2014 - APT Kimberley Coast Cruising

Day 3. Bell Gorge, Hiking and Swimming. Journey on the Gibb River Road into the King Leopold Ranges National Park. Covering more than 900,000 acres and featuring seven rugged ranges, it is also home to Bell Gorge, where stunning cliffs surround a series of spectacularly tiered waterholes. Sitting approximately 300 metres above sea level, Bell Gorge is an idyllic natural spot ideal for swimming and photography. Take a relaxing dip below the cascading waterfall that feeds the lower pool and then go bird-watching. If you are feeling particularly energetic, choose from a number of hiking opportunities and visit some superb lookout spots. BLD Day 4. Galvans Gorge, Home Valley. Travel through the heart of Kimberley cattle country to discover the beautifully secluded Galvans Gorge. A short walk leads to a picturesque waterhole where you can admire the rock art adorning the gorge walls or indulge in a leisurely swim in the refreshing waters. Rejoin the Gibb River Road and continue on to Barnett River Gorge where you will enjoy a delicious picnic as you relax below a canopy of fascinating paperbark trees. After lunch, ford the mighty Durack River, named for the region's most famous pioneering family. Arrive at Home Valley Station, a working cattle station, and savour a glass of sparkling wine as the sun sets. Stay: Home Valley Station. BLD Day 5. Home Valley Station, Emma Gorge. Enjoy a tour of Home Valley Station before fording the Pentecost River to El Questro Wilderness Park. Covering one million stunning acres of the Kimberley wilderness, this vast stretch of land became a cattle station at the turn of the 20th century. Embrace the opportunity to take an optional hike to Emma Gorge, where you can indulge in a refreshing swim under the towering droplet waterfall. Delight in a sumptuous dinner at the picturesque Emma Gorge Resort. Stay: Emma Gorge Resort, El Questro. BLD Day 6. Ord River Wildlife Cruise, Lake Kununurra. Join a guided cruise to Lake Kununurra and view the ruggedly dramatic landscape of the Ord River. Admire the breathtaking scenery, fascinating birdlife and lurking crocodiles of this truly timeless land. Stay: Kununurra Country Club Resort, Kununurra. BLD 1 2 10 Sealed Road 4WD Track Cruise No. of nights stay Oceanic Discoverer or Coral Princess Darwin 10 Jar King George Falls Island Bigge Island King George River Mitchell Doubtful Bay Falls King Montgomery Reef Horizontal Falls Edward River El Questro Home Valley Prince King Regent 1 1 Cascades River Cape Leveque Emma Bell Gorge Gorge 2 Wilderness Lodge Rd Gibb Durack Derby R i v er Windjana River Tunnel Gorge Broome 3 Creek Geikie Gorge Fitzroy River W.A. Day 8. Piccaninny Creek, Cathedral Gorge. Explore the magic of Purnululu for N.T. Ord River Pentecost River 1 Kununurra Lake Argyle 2 Purnululu National Park Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge Halls Creek 1 Fitzroy Crossing Day 7. Purnululu National Park. Depart Kununurra and journey to Purnululu National Park, one of Australia's most stunning natural landscapes. The park is home to the famed black and orange striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range, ascending up to 578 metres above sea level. Standing over a grass covered plain, steep cliffs form the western face. Created by the constant erosion of river movements over a staggering 20 million years, the range has both geological and Indigenous cultural significance. It is an imposing sight; and one that you are sure to remember forever. Join a hike along a Livistona palm-fringed trail into Echidna Chasm, a spectacular natural cleft in the rock. Settle in to the tranquil ambience of the Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge, located in the heart of this stunning national park. Enjoy a delicious dinner beneath a star-studded sky and share your adventures around the campfire with your fellow travellers. Two Night Stay: EXCLUSIVE! Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge. BLD We'll take you to magical places like the Bungle Bungle Range and give you time to enjoy them Litchfield Kakadu Park National Park yourself, and discover the depth of the Bungle Bungle Range. Walk along Piccaninny Creek, a winding gorge enclosed within the high walls of the Bungle Bungle domes. Your next stop is the natural amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge, a spacious cavern where the acoustics are astounding. Marvel at the beehive domes as your guide brings the natural history of the range to life. You may like to experience an optional scenic helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungle Range (own expense). As the sun begins to set, enjoy a complimentary drink and savour this truly magnificent sight. BLD Day 9. Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing. Head to Halls Creek and admire China Wall, an unusual natural quartz formation which runs 6 kilometres along the landscape. The wall is an echo of that for which it was named – the Great Wall of China. Continue on towards Fitzroy Crossing, a small settlement on the Fitzroy River. Stay: Fitzroy River Lodge, Fitzroy Crossing. BLD Day 10. Geikie Gorge Cruise, Broome. Travel to Geikie Gorge National Park and explore the gorge. Flooding of the river has Take an exhilarating zodiac ride www.kimberleywilderness.com.au 21

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