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 19^th  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

The post Australia in Focus: The Kimberley appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Best accessed by helicopter, the Islands only resort is “Orpheus Island Lodge”. Capping the number of guests at 28, this an exclusive escape – talk about private!

With a warm tropical climate, Orpheus provides an average temperature of 27°C year-round. The water temperature varies between 21°C in the winter and 29°C in the summer making it ideal for exploring the coral reefs at your doorstep.

The Island

Orpheus Island is one of the 13 Islands that belong to “The Palm Island Group” located 20km off the Queensland coast (between Magnetic and Hinchinbrook Islands).

Declared a national park in 1960, most of the island is controlled by the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service. It’s mostly made up of dry woodlands filled with wattles and huge Morton bay ash trees. Explore the island to find scattered rainforest, wetlands and mangroves and keep your eyes out for geckos and echindas!

Located in one of the seven natural wonders of the world, this Island is only home to Orpheus Island Lodge and a James Cook University research station and lab.

Researchers visit the “state of the art” lab to study the hundreds of species of fish and corals, and the stunning national park. They’re helped by VCE biology students who visit each year to learn about climate change, rising sea levels, and environmental impacts. They’re also open for visitors! Just contact the University in advance. 

How to get there

Take a 30min helicopter journey from Townsville over the picturesque coral-studded sea, or a 90 minute flight from Cairns.

Alternatively, join a day trip that cruises through the Palm Island Group and gives you plenty of time to swim, snorkel and explore.

The Reef

Orpheus is home to 1100 of the Great Barrier Reef’s 1500 species of fish and 340 of the 359 varieties of hard corals giving you the opportunity to see the best that the GBR has to offer! If you’re wanting to see even more, the Island is in close proximity to outer reefs where you can dive with green turtles, bull rays and reef sharks.

If you’re lucky, you may even see the Humpback whale migration from late June to mid September!

The Accommodation

Right on the beach, the Island is home to only one resort – Orpheus Island Lodge.

An all-inclusive, luxury resort (complete with infinity pool) with a focus on the environment: They actively minimise their footprint as much as possible, and have a sustainable veggie patch, solar hot water and a waste water treatment plant.

Staying here, all of your chef prepared meals are provided along with beer, wine, soft drink and snacks. Try yoga, fishing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, all on the house! Know how to sail a catamaran? Take one out for the day!

Everything you could want is provided here.

Convenience

Bordered by coral reefs, Orpheus is a haven for snorkelling and diving.

Want a change of scenery? Day trip to Australia’s largest Island national park “Hinchinbrook Island” and be wowed by beautiful waterfalls, secluded beaches and lush rainforest. And don’t worry, the Lodge can organise a chef prepared picnic hamper to take with you!

This luxury escape will make you feel instantly relaxed. Spend your days enjoying the wonders of the reef at your doorstep and soak in the tropical climate.

The post Australia in Focus: Orpheus Island appeared first on Mosaic Travel.