Tour the Kimberleys, Australia
The magnificent Kimberley region in the far north of Western Australia features some of Australia’s most spectacular country, and is one of the country’s last great frontiers. The region covers more than 420,000 sq km from the Northern Territory border in the east to the coast in the west and the north, and the Great Sandy Desert in the south.
The area contains some of the oldest landscapes in the world and is rugged and sparsely populated, containing only three towns with a population of more than 2000. These are Broome, Kununurra and Derby. Broome is on the coast 2250 km north of Perth and is often referred to as the gateway to the Kimberley. Broome was established in the 1880s as part of the pearling industry, and the nearby pristine Cable Beach has been recognised as one of the five best beaches in the world. The sunsets here are truly magnificent and you can ride camels on the beach.
The Kimberley has seven National Parks. The King Leopold Ranges form the backbone of the region, and at dusk the craggy ridges change colour through breathtaking red to purple, while the tranquil Fitzroy River carves its way through deep spectacular gorges. The landscape is fascinating and the ancient inland river gorges were once part of a gigantic coral reef.
The Bungle Bungles are huge sandstone domes, best appreciated from the air. You can take a cruise of over 50 km on the upper Ord River to Lake Argyle, and there is also the Argyle Diamond Mine. South of Halls Creek you can see where a meteorite crashed to earth over a million years ago to form the 853 metre wide Wolf Creek crater.
Throughout the Kimberley’s you will see the bulbous baobab, or bottle tree, growing on sandy plains and low stony ridges. Capable of growing up to 10 metres and more in diameter the trunk is often hollow and can hold water. Many pioneers were saved from dehydration by this natural water tank. At Derby you can visit the Boab Prison Tree that was used as an overnight prison for criminals under escort.
The Kimberley is a fascinating area to visit at any time of year, but it is best to visit between May and October. Between November and April it is the monsoonal wet season and flood-swollen rivers will close some roads for days and sometimes weeks.
Because of the huge distances and rugged terrain, the best way to see the Kimberley region is by 4WD safari or air safari. This is true Australian outback country.