KIMBERLEY CLOSE UP!

Vast, remote, sparsely populated and wild - the Kimberley is one of Australia’s magical places. Often referred to as the last frontier, the Kimberley takes up an area three times the size of the British Isles. It is a land of extremes. In the summer (wet) season the pounding monsoons create an explosion of life and growth in striking contrast to the brown land of the cooler winter (dry) season that sucks up the abundant moisture forcing the unique plants to conserve and adapt to more than six months without rain. The massive river systems change from churning torrents twisting through dramatic gorges to intermittent pools reflecting the evening sun’s orange — red glow from the weathered sandstone walls.

At any time of the year this is a striking region — massive gorges, spectacular waterfalls, the beehive striped sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungle ranges, 1000 kilometres of long ancient limestone Devonian reefs, the awesome subterranean 750 meter passage of Tunnel Creek and one of the most remote and spectacular coastlines in the world with deep fjord like indents and horizontal waterfalls powered by the daily 8 metre tides.

Birds are visible wherever you go and over 300 species can be found at various times from the spectacular red tailed black cockatoos to the visiting waders on their annual migration from distant Siberia. The Kimberley is one of the few regions to retain all of its original mammal species with the flying foxes (fruit bats), agile wallabies and rock wallabies being the most easily seen from an array of mostly nocturnal creatures. Ranging from monsoonal rain forest to sub tropical savanna woodland the bottle shaped Boab trees and the slender Livistonia palms are just two of the distinctive forms of vegetation that characterise the diversity of plant life.

Overlying this rich and dramatic landscape is the powerful presence of the Aboriginal culture that possibly made the first human impact on this wilderness over 60 000 years ago. Evidence of their total occupation is readily apparent in the massive body of rock art that is abundant throughout the stone country of the region. Often in imposing rock shelters on whitewashed walls are painted the Wandjina with their staring eyes and haloed heads. These are the creation spirits guarding a landscape that must be treated with the greatest of respect. Pockets of a much older art form of the elegant and enigmatic Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) figures can be found dancing in highly ornamented finery over the burnished rock walls like ‘shadows in stone’. Today a small number of current Aboriginal descendants from different groups offer some of the most telling insights and interpretations of the land, art and culture to discerning visitors.

The historic pearling port of Broome in the west and Kununurra at the hub of the Ord Irrigation Scheme in the east are the two gateway towns providing ready jet service access from which to explore this amazing region. It is an area you can immerse yourself in for years to discover its many treasures. For those with limited time the secret is to find the right menu that will allow you to experience some of its wonders. Through our intimate knowledge of the land, the operators and specialist guides and how to cover the highlights away from the main tourist paths, we have crafted a range of options that allow you to become enveloped in a sense of place and time that captures the spirit of the Kimberley. Come and taste the magic!

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