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Board The Ghan in Adelaide
The Ghan
Board The Ghan in Adelaide for an incredible showcase journey of inland Australia. As the train leaves the city heading for the Flinders Ranges and beyond, the dramatic changes in landscape from pastoral land to arid outback scenes will ignite your imagination. Lunch is served on board – this is the first of many superb, chef-prepared gourmet meals, showcasing regional flair and season flavours. (L,D)
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The Ghan, Alice Springs
The Ghan
After your first night enjoying the fine dining and relaxed comfort of this iconic train, you’ll wake to an unforgettable outback sunrise at Marla – a remote outpost 160 kilometres from the Northern Territory border that marks the start of the Oodnadatta Track. Enjoy the magnificent scenery as you make your way onwards to Alice Springs, where you have a selection of Off Train Experiences to choose from. There’s an experience to suit everyone, from an off-road mountain bike adventure to the Alice Explorer tour, a cultural experience at Standley Chasm, meeting the wildlife at the Desert Park, or taking in the astounding beauty of Simpson’s Gap. Alternatively, take it all in from the air, with an optional upgrade helicopter flight. (B,L,D)
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The Ghan, Katherine and Darwin
Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
When the landscape transforms into rocky gorges and fast-flowing canyon streams, prepare to experience one of the Top End’s most impressive natural wonders on a boat cruise along Nitmiluk Gorge. Alternatively, the Katherine Outback Experience lets you into the lives of those who call the outback home. There is also a helicopter flight upgrade available, for those wishing to see Nitmiluk from an aerial perspective.
Continue to Darwin, where you’ll disembark The Ghan and be transferred to your overnight accommodation. Your 13-day Jewels of the Kimberley tour commences this evening. Settle in for the night ready to depart for Mitchell Plateau tomorrow. (B,L,D)
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Scenic Flight to Mitchell Plateau
Ngauwudu Safari Camp
This morning meet your friendly and professional Tour Director and fellow travellers. We depart Darwin on our scenic flight to the Mitchell Plateau. Your aircraft for the morning is Outback Spirit's state-of-the-art Cessna Grand Caravan, featuring a high wing for excellent visibility, air-conditioning and turbine reliability.
On arrival, we make our way to our exclusive Ngauwudu Safari Camp, the most luxurious tented camp in the Kimberley. Featuring deluxe safari suites with ensuite bathrooms, quality furnishings and large balconies, the camp is a magical spot for the next two nights of your adventure and the ideal base from which to discover the Mitchell Plateau and Mitchell Falls. (B,L,D)
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Exploring Punamii-Unpuu (Mitchell Falls)
Ngauwudu Safari Camp
A big walk today, but also a big highlight! After a short drive to the ranger station, we'll set off on a guided 4km walking tour to the incredible Mitchell Falls (good level of fitness and mobility required). Along the way we'll discover rarely seen Gwion Gwion and Wandjina rock art galleries, accompanied by a local expert guide from Kandiwal Community. The walk also takes us past Mertens Falls before arriving at the top of the Mitchell Falls, one of the most awe-inspiring wonders of the Kimberley.
After a picnic lunch and enough time to admire the falls, we'll take to the skies for a spectacular helicopter flight (included) back to where the walk started. Viewing the falls and surrounding landscape from the air is an absolute highlight, and a great way to finish off your experience. Once we're on the ground at the ranger station, we return to the camp for a well-earned rest and perhaps a swim in the palm fringed creek. (B,L,D)
Please Note: For passengers not wishing to do the Mitchell Falls walk there is an option to fly down by helicopter at an additional cost. An Outback Spirit guide will still escort you.
Please note: Weight limits apply to all scenic flights.
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King Edward River to Drysdale Station
Drysdale River Station
This morning we depart the Mitchell Plateau and head back to the Kalumburu Road. Along the way we'll visit several exceptional Wandjina rock art galleries near the King Edward River and enjoy a picnic lunch.
