Broome - West Kimberleys - Pilbara
| This tour has a little of everything, making it possible to see and experience some of the best the Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia have to offer. From the magnificent features of the World Heritage-listed Shark Bay with its living stromatolites, friendly wild dolphins and an impressive shell beach, to the beautiful pristine Ningaloo Reef which you can see from a glass-bottomed boat and/or snorkel over, to the history of the unique pearling town of Broome. And then there is fantastic Geikie Gorge, home to a growing number of crocodiles, and the beauty of the Kimberley. The Pilbara can give you a glimpse of one of the largest mining operations in the world and contrast this with the majestic Hamersley Range and the stunning natural characteristics of Karijini National Park.
Pack your swimsuit as there are plenty of opportunities to swim along the way - from the magnificent ocean waters of Turquoise Bay with Ningaloo Reef just under its gentle waves, the long stretch of 80 Mile Beach, to the wonderful rock pools of Fortescue Falls. (Swimming in the Fitzroy River, however, is not recommended at all because of crocodiles which you may see on your boat cruise of Geikie Gorge.) And definitely pack your camera to capture the magnificent sunset over the ocean at Cable Beach in Broome, or the wonderful colours of the Kimberley and the Hamersley Ranges and the marine life of Ningaloo Reef. |
 Baobab tree, Derby. Photo: Anne Atkinson |
| Day 1 Perth- Kalbarri |
We leave Perth along the Brand Highway, stopping in Cateby for morning tea. Then to Dongara and Port Denison for our lunch break. We may have time for a stroll down the beautiful main street of Dongara that is lined with well-established Moreton Bay fig trees that provide a magnificent canopy. We drive through Geraldton and Northampton, taking the new coastal road to Kalbarri and our accommodation for the night. Our evening meal is at Finlay's Fish BBQ that is known throughout the world for its delicious fish and unique atmosphere. | |
| Day 2 Kalbarri - Carnarvon |
Today is packed with things to see and do. The first on the list is a visit to the living stromatolites at Shark Bay. Stromatolites are structures formed by colonies of bacteria and are thought to be amongst the oldest forms of life on earth. The presence of living stromatolites is one of the reasons that Shark Bay was named a World Heritage site.
Then to Monkey Mia to see the famous wild dolphins, which come to the water's edge to the delight of their human audience. After lunch it is off to Shell Beach that is formed from billions of tiny hard-packed shells. The beach of shells is 110km long and 7 to 10m deep. Many of the buildings in Denham, a nearby town, have been made from blocks of the hard-packed shells.
We eventually arrive at our accommodation in Carnarvon after a wonderful day. |
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| Day 3 Carnarvon - Exmouth |
This morning we are on the road to Coral Bay for lunch and then a boat cruise of the magnificent Ningaloo Reef. After, it is on to Exmouth, where we stay for the next two nights. (Ningaloo Reef boat cruise is included in the fare.) | |
| Day 4 Exmouth |
We have some wonderful sightseeing to do this morning. First the stunning views from the Charles Knife Road, which is in the Cape Range National Park and then the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. Finally we visit Yardie Creek at the mouth of the Yardie Creek Gorge. We have lunch at Turquoise Bay, where you may wish to spend the afternoon swimming and snorkelling the reef (snorkelling gear can be hired in Exmouth). Or you can return to our accommodation for an afternoon of relaxation. (National park entry fees are included in the fare.) | |
 Turquoise Bay, Ningaloo. Photo: Anne Atkinson | ||
| Day 5 Exmouth - Roebourne |
Unfortunately, it's time to leave Exmouth and head up the road to the Nanutarra Roadhouse for morning tea and then on through Dampier, Karratha and Cossack. Cossack is the site of what was once a thriving pearling industry with Chinese, Japanese, Malay and Aboriginal pearlers and a port for shipping wool from the surrounding pastoral stations. All that remains of this interesting town are the official stone buildings- the courthouse, police quarters and gaol, a school, a store, post office and customs house. The old cemetery is an interesting place to visit and reflects the diversity of the population in those early days.
Roebourne has taken over the administrative role that Cossack played in the Pilbara region, leaving Cossack as a ghost town. Our accommodation for the night is in Roebourne. |
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| Day 6 Roebourne - Broome |
Today is a long day as we drive through the Pilbara and into the Kimberleys to our accommodation for the next three nights. | |
| Day 7 Broome |
This morning we begin exploring the interesting town of Broome - an old pearling town with a rich history. Established in the 1880s to fish for pearls, the town has always had a distinctive diverse cultural population. Apart from local Aboriginal people, men came from all over Asia to work in the industry that was controlled by European businessmen. Japanese women also played a significant part in Broome's history. This ethnic diversity is reflected in the cemeteries that commemorate the Japanese, Chinese and Malays who were lost at sea working in the pearling industry. Our first visit is to the Japanese cemetery followed by a stroll in Chinatown.
Tonight we have fish and chips at Cable Beach and watch the magnificent sunset. You might also like to include a camel ride along the beach to cap off your evening. (The camel ride can be arranged although it is not included in the fare.) |
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| Day 8 Broome |
Broome is yours for today to do as you wish - swim, explore, catch up on chores like washing, or just relax. The choice is yours. (Lunch and dinner are not included in the fare.) | |
| Day 9 Broome - Fitzroy Crossing |
On the road again as we head for Derby and a tour around the town before a visit to the famous Boab Prison Tree which was used to accommodate Aboriginal prisoners. Nearby is the longest watering trough in Australia. Then across to Fitzroy Crossing on the beautiful Fitzroy River. In the afternoon we take a boat cruise through Geikie Gorge with the chance of seeing a crocodile or two. (Boat cruise is included in the fare.)
After the cruise we return to Fitzroy Crossing where we stay for the night. |
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 Crocodile in Geikie Gorge. Photo: Anne Atkinson | ||
| Day 10 Fitzroy Crossing - 80 Mile Beach |
This morning we return to the highway with a stop at Willare Bridge Roadhouse for morning tea. Then on to the 80 Mile Beach. | |
| Day 11 80 Mile Beach - Hamersley Range |
Heading south, we return to the Pilbara region where we see a little of the massive mining industry which is so important to the Western Australian economy. Port Hedland provides the opportunity to see the port's handling facilities and ore trains that take the ore from the mines to the port. These trains can reach up to 682 car lengths and are some of the longest in the world. After lunch in Port Hedland, we drive east to the Auski Roadhouse in the Hamersley Range where we have our overnight stop. (Morning tea and lunch are not included today.) | |
| Day 12 Hamersley Range - Newman |
Today we spend time in the Karijini National Park in the Hamersley Range. We call into the Visitor's Centre, Circular Pool and picturesque Fortescue Falls. We have lunch at Fortescue Falls and, for those who wish, it is a great place to have a swim. (The entry fees to the national park and visitors centre are included in the fare.) Then on to Newman for our accommodation. | |
| Day 13 Newman - Mt Magnet |
We leave Newman and head out to the Kumarina Roadhouse for morning tea before travelling to Meekatharra and Cue. In the afternoon we continue on to Mt Magnet and our accommodation. Tonight we dine at the hotel for our last evening together before leaving for home. (Morning tea is not included today.) | |
| Day 14 Mt Magnet - Perth |
On the home stretch today. We stop at Paynes Find, Wubin and New Norcia, before arriving back in Perth. (Morning tea and lunch are not included today.) | |
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