17 Day Kimberley and The Top End Tour from Darwin AGKB17R

Itinerary

• First Day – Flights to arrive the day before or before mid-afternoon.
• Last Day – Flights are recommended to depart after breakfast.

• 1 Arrive Darwin (D)

  Arrive in Darwin and this evening enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel before your fascinating journey continues.

  Stay: Hilton Darwin

• 2 Ubirr Rock, Darwin (B L D)

  Depart Darwin and travel across the sweeping wetlands of the Marrakai Plains to Kakadu National Park. Today visit the sacred site of Ubirr and explore its galleries of ancient Indigenous rock art. The magnificent rock faces have been continuously painted and repainted since 40,000BC, with most created approximately 2,000 years ago.

  Keep exploring: Time stands still in ancient Kakadu National Park, where the land has many stories to teach us.

  Stay: Two Nights, Hawk Dreaming Wilderness Lodge

• 3 Arnhem Land, Hawk Dreaming, Cannon Hill (B L D)

  A local guide will join you today as you cross the East Alligator River into spiritual Arnhem Land. Experience the ancient art and natural beauty of this special place. This afternoon, return to Kakadu to discover the rock art and billabongs of Cannon Hill and Hawk Dreaming (please note that Arnhem Land may be inaccessible for cultural reasons or when tides prevent the crossing of the East Alligator River).

• 4 Katherine (B L D)

  Travel to stunning Kakadu, the Northern Territory’s best known national park. Cruise the famous Yellow Water Billabong. Here, wildlife abounds and local a guide will give you great insights into how the Bininj people use the flora and fauna to support their way of life. Later travel to Katherine and enjoy canapes and drinks at the beautiful Cicada Lodge, before indulging in an exceptional gourmet three-course meal.

  Stay: Katherine, Cicada Lodge

• 5 Katherine Gorge, Kununurra (B L D)

  Head to the beautiful Nitmiluk National Park, before boarding an unforgettable cruise through the spectacular Katherine Gorge. Discover the music, stories and ways of the local Jawoyn people as you learn about their spiritual culture. Afterwards, travel into Western Australia.

  Stay: Two Nights, Kununurra Country Club Resort

• 6 Lake Argyle, Ord River Cruise (B L D)

  Travel to the majestic Lake Argyle, the largest man-made lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Join a spectacular wildlife cruise on the mighty Ord River. From a modern shaded vessel, discover a fascinating ecological system that has developed from the damming of the Ord River at two locations to create an area rich in wildlife, flora and undeniable beauty. This evening, enjoy dinner at your resort.

• 7 Purnululu National Park (B L D)

  Journey into Purnululu National Park, home to the famed black and orange striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range. Travel the Spring Creek Track before hiking to Echidna Chasm, a natural cleft in the rock. Later, arrive at your lodge in the heart of the national park.

  Discover the Kimberley: There’s no better way to explore this spectacular region than on foot.

  Stay: Two Nights, exclusive Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge

• 8 Cathedral Gorge, Piccaninny Creek (B L D)

  Hike to Piccaninny Creek and through to the spectacular Cathedral Gorge. Perhaps indulge in an optional helicopter flight – own expense. This evening, enjoy drinks as the sun sets over the Bungle Bungle massif.

• 9 Purnululu National Park, El Questro (B L D)

  Farewell the Bungle Bungle Range and travel to El Questro, a million-acre cattle station in the heart of the Kimberley. Stay two nights immersed in nature to explore this primordial setting.

  Stay: Two Nights, Emma Gorge Resort in the picturesque El Questro

• 10 El Questro (B L D)

  Discover the amazing wonders of El Questro today. After lunch, head to the beautiful Zebedee Springs, a permanent natural thermal spring tucked away in a secluded pocket of rainforest. Return to Emma Gorge and enjoy dinner later this evening.

• 11 El Questro, Gibb River Road, Mitchell Plateau (B L D)

  Journey along the Gibb River Road to arrive at Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge. Enjoy the facilities of the lodge’s Ungolan Pavilion, where you can relax in the lounge, treat yourself to a drink or read up on the local culture.

  Stay: Two Nights, Exclusive Mitchell Falls Wilderness Lodge

• 12 Mitchell Falls, Helicopter Flight (B L D)

  Discover Mitchell Falls, a true highlight of your Kimberley adventure. Where possible, a local Indigenous guide will join you, providing a unique insight into the region. Begin with a hike to Little Mertens Falls to view rare Aboriginal art. Continue on to Big Mertens Falls before arriving at Mitchell Falls.

• 13 Mitchell Plateau, King Edward River, Ancient Rock Art (B L D)

  Explore the Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art galleries. Re-join the Kalumburu Road and travel to Drysdale River Station.

  Stay: Drysdale River Station

• 14 Manning Gorge, Galvans Gorge (B L D)

  Journey to the beautiful Manning Gorge where you can spot local birdlife as you enjoy lunch in the shade of a gum tree. Continue to Galvans Gorge, where a short walk leads to a picturesque waterhole. Admire the rock art adorning the gorge walls or indulge in a leisurely swim.

