The Journey
Adventurous Women are excited to be working with former Special Air Service Regiment trooper, Terry Hewett as we embark on a journey of a lifetime through the un-spoilt Kimberley wilderness in far north Western Australia.
We are venturing to the East Kimberley, in the upper watershed area of the Dunham River, surrounded by the Durack Range. This isolated pocket remains a raw frontier, remote, wild and trackless. Yes ... trackless ... we are not following any man-made walking tracks. Apart from rugged 4X4 tracks, we will be trekking along the river and creek systems, whilst navigating our way over the landscape using local knowledge, combined with a map and compass.
The area is known as "Speewah" by the local Woolah people, the Traditional Owners who live in the Doon Doon community on this pastoral lease of 800,000 hectares. Public access to this land is not permitted and our partners at Adventure Out have special permission from the Woolah people to explore this amazing area and are adequately insured for these adventures. No other tour operators can work in this area.
We are not travelling to your standard tourism hot spots ... This is isolated and we are self-sufficient. Our leadership team is quality, you'll be surrounded by the best and learn so much while on this journey.
The regional history of this area is extensive. There are numerous sites of cultural fusion as we examine the local indigenous history interfacing with the early European pioneers such as Jeremiah Durack and the early pastoral activities from the 1880's. Remnants are everywhere ... from old axle wheels stamped "Sheffield England 1882", to old fencing, homestead foundations and pioneer grave sites.
On the arrival day, a pickup will be provided from the Virgin Perth flight. If you are arriving on an alternative flight, taxis are readily available. There will be a wait for hotel check-in, so leave your bags at the hotel, take a wander and come back for a swim in the meantime.
The group will meet at 5pm at the Kimberley Croc Motel where we are staying this evening.
Dinner at the local pub (Guest own Expense)
Meals: None included
Accommodation: Kimberley Croc Hotel
Departure preparation and final purchase of stores prior to leaving for Doon Doon.
Arrive Doon Doon community, 100km south of Kununurra where we are met by members of the Martin family. Welcome to Country with a "Smoking" ceremony and Spiritual Blessing to ensure our safe and protected journey through Country.
Drive 60km (3 hrs) on a 4X4 track to Speewah, where we establish our frontier camp. Should we have time it's into the river to catch a barramundi for dinner, or "Dawal", in Woolah language.
Following our campfire meal, we discuss and shape our plan for the next 5 days by studying a map of the area and learning our options. The beauty of this trip is our itinerary is fluid and we can alter it to suit the group.
Retire to your open tent and swag, enjoying your first night under the Kimberley stars.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Our day of exploration commences with a visit to the old Speewah Homestead where there are many relics from the early pioneer settlement such as wagon wheels, axle dated from 1883, pottery, cattle yards and a water point.
We then continue a cross country hike back to camp in the early afternoon.
When back in camp take your time to relax, read a book and absorb your surroundings. Today we will cover around 8km of cross-country walking.
After we have cooked dinner on the open fire coals, we will enjoy some fireside yarns, sharing our day's personal journey and experiences, delve into regional topics of natural history, indigenous culture, pastoral activities and more!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we head out bush for a drive across country, then a relatively short walk to a magnificent waterfall and natural rock art gallery. This will take most of the day with the afternoon back at the river to have a swim, relax and check in around the camp fire.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the 4WD's, we will traverse 60-70kms of rough Kimberley terrain on cattle station tracks to Red Hill Yards, established in the 1890's and located on a 140 year old cattle drovers track, passing through El Questro and onto Wyndham Port. Drovers on horseback last pushed cattle along this track in the 1960's.
We'll enjoy lunch on a shady billabong alonside the Pentecost River, climb Red Hill to take in the vistas of the Kimberley wilderness, Pentecost River, Durack Range and El Questro resort, beyond the distant hills.
