Iconic WA Road Trips: The Kimberley Wilderness Loop

There’s an indescribable energy to the Kimberley, an intoxicating feeling that permeates your body the minute you set foot on its iconic fiery-red earth.

Fringed by contrasting azureous waters to the west and north, corrugated the way through by deep gorges and cave systems, and harbouring the world’s oldest surviving culture, the Kimberley is one of the most unique places on Earth.

It’s also one of the most sparsely populated, with some hundreds of kilometres separating towns. Charter flights connect many of them, but the only way to fully immerse yourself in the region’s wonders is to hit the road along the Kimberley Wilderness Loop.

En Route to Halls Creek from Fitzroy Crossing, WA, Australia — The Loop takes you by the region’s most spectacular sites, including Fitzroy Crossing’s Danggu Geikie Gorge. (Image: Tourism WA)

Kicking off in the coastal town of Broome, two and a half hours from Perth by plane, The Loop takes you by the region’s most spectacular sites, including Fitzroy Crossing’s Danggu Geikie Gorge. There, you can spy sun-soaking freshwater crocodiles, brolgas and white-bellied sea eagles. Further to the east, there’s the other-worldly Wolfe Creek crater and the dramatic striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range. The trip wraps up on the state’s eastern border in Kununurra, where the lakes are the size of seas and the barramundi is plentiful.

The route is the first leg of the Savannah Way that links Broome to Cairns via the Northern Territory. There are intersects with the famed Gibb River Road, too. Its unsealed surface and remote nature are best left to experienced four-wheel drivers.

Roebuck Bay, Broome, WA, Australia — The route kicks off in the coastal town of Broome. (Image: Tourism WA)

Don’t Miss

At 880 metres across, Wolfe Creek Crater (known as Kandimalal to the Gija people) is the world’s second-largest meteor crater. The 300,000-year-old site is approximately four hours out of Halls Head along an unsealed road, so it’s best to allow a whole day for the detour. You can also trade the drive for a scenic flight departing from the town centre for a bird’s-eye view of the landmark and surrounding outback. The aerial tour begins with a fly-over of the crater before tracking north over Purnululu National Park.

Wolfe Creek Crater, WA, Australia — Wolfe Creek Crater is the world’s second-largest meteor crater. (Image: Tourism WA, @aeroture_au)

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

First Nations

Tour the Mimbi Cave system with the Aboriginal owned and operated Mimbi Cave Tours. Carved out of the ancient fossilised reef over 350 million years, the gaping caves and crystal clear freshwater pools are all that remain of the Devonian Great Barrier Reef. The tour starts between the towering karst cliffs before entering the caves to see marine fossils, ochre-stained walls and ancient rock paintings. Along the way, your Gooniyandi guide will share their local Dreaming story and a bush tucker morning tea.

Mimbi Caves, Fitzroy Crossing, WA, Australia — Tour the Mimbi Cave system. (Image: Tourism WA)

Did You Know?

The Bungle Bungle domes were known only to their traditional custodians until 1983, when a film crew ‘stumbled’ on them and brought them into the spotlight. In 1987, Purnululu National Park where the domes are located was declared a national park.

The Bungle Bungle Range Purnululu National Park, WA, Australia — The Bungle Bungle domes were known only to their traditional custodians until 1983. (Image: Tourism WA)

Kimberley Wilderness Loop Route Details

Distance:

6943 kilometres

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Duration:

Seven days one way, 13-16 return

When to visit:

The best time to visit the tropical North West is May to October. This coincides with the Warnka-mageny or Barndenyirriny seasons in Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng Country (Kununurra). On the Yawuru (Broome) calendar, it’s Wirralbulu, Barrgana and Wirlburu seasons. The days are clear, dry and a pleasant 30-35°C.

Getting there:

Qantas and Virgin fly Perth to Broome daily; Qantas flies seasonally from Melbourne and Sydney. 4WD hire from $210/day.

Website:

westernaustralia.com/roadtrips

WA might be enormous, but the right insider knowledge brings its mysteries a whole lot closer.

“Western Australia is a land of record-breakers,” says Carolyn Tipper, a Travel Director working on AAT Kings Western Australia tours. “It has the second-longest fault line, the second-largest meteorite crater, the second-fastest flowing river—it just keeps surprising you. And every area has its charm.”

From tropics to deserts, Australia’s largest state is a land of extremes. You can’t see all of Western Australia in a lifetime, but with the right guide, you can discover its hidden pockets of magic.

Carolyn wishes to reach her guests’ hearts. “I want them to enjoy and be in awe,” she says. “I want them to have the holiday of a lifetime.”

1. Mimbi Caves

You wouldn’t expect a Great Barrier Reef in the outback – but that’s what you’ll find at Mimbi Caves. Once part of a 350-million-year-old reef, these caves hold marine fossils, ancient Indigenous rock art, and Dreamtime stories shared by a Gooniyandi guide.

