Kimberley Highlights No 1 2025

EXPERIENCES / KIMBERLEY

Kimberley Highlights No 1

Overview   -   Details   -   Itinerary   -   Gallery   -   Map

Overview


  • Three sections, any of which can be done on its own.
  • Northern Carr Boyd Range:  Spring fed creeks trickle through deep, cool gorges and lovely pools bounded by a lush vegetation.
  • Keep River National Park: an area of spectacularly rugged rock formations and rock pools perfect for swimming. 
  • Ord River Canoe: a leisurely four day paddle is a prefect way to finish.
We created this trip to give you the most variety possible. Every section is spectacular in its own way. Every section includes beautiful pools, perfect for swimming. More than just walks, this trip is an experience you'll never forget.
KIMBERLEY
May 24 - June 7 2025
The original sections 1 & 2 will not run this year.

1) Northern Carr Boyd Range

From the road, Northern the Carr Boyds present a forbidding face, dry, barren, rugged beyond belief. Up close, they show a different nature.  Spring fed creeks trickle through deep, cool gorges and lovely pools bounded by a lush vegetation.

A boat ride up the Ord River brings us to a drop off on Cooliman Creek. A relatively flat walk of about 4 km gets us to the first of the many waterfalls and pools we get to enjoy on this walk.
From here, one waterfall follows another as we make our way up one creek, then overland and down another. Along the way we stop to enjoy numerous swims and take time to simply relax and look at nature around us.
We exit the range near Packsaddle Creek where we are met by the pick up vehicle that brings us back to Kununurra.

2) Keep River National Park

Geologically part of the Kimberley, the orange and grey banding on the rocks cause some to compare it to a smaller version of the Bungles.

2) Keep River continued

We walk in to a base camp from which we explore some of the beautiful gorges and other parts of the rugged massif,  visiting art sites, taking refuge from the heat of the day in the same rock shelters and pools that the Aboriginal people have used for thousands of years.

This ancient land demands time. Every turn brings a new vista, a new opportunity for a photo, or perhaps a broad panorama of spectacularly contrasting light which no camera can ever hope to capture. All too soon, our time is over and we walk over the massif and back to the vehicles.

3) Ord River Canoe

A relaxing end to a wonderful trip. Using canoes allows us to carry more with less effort — a good way to carry a few little luxuries you wouldn't put into a pack. It also allows us to get closer to large numbers of birds than is normally possible and get access to some otherwise inaccessible waterfalls and pools.

From Kununurra we are driven to Lake Argyle where we put the canoes in the river just below the main dam. The next four days are spent doing a leisurely paddle back to Kununurra, stopping to do a few day walks up into the hills through which we are passing. We plan to make our camps well off the main river, in quiet spots that we will have to ourselves.

Details


 DATES
May 24 - June 7
 PRICES
Full price: A$6995
Sec 1: A$2895
Sec 2: A$2195
Sec 3: A$2195
Discounts available
GROUP SIZE
4 - 12 guests
CAMP SITES
Mix of sand and rock ledges. Most sites are good to excellent. You are unlikely to see anyone else along most of the the walks.
ART
We visit a variety of art sites
SWIMMING
good swimming on all five sections.
WILDLIFE
Birds are always present but spread out at this time of year. You are unlikely to see many large animals. The Ord Canoe section gives you the best birds as well as a good chance to see small freshwater crocodiles.
CLIMATE
Usually very dry, average daytime max 30-31ºC, average nighttime minimum is 15-16ºC but can get down below 5ºC. Rain is very unlikely.
COOKING
Keep River is a stove only area. We should be able to have campfires on the other sections. 

WALK RATING - MODERATE
Terrain
 
Highly varied. Every section is different. Please see the PDF trip notes for details.

Vegetation 

Much of the walking is through relatively flat, open woodland with a grassy understorey.

Distance

4-6 hours per day 

Pack Weight

You need to carry up to 6 days of food.

Booking Information Enquire Now

Download detailed trip notes

24 May - 7 June

Download

Itinerary


  • DAY 0

    Pre-trip meeting, 6.00 p.m., outdoor area, Kimberley Croc Motel. This meeting is important. If you cannot make the meeting, please advise us well in advance.

  • DAY 1

    Boat to the start of the walk.  Begin walk. Bush camp.

  • DAY 2-5

    Bush camping, carrying full packs. There may be a half day walk without a full pack. 

  • DAY 6

    Return to vehicles. Drive to Kununurra. End of section 1. 

    Afternoon drop off at accommodation for those finishing here.

    For those continuing, overnight in backpackers. Opportunity to do laundry and shopping. 

  • DAY 7

    Morning pick up for those beginning with this section. Pick up is from your accommodation if you have notified us where you will be staying at least a week before section one departs. Otherwise pick up is from in front of the Kununurra Visitors Centre sometime between 7 and 8 a.m.

    Drive to Keep River. Begin walk, carrying full packs. Bush camp.


  • DAY 8-10

    Bush camping, carrying full packs some days, day packs on others.

  • DAY 11

    Return to vehicle, drive to Kununurra. Afternoon drop off at accommodation for those finishing here. For those continuing, overnight in backpackers. Opportunity to do laundry and shopping. 


  • DAY 12

    Morning pick up, time to be arranged the night before. Pick up is from your accommodation in Kununurra provided you have given us the address at least a week before section one departs. Otherwise the pick up is from in front of the Kununurra Visitors Centre. If you have not contacted the guide the night before, you will need to be ready by 6.30 a.m. as we may leave anytime between 6.30 and 9.30 a.m.

    Bus to Argyle Dam. Begin canoe trip. Bush camp.


  • DAY 13-14

    Bush camping. Canoeing and day walks.

  • DAY 15

    Return to Kununurra, arriving early to mid afternoon. Drop off at your accommodation. 

*This itinerary is subject to change
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