Perth to Darwin Overland

Perth to Darwin Overland

7,341 Views
24 Days From

$5120

Perth to Darwin Overland

24 Days Starting in Perth and ending in Darwin

Visiting: Perth / Pinnacles / Jurien Bay / Kalbarri, Kalbarri National Park / Shell Beach / Shark Bay, Shark Bay / Coral Bay, Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef, Karijini National Park, Port Headland / The Pilbara, Eighty Mile Beach / Dampier Peninsula / Cygnet Bay, Dampier Peninsula / Broome, Broome, Broome / West Kimberley Gorges, West Kimberley Gorges, Gibb River Road / El Questro Station, El Questro Station, Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles), Kununurra / Lake Argyle, Lake Argyle / Victoria River Region, Katherine / Darwin

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

PKODC

Group size:

1 - 20

Physical rating:

High

Age range:

18-99 years

From: $5120

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

On this 4WD Perth to Darwin safari adventure, you’ll explore the natural wonders of Australia’s Northwest. Spend your nights under a blanket of desert stars and your days in search of secret swimming holes among waterfalls. Snorkel with turtles, relax on Eighty Mile Beach, explore national parks like Karijini, Nambung and Kalbarri, watch spectacular sunsets, journey along the Gibb River Road, explore El Questro, check out the famous Bungle Bungles and take on some fun, active options in your free time to ramp up the adventure.??

Highlights

  • Say hello to the famous wild dolphins that live at Monkey Mia, then explore the World Heritage area of Shark Bay, home to the oldest living organisms in the world – stromatolites.??

  • Explore the unique geology of Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) – a limestone cave system home to bats, stalactites and fascinating First Nations history.???

  • Take a 4WD safari through Western Australia and camp under a dazzling blanket of stars most nights – this is a great opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.?

  • Spend two full days exploring the Bungle Bungles – including magnificent gorges, unique rock formations, hidden waterholes, sandstone towers and Echidna Chasm and Cathedral Gorge.??

  • Spend some time in the red-hued Pilbara, camping under a blanket of stars in Karijini National Park and spending your days exploring ancient gorges and refreshing swimming holes and waterfalls.?

  • Explore the World Heritage area of Shark Bay, home to the oldest living organisms in the world – stromatolites.??

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Perth / Pinnacles / Jurien Bay / Kalbarri

Location: Perth / Pinnacles / Jurien Bay / Kalbarri

Accommodation: Backpacker Dorm Share Accommodation

Meals Included: lunch, dinner

Welcome to Perth! Or Boorloo in the language of the local Whadjuk Nyoongar people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Perth is now located. This morning, head to the fascinating Nambung National Park to check out the famous Pinnacle Desert – a unique landscape unlike any other in the country. After, journey to the massive sand dunes of Jurien Bay, where you’ll have the opportunity to go sandboarding down the slopes and perfect your surfing-on-land technique. From here, continue to Kalbarri, where you’ll spend the first night of your 4WD adventure after a group dinner.

Day 2: Kalbarri National Park / Shell Beach / Shark Bay

Location: Kalbarri National Park / Shell Beach / Shark Bay

Accommodation: Backpacker Dorm Share Accommodation

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Today, you’ll take the short drive to Kalbarri National Park, where you can explore some of the park’s diverse scenery, like Murchison Gorge, Natures Window, The Loop and Z-Bend Gorge (this gorge has a steep descent, but it’s worth the effort for a refreshing swim!). Maybe you’d like to abseil here – an optional activity for those looking for a bit more adventure. After lunch with your group, visit the beautiful Shell Beach – one of only two beaches in the world made entirely from seashells. Tonight, you’ll get back on the road and head towards Denham and Shark Bay.

Day 3: Shark Bay / Coral Bay

Location: Shark Bay / Coral Bay

Accommodation: Backpacker Dorm Share Accommodation

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast this morning, take the short drive across the Peron Peninsula down to the beach at Shark Bay. Continue along the highway to Coral Bay – the Jewel of the Northwest – via the fascinating stromatolites at Hamelin Pool. These are the oldest living organisms in the world! When you arrive in Coral Bay, sit down for a group dinner and enjoy a night to relax.