“That’s when the real connection happens,” says Carolyn, who has taken guests through on the AAT Kings Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour. “When guests connect, not just with the land, but with the people who have called it home for tens of thousands of years.”

Eye-level view of traveller exploring Mimbi Caves. — Walk through ancient limestone passages. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Kalbarri National Park

Nothing prepares you for the Kalbarri Skywalk: a 25-metre platform jutting over Murchison Gorge, 100 metres above the red cliffs and river below. From July to October, join the AAT Kings Untamed Pilbara and West Coast tour to see over 1000 wildflower species paint the park, and listen as an Indigenous guide shares their uses, bush foods and medicine plants.

“I want our guests to have an emotional experience,” says Carolyn. “It’s not just about seeing the land, it’s about stepping into the stories.”

An aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk, one of the secret places in Western Australia, with visitors on the edge. — Stand on the Kalbarri Skywalk in Western Australia. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Hamelin Bay Wines

Margaret River isn’t just a top wine region – it’s a winner in every category. Where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide, granite cliffs rise, limestone caves sprawl and Karri forests tower. It almost distracts from the world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Almost.

Out of over 100 cellar doors, AAT Kings pick Hamelin Bay Wines as a favourite. Hosted tastings of small-batch wines on the Western Wonderland tour end with a group meal. The menu shifting with the seasons.

“Get off the beaten track to one of WA’s most relaxed venues for some amazing red and white signature wines,” explains Carolyn, “accompanied with upmarket pub food.”

Spectacular views.

A person raising a glass of Chardonnay against a glowing Western Australia sunset. — Sip world-class wines at Hamelin Bay in Western Australia. (Image: Getty)

4. Wildflower Guided Walk, Kings Park

Western Australia is home to 12,000 native plant species – 3000 bloom in Kings Park’s Botanic Garden. Stroll past Kangaroo Paw, Banksia and blooms from the Goldfields, Stirling Ranges and Kimberley. “The diversity of Western Australia is immense,” says Carolyn, who leads guests through on the South Western Escape tour.

Couple enjoying the view from the Lotterywest Federation walkway at Kings Park and Botanical Garden. — Wander among thousands of native plant species. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

5. Hoochery Distillery

Did you know that between Kununurra and Emma Gorge lies the state’s oldest continuously operating distillery? Well, the oldest legal one. Set on a family farm, Hoochery Distillery was hand-built using materials found on the property, conjuring up award-winning rum from local sugarcane, wet season rainwater and yeast.

Today, visitors can sample a hearty nip of rum, along with whiskies and gins – all crafted using traditional, labour-intensive methods. It’s the ideal way to soak up the ‘spirit’ of the Kimberley on the AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour.

People enjoying a rum tasting at one of the secret places in Western Australia. — Sample award-winning rum. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

6. Geraldton

The wildflowers of the Midwest will make your heart blossom. In Geraldton, the Helen Ansell Art Gallery brings the region’s botanicals to life in vivid colour and intricate detail. In nearby Mullewa, wander bushland trails lined with everlastings and native blooms. Further afield, Coalseam Conservation Park bursts into carpets of pink, white, and yellow each spring. Do it all on the Wildflower Wanderer tour with AAT Kings.

woman walking through Wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park — Chase vibrant wildflower trails. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

7. El Questro

Wake up after a night under the stars at Emma Gorge Resort, ready to explore the mighty beauty of the El Questro Wilderness Park. With deep gorges, thermal springs, and cascading waterfalls, time slows here.

Join the AAT Kings’ Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour to drift through Chamberlain Gorge, where sheer sandstone walls glow burnt orange in the sun, archer fish flick at the surface, and rock wallabies peer down from ledges above. Then, step into Zebedee Springs, a secret oasis of warm, crystal-clear pools among prehistoric Livistona palms – a moment of pure, wild stillness.

Emma Gorge Resort at El Questro. — Wake to adventure at Emma Gorge Resort. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

8. Lake Argyle

Once vast cattle country, Lake Argyle now sprawls like an inland sea – Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake, created by the damming of the Ord River. Scattered with over 70 islands, its glassy waters teem with life, like freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bony bream, sleepy cod and over 240 bird species. That’s nearly a third of Australia’s avian population.

Glide across the lake’s surface on a cruise as part of AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour, where the silence is only broken by the splash of fish and the call of birds. For Carolyn, this place is a perfect example of how WA’s landscapes surprise visitors. “Lake Argyle is a big puddle of water that became a game-changer,” she says. “Seeing it from a boat, coach, and plane is mind-blowing. It puts time, isolation and the sheer scale into perspective.”

Aerial View of Triple J Tours on the Ord River, near Kununurra. — Glide past islands on Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake. (Image: Western Australia)

Discover more of Western Australia’s hidden gems and book your tour at aatkings.com.

Iconic WA Road Trips: The Kimberley Wilderness Loop

There’s an indescribable energy to the Kimberley, an intoxicating feeling that permeates your body the minute you set foot on its iconic fiery-red earth.

Don’t Miss

First Nations

Did You Know?