle • torch • insect repellent • camera • pillow • sleeping bag (can be purchased for $45) • 2 towels • 2 pairs of shoes that can get wet

Highlights

Day 1 – Darwin to Katherine Region

DEFAULT PICK UP: Melaleuca on Mitchell, 52 Mitchell St Darwin, 06:50am

Heading down from Darwin we stop at either Edith Falls for a swim or explore Katherine (Nitmiluk) Gorge (seasonal choice). We travel on to the Katherine region to set up camp. (LD)

Day 2 – Katherine Region to Lake Argyle

Today we visit Lake Argyle, created by the Ord River Dam. We spend time here admiring the beauty and sheer size of the Lake before setting up camp for the night. (BLD)

Day 3 – Lake Argyle to Bungle Bungles

It's time for some 4WD action as we wind our way into the Bungle Bungle massif. It's a rugged ride but the scenery is fantastic and you will enjoy your first Kimberley sunset as we set up our bush camp. (BLD)

Day 4 – Bungle Bungles

It's a full day of exploration today. The rock formations of the Bungle Bungles massif are remarkable and we visit breathtaking Echidna Chasm and magnificent Cathedral Gorge. There's an opportunity to view the Bungles by helicopter (own expense) before we return to camp. (BLD)

Day 5 – Bungle Bungles to El Questro

We travel out of the Bungles to El Questro Station. Sit back and admire the awesome scenery of the Carr Boyd and Durack Ranges as we head to Turkey Creek and onto El Questro to set up camp. (BLD)

Day 6 – El Questro Station to Gibb River Road

Today we spend the day exploring the amazing sights of El Questro station. Highlights include a hike in the beautiful Cockburn Ranges for a swim under the waterfall at Emma Gorge. Tonight we enjoy another night at our El Questro campsite where you might choose to enjoy a well-earned beer at the station bar. (BLD)

Day 7 - Gibb River Road and Gorges to Mt Barnett

We start our journey over the Pentecost River and along the famous Gibb River Road. Today is all about swimming and hiking in the Kimberleys! You'll visit striking Manning Gorge, where your guide will use their local knowledge to determine the most accessible spots to explore. Tonight's camp is at Mt Barnett. (BLD)

Day 8 – Mt Barnett to Windjana Gorge

This morning we will explore either Galvins or Adcock Gorge, depending on the time of year. Later we make our way to Windjana Gorge, known for its abundant freshwater crocodiles, so bring your camera and get some snaps of these incredible reptiles. Windjana Gorge is also our camp for the night. (BLD)

Day 9 – Bell Gorge

We head towards the Napier Range and the fascinating 750 metre underground tunnel of Tunnel Creek, an area rich in bushranger history. Join a local Bunuba Indigenous Guide for a walk through Tunnel Creek, learning about culture and Aboriginal traditions. Making tracks, we head towards Broome and stop briefly at Willare Bridge, where a rushing torrent of water flows in the mighty Fitzroy River (seasonal). Late afternoon we arrive in Broome, our aim is to catch up brilliant Cable Beach sunset. (BL)

Day 10 and 11 – Broome

These two days are yours to enjoy at your own pace. Broome is the perfect place to relax and soak up the slow-paced lifestyle that is 'Broome-time'. Swim and chill out on Cable Beach, learn about the fascinating Pearling history, or you can choose to get a little more adventurous with a camel ride along the beach or even skydiving (optional extras, own expense). Accommodation is included, meals and activities at own expense.

Day 12 – Broom

PICK UP DAY 12: Kimberley Klub YHA, 06:30am

Departing Broome we cross the Great Sandy Desert, calling in at the coastal oasis of Eighty Mile Beach where we may have time for a quick swim in the turquoise water and a chance to collect some unique seashells. We travel further south through Port Hedland checking out the enormous piles of iron ore and salt, before heading to your overnight station stay. (BLD)

Day 13 – Broom to Pibara Region

Leaving Broome in the dust, we kick-start this adventure with a drive across part of Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. At an area of roughly 285,000 sq km, this is Australia’s second largest desert. And while certainly very sandy, the terrain also consists of dune fields, spinifex grasslands and salt lakes. After a bit of driving we’ll make a stop at Eighty Mile Beach. Aside from being a pretty lovely spot for a beach stroll, this coast is a major nesting area for flatback turtles – a species found only in Australia. Tonight we stay at an outback cattle station.

Days 14,15 and 16 – Karijini National Park

The next two days are spent exploring, swimming and relaxing in the magnificent Karijini gorges. One of the oldest landscapes on earth – the region will amaze you. We will explore a number of gorges including Weano Gorge, Handrail Pool, Oxers Lookout, Hancock Gorge and Hamersley Gorge amongst others. Overnight camp in Karijini. (BLD)

Day 17 –Karijini to Exmouth

Jump back in the truck for a drive through classic outback terrain to Cape Range National Park. Extending inland from the Indian Ocean across the North West Cape peninsula, this protected landmass feels like a patch of the outback relocated seaside. Here we have an exclusive campsite, so it’s here that we stay the night.

Day 18 – Exmouth

Today’s yours to spend how you wish. Become acquainted with the region’s underwater inhabitants on a snorkelling or diving excursion, set out by boat tour in search of whale sharks (seasonal) or just while a day away on the flawless sands of Turquoise Bay. Take in the panoramic views of the ocean from the Vlaminghead Lighthouse. In the afternoon we travel on to Coral Bay.

Day 19 – Coral Bay

If you didn’t squeeze a snorkel in yesterday, today you get to; if you did, you get another one. Everyone wins. Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s largest fringeing reefs, meaning that it starts practically from the water’s edge. You just swim out from shore and suddenly you’re in a world of coral, fish, turtles and manta rays. Swimming above these enormous majestic creatures is really something else, they might even put on an acrobatics show for you! Not much of a swimmer? There’s also the option of taking in the scene on a glass bottom boat tour, along with many other optional activities.

Day 20 – Coral bay to Danham

Today we cross over the Tropic of Capricorn. You probably won’t notice it, but what crossing this latitude means is that from here on south the sun will never be directly above you. You should still wear a hat though. Main stop for the day is Shell Beach, which, much as name would suggest, is a beach made of shells. What’s quite incredible about the place however is the amount of shells there are. Locals have been using them in various industries for years, yet they still cover a stretch 60 km long and up to 7 metres deep. Tonight we stay in the small seaside town of Denham, in the Shark Bay world heritage area.

Day 21 – Monkey Mia to Kalbarri

Moving on, we arrive in Monkey Mia, where bottlenose dolphins have been showing up every day for a free feed going on forty years. These are probably the tamest wild dolphins you’ll ever meet.

Up early this morning for a short drive across the Eastern Peninsula. See stromatolites, the oldest living organisms in the world, then continue south for Kalbarri. Time permitting, there’ll be a stop-off along the way at Murchison Gorge, where there’s the opportunity to admire the landscape through Nature’s Window.

Day 22 – Numbung national park to Perth

Web description It’s a driving day today, but a spectacular one. Cruising through the coastal gorges of Kalbarri National Park, we come to the quaint coastal town of Dongara, which sits at the head of the Irwin River. Any keen to give sandboarding a shot will get the chance at Sandy Cape/Lancelin, a vast sand desert peopled by the strange limestone structures of the Pinnacles Nambung NP. After a walk around here it’s to Perth, where this adventure winds up.

Seasonal itinerary changes

If the Gibb River Road and Purnululu National Park is closed due to weather an alternative route will be substituted.

B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner