Kimberley - Darwin - Broome

DAY 1

ALBURY – DARWIN SATURDAY 3RD AUGUST, 2024
Welcome aboard Martins Touring Coach for departure from Lavington Shopping Centre, Griffith Road Bus Stop at 9.30am, Albury Railway Station at 9.45am, Wodonga Plaza Smythe St at 10.00am and Wangaratta Coles Perry Street Bus Stop at 10.55am for our 12 day tour to the stunning Kimberley Region of North West Australia. Make our way down the Hume Freeway to Seymour for lunch at the Seymour Club Bistro. From here it’s a little over an hour to Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport where we check in for our direct Virgin Australia flight VA1463 departing at 4.30pm. A light meal service will be included in our flight and our arrival time in Darwin is 8.30pm. Once we have collected our luggage a local coach operator will transfer us to our Darwin accommodation.
Accommodation: Travelodge Resort (2 nights) Darwin Ph: (08) 8946 0111

DAY 2

EXPLORING DARWIN SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST
Following breakfast, we start the day with a sightseeing tour around Darwin, taking in the historic landmarks and locations effected by the Bombing of Darwin during World War Two and Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Late morning, we arrive at Stokes Hill Wharf and visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Bombing of Darwin tourist facility - two iconic stories in one iconic location! Nearby there are several cafes and restaurants to purchase lunch, before some free time this afternoon back at the hotel. We are lucky enough to be in Darwin on a Sunday night to explore the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Market. It is a major social event and this fabulous local market offers over 200 stalls with nearly 60 food stalls from more than 30 different With the multi-cultural background of Darwin, we are sure to be tempted by the delicious food and smells as we wander through the market! Dinner voucher is supplied. At a pre-arranged time, we transfer back to our accommodation.

DAY 3

DARWIN – KATHERINE MONDAY 5TH AUGUST
Farewell Darwin this morning and head south to Adelaide River to visit the Adelaide River War Cemetery, the site of the only Australian War Cemetery on Australian soil. Buried here are 432 servicemen and 63 civilians, all of whom died as a result of Japanese bombing raids. After lunch in Pine Creek we arrive in Katherine early afternoon and visit the Top Didj Cultural Experience and Art Gallery. Our 2.5-hour Cultural Experience Tour will introduce us to local artist Mauel as he discusses and showcases work from local artists, as well as artifacts, a large range of didgeridoos, boomerangs, weaving, clap sticks and carvings.
Accommodation: Knotts Crossing Resort (2 nights) Katherine Ph: (08) 8972 2511

DAY 4

KATHERINE TUESDAY 6TH AUGUST
This morning we join Golden Guitar winner and horseman extraordinaire, Tom Curtain as he entertains us with his Katherine Outback Experience. The show celebrates life in the outback through real horse training, working dog demonstrations, live music and humorous bush tales. No tour to the Top End, or Katherine would be complete without a cruise through Katherine Gorge. Discover the cultural significance of the two gorges to the traditional land owners- the Jawoyn people. Along the way cultural guides will share their knowledge about plants, animals, dreamtime stories and culture. Surrounded by the limestone escarpment, the scenery is second to none.

DAY 5

KATHERINE – KUNUNURRA WEDNESDAY 7TH AUGUST
From Katherine travel to Victoria River Crossing and Timber Creek at the northern edge of the Gregory National Park. This park covers 12,500 square kilometres and is in a transitional zone between tropical and semi arid regions.  We then cross the border into West Australia, the largest state in the country which covers approximately one third of the whole of Australia before turning south to Lake Argyle for lunch. One of the many highlights of our tour to the Kimberley Ranges will be our cruise this afternoon from below the massive wall of Lake Argyle into Lake Kununurra, 55 kilometres downstream. The Ord River Scheme was a progressive and far sighted move to develop the tropical north of West Australia. During “the wet’ the rivers of the East Kimberley become raging torrents. At times the Ord River can empty 50 million litres a second into the Cambridge Gulf!
Accommodation: Lily Lagoon Resort (2 nights) Kununurra Ph: (08) 9169 1092

DAY 6

DAY 6 EXPLORING KUNUNURRA THURSDAY 8TH AUGUST
For those of us who have booked an optional flight over the Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles), we will be collected early morning. For those of us not wanting to fly, this is the perfect opportunity for a sleep-in! Mid-morning, we take a tour of Kununurra - which means “big water” – and was established as the residential and administrative centre of the Ord River Scheme - a huge irrigation scheme which was developed in the 1970s. Continuing on we visit the Mirima National Park, also referred to as Hidden Valley. We stop at the Ivanhoe Cafe for lunch this afternoon and visit Kimberley Ornamental Stonecraft and the Sandalwood Shop for the chance to see many of the local products from the region.

