East Kimberley

The East Kimberley Region, covering an area of around 200,000 square kilometres of Western Australia, is one of the most remote areas of the country. The region offers escarpment country, waterfalls, rivers, gorges and pristine coastline. Remote stations provide camping and access to some great landscapes in an area rich with Aboriginal culture.

Surrounding rugged ranges, an abundance of water and wildlife make the town of Kununurra the ideal base to explore the region’s natural wonders including the Bungle Bungles, the Mitchell Plateau, the Ord River and Wolfe Creek Crater National Park.

Adventure the way you want it
Lake Argyle
The damming of the Ord River in 1972 formed Lake Argyle – the largest man-made lake in Australia. Set amongst the Carr-Boyd Ranges and covering an area of around 1,000 square kilometres, Lake Argyle is an awesome sight with many bays, islands, creeks and waterfalls.

Take a scenic flight over the lake, cruise the placid waters, take a canoe or simply relax on the banks and enjoy some leisurely fishing. The turnoff to the lake, which supports a wide variety of wildlife, is just seven kilometres from the Northern Territory/Western Australia border.

The Ord River
The most famous river of the East Kimberley, the mighty Ord, creates a variety of diverse ecosystems and is the water source for the Ord Irrigation Scheme. A large number of tourism related operations utilise the river and it provides a huge recreational waterway for both locals and visitors.

Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)
Purnululu National Park is home to one of the most spectacular landforms on earth, the peculiar rocky striped mounds (or Bungle Bungles). These huge orange and black striped domes, formed from layers of sandstone and minerals, are a sight to see.

There are some fantastic gorges around the park, with Echidna Chasm in the northern section, and Cathedral Gorge in the southern section. Both are a one-hour walk from the carpark, although if you have the time and energy the long ten hour walk of Piccaninny Gorge is worth the effort. Scenic flights over the park are available, or the 55-kilometre trip by four-wheel drive only, will take around 3 hours.

South to Elliott, Three Ways, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs

South of Katherine, the Barkly Region is filled with riches – mining legends, vast cattle country, deeply spiritual Indigenous sites, incredible skies, lovable characters, peace and tranquillity. 

Elliott

Elliott, located 252 kilometres north of Tennant Creek is the second largest town of the Barkly and was named in 1947 after Army Captain Reginald Douglas Elliott, MBE. Elliott has accommodation, a golf course, the Longreach Waterhole and nature walks.

Three Ways

Situated 24 km north of Tennant Creek, the Barkly Highway from Mount Isa joins the Stuart Highway.

History
Construction of the Overland Telegraph Line opened up the region in 1872, linking Australia to the rest of the world via the ‘modern’ telegraph. Gold discoveries, spurred on the last gold rush of Australia and Tennant Creek, the hub of the Barkly, was made in 1934. Living history awaits you; experience remote timelessness at the Telegraph Station. For more information on the Barkly Region phone (08) 8962 1281 or visit the Tennant Creek Visitor Information Centre.

Connection to country
Connect with living culture at Nyinkka Nyunyu Cultural Centre by booking a cultural tour or seeing and perhaps purchasing artefacts from over 130 Barkly and Warumungu artists.

Tennant Creek

Today, the town of 2,949 is a friendly outback oasis where people still have time for a yarn, panoramic lookout views, self-guided town walks, picnics by Lake Mary Ann and bush poetry with the legendary Jimmy Hooker

South to Alice Springs and Central Australia

The Stuart Highway heads south for 508km to Alice Springs.

East Kimberley

The East Kimberley Region, covering an area of around 200,000 square kilometres of Western Australia, is one of the most remote areas of the country. The region offers escarpment country, waterfalls, rivers, gorges and pristine coastline. Remote stations provide camping and access to some great landscapes in an area rich with Aboriginal culture.

Surrounding rugged ranges, an abundance of water and wildlife make the town of Kununurra the ideal base to explore the region’s natural wonders including the Bungle Bungles, the Mitchell Plateau, the Ord River and Wolfe Creek Crater National Park.

Adventure the way you want it
Lake Argyle
The damming of the Ord River in 1972 formed Lake Argyle – the largest man-made lake in Australia. Set amongst the Carr-Boyd Ranges and covering an area of around 1,000 square kilometres, Lake Argyle is an awesome sight with many bays, islands, creeks and waterfalls.

Take a scenic flight over the lake, cruise the placid waters, take a canoe or simply relax on the banks and enjoy some leisurely fishing. The turnoff to the lake, which supports a wide variety of wildlife, is just seven kilometres from the Northern Territory/Western Australia border.

The Ord River
The most famous river of the East Kimberley, the mighty Ord, creates a variety of diverse ecosystems and is the water source for the Ord Irrigation Scheme. A large number of tourism related operations utilise the river and it provides a huge recreational waterway for both locals and visitors.

Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)
Purnululu National Park is home to one of the most spectacular landforms on earth, the peculiar rocky striped mounds (or Bungle Bungles). These huge orange and black striped domes, formed from layers of sandstone and minerals, are a sight to see.

There are some fantastic gorges around the park, with Echidna Chasm in the northern section, and Cathedral Gorge in the southern section. Both are a one-hour walk from the carpark, although if you have the time and energy the long ten hour walk of Piccaninny Gorge is worth the effort. Scenic flights over the park are available, or the 55-kilometre trip by four-wheel drive only, will take around 3 hours.