Untamed Kimberley & West Coast

Welcome to Darwin, where the air is warm, the sunsets are fiery and the vibe is as laid-back as it gets. Set out on a city sights tour and get a feel for this tropical capital, from its distinctive architecture to the stories that shaped it, including the 1942 bombing and Cyclone Tracy in 1974. You'll take in key sights like the Botanic Gardens and the sweeping coastal views from East Point Reserve.

Tonight, round things off with dinner at a waterfront restaurant, the perfect way to ease into Top End life. (D) Stay: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront

Today you head south with history and nature sharing the spotlight. Stop by the Adelaide River War Cemetery, a moving place that brings the region's WWII story into focus. Then it's onto Nitmiluk National Park on Jawoyn land for a real showstopper. Cruise through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that supports the Traditional Owners and their living culture. The sandstone cliffs shift colour as the light changes and every bend feels like a new reveal.

Later, enjoy the Katherine Outback Experience, packed with songs, stories and plenty of laughs. (B) Stay: Contour Hotel Katherine

Cross the border from the Northern Territory into Western Australia and arrive in Kununurra, a town that feels wonderfully remote. Step back in time at the Durack Homestead Museum, relocated piece by piece before the original site was flooded as part of the Ord River Irrigation Scheme. That project transformed the region, creating farmland and the vast expanse of Lake Argyle.

Later, get out on the water for a cruise, keeping an eye out for freshwater crocs and birdlife. Kununurra might look quiet at first glance, but it's your gateway to some of WA's most postcard-ready scenery. (B) Stay: Kununurra Country Club Resort

Today is all about smart choices. If you want the Kimberley's headline act, you can opt for a scenic flight over World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and the beehive-shaped Bungle Bungles. Prefer to stay grounded? Choose a Choice Experience 4WD tour instead. Or keep it local with your Travel Director on a walk through Mirima National Park, often called the ‘mini Bungles'. You'll hear how these rugged landscapes were formed while soaking up the views close to town. Whatever you pick, you'll get a big hit of Kimberley scenery with zero fuss. (B)

Kick off the day with a behind-the-scenes visit at Hoochery Distillery, a long-time local favourite. Learn how their award-winning rums and whiskies are made, with time for a tasting if you fancy it, plus morning tea to keep you going. Then it's time for a taste of the legendary Gibb River Road as you travel to El Questro Wilderness Park, framed by the rusty red Cockburn Range.

Tonight's stay is a treat, with safari-style tents tucked among pandanus palms. Expect frogs, cicadas and a sky absolutely packed with stars. (B/D) Stay: Emma Gorge Resort, Tented Cabin with private facilities

Wake up to the sounds of the bush and the light streaming into your tent. This morning, you'll travel to Wyndham, the most northerly township in Western Australia. It's small, rugged and full of character. Explore the town and take in the surrounding landforms and wetlands, where the wide-open scenery makes you feel a million miles from anywhere. It's the kind of place that reminds you how vast the Kimberley really is. Then return to El Questro with time to relax and enjoy your unique wilderness setting, with another night under those seriously dazzling skies. (B/D)

Today you travel deeper into the Kimberley, arriving in Halls Creek, a town that's small in size but big on personality. Visit the Yarliyil Art Gallery, an Aboriginal owned enterprise supporting more than 100 artist members. You'll see works created in many styles and mediums, each one sharing stories of Country, culture and connection. It's a meaningful stop that adds depth to the landscapes you've been travelling through. You'll also be on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, an important place for Aboriginal communities and a powerful reminder of just how ancient and vast this region is. (B) Stay: Kimberley Hotel

Get ready for a day that digs deep into the Kimberley's ancient story. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Mimbi Caves with an Indigenous guide. You'll explore delicate limestone formations, vivid colours and clear freshwater pools, remnants of a reef system that formed more than 350 million years ago. You'll also see ancient rock paintings and hear the Gooniyandi Dreaming story, all topped off with billy tea and damper.

Later, continue through remote landscapes to Fitzroy Crossing. (B/L/D) Stay: Fitzroy River Lodge

Roll into Broome, a town born from pearls and now famous for sunsets that stop you in your tracks. Once you arrive, it's all about settling into the coastal rhythm. Cable Beach is the main event, a huge stretch of sand where you'll see everything from walkers to camels and even 4WDs cruising the shoreline. Find your spot, kick off your shoes and let the Indian Ocean do its thing. Prefer a drink with your view? Head to a waterside cafe, order something cold and toast the day as the sky turns gold, pink and deep orange. (B) Stay: Cable Beach Club Resort

You've got your bearings, now you get to choose your own Broome day. Stroll Cable Beach, browse pearl boutiques or soak up the colour and energy of Chinatown. If you'd like to go behind the scenes, you can join a Choice Experience to a pearl farm to learn how these gems are cultivated and why Broome's pearling history matters. Or keep it simple and slow, with great coffee, warm breezes and plenty of time to explore at your own pace. Your Travel Director will have tips on where to wander, what to taste and where to catch the best light. (B/D)

Today the Pilbara puts on a colour show. As you travel, you'll see rich red earth streaked with mineral deposits and wide-open landscapes that feel wonderfully untamed. It's a big-distance day, so settle in and watch the scenery shift. By late afternoon you'll arrive in Port Hedland, home to the world's largest bulk export port and a place that plays a huge role in Australia's resource story.

