17 Day Kakadu & Kimberley Small Group Tour
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
This tour features a combination of escorted and independent travel. Part of your journey will be enjoyed as a group experience, led by expert tour leaders or local guides. The remainder is self-guided—whether by rail, cruise, or overland—allowing you the freedom to travel between destinations independently and explore at your own pace.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
✓ Incredible sightseeing, including Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park, Nitmiluk, Ubirr & Nourlangie rock sites, a Ranger guided Geike Gorge Boat Cruise, Purnululu National Park, the Bungle Bungles, and more
✓ Small group tour of up to 12 travellers in Kakadu & up to 20 in the Kimberley
✓ Included flights from Darwin to Broome
✓ 12 Breakfasts, 8 lunches & 10 dinners
✓ Incredible sightseeing as per the itinerary
✓ Transport in an air-conditioned tour coach in Kakadu
✓Transportation in purpose built modern 4WD coaches in the Kimberleys
✓ 7 Day cooling off period. See under Fine Print for more information
✓ Only $99 deposit per person. See under Fine Print for more information
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Make your own way to the accommodation and get yourself settled in. The Bicentenial Park or the Waterfront Precinct is a short stroll away and worth a wander. Or take some time to explore all the culinary delights Darwin city has to offer, including its’ very own lane-way.
Today you have a full day to explore all the wonders Darwin has to offer.
Take a ride on the Hop on Hop off Bus to get a great overview of all the worthwhile sites or hire an electric scooter, they are everywhere!
If you feel like a walk, go for an easy and scenic wander through the lush Botanic Gardens. If you feel like escaping the heat, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the Darwin Military Museum are beautifully air conditioned and contain some fascinating exhibits. Please make sure to be ready for your Welcome Meeting at 6pm in the lobby of the hotel. After your guide has briefed you on the week ahead enjoy a group dinner with your fellow adventurers at a local restaurant.
We depart Darwin early this morning from our hotel. We head straight for the world famous and UNESCO World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park to make the most of our time exploring this culturally rich area.
First stop will be at the Border Store close to Cahills Crossing to pick up some lunch. After lunch we head to the awe inspiring rock art galleries of Ubirr. Here we will have the opportunity to stretch our legs for a short (1km) walk to some of the famous rock art galleries in the area. You may also choose to walk to the top of the lookout over Nadab Floodplain. Once we have explored all the rich cultural heritage of Ubirr we head to Jabiru to check in at our accommodation. Unpack your bags, cool off in the pool and settle in, this will be your home for the next 3 nights.
Today we drive out to the Yellow water region which is part of the South Alligator River floodplain. You will have the chance to explore the area by boat on a Yellow water cruise (included) and visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre (optional).
In the afternoon, we drive out to Nourlangie rock art site, where we will have the opportunity to explore some of the most breathtaking and diverse Aboriginal rock art paintings in the area.
Leaving from Jabiru enjoy a full day exploring Arnhem Land with a local guide and visit rock art sites not accessible to the general public.
Travelling in a comfortable 4WD’s bus, you will experience the region’s world-famous landscapes consisting of sandstone escarpment outcrops, rock art sites, forests, floodplains & billabongs with birdlife.
Visit the spectacular Cannon Hill and Hawk Dreaming region. Travel into the Mikkinj valley with its stunning scenery of billabongs, wildlife & towering escarpment. Enjoy lunch beside the Inkiyu Billabong.
Today we will be checking out of our accommodation and will drive to Leliyn (Edith Falls) in Nitmiluk National Park. On our way to Leliyn we will pass Pine Creek, one of the oldest towns in the Northern Territory. At Leliyn you will have plenty of time to enjoy swimming in the paperbark and pandanus fringed natural pools. Take the opportunity to go for a walk to explore the different rock pools at the Upper Pools. After a refreshing swim and a nice stroll we will drive out to Katherine to our new accommodation.
Today is another day full of wonders!
We’ll spend the morning at the famous Mataranka Thermal pools, 1hr south of Katherine. We will beat the crowds by heading there early in the morning. Enjoy a soak in the warm water or go for a stroll.
After soaking in the thermal pools we head straight to Katherine Gorge where we embark on the NitNit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour boat cruise. 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. Immerse yourself in the cultural significance and geology of the park and discover many historical facts.
After the cruise we will head back to Katherine for another relaxing night at our accommodation.
Today we make our way up north to Litchfield National Park to complete our journey of these spectacular Parks the Top End has to offer. Our first stop will be in Adelaide River, where you will have the opportunity to stretch your legs. Before we get to Litchfield NP we have the chance to marvel at the Magnetic Termite Mounds. Next stop will be Florence Falls, for a dip in the natural plunge pools framed by monsoon rainforest. Later in the afternoon we head to Wangi Falls, another stunning and impressive waterfall. Here you can choose to go for another swim or do the loop walk up to the top of the falls (1.6km). From Wangi Falls we will head back to Darwin (1.5hrs). Your guide will drop you off around 6pm at the Travelodge Resort Darwin, where you are free to enjoy Darwin’s culinary delights at your own leisure.
