Timor Sea to the North.
Northern Territory to the East.
Great Sandy Desert to the South.
Indian Ocean on its Western edge.
Located on the northern-most part of Western Australia and covering some 421,451 square kilometres (an area three times the size of England) you find the Kimberley.
Being home to only 40,000 people means that there are fewer people per kilometre than almost any other place on the planet!
Over 60% of this population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander who have given this region one of its most prized attractions: Indigenous rock art.
To truly appreciate the beauty and brilliance that dominates this region, navigating the Kimberley by 4WD is the way to go!
When to travel
The Kimberley has two seasons: the dry and the wet.
During the wet season – from November to April – monsoonal rains fall and rivers flood, making large areas of the Kimberley impassable.
The dry season typically has clear blue skies, Easterly winds and warm days with occasional cool nights.
If you’re wanting to see water fall’s at their prime, a visit at the end of April or May is ideal after they’ve been replenished from the wet season.
History
This is one of the earliest settled parts of Australia, and provides important geological and fossil evidence (dinosaur footprints!!) of Australia’s evolutionary history.
The Kimberley has been occupied by over 30 Aboriginal tribes for at least 40,000 years and continues to be home to Aboriginal groups practising traditional law in the World’s oldest continuous culture.
People have been drawn to The Kimberley for centuries. Firstly to grow crops, then to herd cattle in the mid 19th century. There was the gold rush in 1886 bringing an influx of Chinese and Europeans before pearling boomed in the late 19th century.
Today, people from all over the World come to visit the Kimberley’s National and World Heritage listed parks, its dramatic and beautiful landscapes, pristine beaches, ancient gorges, waterfalls and rugged outback.
Must Sees
Art
The Kimberley is home to hundreds of thousands of rock art paintings and drawings known as “Bradshaw” or “Wandjina” rock art. These beautiful and mysterious paintings are hidden in outback bush galleries on the huge escarpments and terracotta rocks of the North Kimberley.
Coast
More than just the red dirt dessert, the Coast is one of Western Australia’s biggest assets.
Cable beach: beautiful turquoise water for 24km’s.
Broome: World famous for pearls!
Buccaneer Archipelago: A group off Islands just off the Kimberley’s North Eastern coast (a 35minute flight). Rugged red cliffs, cool waters and white sandy beaches.
Waterfalls
You’ll find the most incredible waterfalls in Australia (if not the World) here. Fly above, swim and explore over half a dozen of them!
Purnululu National Park
World Heritage Purnululu is home to the incredible striped ‘beehive’ domes of the Bungle Bungle Range.
The rounded rock towers are made of sandstone and other finer materials moulded together by rainfall over millions of years. Their stripes are the result of oxidised iron compounds and algae.
To the local Kidja people, “purnululu” means sandstone.
Mornington Wilderness Camp
Part of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the superb “Mornington Wilderness Camp” is as remote as it gets!
Sitting on the Fitzroy River, it’s a scenic 95km drive across the savannah from the Gibb’s 247km mark. Nearly 400,000 hectares of gorges and savannah are devoted to conserving the Kimberley’s endangered fauna and there’s excellent canoeing, swimming, birdwatching and bushwalking here.
Threats
The Kimberley faces a number of serious environmental pressures, including climate change, large wild fires, feral animals, weeds and cattle grazing degradation.
Cruise
Not sure what to see or how to fit everything in while still having a relaxing holiday?
Take a 12 day luxury cruise that includes all the highlights!
You’ll see 6 fresh water waterfalls, Bradshaw and Wandjina art, Buccaneer Archipelago, Montgomery reef, and the list goes on!
If you’re wanting to explore more, take an optional helicopter flight or fishing trip!
Easily accessible with most Australian capitals flying directly to Broome, the Kimberley is one of Australia’s most under rated holiday destinations packed with so many beautiful landscapes and history that you won’t want to come home!
To enquire about the stunning Kimberley, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583
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