  Stay: Two Nights, Exclusive Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge

• 15 Bell Gorge, Hiking and Swimming (B L D)

  Back on the Gibb River Road, travel to Bell Gorge, where stunning cliffs surround a series of tiered waterholes. Sitting approximately 300 metres above sea level, Bell Gorge is an idyllic natural spot for swimming and photography. Here you can also enjoy a spot of bird-watching. Should you be feeling particularly energetic, you may take the opportunity to hike to the lower pool of the gorge and enjoy a relaxing dip below the cascading waterfall.

• 16 Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Broome (B L D)

  Journey to Windjana Gorge, where cliffs tower above white sands. Wade through Tunnel Creek to the stunning oasis beyond. Travel to Broome and enjoy a farewell dinner.

  Stay: Broome, Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa

• 17 Depart Broome (B)

  Be transferred to Broome Airport for your flight home.

• Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
• Price includes airport transfers and park fees
• Prices are for land tour only, flights not included

Additional Information

Climate Winter in the tropical north is the dry season and temperatures will be mild with low humidity. Through the months of September and October, the temperatures become increasingly warmer.

Fitness to Travel A good level of fitness and health is required to participate on holiday packages. In some destinations there are extensive sightseeing excursions by foot which includes the climbing of stairs and walking on uneven surfaces. Mobility is needed boarding or alighting coaches and trains. We recommend a visit to the doctor before travelling to overseas destinations and consulting with them regarding any vaccinations which may be required. It is your responsibility to advise operators of any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect the normal conduct of a holiday package and the enjoyment of other passengers. A Health, Fitness & Mobility Questionnaire will be provided and requested to be completed at the time of booking if you advise of any health, fitness or mobility issues. The operator is not liable for any injury, illness, or loss of enjoyment which could have been reasonably prevented had we been made aware of a pre-existing condition and been provided an opportunity to review it. We will not be responsible for any costs associated with cancellation penalties or the return of passengers from a tour, and a refund for lost touring cannot be claimed.

Single Travellers A limited number of single rooms may be available at time of booking. Single rooms may be smaller than twin or double bedded rooms and may have a single bed. Single supplements apply

Children under 12 years are not recommended to participate on a coach tour. Children under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Extras Airfares (unless stated), airport taxes, laundry, food not on the regular table d’hôte menu, drinks may or may not be included as indicated in your itinerary, excess baggage, Wi-Fi (unless stated), fuel surcharges and optional excursions not specified in the itinerary. Extra overnight accommodation is not included at the start or end of the tour if not specified in the itinerary. Airport Transfers Airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the tour as indicated by the itinerary or when booking pre or post tour accommodation with your tour.

Luggage Limits Land touring is conducted in 4WD vehicles with limited luggage capacity. Each passenger is requested to limit their luggage to one small/medium soft bag or suitcase weighing no more than 16kg (35 lb approx) and with dimensions of no more than 66cm length x 35cm width x 32cm height. Cameras, make-up bags etc should be carried separately. Should you have excess luggage, it is your responsibility to organise for this to be forwarded to your final destination.

Clothing and What to Bring Clothing and footwear should be casual, comfortable and suited to tropical conditions.

• Clothing – shorts, trousers, shirts, swimwear, hat, sunglasses, a jacket and a change of warm clothes in case of inclement weather are advisable.
• Footwear – some form of fast-drying wet-shoe would prove useful.
• Personal – sun protection, insect repellent, medications, toiletries, (overseas travellers should bring a suitable adapter). Don’t forget to bring your video or camera along with plenty of film & spare batteries (recharge facilities are available).
• Money and/or credit card for personal expenses such as drinks, souvenirs and optional extras.

Transfers Airport transfers are included on the first and last day of the holiday package at designated times. No refund will be given for unused transfers. Transfers cannot be re-routed to other pick-up points or destinations. Passengers who miss the pre-booked transfers must make their own way to/from the hotel at their own expense. A group transfer is generally a shared transfer and the type of vehicle used will normally be dependent upon the size of the group.

Smoking Government regulations forbid smoking in tourist coaches, however frequent stops are made for those wishing to smoke. Smoking is not permitted in hotel rooms. Requests for smoking/non-smoking rooms will be passed on to hotels but cannot be guaranteed.

Travel Insurance Travel Insurance is not included in your holiday package. For your protection, you are required to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes (without limitation) coverage for the full cost of your holiday package, medical expenses, loss of luggage, land content and airfare charges that may occur due to cancellation, impossibility of performance or other frustration, disruption, loss of deposit or strikes. Recieve a free no obligation quote online or talk to our staff.

Seat Allocation on Land Touring  To ensure all passengers enjoy forward and window facing seats, on longer tours a daily seat rotation system may apply at the discretion of the tour director/driver-guide. We do not warrant that the seat rotation will be adjusted to suit personal preference.

