Kimberley Tours & Vacations

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

The Kimberley is the northernmost region of Western Australia with the Pilbara region to the south and the Northern Territory to the east.

It's one of Australia's most remote and sparsely populated places, with 38,000 residents living in an area covering 423,500 km2.

Most of our Kimberley trips begin in Broome – the largest town in the region. 

The quickest and most convenient way to get to Broome is to fly. There are direct flights to Broome International Airport from Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in the dry season from May to September with Virgin Australia and Qantas and flights to/from Perth and Darwin all year round. 

You can also fly into Kununurra Airport (also known as East Kimberley Regional Airport) if you plan on travelling east to west.

A slower, perhaps more immersive, way to travel to the Kimberley is to drive. The Gibb River Road – a 660 km road that runs through the heart of the Kimberley outback – is the gateway to most of the region’s national parks and sites. You can access Gibb River Road from Kununurra/Wyndham in the east or Derby in the west. 

If you’re road-tripping, it’s super important to plan and prepare as this is a remote region with few amenities. You will also need to ensure your vehicle is suitable for the trip, which means having a 4WD as many roads are unsealed and you may get bogged, depending on the weather.

Nature rules in the Kimberley, and although the human population is low, the region is brimming with furry, scaled and feathery residents.

The rivers, gorges, creeks and rocky terrain are a haven for wildlife and some of the native animals you might see on your trip include salt and freshwater crocodiles, goannas, lizards, snakes, dingoes, rock wallabies, bilbies and echidnas.

Yes, if you're self-driving you will need a 4WD.

A 2WD just won’t cut it for a Kimberley road trip – not if you want to do it safely and properly – as the weather and road conditions are unpredictable and many sections of the roads running through the region are unsealed.

Unlike other parts of Australia, the Kimberley experiences just two seasons: a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October.

The Kimberley is a popular winter escape for Australians living in the country's cooler parts. The busiest period is May to August when daytime highs average a balmy 28°C, there's plenty of sunshine and the chance of rain is slim. These conditions are prime for exploring and hiking in the national parks.

Travelling to the Kimberley in the wet season isn't off the cards. In fact, it can be an amazing time to see the gorges, waterfalls and rivers in their full glory. It's also a great time to spot wildlife along the luscious river banks.

January and February are the wettest months, but the rain often falls heavily in short bursts with intermittent dry spells. That said, the wet season in the Kimberley is unpredictable. Land tours may not run as sections of the road can get cut off when the rivers and creeks swell.

The tail end of the wet season can be a great time to visit as the heavy rains taper off, there's still plenty of water feeding the waterfalls, and it's not too busy.

You can use your phone and access cell data in towns throughout the Kimberley, but there is limited or no access to phone reception and internet once you hit the road.

Not that you'll notice anyway – you'll be far too engrossed in your spectacular surroundings to think twice about your devices and social media.

A trip to the Kimberley is jam-packed with adventurous activities like hiking in gorges and swimming in waterfall-fed swimming holes, so you’ll need to bring your swimming gear and comfy active wear.

Shorts, vests, T-shirts, and long, loose-fitting layers (ideally made of cotton or linen) to stay cool and protect your skin from the sun.

You will also need a warm jumper for cooler evenings, a pair of walking shoes or runners, a pair of thongs and sun protective gear (wide-brimmed sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen).

The Traditional Custodians of the Kimberley comprise over 30 First Nations groups. They have lived on these lands for tens of thousands of years and are deeply connected to Country.

Culture is rich, and ancient knowledge continues to be passed down through the generations.

There's much to learn from the Traditional Custodians of the Kimberley – and all other First Nations peoples – whether it's learning about traditional bush foods, medicine and ecology, or listening to stories by the campfire.

These are some of the Traditional Owners in the Kimberley region.

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.