The Kimberley and more in Western Australia
Now is the time to visit Australia’s North West
With incredible and ancient scenery, this prehistoric landscape is full of wonders.
As with so many popular travel destinations, Australia’s North West suffered under the COVID restrictions, then took another punch to the body with catastrophic floods.
However, there is some good news with the WA Government announcement of a $6 million Tourism Flood Recovery Package which will include a national marketing campaign and 19,000 discounted airfares from Perth to Broome and Kununurra
Pre-Covid more than one million visitors come from all around the world every year to visit Australia’s North West, that massive two-billion-year-old region of our island continent, twice the size of Victoria, tucked away over near Indonesia.
Still, it’s a small enough number to keep the region ranked as a ‘best kept secret’ considering Sydney alone gets about 10 times that many. We think it’s about time you stopped putting off that trip to Australia’s North West and to help you plan. here are some of our best ideas
Exclusive Accommodations in the Kimberley
‘Australia’, the 2008 blockbuster movie, might have made some of us cringe, but it did shine a light on some pretty special scenery and for those with the wherewithal, you can venture out into the remote reaches and stay at very exclusive resorts.
The better-known ones are El Questro Homestead, The Berkeley River Lodge and the ultra-remote Faraway Bay. Or there are more approachable digs closer to Broome or Kununurra such as The Pearle at Cable Beach or the Kimberley Coastal Camp at Kununurra.
Any way you look at it, ‘get away from it all’ takes on a whole new meaning in this part of the world.
River and Lake Cruise in the Kimberley
The Kimberley is world-renowned for its coastal cruising among the ancient cliffs and estuaries, but you can also have a wild time on the rivers and inland waters of Lake Argyle and Lake Kununurra.
The massive Lake Argyle is the second largest manmade freshwater lake in Australia and was designed to irrigate the land in Australia’s North West, but thanks to hungry birds and insect pests, those plans were never fully realised. Nevertheless, the huge lake makes a perfect venue for boating, fishing and watersports like kayaks and catamarans.
TIP: Take a thrilling high-speed (1000hp) tour along the Ord River with Triple J Tours
Luxury Ocean Cruising in the Kimberley
With its spectacular ancient sandstone landscapes and ge-old indigenous rock art, the Kimberley has really come into its own as a prominent expedition cruising destination and there any number of vessels to choose from. Whether you enjoy the lavish shipboard lifestyle offered by the likes of Ponant, Silversea or Seabourn, or prefer the more intimate experience of the micro-cruising fleet with such vessels as True North, Reef Prince or Great Escape, the Kimberley is a perfect small ship destination close to home.
TIP: Unless you’ve already made up your mind, the key advice is to consult specialist Kimberley cruise experts like Kimberley Cruise Specialists.
Flightseeing in the Kimberley
Light planes and helicopters are busy ferrying guests to remote lodges and conducting flightseeing tours. There are many choices available, and the flights are sensational. You will truly get an understanding of the scope of the region from the air.
One excellent recommendation is the award-winning Aviair flight and ground tour combo to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bungle Bungles (Purnululu NP) where you get a guided flightseeing tour over these incredible ‘beehive’ formations, thought to be around 350 million years old. Astonishingly, these landmarks have only been known to the wider world since the mid-1980s. A great place for hiking too, but please take a hat and water.
4WDing in the Kimberley
You can bring your own 4WD or AWD vehicle, hire one locally or take a guided tour. Either way, this is perhaps the best way to really make contact with this ancient land. If you BYO or hire, you can pick your own route, stop where you like and generally take your time and absorb the wonderful surroundings.
One of the bonuses with 4WDing is staying at stations along the way. Home Valley Station, just off the Gibb River Road is one great location where you can enjoy top Aussie bush tucker and comfy accommodation as well as tours and activities like horse riding.
But please, if you are tackling the driving yourself, take sensible precautions like having emergency supplies (food, water, spares), radio and phone communications as well as making sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape.
Special Events in the Kimberley
Foremost on the events calendar in the Kimberley is Broome’s Shinju Matsuri Festival (Japanese for “Festival of the Pearl”) which originated from three cultural festivals – Japanese Obon Matsuri, Malaysian Hari Merdeka and the Chinese Hang Seng. During the festival, the main street, Dampier Terrace, is closed for the massive Pearl Harvest Party and is filled with music, artisan stalls, food trucks and parades.
TIP: While in Broome, you can ride a camel along Cable Beach.
www.coralexpeditions.com
