Departing Broome at 7:00am, we travel through
iconic pindan country, past boab trees, towering termite mounds,
Kimberley cattle and local wildlife. Along the way, our guide shares
stories of local history, people and the environment. Our first stop is
Willare Roadhouse on the mighty Fitzroy River, where we enjoy morning
tea.
We then continue east, pausing at a magnificent boab that is well over a
thousand years old, where we learn some of the secrets of this unusual
tree. Further on, we journey through the Erskine Ranges to the historic
town of Fitzroy Crossing before entering the ancient Napier Range, a
limestone Devonian reef 350 million years old. Here we arrive at Geikie
Gorge one of the most famous gorges in the Kimberley. Nature carved this
spectacular deep gorge between the Geikie and Oscar Ranges during the
Devonian geological period. Geikie Gorge floods during the wet season,
with the swirling water leaving its bleached mark on the colourful gorge
walls. Though the water retreats during the dry season, the flow remains
to sustain the wide variety of Kimberley wildlife.
After a delicious picnic lunch, travellers either
depart on a 2 hour Darngku Aboriginal Heritage Cruise or join a DEC
National Parks Ranger on a 1 hour Geikie Gorge Cruise.
Hosted by local Bunuba Aboriginal guides, this is a
fascinating insight into the Bunuba way of life. Our Indigenous guide
demonstrates traditional techniques for fire lighting, animal tracking,
bush foods and bush medicines, while revealing Dreamtime stories of the
area.
DEC National Parks Ranger Cruise (1 hour,
1DGG2)
Learn of the fascinating geology of the ancient
Devonian reef and the huge array of wildlife including freshwater
crocodiles, birds and fish. Travellers wishing to take this option will
have a 1 hour wait, which is ideal for a leisurely bushwalk along the
gorge walk trail.
Departing Fitzroy Crossing we travel back to Broome
stopping en route for an optional dinner (own expense). After dark,
relax and enjoy a movie before arriving back in Broome at approximately
10:30pm.