Day 4-5: Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef

Location: Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Take a day to explore Coral Bay today. This place is just as relaxing as the name suggests! Maybe kick back on the warm sand or go for a swim before visiting Ningaloo Reef and the amazing marine life that lives below the waterline. Here, maybe go snorkelling or take a cruise on a glass-bottom boat to see the wildlife up close (while you stay dry). In the late afternoon, drive into Exmouth. Tonight, kick back at your excellent campsite and watch the sunset as kangaroos hop about the grounds. You’ll spend two nights here, to enjoy some free time in this gorgeous area and take on some active optional activities. In the morning, maybe go snorkelling (equipment provided) or diving, search for whale sharks if the season’s right or view Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. In the afternoon, maybe laze on the pristine beach at Turquoise Bay and soak up the sunshine.

Day 6-7: Karijini National Park

Location: Karijini National Park

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

This morning, head inland past the many Aussie cattle stations to reach the outback oasis of Karijini National Park. Along the way, you’ll pass through Tom Price – a little town known for its iron ore mining – before reaching your camp that overlooks the magnificent Hamersley Range. Enjoy a full day of adventuring and exploration in Karijini National Park and discover its amazing gorges and swimming holes. Formed over 2500 million years ago, the Hamersley Ranges are some of the most unusual landforms on Earth! You’ll be able to take some great photos while you’re here. Deep in the gorges, you’ll come across cascading waterfalls and fresh, still waterholes that are ideal for swimming. Dales Gorge, Fortesque Falls, Fern Pool, Circular Pool, Weano Gorge and Hancock Gorge are just some that you can visit.

Day 8: Port Headland / The Pilbara

Location: Port Headland / The Pilbara

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Say your sad farewells to Karijini this morning and travel towards the coast and the iron ore town of Port Hedland. Take some time for a quick driving tour of the town and marvel at the incredible size of the iron ore industry. After lunch, you’ll continue to the Pilbara region, where you’ll spend the night. Enjoy a group dinner together and take the opportunity to do a spot of stargazing in the blanket of night sky, which boasts very little light pollution.

Day 9: Eighty Mile Beach / Dampier Peninsula / Cygnet Bay

Location: Eighty Mile Beach / Dampier Peninsula / Cygnet Bay

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

This morning, you’ll have some leisure time on the stretching sands of the picturesque Eighty Mile Beach – one of Australia’s most remarkable hidden gems! Stroll along the white sandy beach and get some fantastic photos of the azure water before continuing north to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm on the Dampier Peninsula.

Day 10: Dampier Peninsula / Broome

Location: Dampier Peninsula / Broome

Accommodation: Backpacker Dorm Share Accommodation

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

A morning tour of the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm provides insight into this remote pearling industry, concluding with an in-depth pearl grading and appreciation session that will leave you feeling like a pearl expert. Then, journey north to the One Arm Point Aboriginal Community to tour a local aquaculture hatchery that’s perched right on the tip of One Arm Point, overlooking the impressive Buccaneer Archipelago. After lunch, head to Broome, which is where some of your group members may leave the trip.

Day 11-14: Broome

Location: Broome

Accommodation: Backpacker Dorm Share Accommodation

Over the next four days sit back, relax and enjoy your beach break at the Kimberley Travellers Lodge. Kick back on one of the best beaches in the world – Cable Beach – and have a couple of cold ones at Matsos Broome Brewery. Maybe search for dinosaur footprints on the rugged coastline or check out the local art galleries and spend every night watching the sunset over the ocean. 

Day 15: Broome / West Kimberley Gorges

Location: Broome / West Kimberley Gorges

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: lunch, dinner

In the morning of day 15, you’ll meet your leader and new group members to start the second half of your adventure. Set off into the Australian Outback. After a bit of highway driving, you’ll reach the Fitzroy River, then it’s all off-road to the Napier Range. The main attraction here is Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) – a vast cave system that extends 750 m underground. It’s from here that the Indigenous warrior Jandamarra waged his rebellion against the colonial authorities – a legacy you’ll learn more about on a walk through the tunnel with your guide. Spend the night camping at Windjana Gorge – once an underwater reef! During the wet season, a river flows through it, but during the dry season, it’s a series of ponds and billabongs. Enjoy a camp dinner with your group and then maybe do a spot of stargazing – the sky in the Outback is something to behold!

