The information below is provided to give you as much information as possible about our tours, how they are run and what we offer. If you have a question or query that is unanswered please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
STYLE
Kimberley Off-Road Adventure Tours are an adventure focused tour company catering for those who are after a unique adventure based experience, assisted by the knowledge of a local guide who knows the best places and how to get there. Our guides are experienced in the Kimberley region and will sometimes make alterations to the itineraries to suit the current conditions, or if they feel it will provide you with a better experience.
Part of the beauty of the Kimberley is that it is remote, untouched wilderness, and this means that the best locations are not conveniently located next to each other. To get into the places that make the Kimberley so unique and incredible, you need to be prepared for long days and travelling for several hours at a time, sometimes on bumpy roads.
Our tours are participation tours, everyone helps out by contributing to the cooking, cleaning, setting up camp, rolling out swags, collecting firewood, lighting the fire, etc. This allows the tour to run more efficiently, helps the group to bond and gives you the opportunity to get involved in the bush camping experience.
Bush camping is all part of the adventure and the experience of the Kimberley. For many centuries Australia’s ancestors survived in the bush living off nature. Sometimes we will bush camp and there will be no facilities such as a toilet and a shower. We do have ways of dealing with this, which will be explained to you by your guide. One way of dealing with not having a shower is by making the most of the swimming opportunities, which occur on most days.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Our tours aim to get you off the beaten track and into the remote gorges, waterholes and rock art sites. In order to do this you will be required to hike for several kilometres a day and occasionally swim and climb. You will also need to carry the water you need for each walk or hike. If you are generally healthy and can walk around 5 kilometres a day, our tours are likely to be suitable for you.
We do not recommend pregnant women travel on our tours; this is due to the risks involved with hiking on uneven ground, and the fact that the roads are corrugated and bumpy which can affect unborn babies.
SAFETY
All our trucks carry first aid kits and we have satellite phones for use in an emergency. Each of our guides is trained in first aid and knows all of the relevant remote area evacuation points. They also carry first aid kits on each of the walks.
In areas where there is rocky, uneven ground or if you are going on a long distance walk, your guide will recommend suitable footwear, the amount of water you should be taking, and the amount of shade that will be available on the hike. Your guide will also inform you of all the relevant information to keep you safe during the hike and whilst swimming.
AGE LIMITS
Our passengers are typically between 20 – 55 years old, although we do not have an upper age limit. If you think you can handle hiking, climbing and swimming for several hours each day, and you are generally fit and health, then our tours are likely to suit you. Our tours are not suitable for children, although teenagers travelling with parents are welcome. If you do have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
WEATHER
If you chose to travel during September, October or November these are the hottest months when humidity is high and temperatures can reach 40 degrees. During April and May there is some humidity and June, July and August are the coolest months, where you will experience cool nights and warm daytime temperatures.
During the hotter months our guides will alter the itinerates to suit the weather conditions, for example long walks will be done early in the morning to beat the heat. We will also aim to camp near watering holes so you have the opportunity to cool off in the afternoon.
DRINKS
We provide drinking water only, if you would like alcohol or soft drinks bring them with you. We will have an esky to help keep your drinks cool.
Depart from Darwin: If you are joining in Darwin you will be able to purchase alcohol in Katherine on the first day.
FOOD
Our food is fresh and passengers are often amazed at the meals we are able to cook up in the bush. Our guides aren’t chefs but they can most definitely cook up a great feed in a camp oven or on a BBQ plate.
Breakfast – Continental style
Lunch – Varies from wraps, sandwiches, burgers, salads, cold meats, etc.
Dinner – Roasts, stir-frys, curries, stews, damper, etc.
On the truck we carry camp ovens, frying pans, BBQ plates, pots, etc. so we can cook almost anything.
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
We cater for vegetarians and gluten free passengers. Other allergies are also catered for, although our guides are not specialists in these areas, so we ask that you provide some assistance when meals are being prepared to ensure you are correctly catered for. Please make sure you inform us at the time of booking if you have a dietary requirement or allergy.
VEHICLES
We use custom-built 4WD trucks fitted with 17 forward-facing reclining seats. Our trucks are air-conditioned and designed to suit our tours. The size of our trucks allows us access to tracks that larger tour vehicles cannot use. We also tow a trailer.
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Please bring no more than 20kg of luggage as we have limited space on the truck. We also ask that your luggage has soft casing e.g. a backpack.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We highly recommend that you take out travel insurance at the time of booking and that you make sure it suits your individual needs. If you are an Australian resident you are most likely covered for the cost of any potential medical treatment, including evacuation from remote areas, however it is up to you to ensure you are entitled to this. If you are in any doubt please ensure you do your research before starting the tour.
