Western Australia

Kimberley and the North West - Introduction

Broome is the gateway to the Kimberley, a vast, wild and largely unspoiled area which stretches across the top of Australia to Wyndham and Kununurra near the border with Northern Territory.

The famous Gibb River Road begins roughly 60 km east of Derby and runs across the northern part of the Kimberley until it joins the sealed road about 50 km from Kununurra. The Gibb River Road forms part of many of the safari-style small group tours and because it is often impassable in the wet season the majority of the Kimberley tours only run during the winter ‘Dry’. Looping around the south of the Kimberley from Broome to Kununurra is the sealed Great Northern Highway which is an all year round route. Having said this, the summer ‘Wet’ often sees extreme weather with cyclones and torrential rain making driving hazardous and even this road may become impassable.

Numerous operators run tours to the Kimberley, many of them camping. Accommodation is obviously limited and in the more remote areas, camping is the only choice. However as in other parts of Australia, very well appointed permanent safari style camp sites complete with beds, sheets and sometimes en suite facilities are springing up.

An increasing number of cruises are available off the Kimberley Coast using small ships which are able to approach the coast, usually with tenders used for daily land exploration. The cruises are normally confined to the dry winter months. When there are so few roads, this is a particularly good way to see wilderness areas and the wild coastline. Many of the cruises are at the luxury end of the market and are often booked out months before departure.

Back to Western Australia Regions ...

Nullarbor Traveller A truly unique experience - this Ultimate Road Journey (Perth to Adelaide or Adelaide to Perth) is an off-the-beaten track adventure for independent travellers.	Adventure Tours Australia The largest small group, soft-adventure tour operator in Australia whose Core operation is camping and accommodated safaris with an emphasis on the young and active
Saville Hotel Group A range of apartment style hotels with full hotel service and facilities throughout Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Darwin	Wilderness Challenge Operate small and personal group tours and safaris from Cairns, Darwin and Broome. Expert guides, and modern 4wd fleet ensure a high quality nature experience
The Richardson Hotel Suites & Spa A hotel created to impress. Intimately designed with rooms boasting every conceivable amentity, this contemporary landmark hotel is conveniently located in West Perth	Assured (WA) Imaginative range of 4 - 4.5 star self-catering apartments, resorts, hotels in WA. The rooms are innovative, spacious, modern and each property has excellent facilities
Abu Air Tours The most outstanding air safari tours in Australia. Abu Air has perfected outback touring with a range of tours taking you to off the beaten track locations in luxury	Great Escape Charter Co Explore one of the most isolated and truly awesome destinations in Australia, the Kimberley Coast and Rowley Shoals - on the MV Great Escape and MV Kimberley Escape
Spirit of the West Be transported back to a bygone railway era aboard historic, meticulously restored federation carriages. Enjoy fine food as the train travels from Perth to the Avon Valley.	Broadwater Hotels & Resorts Operate 4 -5 star landmark resort hotels in key WA destinations: Perth, Busselton, Dunsborough, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton - all with unique architecture and luxury faciliities

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Chill out in tropical Queensland © Tourism QLD

The tropical north of Queensland - an exotic destination

Waterfall, eastern Kimberley © Tourism WA

DID YOU KNOW ... Archaeological findings of human remains in Australia have been dated at approx 30,000 years; Aboriginal people are thought to have roamed the continent 50,000 to 60,000 years ago.