Enjoy breakfast before checking out and, at the appropriate time, make your way to Darwin airport to board your flight (included) to Broome.
Once in Broome, make your way to your centrally located hotel, settle in and start exploring Broome.
A taxi to the hotel in Darwin and to your hotel in Broome will cost you approximately $30 to $40 per cab.
This morning you will be collected from your hotel for a Willie Creek Pearl Farm Tour. You will follow the progress of the huge Pinctada Maxima shells as they are placed in panels and suspended to feed in the fast flowing tidal waters of Willie Creek. The world’s largest and most precious pearls grow on the Pearl Coast. After your tour including damper and tea, the Willie Creek Showroom reveals more insights into pearls and pearling, as well as offering affordable loose pearls, unique pearl farm jewellery and pearl shell products. Visiting the farm by air-conditioned coach is an excellent way to see some of the countryside with an experienced guide. Your coach captain will take the time to acquaint you with some of the more unusual native plants and wildlife on the 38km trip.
Hotel pick up details: Pick up for today's tour starts at approximately 7:45AM. Please reconfirm your tour 24 hours prior using the contact details provided to be advised the correct pick up time for your hotel. You'll need to be waiting in the lobby 15 minutes before your scheduled pick up time.
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Broome to relax by the pool, or join in more sightseeing.
Itinerary Note:
The 30th July 2022 departure date will commence the Kimberley tour today and enjoy a full day at leisure in Broome on day 16 instead.
Today you will be collected from your hotel to journey deep into the heart of pristine wilderness on a tour from Broome. Experience the Horizontal Falls and more via return scenic flights and fast boat cruise. Be amazed by the incredible forces of one of the world’s largest tidal movements. Be amazed by the incredible forces of one of the world’s largest tidal movements. Your highly experienced skipper navigates your boat back and forth through the Horizontal Falls. Have your camera ready as your one-hour return flight takes off from Cockatoo Island, flying low across the Horizontal Falls for an aerial perspective of your day in the Kimberley.
Tour departs: approx 5.30am
Tour concludes: approx 11.15am
Includes: Hotel pick up and drop off, return scenic flights, Kimberley cruise & breakfast
We ease into our adventure as we travel east towards Fitzroy Crossing. Visit the Old Fitzroy Crossing and colourful Mangkaja Aboriginal Arts Centre before joining a local guided cruise through majestic Danggu (Geikie Gorge) that nature carved between the Geikie and Oscar Ranges. Learn of the fascinating geology of this natural wonder and discover the huge array of wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles, birds and fish. That evening, camp by the Fitzroy River and enjoy our famous Kimberley BBQ.
Camping:
Camping in the Fitzroy River Lodge involves dome tents (single/twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. On site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets.
Camping Plus:
The Safari Cabins at the Fitzroy River Lodge offer a traditional Kimberley-style accommodation upgrade option for travellers looking for a little extra comfort. Similar to a regular motel room, they feature beds with pillows and linen, fans, power and private ensuite. Relax on the porch and enjoy the bush ambiance.
Visit the gold rush town of Halls Creek and see the remarkable China Wall enroute to Purnululu National Park, home of the magnificent Bungle Bungles. On arrival in Purnululu, there is time to orient ourselves and settle into our Safari Camp. After a delightful bush sunset, relax with a delicious meal and evening under the stars. Spend the next day exploring the highlights of this extraordinary National Park, the most famous of which are the Bungle Bungle domes. Rivers created this landscape of unique orange and black striped ‘beehive’ geological formations over a period of 20 million years. Unbelievably, only the locals knew it existed until the early 1980’s. To protect its unique landscape, the area was made a national park in 1987 and now enjoys World Heritage status. We explore the 2km long Echidna Chasm, known for its towering Livistonia Palm trees, and take a short walk (2-3km) into stunning Cathedral Gorge, where towering rocks create a natural amphitheatre.
Camping & Camping Plus:
In the heart of Purnululu National Park, our eco safari tents at the Bungle Bungles Safari Camp boast views of the Bungles Massif from your door. The camp features modern facilities, a covered dining deck with panoramic views and an open air campfire around which you can relax beneath a sparkling Kimberley night sky: chatting, star-gazing and sharing the adventure with like-minded travellers.
Spend another day exploring Purnululu National with your tour leader.
We bid farewell to Purnululu and travel to the ancient realm of Mimbi Caves, one of Western Australia’s largest cave systems, in the heart of Gooniyandi Country. Spiritually significant, these limestone caves are one of the oldest identified sites of human occupation in Australia. Delve into Dreamtime with our local Gooniyandi guide who shares traditional stories and reveals the secrets of Mimbi Caves, a sanctuary of crystal clear pools, rare fossils and ancient rock art. Share fresh damper and billy tea with the Gooniyandi traditional owners before we head for Fitzroy Crossing
Camping:
Camping in the Fitzroy River Lodge involves dome tents (single/twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. On site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets.
Camping Plus:
The Safari Cabins at the Fitzroy River Lodge offer a traditional Kimberley-style accommodation upgrade option for travellers looking for a little extra comfort. Similar to a regular motel room, they feature beds with pillows and linen, fans, power and private ensuite. Relax on the porch and enjoy the bush ambiance.
