Kimberley Circuit: 10-Day Gibb River Road, Bungle Bungles & Ord River Adventure

On the 10 Day Kimberley Circuit Shared Tour, you begin in Broome and follow the legendary Gibb River Road across Western Australia's North Kimberley, a landscape carved from ancient reef and driven by wild rivers. Over ten days and nine nights this small-group, max-6 itinerary stitches together Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Bell and Galvin’s Gorges, Manning Falls, Emma Gorge, El Questro, Lake Argyle and the Ord River, and the World Heritage Purnululu National Park with its iconic Bungle Bungles. The geology here is obvious: the Napier Range is a Devonian reef more than 350 million years old; Windjana is a 3.5km gorge cut through that rock. Tunnel Creek’s 750-metre cave holds stalactites and secret chambers where Jandamarra sought refuge in the late 1800s — a living Aboriginal legend woven into the route. At Bell and Manning you’ll find plunge pools and waterfalls carved from ancient sandstone; Zebedee Springs offers warm, palm-fringed thermal pools. Purnululu rewards with its striped, beehive domes — orange and black bands formed over 20 million years — and narrow gorges like Echidna Chasm where walls rise to 100 metres. This trip is distinct because it pairs rugged 4WD exploration with comfortable, often luxury, stays: wilderness lodges, cattle-station hospitality and a private lodge at the Bungle Bungles. Small-group travel allows deeper access — guided walks to rock art sites, evening talks about pastoral history in Durack country and an optional scenic helicopter flight over Purnululu for a sweeping aerial perspective. The itinerary also includes a wildlife cruise on the Ord River and a visit to Lake Argyle, Australia’s largest man-made lake. Practical notes: expect the touring season to align with the Kimberley Dry — daytime highs commonly 28–32°C and nights that can fall below 6°C. Luggage limits are strict (12kg for small-group tours; 10kg when scenic flights are included). Bring a small daypack, swimwear, water shoes for caves and gorges, sun protection, and a warm layer for cool evenings. The trip begins with your Broome pickup, and the small max-6 group size keeps travel nimble. Included are park fees, local guides, transport in a fully equipped 4WD, selected meals and an Ord River wildlife cruise; optional extras such as the scenic helicopter over Purnululu are available at own expense. Note some walking involves rock scrambling, un-even ground and water wading; a reasonable level of fitness is advised. Strongly. Why book it? For travellers who want a thorough, paced encounter with the Kimberley’s dramatic geology, significant cultural narratives and overflowing wildlife without roughing it the whole way, this tour stitches marquee landmarks, lesser-known caves and cattle-station life into a single, memorable circuit. It’s a photographer’s dream, a historian’s field class and a backcountry swim list all rolled into one.