Day 1 (D) MELBOURNE, DARWIN
This morning Melbourne passengers fly to Darwin. Passengers flying from other States arrive during the day and transfer to our home for two nights, Travelodge Mirambeena. Enjoy a sunset dinner cruise on board the Charles Darwin as we cruise on Darwin Harbour and see the sun drop below the horizon.

Day 2 (B,D) DARWIN, SUNSET DINNER CRUISE
A leisurely day today as we explore our most northern capital. A tour of the city, visit Parliament House, see the facade of Christ Church Cathedral, the only part remaining after Cyclone Tracy, and visit East Point Military Museum. Learn a little about the bombing of Darwin. We visit the Museum and Art Gallery, which features a display telling the story of Cyclone Tracy. Outdoor dining tonight at Stokes Hill Wharf.

Day 3 (B,L,D) DARWIN, LITCHFIELD NP, ADELAIDE RIVER, PINE CREEK, KATHERINE
Departing Darwin, we travel to Batchelor, originally established for employees of the Rum Jungle Mine. In Litchfield National Park, in the Tabletop and Tableland Ranges, visit the fascinating magnetic termite mounds, Florence Falls and Wangi Falls. Lunch at Adelaide River, visit Adelaide River War Cemetery, where 434 WWII service men and women are buried, including some killed in the Japanese bombing of Darwin. On to Pine Creek, gateway to Arnhem Land and a uranium mining district and finally to Katherine. Home for two nights, Knotts Crossing Resort.

Day 4 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, NITMILUK (KATHERINE GORGE) CRUISE
Another relaxing day. Enjoy the two-hour morning Nitmiluk Cruise on two of the thirteen gorges which make up Katherine Gorge and flow into the Daly River. A highlight is Jedda Rock, used in the filming of the early Australian film Jedda. (Note: Some walking is undertaken between the two gorges; reasonable fitness needed.) During the afternoon we visit Katherine Museum and enjoy Devonshire tea and learn the history of Springvale Homestead, an early cattle property. Visit the Knotts Crossing, site of the 1870’s original township, a shanty pub and an overland repeater station.

Day 5 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, TIMBER CREEK, KUNUNURRA
School resumes today and we join the children of the School of the Air for their first session (subject to timetable). We travel to Victoria River, lunch at the roadhouse. On to Timber Creek, a small settlement on the Gregory River founded in 1835 when the Victoria River was the lifeline to the biggest cattle stations in the world. Afternoon cuppa prior to the last stage of our journey into Western Australia and the town of Kununurra. Home for two nights, the Kununurra Hotel.

Day 6 (B,L,D) KUNUNURRA, HIDDEN VALLEY N.P., LAKE ARGYLE, ORD RIVER CRUISE
Passengers have the opportunity to book on a spectacular sunrise Bungle Bungle flight over the ”lost world” of unique and fascinating beehive-like striped rock dome formations starting with a pre-dawn breakfast (own expense). Please contact our office to book. Today we visit Hidden Valley National Park with its 350 million year old rock formations, enjoy a short walk through part of the park. Kununurra is one of the youngest towns in Western Australia, being gazetted in the early 1960‘s. The area is rich in pastoral history and the famed Durack Homestead, built by Patsy Durack, was moved and reconstructed prior to the flooding of the Lake Argyle and is now a museum. Cross the retaining wall of this massive lake to join the Triple J cruise downstream from Lake Argyle along the Ord River to Kununurra, a distance of approximately 50 kilometres. Definitely a cruise to remember!

Day 7 (B,L,D) KUNUNURRA, HALLS CREEK, FITZROY CROSSING
Today’s journey takes us to Halls Creek, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. The first gold in WA was discovered here in 1885. Later it was the last stopping place for drovers using the Canning Stock Route to Wiluna. Lunch here today. During the afternoon we continue to Fitzroy Crossing, located on the best spot to ford the Fitzroy River. Home tonight, Fitzroy River Lodge. (Jul 21 departure stays at Halls Creek.)

Day 8 (B,L,D) FITZROY CROSSING, GEIKIE GORGE CRUISE, DERBY
This morning enjoy a Fitzroy River Geikie Gorge Cruise, the gorge carved by water through ancient coral reefs leaving colourful sheer yellow, orange and grey ochre sculptured cliffs. The flood water marks show the volume of water in floodtime. We continue our journey to Derby.

Day 9 (B,D) DERBY, BROOME
This morning we enjoy a town tour of Derby. View the famous Boab Prison Tree, believed to be over 1,500 years old. The Derby Wharf, from 1964 to 1983 used for live cattle loading, has the largest tidal variance in Australia, over thirty feet in height. We arrive in Broome mid-afternoon. Our home for two nights, the Mercure Inn Continental.

Day 10 (B,D) BROOME
A most enjoyable day as we enjoy a short tour of this western seaboard town, centre of a huge pearl industry and known as the “Pearl Capital of the World”. View the Courthouse, originally built in 1889 as a telegraph office when Broome was linked by undersea telephone cable to Java. We visit the Broome Historical Society Museum and Chinatown.

Day 11 (B,L,D) BROOME
This morning we visit the Willie Creek Pearl Farm, learn a little of this fascinating industry, watch a live oyster seeding demonstration, cruise the waters of Willie Creek. Return to Broome. The afternoon is free to browse, explore or relax at the resort. Enjoy the view as we watch the sunset at Cable Beach tonight.

Day 12 (B) BROOME, MELBOURNE
Sadly we join our homeward flights to Melbourne or other interstate destinations, concluding a most enjoyable Kimberley holiday. For Melbourne passengers, coach transfers are available to Southern Cross Station coach terminal and Forest Hill Chase