Day 16: West Kimberley Gorges

Location: West Kimberley Gorges

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Spend the morning exploring Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge). In the afternoon, journey to Dalmanti (Bell Gorge) – a segment of a 375-million-year-old reef that was once underwater. Take a refreshing swim here, soak up the natural views and then travel further east to Mt Barnett Station. This is where you’ll camp for this evening.

Day 17: West Kimberley Gorges

Location: West Kimberley Gorges

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, stretch your legs on a morning hike and be rewarded at the end with a swim in a large rock pool at the base of Manning Falls. After lunch, discover Adcock or Galvins Gorge before returning to camp to relax around the campfire.

Day 18: Gibb River Road / El Questro Station

Location: Gibb River Road / El Questro Station

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Ford rivers and weave through gorges as you travel by 4WD along the wild Gibb River Road – a 600 km stretch that winds right through the heart of the Kimberley. You’ve got a fair bit of ground to cover, so there’s a fair bit of drive time, but you’ll be breaking up the journey with lunch and a few stops to stretch your legs along the way. Cross the iconic Pentecost River crossing before arriving at El Questro and your campground for the next 2 nights.

Day 19: El Questro Station

Location: El Questro Station

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Originally established as an enormous cattle station, El Questro is now a vast wilderness reserve sprawled over more than one million acres. Camping out here, you’ll really feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere – albeit an extremely beautiful middle of nowhere. The ochre-coloured massifs of the Cockburn Ranges frame the landscape whichever way you turn and numerous natural springs offer plenty of opportunities for a refreshing cool-off. Following a soak in Zebedee Springs, enjoy a short trek to either El Questro or Emma Gorge (where there’s a very pretty waterfall). Then it’s another night camped out in El Questro.

Day 20-21: Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)

Location: Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Say so long to El Questro and hello Bungle Bungles! Today, you’ll drive through the rugged landscape of Carr Boyd and the Durack Ranges into Purnululu National Park – home to the Bungle Bungles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dominated by massive sandstone karsts that rear hundreds of metres above the surrounding grasslands. You’ll spend the next two days and nights exploring this region. Arrive at your bush camp in time to sit back and watch the sunset over the Osmond Ranges. If you’ve had enough tent camping, you might want to spend tonight sleeping out beneath the stars, snuggled up in a swag. Unbelievably, only the locals knew this place existed until the early 1980s when they were ‘discovered’ by a film team. You’ll go on a walk through Echidna Chasm – a long and narrow ravine banked on either side by 200 m-high rock walls – and enter the massive natural Amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge.

Day 22: Kununurra / Lake Argyle

Location: Kununurra / Lake Argyle

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Today, you’ll leave the Bungle Bungles behind and head for Kununurra – the largest town between Broome and Darwin. Tonight’s campsite is on the shores of Lake Argyle, which you have plenty of free time to explore. Maybe head out on a sunset cruise on the lake – this is highly recommended, as the best way to witness the immensity of this lake is on the water!

Day 23: Lake Argyle / Victoria River Region

Location: Lake Argyle / Victoria River Region

Accommodation: Camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Lake Argyle is a man-made lake, though you’d never have guessed it by looking! For a body of water situated in the centre of the world’s second driest continent, it looks pretty at home. Barramundi, birds and freshwater crocodiles thrive in these waters, and the islands that look like they’ve always been there (they used to be mountains). In the afternoon, push on across the state border into the Northern Territory.

Day 24: Katherine / Darwin

Location: Katherine / Darwin

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

Today, you’ll head to Darwin, stopping at either Katherine Gorge or Edith Falls along the way for a quick swim and a last opportunity to soak in the natural wild views of rural Western Australia. Take in the gorgeous scenery and then arrive in Darwin, where your trip comes to an end.

What's Included

22 breakfasts, 20 lunches, 17 dinners

Transport

  • 4WD tours are operated in custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage. These comfortable, strong remote area vehicles allow our small groups extra space (including standing room), are fully air-conditioned and fitted with adjustable air-vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand that the roads we travel on can be heavily corrugated, which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed.