If you are an overseas traveller or living in Australia but you are not a resident, you could incur high costs if something serious happens to you on the tour, so we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.
Some suggestions of what you should look at covering yourself for are:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Emergency evacuation
- Injury, accident or sickness, which prevents you from starting the tour
- Cancellation fees
- Lost or damaged luggage
- Leaving the tour due to illness, injury or accident
ROAD CONDITIONS
The roads we travel on are sometimes rough and corrugated particularly when travelling along the Gibb River Road and driving in and out of the Bungle Bungles. Tours running in April and also October and November can experience road closures due to wet season rain covering the roads. Tours will more than likely run but the itinerary may need to be altered to suit the conditions.
Kimberley Off-Road Adventure Tours takes no responsibility for road closures; during these times your guide’s excellent knowledge of the Kimberley should enable them to still deliver a fantastic trip whilst considering the weather conditions.
WHAT TO BRING
- Sleeping Bag suitable for the conditions (-5 degree Celsius sleeping bag if travelling between May – September)
- Comfortable, appropriate hiking shoes or boots / strapped sandals with ankle support (whichever you feel most confident hiking in)
- Thongs / your comfy breathable shoes for on the truck and around the campsites
- Torch
- Large Water bottle
- Swimming gear
- Towel
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Suitable clothing to keep you cool and protect you from the sun
- Sun Screen
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries
- iPod / MP3 (We can play your music on the truck)
- Camera
- Jumper / something to keep you cool in the evening
- Cash for souvenirs
- Small or inflatable Pillow
- Rain jacket (from tours running in May, September, October & November)
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What time will you pick me up and where from?
A. Your guide will pick you up from your accommodation if it is in the city of Darwin or Broome. We can also often pick-up from surrounding suburbs but please contact us to confirm. If you are outside of these pick up areas please get in touch so we can arrange a central pick-up point.
Your guide will begin pick-ups at 6.00am for the Kimberley 9-day tour and 7:00am for the Litchfield 1-day tour. We will provide you with an estimated pick-up time and your guide will aim to get there on time, but they can get held up sometimes so please be patient.
Q. I’m travelling for a while and I have a big backpack, will this be okay?
A. It should be okay as long as it’s not over 20kg and is in a soft bag. We are limited with space on the truck so if you are concerned please contact us for advice.
Q. I enjoy a beer at the end of the day; will there be room to bring a carton of beer?
A. Yes but please try to purchase cans or plastic bottles as we travel on bumpy roads which can cause glass bottles to break. We will not replace any drinks lost or damaged.
Q. What is a swag?
A. A swag is a traditional outback bed, you will be provided with one on your tour. It’s a soft mattress with a canvas cover, like a big sleeping bag with zips either side. You still use your sleeping bag and pillow inside the swag, but the swag provides you with extra protection from the elements. It also means you don’t have to use a tent. If you don’t want to use a swag, some people simply take the mattress from inside the swag to put in their tent.
Q. What type of tents do you provide?
A. We provide a simple 2 person dome tent, which uses 2 poles. They are simple to construct and your guide will give you a demonstration of how to put the tent up properly.
Q. I’m not the best swimmer, should I be doing this tour?
A. We carry a couple of pool noodles to help you float but please inform your guide at the beginning of the tour if you can’t swim or if you’re not a confident swimmer, so they can keep a close eye on you. If you are not comfortable being in the water you can simply relax in the shade.
Q. Where will you drop us at the end of the tour?
A. Your guide will drop you at your accommodation if it is in the city of Darwin or Broome. We can often drop-off at
surrounding suburbs but please contact us to confirm. If you are staying beyond these areas please call to discuss your options.
Q. How can I charge my camera?
A. We carry a 240-volt power inverter and USB charger.
Q. Will we have toilets and showers on the tour?
A. Yes and no. When we are on the road there are roadhouses and rest stops with toilets, which you can use. Also, when we stay at El Questro Station you will have access too hot showers and flushing toilets, however most campsites have little or no facilities. On this tour we are swimming most days (without soap or shampoo), so a refreshing swim should sort you out!
Q. Are all the camping fees included?
All the camping fees are included in the price of the trip. The only activities you'll need to pay for are the optional activities, which are the boat cruise on Lake Argyle ($30) (or canoeing ($25) if the cruise is unavailable) and a helicopter ride over the Bungle Bungles (starts at about $269).