Kimberley Western Australia
A tropical region in Western Australia featuring spectacular and magnificent geographic features. One of the last frontier of Australia.
At a Glance
The Kimberley, despite being just one region of many in Western Australia, has a staggering area size. It is about three times as big as England! Within this huge expanse of land lies amazing places you have never seen before. It has unforgiving deserts, desolate mountains, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls and endless plains.
There are no lack of things to see and do in Kimberley, from the pearling heritage of Broome, to the gushing waters of the Fitzroy River, to boab-lined Derby and to Kununurra, there is no lack of things to see and do.
The best way to book Kimberley
Where is Kimberley?
The Kimberley is approximately 2300 kilometres north of Perth.
The Kimberley is a geographic region at the northeastern section of Western Australia bordering the Northern Territory to the east. It is flanked by the Timor Sea and the Indonesian archipelago to the north, the Indian Ocean to the west, the Great Sandy and Tanami Desert to the south. One of the best ways to get to The Kimberley is hiring a car from Perth Airport.
Things to see in Kimberley
Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater National Park
The Wolfe Creek Crater is the second largest crater in the world, being 880 metres across and is close to being circular. It was formed when a meteorite hammered the face of the earth less than 300,000 years ago. The local Aboriginal people knew of the crater for a long time due to their early arrival to Australia, these people have many different stories explaining the origin of the crater.
Mitchell Falls
The Mitchell Falls is a very beautiful multi-tiered waterfall that lies in the Mitchell River National Park. It is known to be one of the hardest to reach destinations in the Kimberley, having to travel in ungazetted road and to cross a bridgeless river, but with great effort will come great satisfaction. You will be rewarded with a sight of the spectacular waterfalls, charming outback views, unique flora and fauna, Aboriginal art sites and rock pools.
Bungle Bungle Range
Bungle Bungle is one of the most breathtaking geological landmark in Western Australia, it is located entirely within the Purnululu National Park. Imagine iconic beehive shaped, multi layered sandstone towers stuck on the ground of the great outback, that is a greatly understated description of the Bungle Bungle Range. The actual location is much more memorable and striking in person than in pictures or words. A scenic flight is also available for you to have the unique experience of viewing the Bungle Bungle Range up high.
Horizontal Falls
Described as “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world” by Richard Attenborough, the Horizontal Falls is a strange natural phenomenon occurring at the Buccaneer Archipelago in the Kimberley region. As the name suggests, it is a bizarre scene of a waterfall that flows horizontally. The Horizontal Falls is formed by massive tidal movements pushing the waters against two narrow gorges. You can visit this wonder of the Kimberley by flying out from Broome or Derby on a scenic journey.
What's the weather like?
Kimberley experiences a tropical monsoon climate, with a short wet season which accounts for 90% of the region’s rainfall. Cyclones and floods are also common during this season. The Kimberley is also one of the hottest place in Australia. Due to the proximity to the tropics, the summer-winter season is less apparent in the region. In Summer (December to February), the average maximum temperature is 34°C with an average minimum temperature of 25°C. In Winter (June to August), the average maximum temperature is 30°C with an average minimum temperature of 14°C.
Tropical Cyclones are a prevalent part of this region between December and April. It is essential that you understand the steps and the procedures in place for Tropical Cyclones when entering this beautiful part of the world.
Get to know Kimberley's history
The Kimberley was among one of the earliest settled parts in Australia, with settlers arriving from the islands up north around 41000 years ago. These are evident today as hundreds of thousands of aboriginal rock art paintings are discovered in the region. The area was named after the John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, who was the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Today, the Kimberley region, despite its remoteness, is increasing in popularity as a holiday destination, known for its dramatic geographic features such as waterfalls, gorges, beaches as well as the outback landscape. Many also visit the region to meet and learn about the cultures of the local Aboriginal people which accounts for around 40% of the population in the region.