Disruption to Itinerary Arrangements Itineraries are intended as a guide only and are subject to alteration without notice. Alterations may be necessary for various reasons including, without limitation, road or weather conditions, strikes or other reasons beyond reasonable control. If conditions render any routes unsafe for navigation, the operator reserves the right to provide alternative services including but not limited to accommodation. Under normal conditions, itineraries will operate as far as possible as detailed in this publication. However, sometimes for reasons beyond our control, it may be necessary to make alterations to your itinerary. For example, it may be necessary to operate part of the itinerary by coach and alternative sightseeing may be included. Operators will not be liable for any direct or indirect costs that you incur as a result of any event or other factor beyond our control which necessitates a change in your itinerary. Operators cannot guarantee exact arrival and departure times for carriers and operators used will not be liable for failure to make connections with any other services or attractions beyond its control.

Noise and Vibration Reasonable steps are taken to minimise noise and vibration on cruise vessels. You acknowledge and accept that some noise and vibration may be experienced on vessels and that operator is not liable to you for any such noise and vibration.

Passengers Needing Special Assistance We welcomes passengers with disabilities or special needs however, please note the following:
1. Any disability or medical condition requiring special attention must be reported to the operator at the time of booking including all important information relating to your health, mobility and fitness which may affect your partial or total participation in the cruise or tour. This information is also crucial to allow the operator to ensure the tour you have chosen is suitable and meets your needs. Any changes to health, mobility and fitness must also be reported to the operator as soon as possible and prior to departure. Where possible the operator will make reasonable adjustments to the tour to accommodate your special needs however, it cannot do so if the adjustment required would be unreasonable in all of the circumstances, including if such adjustments would affect your safety and/or the safety and/or enjoyment of other passengers.
2. If you require special assistance or care (such as pushing a wheelchair, assistance with dressing or assistance with walking or hearing emergency alarms unaided), you must travel with a companion capable of providing the required assistance or care. Please be aware that the operator does not provide personal assistance. The operator is unable to assist any passenger with walking, dining, boarding or disembarking any transportation vehicles (including river and ocean cruise ships and trains). To safely participate in embarkation and disembarkation you must be able to do so without the need for special assistance. You must also be able to do so without unreasonably impacting other passengers’ safety and/or enjoyment.
3. While the operator will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of disabled passengers, it is not responsible for any denial of services by any third party entities it has travel arrangements with, such as carriers, hotels, trains, restaurants or other independent suppliers, or for any additional associated expenses charges by those parties.
4. Please note coaches and minibuses are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. Most river and ocean ships have elevators, however not all the operator ships have elevators. Many ships require the use of stairs to go between decks. Further, side by side docking may require passengers to climb and descent stairs to cross over vessels to disembark and embark at times. The operator ships often sail through remote areas that do not have convenient docking facilities. In such circumstances it will be necessary for passengers to negotiate temporary gangplanks and uneven surfaces. If the crew decide that it is not safe for a passenger to negotiate such operations they may require passengers to stay on board. Cabin doors and restrooms may not be wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs. Wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on coaches, due to space limitations. For safety reasons, passengers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports where the river or ocean cruise ship is at anchor. The operator is unable to provide individual assistance to any passenger for walking, dining, disembarking or embarking cruise ships and/or coaches or other transportation vehicles or other personal needs.

Booking Terms and Conditions

Be aware that some confirmed bookings are not refundable if cancelled, and also may not be transferable to another date or otherwise changed. Alternatively, a change may only be permissible subject to payment of an additional fee or charge. Your entitlement to a refund for cancelled bookings is subject to the relevant Supplier’s terms and conditions. Please note that if we are entitled to a service fee for placing a booking, we will remain entitled to this fee if you cancel the booking or the Supplier fails to provide you with the Product for any reason (other than our default), including in an event of Force Majeure. We will be entitled to deduct our service fee from any refund we receive on your behalf before remitting the balance to you. Suppliers’ fees are outlined in their relevant terms and conditions.

Please review the full Terms and Conditions and Schedule of Fees prior to making a booking.

Supplier Terms and Conditions Summary:

• 100 days or more prior to departure will incur a loss of deposit.
• 99-61 days prior to departure will incur a fee of 50% of holiday package price.
• 60 days or less prior to departure will incur a fee of 100% holiday package price.

Changes to the Itinerary Not all attractions, excursions and/or optional tours are provided by the tour operator. Accordingly, tour operators may, where it is required to do so, suspend or cancel any tour inclusion where that tour inclusion is not available or in the opinion of tour operators, unadvisable, unsafe or unsuitable. During local or national holidays, certain facilities such as museums and restaurants, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited or not available. Tour operators reserves the right to alter or change the accommodation, carriers or vessels at any time for any reason; and cancel or alter the itinerary and/or tour at any time without notice as Outback Aussie Tours considers necessary for any reason whatsoever including road, weather or traffic conditions, non-performance of suppliers, industrial action, operational conditions and requirements.