DAY 7

KUNUNURRA – HALLS CREEK FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST
Departing Kununurra and head south to Warmun for a visit to the Warmun Aboriginal Art Centre. After an interesting morning we travel to Halls Creek, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. The town is full of stories and relics as it was the site of Western Australia’s first gold rush. One of the more famous stories is of Russian Jack, a man who carried his injured mate in a wheelbarrow for over 300 kilometres to get medical attention. A statue is dedicated to his incredible feat here in town. Just outside Halls Creek is the China Wall. The amazing natural white stone formations rise high out of the ground and then disappear back into the earth again, making it look like a miniature Great Wall of China.
Accommodation: Kimberley Hotel Halls Creek Ph: (08) 9168 6101

DAY 8

HALLS CREEK – DERBY SATURDAY 10TH AUGUST
This morning head west through the magnificent red mountain scenery of the Kimberley to Fitzroy Crossing. We enjoy lunch at the Lodge, and this afternoon travel out to nearby Geikie Gorge where we take a cruise through this spectacular landscape. The Fitzroy River has carved its path through the ‘Fossil Great Barrier Reef’ formed 300 million years ago, resulting in mountainous cliffs and breathtaking scenery. From Fitzroy River we now head to Derby for the night.
Accommodation: Spinifex Hotel Derby Ph: (08) 9191 1233

DAY 9

DERBY – BROOME SUNDAY 11TH AUGUST
Time this morning to have a look around this town that sits at the edge of King Sound. Derby is the main base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the Kimberley. From the Derby Jetty ocean tides can rise up 12 metres—the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The area is also home to the famous Boab Prison tree. Said to be 1500 years old, it has an entrance about one metre wide and two metres high and is said to have been used as an overnight lock up for prisoners. Our final visit in Derby is to the Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre where we take a tour the Art Gallery, visit the museum and see a presentation on the centre. This afternoon continue to Broome for the final leg of our Kimberley Tour.
Accommodation: Kimberley Sands Resort (3 nights) Broome Ph: (08) 9193 8300

DAY 10

WILLIE CREEK PEARL FARM MONDAY 12TH AUGUST
Situated on the coast of the Southern Kimberley Region, Broome’s rich and colourful history began with the mass migration of Japanese, Filipino and Malay pearl divers seeking their fortune and creating a melting pot of cultures that makes the multicultural town that it is today. Following several early starts we have a relaxed start to the day. Late morning, head around 45 minutes north of Broome to visit the fascinating attraction, The Willie Creek Pearl Farm. The informative tour will give us an insight into the process of pearl farming, from shell to showroom. Set amongst the crystal-clear waters and mangrove lined banks of Willie Creek, we’ll learn how pearl technicians seed and harvest oysters and discover exactly what makes the perfect pearl. Our visit will also include lunch, a boat cruise and time for some retail therapy.

DAY 11

BROOME SIGHTSEEING TUESDAY 13TH AUGUST
This morning we take a city sightseeing tour around Broome then enjoy free time to explore and purchase lunch. Mid-afternoon we head out to the world famous Cable Beach where you might like to take an optional camel ride, or just enjoy this spectacular beach before our farewell dinner at the Cable Beach Resort.
Option: 30 Minute Camel Ride $65.00 Must be booked and pre-paid

DAY 12

BROOME – MELBOURNE - ALBURY WEDNESDAY 14TH AUGUST
Following breakfast and check-out procedures, we transfer to Broome Airport to board our Qantas Flight QF1051 to Melbourne departing 11.35am (refreshments in flight) arriving in Melbourne at 5.35pm. Our Martins coach will be waiting to transfer you to your home destination arriving approximately 10.00pm to complete a fantastic holiday to the Kimberley!

TOUR COST

$8398.00 Per Person Twin / Double Share

$10,035.00 Single Supplement

INCLUDES

Economy Flights
Forward Journey Virgin Melbourne - Darwin
Return Journey Qantas Broome - Melbourne
Coach travel for duration of tour
Accommodation on basis as booked
Meals as indicated on itinerary
Entrances to attractions and cruises as per itinerary
Goods & Services Tax

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner