Ask anyone who’s been on a trip through the Kimberley, and they’ll wax lyrical about how enchanting the whole region is. How you travel through the Kimberley is important as this untamed corner of Australia is not one-dimensional. It’s a destination best explored from all angles, as Zoe Macfarlane discovered on her recent Outback Spirit Jewels of the Kimberley adventure.
On the road
Experiencing the Kimberley by road is not a choice; it’s the only way to reach some of the best areas of this remote region of Australia. The bumps in the road are literal here, so the type of vehicle you travel in matters. Thankfully, on Outback Spirit’s all-inclusive Kimberley tours, it’s aboard a fancy-as 5-star 4WD Mercedes-Benz.
Not a bus, it’s an all-terrain coach on a truck chassis to handle the Kimberley’s massage-giving roads. Our trusty vehicle, nicknamed Sven, was our transport for 12 of our 13 tour days, tackling landscapes that at times looked Martian.
Plush leather seats with the cushiest headrest I’ve experienced, ample leg room, a (very popular) TV screen to watch the journey unfold, AC, and a clean, usable toilet gave comforts far beyond the average road-tripper through the region.
We met South Australian travellers in Drysdale who turned back on the road to Mitchell Falls after it trashed their fridge contents and dumped their microwave on the floor. I hadn’t appreciated how good we had it until then.
Yes, the road had been bumpy at times, but it hadn’t felt like THAT! Besides, it was way more fun to watch the scenery (and maybe nap) and let our Outback Spirit guide, James, concentrate on the 1,700-kilometres of roads from the Mitchell Plateau to Broome.
By plane
Do you know how to transform a 17-hour road trip from “Are we there yet” to fun? No, it’s not eye spy; it’s a private plane!
Yes, I sound bougie, but when you’ve taken a 2-hour flight over the less interesting part of the region in Outback Spirit’s private Cessna, why would you want to drive it?
Plus, flying from Darwin to the Mitchell Plateau to experience its impressive falls and Outback Spirit’s exclusive Ngauwudu Safari Lodge only amps your excitement for what’s to come.
What a way to start my long-dreamed-of Kimberley adventure!
By chopper
Thanks to Outback Spirit, I’ve taken a liking to the fancy travel life, because we also experienced two epic off-door helicopter rides. Two!
Remember the days when you had to hike to a point of scenic beauty and then return the same way? Not when you’re visiting Mitchell Falls / Punamii-unpuu with Outback Spirit, though. You get to hike in and chopper out! It’s like being rescued from sore feet.
While I would have happily hiked the four hours back to Sven (it was that gorgeous), it was exhilarating to get a birds-eye view of the 4-tiered falls on a thrilling 6-minute helicopter ride.
We took to the skies again over the beehive-domed Bungle Bungle Ranges / Purnululu National Park, now my favourite chopper ride ever. Nothing prepares you for the vastness of this expansive UNESCO World Heritage Site. An 18-minute helicopter flight, however, catches you up pretty quickly, offering perspective before on-foot explorations.
By boat
Outback Spirit sure knows how to treat a tour group like kings and queens. It didn’t stop with airborne adventures, either; we experienced three boat rides, too.
First up, a slow boat at Chamberlain Gorge afforded a meandering pace. Leisurely enough to spy snacking rock wallabies, mud-nest building fairy marching swallows, and time to actually get hit by spitting archerfish (such a surprise, but so good).
The next day, a 3-hour mid-speed boat ride on the Ord River toured us past towering rich-red gorges towards a stellar sunset. The knowledgeable skipper had a keen eye for wildlife, spotting freshwater crocs, rock wallabies, and 300+ tree-dwelling bats.
Our final day of touring offered the most exciting experience on water: a powerboat ride across Western Australia’s famed Horizontal Falls! It was beyond thrilling to speed across one of the world’s two horizontal waterfalls.
By seaplane
What a shame Horizontal Falls is inaccessible by road. We had to take a fabulous seaplane ride to reach the powerboat (oh no, poor us).
A 90-minute seaplane adventure from Broome over the jaw-droppingly scenic Buccaneer Archipelago and Horizontal Falls was an idyllic way to end a magical 13 days exploring the Kimberley.
The vibrant turquoise waters, white sandy bays, and deep red hues of the 2-billion-year-old cliffs had me glued to the window. There were whales, too!
On foot
As magical as helicopter flights and seaplanes and boats of all speeds are, there is nothing quite like walking deep into nature.
On foot is where the peace is, amid the rustle of eucalyptus leaves, the gentle chirps of native birds, and the bubbling call of brooks, creeks, and rivers. On foot you stand in awe of a mighty boab tree. Or wriggle your toes in the ochre dust. It’s on walks that the Kimberley comes alive.
There are plenty of enjoyable short walks on the Jewels of the Kimberley. Be it to Munurru’s ancient rock art, Tunnel Creek / Dimalurru’s caves, or a detour to see a saltwater croc. All were amazing; however, the longer hikes filled my soul (and iCloud memory) and connected me deeply to the land.
There’s something about climbing, teetering, and side-stepping the Kimberley’s vast, ancient boulders that make you feel like the hero in your own story. My hero highlights included the 2-hour round trip to Emma Gorge, the 4-hour trek to Mitchell Falls, and the shorter trail to Cathedral Gorge in the Bungle Bungles. Check out my tour highlights here.
No view left unseen
Short of sky diving into Broome, I don’t think Outback Spirit omitted a single other way to travel through the Kimberley. To touch the rocks, soar over world-famous landmarks, and run your fingers through the water that sustains the region elevates your experience of his ancient land.
Discover more
To learn more about the Jewels of the Kimberley or Outback Spirit’s other all-inclusive tours, head here. You can also catch all the IG trip highlights here.