Following another night by the Fitzroy River, we head for Bunuba country – once a Devonian reef, this terrain is over 350 million years old and home to a diverse array of animals and plants. In the morning we seek the adventure of Tunnel Creek, a 750-metre cave system in which we discover secret caves and a large variety of wildlife. It is here we also learn the legend of Jandamarra, an Aboriginal freedom fighter who used the tunnel as a hide-out in the late 1800’s. Freshen up with a swim in the idyllic waterhole at the end of the tunnel before we travel to the geological wonder of Windjana Gorge, a delightful oasis in the outback. Beneath gorge walls rising 90m, we enjoy a picnic lunch and search for freshwater crocodiles, local birdlife and Indigenous bushtucker. The Gibb River Road then leads us from the picturesque Napier Ranges as we begin the return to Broome via the Derby ‘Boab Prison Tree’.
Today, make your own way to the airport. We hope you’ve enjoyed this extraordinary journey.
You may want to complete your Kimberley Expedition adventure with a full day plane & boat tour to the Horizontal Falls. This is a full day activity and it will require you to stay in Broome one extra night. This activity is on request and it operates on certain dates (depending on the tides). Should it not be available on Day 15 of this tour, you can request it on Day 1 of this tour instead - which will require you to arrive in Broome the previous day.
A taxi to Broome airport to your accommodation costs approximately $20-23 per car.
Kimberley Tour Camping Plus Upgrade - Additional Cost of $355 per person on twin share
Refer to Day 12 & Day 15 of itinerary for a comparison between Camping vs Camping Plus Accommodation.
Single Traveller - Additional $1776
Single travellers can opt to share a tent/cabin with another single traveller of the same gender during the Kimberley tour (Day 12 to Day 15). However, you must purchase the compulsory single supplement which secures you a single from Day 1 to Day 11 & Day 16.
Camping Plus Single Supplement - $706 in addition to above compulsory single supplement
In addition to the above compulsory single supplment, you can also opt to have your own tent and cabin during the Kimberley tour (Day 12 to Day 15)
Luggage Restrictions:
Please note, a limit of 15kgs per person is permitted on tour and luggage must be in a soft bag or backpack, no suitcases permitted
Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognised and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.
We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.
Australian owned and operated with 100% Australian Customer Service support
We are proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, with our head office located in Melbourne, Victoria. When you make your booking, you will receive dedicated and ongoing support from our team of travel professionals throughout your booking, up until you are due to depart.
Cooling off period
If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment as part of our cooling off period. Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7 day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply.
Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to [email protected], including the reason for cancellation.
Deposit & Installment Payment Option:
Full Payment Option:
Booking Process
Booking On Request
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):
Horizontal Falls Seaplane Weight Restriction
All guests must declare their weight at the time of booking. We cannot carry guests over 120kg. Guests will be weighed at the airport and if you are over your declared weight you may be refused boarding and no refund will be issued.
The boat ride through the Horizontal Falls may not be suitable for women who are more than 26 weeks pregnant. Any women joining our tour whilst in any stage of pregnancy should seek their doctor’s approval prior to travel.
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online or speaking with your Dedicated Support Agent for assistance.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability. We appreciate your understanding.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving early or staying longer upon conclusion of the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post tour accommodation
Please note: Pre and Post Hotel rates are on request and will be subject to availability at the time of booking.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a “3”.
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement - From $1,776 in addition to the twin share price
Single travellers can opt to share a tent/cabin with another single traveller of the same gender during the Kimberley tour (Day 12 to Day 15). However, you must purchase a compulsory single supplement which secures you a single from Day 1 to Day 11 & Day 16.
Camping Plus Single Supplement - $706 in addition to above compulsory single supplement
In addition to the above compulsory single supplment, you can also opt to have your own tent and cabin during the Kimberley tour (Day 12 to Day 15)
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Group Size
This package is made up of multiple components which will be provided by different operators throughout your trip. As such, group size will differ between operators and can be as intimate as 2 people or as lively as up to 60 people, depending on the activity and advertised inclusions. There may be unique cases where your selected travel date exceeds the expected group size for special events or types of activities, particularly during popular times of travel. For packages that include a train or cruise, you will be travelling with other passengers up to the capacity of this component.
When travelling with a group, no matter the size, we ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience.
Bedding requests
We do our best to meet your bedding preference, however, bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only and cannot be guaranteed. All efforts will be made to meet your preference, however, any changes are beyond our control and limited by the hotel facilities and availability.
Tour Styles - Partially Escorted
The Kakadu tour (Days 2 to 8) and the Kimberley 4WD expedition (Days 12 to 16) are escorted by an expert local guide.
Days 1 (Darwin) & 12 (Broome) are unaccompanied whilst on Day 10 you will join a local guide on the Willie Creek day trip.
Who operates this package
We have partnered with a wide range of third party operators who assist in fulfilling your booking and delivering an enjoyable on-tour experience. Each package will consist of multiple operators meaning both guides and fellow travellers may change day to day. But don't worry, regardless of the operator, you'll be in good hands to experience the most out of each destination.
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