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George Grey (1812-1898)

Grey was the first white land based explorer of the Kimberley. He landed at Hanover Bay late in 1837 just at the beginning of the wet season. Conditions were extreme and the rough country difficult to traverse with horses. Grey was wounded following an Aboriginal encounter and the expedition aborted 50 km south of Hanover Bay. He was the first European to record the Wandjina paintings of the Kimberley.

A journey into Australia's wild frontier, The Kimberley, is something that nearly all Australians dream about doing at some stage in their life. That's understandable. After all, it's an awe inspiring wilderness like no other.

The Kimberley is a land with an enormously captivating past, be it the expeditions led by the early explorers, the heavy involvement in Australia's WWII air defences, or the pastoral pioneers from the late 1800's and early 1900's. In fact, around every corner in the Kimberley you'll not only come across another stunning landscape, but a fascinating story of endurance and discovery.

But there are stories from the Kimberley that go way further back than that, thanks to its rich indigenous culture. The Aboriginal people have occupied and taken care of the Kimberley for thousands of years and in many places have recorded their occupation through their stunning rock paintings, both Wandjina and Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) rock art.

Travelling through the Kimberley, you'll be blown away by the beauty of the country. Rugged escarpments, spectacular gorges and pristine waterways are all in abundance. Hidden in her heart are vast wildlife sanctuaries filled with amazing birdlife and all manner of native animals, including big crocs and tasty Barramundi. Then there are the huge black and orange striped domes of the Bungle Bungles, the stunning Mitchell Falls - the list is quite literally endless. And, you'll be happy to know that over 19 million hectares in the Kimberley are to be given national heritage status.

Seeing Kakadu, Litchfield and Darwin also seems to be on most peoples' travel wish list, which is why we have several tours which incorporate what's affectionately known as the 'Top End'. It too is a wildlife haven steeped in rich indigenous culture. The Territory's capital, Darwin, is situated on the edge of a harbour bigger than Sydney's and is a melting pot of people and cultures. While a sophisticated, modern city in its own right, it is also one steeped in history and one that has endured many hardships on its way to establishing itself as the gateway to Asia.

Whether you choose to see the Kimberley or the Top End as well, Outback Spirit has a range of itineraries that will give you a comprehensive insight into this wild and remote frontier.