Accommodation

  • Nights 1 to 3 & 10 to 14: Enjoy the fun and community of staying in carefully-chosen local backpacker hostels. Bedding is dorm-share style, can occasionally be mixed gender and is likely to involve bunk beds.
  • Nights 4 to 9 & 15 to 23: Camping in National Parks, Caravan Parks or on Cattle Stations involves dome tents (twin-share), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. Some on site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets however on some nights the ablution facilities can be very basic. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Important Information

  • START & END TIMES
  • Your trip commences in Perth on Day 1 at 7 am and finishes in Darwin on the last day at approximately 6 pm. We recommend you arrive a day early and onward travel should be booked for the following day. No accommodation is included on Day 24
  • LUGGAGE
  • A strict luggage limit of 15 kg applies. Please bring a soft-sided bag only.
  • ACCOMMODATION
  • The accommodation on this trip is Basix-style mixed gender multi-share dormitories or twin-share camping in dome tents with swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Some on site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets however on some nights the ablution facilities can be very basic.
  • SLEEPING BAG
  • This trip requires a sleeping bag. You can bring your own or can purchase one. Please let your booking agent know ahead of time if you would like to add this to your booking
  • WHALE SHARKS
  • Swimming with whale sharks is not included on this trip and is an optional activity that you need to book online yourself. It is very important that you pre book any whale shark experiences, as this can sell out far in advance. Please also note that whale sharks visit the region between mid-March and mid-September only, so please make sure you schedule your trip accordingly if you would like to include this experience in your trip.

Mode of Transport

  • 4WD tours are operated in custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage. These comfortable, strong remote area vehicles allow our small groups extra space (including standing room), are fully air-conditioned and fitted with adjustable air-vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand that the roads we travel on can be heavily corrugated, which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed.

Accommodation

  • Camping & Backpacker Dorm Share Accommodation (23 nights)

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    On some days of this trip, you'll spend many hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you'd miss in any other form of travel. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The drive days can be long, but it's as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie!

    Accommodation on this trip involves camping out in nature or staying in backpacker-style dormitory accommodation, including bunk beds, so the facilities are very basic. It is a trip for either younger, fit travellers or the young at heart and fit in body! A lack of emphasis on creature comforts makes this an authentic experience of the Australian outback. Some locations will have little to no Internet connection or phone service.

    This trip involves activities like hiking on uneven terrain and clambering over boulders. It is best suited to travellers with good mobility and fitness. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.

    This trip includes four days in Broome, where you’ll be unaccompanied by a trip leader. As this is a combination trip, your group members will also likely change before and after your time in Broome.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

Just leaving a review to...

24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

LivvyGrace 4 (Google Reviewer)  

I just completed my first...

15-Jul-2024

I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon!

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

I have just come back...

26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X

Nicole  

North American Adventure

12-Oct-2021

This was my first international solo trip, but I never felt “alone” - there was always someone to go shopping, hike, or grab a quick bite with. The itinerary was a great balance between organized activities, while still allowing free time for exploring. Each location was unique and charming in its own way. Spending the night in the holy city of Moulay Idriss and wandering the winding streets of Chefchaouen were especially memorable. Thank you Mustapha and Intrepid for an incredible adventure!

Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

I have just completed a...

29-Feb-2024

I have just completed a 12 day food tour of Vietnam, and had an amazing time. Our tour leader was great, knowledgeable and kind, who helped throughout the trip with recommendations for places on our free days, and spas. All the food we tried was delicious. It is a very fast paced tour, and Bon tried to maximise our experiences for the best.

Henry Guy Robinson   United Kingdom

Cambodia Discovery

22-Jan-2024

The overall experience was fantastic. V good tour leader. All places visited had something special to do or see. I would book a tour with this company again. Only one negative tour hub is not I repeat not available to contact direct by phone.

Merouane Harkat   Uk

Explore Southern Africa

08-Mar-2024

Best trip ever was, 2 things I didn't like the black mamba stop was wasting day and village ,so 2 night I think was just wasting, I could do 2 days in Kruger, and one more night in delta

Alan Perrott (Google Reviewer)  

We had a fantastic time...

13-Aug-2024

We had a fantastic time on the Botswana Highlights tour recently. We chose Intrepid because it seemed to suit what we wanted - well planned itinerary, small group, comfortable without being overly luxurious (and pricey), and supportive of the local community and environment. We weren't disappointed, and as we met with other like-minded travellers then we all had a great time. We are already planning our next Intrepid tour - maybe Vietnam & Cambodia :-)

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Apr 14, 2025 - May 07, 2025
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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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