Returning to Frontier Camp, we can take a swim in the refreshing waterhole and relax, before enjoying dinner and another night of fellowship around the campfire.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning rise up early to enjoy our morning cup of billy tea and the emerging daylight. Today we venture into the stunning Letter Box Gorge which is located about 2km from our bush camp.
On entering the gorge, you will note a densely populated sub-tropical environment with a wonderland of different plants, birds, reptiles, insects and butterflies. The gorge widens enough to allow a magnificent forest of ancient Melaleuca Cajuputs to adorn the river banks. The powerful flowering blossoms create a strong perfume, encouraging dozens of small birds into tree canopy, cavorting and in search of food.
Be prepared for a challenging day as the group may need to work together in order to cross the gently flowing waterways!
In the afternoon we navigate our way back down to base camp, cool off in the waterhole and relax.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We bid our farewells to the "Woolah" Mob at their community and we are back on the bitumen for a 25km drive to visit the graves of pioneer Jeremiah Durack, his daughters and other stockmen.
Arriving back in Kununurra around midday, we have a long awaited shower and head off to the local for celebratory drinks !
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Kimberley Croc Motel
A drop-off will be provided for the Virgin flight to Perth. If you are departing on an alternative flight, then a taxi can be booked through reception.
Meals: None included
In Kununurra you will twin-share a room with another lady in the group staying at comfortable hotel accommodation. (Single Supplement may be available should you wish to have your own room, however will be subject to availability at the time of your booking).
During your bush camp experience, you will be provided with your own Tent & Swag, so you'll have your own space (no sharing).
This is a unique opportunity to live remotely in a wilderness setting, as we set up our base camp on the bank of the free flowing waters of the Dunham River. The backdrop to this setting is 200,000 hectares of the Australian outback with not another soul in sight.
- Negotiating difficult and potentially dangerous remote country; snakes, wild cattle, freshwater crocodiles, water crossings.
- Learn basic navigation with a map and compass, route planning, reading contour lines, vegetation types, animal tracks, hydrology, geology.
- Improvised fire lighting, camp-fire cooking options. Acquiring safe drinking water, erecting shelters, living off the land, knife sharpening, learning how to travel light with minimal equipment.
- Greater understanding of local indigenous customs and history.
During this tour you will be taught about many aspects of bushcraft and wilderness survival skills. You will learn about navigating with a map and compass as well as learning how to "read" the ground. By no means do you need knowledge of these skills prior to the trip, but please come prepared and open to learning, we are heading into remote wilderness.
On occasion our support vehicle will not be able to assist, so the only method of evacuation if required may be helicopter, depending on the situation. We are moving away from an urban environment that many trekkers will not be used to. It is important you are comfortable with this scenario and accept the associated risks of stepping outside your urban comfort zone.
This is a tour where everyone contributes and works together. Although you will be guided and well looked after, we are not there to hold your hand. If you sign up for this it is because you are truly an Adventurous Woman and welcome the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone ... it will be EPIC!!
This tour by its very nature is not designed for the 5 Star Traveller. It is for the girl who has an 'adventurous spirit' and is looking for a unique and rewarding 'experience' (Once in a Lifetime)!
You should be able to adopt a "Go With The Flow" attitude as our itinerary is not set in stone, things can change according to the requirements of the group and the setting at the time. If you can maintain this attitude, you'll adapt, overcome, take everything as it comes and enjoy the ride!
You will also need to be mobile without assistance - some of the areas visited require you to be on your feet, navigating bush tracks, waterways, rocky and uneven surfaces at times. These walks can be achieved by anyone with a general level of fitness, however the more physically prepared you are, the more you'll enjoy the experience.
We are moving away from an urban environment that many trekkers will not be used to. It is important you are comfortable with this scenario and accept the associated risks of stepping outside your urban comfort zone.
Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:
Cancellation more than 75 days prior to departure - Loss of Deposit
Between 74 and 61 days - Loss of 75% Of The Tour Cost
60 days or less - Loss of 100% Of The Tour Cost
No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.
