Day 1 (D) MELBOURNE, BROOME
This morning Melbourne passengers fly to Broome. Passengers flying from other States arrive during the day and transfer to our home for two nights, the Mercure Inn Continental.

Day 2 (B,D) BROOME
A most enjoyable day as we enjoy this western seaboard town, centre of a huge pearl industry and known as the “Pearl Capital of the World”. Visit 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. Enjoy the view as we watch the sunset at Cable Beach tonight.

Day 3 (B,L,D) BROOME, DERBY
This morning we set out for Derby. Lunch at Willare Bridge Roadhouse. On arrival in Derby we enjoy a tour of the town. View the famous Boab Prison Tree, believed to be over 1,500 years old. The Derby Wharf, used from 1964 to 1983 for live cattle loading, has the largest tidal variance in Australia, over thirty feet in height. Our home tonight is the King Sound Resort, Derby.

Day 4 (B,L,D) DERBY, FITZROY CROSSING, GEIKIE GORGE CRUISE
This morning we continue to Fitzroy Crossing, located on the best spot to ford the Fitzroy River. 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 flood time. Home tonight, Fitzroy River Lodge.

Day 5 (B,L,D) FITZROY CROSSING, HALLS CREEK, KUNUNURRA
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 Kununurra. Home for two nights, the Kununurra Hotel.

Day 6 (B,L,D) 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 WA, being gazetted in the early 1960’s. The area is rich in pastoral history and the famed Durack Homestead 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,D) KUNUNURRA, TIMBER CREEK, KATHERINE
We leave Kununurra this morning to continue our journey eastwards 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. From Timber Creek we travel to Victoria River prior to the last stage of our journey to Katherine. Home for two nights, Knotts Crossing Resort.

Day 8 (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 which itself empties into the Timor Sea. 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 a guided tour of Springvale Homestead, an early cattle property. Visit also Knotts Crossing, site of the 1870’s original township, a shanty pub and an overland repeater station.

Day 9 (B,L,D) KATHERINE, PINE CREEK, ADELAIDE RIVER, LITCHFIELD N.P., DARWIN
School resumes today and we join the children of the School of the Air for their first session (subject to timetable). Departing Katherine, we travel to Pine Creek, gateway to Arnhem Land and a uranium mining district. 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. Then to Batchelor, originally established for employees of the Rum Jungle Mine, and Litchfield National Park in the Tabletop and Tableland Ranges. Visit the fascinating magnetic termite mounds, Florence Falls and Wangi Falls before continuing to Darwin and our home for two nights, Travelodge Mirambeena. Outdoor dining tonight at Stokes Hill Wharf.

Day 10 (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. Visit East Point Military Museum and learn a little about the bombing of Darwin. Visit the Museum and Art Gallery, which features a display telling the story of Cyclone Tracy. Later in the day enjoy a sunset dinner cruise on board the Spirit of Darwin as we cruise on Darwin Harbour and see the sun drop below the horizon.

Day 11 (B) DARWIN, 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.