The Kimberley sits at the very top of Western Australia. Fringed by the Indian Ocean and Timor Sea to the north and the vast Great Sandy Desert in The Pilbara to the south.
The jagged ridges are dotted with boab and bloodwood trees, while deciduous vine forests and wooded grasslands find shade in the sandstone and limestone gorges. The area is twice the size of Victoria but is home to less than 40,000 people, making it one of Australia’s most untouched regions.
Summers are very hot and very wet, so winter is the perfect time to don some hardy boots and set off on a walking tour to explore The Kimberley’s many treasures.
Even in June and July, the midday sun can be warm. One of Life’s An Adventure’s pack-free walks lets you enjoy the breathtaking vistas without getting weighed down with a tent and several days’ supply of food and clothes.
A passion for walking tours
The company was the brainchild of life-long bushwalker Mark Norek and his wife Vicki. They have been organising guided walks all over Australia for over a decade, winning 21 major tourism awards.
The Kimberley has always held a special place in their hearts and their unrivalled knowledge of the area has helped them devise five pack-free walks. Each journey gives guests access to some of the most magnificent, yet rarely seen areas.
What makes Life’s an Adventure unique is the combination of rugged, outdoor adventures with extremely comfortable – even luxurious – overnight accommodation. Expect welcoming beds and a glass of fine wine to toast the day’s activity. Each walk is led by a CEO (chief experience officer) and is suitable for a wide range of fitness levels, including first-timers.
Guided pack-free walks
The only difficulty you might have exploring The Kimberley with Life’s An Adventure is deciding which of the five tempting, all-inclusive tours to choose.
7 Day Kimberley Explorer Walk
The Guided 7 Day Kimberley Explorer Walk is hard to beat if you want to discover unspoilt and remarkable Kimberley landscapes.
You’ll witness the calm serenity of Lake Argyle, trek through dense pockets of rainforest and navigate dramatic sandstone ridges before indulging yourself at the boutique accommodations featuring spa pools and exquisite restaurants.
The tour price includes a scenic flight on the sixth day into the Bungles. The incredible, beehive-shaped sandstone towers were formed 350 million years ago. The World Heritage Site is one of the wonders of Australia. Once you land, you’ll change aircraft and experience heli-hiking into the remote Picaninny Gorge, a place normally only accessible by a three-day hike with a heavy pack.
5-Day Kimberley, Bungles & Beyond Walk
If you’re short on time, then the Guided 5-Day Kimberley, Bungles & Beyond Walk is a great way to experience most of what’s included in the 7-day walk. It includes heli-hiking in The Bungles and a stay at a lakeside villa at Lake Argyle Resort with its famous infinity pool. Pre-dinner cocktails on the deck at the Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge is a wonderful way to finish a day’s walking.
7-Day Kimberley, Bungles & Mitchell Falls Walk
The Guided 7-Day Kimberley, Bungles & Mitchell Falls Walk is another incredible itinerary. Take a sunset cruise on Lake Argyle, an Indigenous cultural and rock art tour, a coastal fishing expedition and the Bungles heli-hiking experience.
But the highlight is surely the early morning helicopter flight to Mitchell Plateau. You’ll fly over the plateau’s stark, sun-drenched hills and white water rivers. From there, it’s a short walk to the three, mighty cascading falls along the Mitchell River. Then enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch and a swim in the pristine Mitchell Falls.
10-Day Kimberley to Broome Explorer
This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the very best of The Kimberley on an immersive expedition. The 10-Day Kimberley to Broome Explorer will transport you right across the region, sampling the most luxurious overnight stays, extraordinary vistas and unforgettable sights.
As well as all the experiences of the shorter walking tours, you’ll visit the spectacular Mimbi Caves, cruise between the limestone cliffs of the Geikie Gorge and be entranced by Dreamtime legends from local guides. With stays at both the world-renowned Echo Beach Wilderness Retreat and amid the splendour of Cable Beach Resort.
10-Day Bungles, Broome and Beyond
The Guided 10-Day Bungles, Broome and Beyond walk begins at El Questro, a 700,000-acre cattle station in the Eastern Kimberley region. This fabulous walk includes heli-hiking in the upper regions of the Piccaninny Gorge in the Bungles before heading onto the unforgettable Halls Gap and Fitzroy Crossing, with walks through Tunnel Creek, Mimbi Caves and Geikie Gorge.
A scenic flight takes you over the Horizontal Falls to the Dampier Peninsula. Here, you’ll visit a pearl farm before heading along the awe-inspiring coastline towards the Cable Beach Resort and Broome.
There’s so much to do and see in The Kimberleys that planning a walking tour can seem daunting. That’s why Life’s An Adventure has spent years fine-tuning each of their pack-free itineraries to make sure you don’t miss a thing. The friendly and passionate chief experience officers take care of everything, leaving you free to behold the natural beauty around every turn in an area that’s simply bedazzling in its majesty.
There are few better ways to escape the cold and gloom of winter.
This article was produced in partnership with Life’s An Adventure. lifesanadventure.com.au
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