This afternoon, we arrive at Drysdale River Station, a pastoral lease which runs over 9000 head of cattle across more than a million acres. We spend the night in comfortable station cabins with private ensuite bathrooms. (B,L,D)
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Drysdale, Gibb River Road to El Questro
Emma Gorge Resort
This morning we farewell Drysdale Station and re-join the Gibb River Road. We then continue east and cross the Durack River before arriving at the mighty Pentecost River at the foot of the Cockburn Range. We stop to admire the view of the stunning escarpment before continuing to the world renowned El Questro Wilderness Park where we'll spend the next two nights at Emma Gorge Resort in unique tented cabins. (B,L,D)
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Exploring El Questro
Emma Gorge Resort
This morning we head deeper into this iconic Kimberley wilderness park to Chamberlain Gorge, a beautiful three-kilometre-long fresh waterhole bound by towering escarpment. Enjoy a 90-minute gorge cruise and feed some of the cheeky Archerfish before returning to Emma Gorge Resort via the Station township.
After lunch, enjoy a guided walk up to the stunning Emma Gorge waterfall (2.5 hours return – a good level of fitness required, but well worth it). Enjoy a swim in the large rock pool at the base of the falls and marvel at the beauty of the gorge, one of the best in the Kimberley. Upon returning to the resort, the rest of the afternoon can be spent at your leisure before re-grouping for dinner. (B,L,D)
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El Questro to Kununurra
Kununurra Country Club
Depart El Questro this morning and travel along the Gibb River Road to Wyndham and the spectacular Five Rivers Lookout, which boasts dramatic views over Cambridge Gulf.
This afternoon we visit the Argyle Homestead Museum en route to Lake Argyle, the departure point for our sensational three-hour cruise down the Ord River. Enjoy the mesmerising scenery and diverse wildlife as your skipper takes you downstream to Kununurra, providing expert commentary along the way. We arrive back into Kununurra at sunset and make our way to the Kununurra Country Club for our overnight stay. (B,L,D)
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Kununurra to Bungle Bungles
Bungle Bungles Savannah Lodge
This morning we depart Kununurra and head south to the World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles) where we'll check in to the Bungle Bungles Savannah Lodge for our two night stay, owned by Outback Spirit in partnership with Aviair/Helispirit. The lodge features comfortable cabins with ensuite bathrooms. (B,L,D)
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Exploring the Bungle Bungles
Bungle Bungles Savannah Lodge
Today we explore the wonders of Purnululu, including its unique orange and black beehive shaped domes. First up, enjoy a breathtaking 18-minute scenic helicopter flight over the park with a bird's eye view of its astounding natural features. Afterwards enjoy a walk along Piccaninny Creek to the mind boggling natural amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge. Then follow the 'dome trail' for a closer inspection of the park's unique geological formations.
This afternoon we'll head to the northern region of the Bungle Bungles to visit Echidna Chasm before returning to the lodge. (B,L,D)
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Bungle Bungles, Halls Creek to Fitzroy Crossing
Fitzroy River Lodge
We depart the Bungle Bungles early this morning and back track along the infamous Bungles track. From here we head into Halls Creek. On arrival in town, we divert out to Old Halls Creek to view the site of the original township where the goldrush was located, along with the famous China Wall.
We travel back to Halls Creek for lunch and from here join the Great Northern Highway to the town of Fitzroy Crossing, the site of where the unprecedented flood events occurred in 2023. (B,L,D)
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Tunnel Creek, Derby to Broome
Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa
This morning we cross the Fitzroy River to join the Leopold Downs Road. This road cuts through large cattle properties and forms parts of Bunuba country. Our highlight for the morning is a visit to Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek), where water has carved a large tunnel through the limestone Napier Ranges.
At 750m long and up to 20m in height in places, this was formed 350 million years ago as part of an ocean reef system.
We then depart for Derby and visit an art gallery before arriving late afternoon to check in to Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa for our two night stay. (B,L,D)
Please note: We recommend packing water/reef shoes to take part in the Tunnel Creek walk.
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Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures
Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa
For the afternoon, we are ending our journey on a high with a sensational half-day adventure to the Horizontal Falls. First, enjoy a 50-minute seaplane flight and land on the calm waters of Talbot Bay in the Buccaneer Archipelago. Then, we cruise through the falls and surrounding bays and have a bite to eat before returning to Broome. Tonight, we gather for our final dinner together and celebrate our adventure through the Kimberley. (B,L,D)
Please note: Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures have a weight restriction of 120kg.
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Broome
Your 13-day Jewels of the Kimberley adventure comes to an end this morning. (B)