Tonight is about resting up and recharging. The adventure continues tomorrow with more remote beauty and some of Western Australia's most dramatic natural settings. (B/D) Stay: Hospitality Port Hedland

Welcome to Karijini, a frontier landscape where the earth looks like it's been carved by giants. Your day weaves into the national park to reveal gorges that plunge deep, waterfalls that tumble from escarpments and turquoise rock pools that shimmer in the sun. These geological wonders took billions of years to form and you'll see it in the red layered cliffs, termite mounds and soaring gum trees. Karijini covers around 630,000 hectares in the Hamersley Range, making it WA's second-largest national park. It's raw, remote and seriously unforgettable as you explore before settling in around Tom Price. (B/D) Stay: Tom Price Motel

After Karijini's rugged heartland, you'll journey back towards the coast, travelling through tough Pilbara terrain where mining and nature sit side by side. Your destination is Karratha, known for its major role in the resources industry and its gateway position to the stunning north-west coastline. Along the way, you'll stop to visit the Red Dog statue, a true Aussie legend with a wandering heart. Hear the story of this canine larrikin and why he became famous across the region.

Tonight, enjoy a more coastal feel and a chance to reset before you head for the Ningaloo Coast next. (B/L/D) Stay: Ibis Styles Karratha

Big kilometres today, but the reward is worth it. Travel along the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast towards Exmouth, the gateway to one of Australia's most famous reefs. As you roll in, the focus shifts firmly to the ocean, whether you're planning to swim in it, cruise over it or simply admire it from shore. Your accommodation is only metres from the waterline, giving you front-row seats to the North West Cape's coastal views. This is where the outback meets the sea and it feels like a proper reset.

Tonight, watch the light fade over the water and get excited for tomorrow's choices. (B/D) Stay: Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort

Today is all about making it your kind of day. Depending on the season, Ningaloo Reef is home to whale sharks and humpback whales and you can choose to snorkel with them with ethically minded operators (own expense). It's one of those bucket list moments that leaves you feeling humbled and buzzing at the same time.

Prefer to stay dry? Choose an optional sunset cruise and keep watch for dolphins and breaching whales (own expense). Or keep it simple with a barefoot stroll along the sand and a slow afternoon by the water. Whatever you choose, Ningaloo serves up coastal magic without trying too hard. (B)

See Ningaloo's underwater world without getting your hair wet. Cruise in a glass-bottom boat at Coral Bay's marine sanctuary as your guide points out colourful coral, turtles and fish. More than 500 species call this protected patch of ocean home, so there's plenty to spot. Then swap reef life for space history at the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. It's a surprisingly fascinating stop, with Carnarvon's role in tracking missions including the 1969 moon landing. You'll tour the collection and pick up stories you won't expect in a town like this.

Tonight, settle in and enjoy a quieter evening after a big day of contrasts. (B/D) Stay: Hospitality Carnarvon

Today's sights are straight out of a nature documentary. Start at Hamelin Pool, home to the world's most abundant colony of stromatolites, often called ‘living fossils'. These ancient life forms offer a glimpse of what Earth was like 3.5 billion years ago. You're now in World Heritage-listed Shark Bay, with more than 1,000 kilometres of beaches, including the dazzling Shell Beach. The white shoreline comes from billions of tiny shells, layered deep and stretching for miles.

Then it's onto Monkey Mia, where red dunes, clear water and relaxed vibes set the scene for your next stay. (B) Stay: Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort

If Monkey Mia didn't win you over last night, today will do the job. Early morning is dolphin time, with wild resident dolphins often visiting the shore to splash in the shallows. It's a special moment and a brilliant way to start the day.

After that, your schedule is wide open. Swim, stroll, relax or explore more of Shark Bay's coastal beauty. You can also chat with your Travel Director for tips on how to spend the day, whether you want easy beach time or something a bit more active. However you do it, today is made for slowing down and soaking it all in. (B)

Travel south with a stop in Kalbarri National Park, known for dramatic gorges, towering coastal cliffs and a sky-high viewpoint at the Kalbarri Skywalk. It's a great spot for a photo and a reminder of how wild this coastline can be. In spring, the region can burst into colour with wildflowers blanketing parts of the countryside.

Later, arrive in Geraldton and take time to reflect at the HMAS Sydney Memorial, paying tribute to the 645 Australian sailors lost off the WA coast during WWII. It's a moving stop that adds depth to the day before you settle in for the night. (B) Stay: Ocean Centre Hotel

Did we save a showstopper for late in the trip? Possibly. Visit Nambung National Park to see the Pinnacles, a surreal field of limestone structures rising from the sand, some up to 3.5 m (11.4 ft) high. Then head to Yanchep National Park for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with an Aboriginal guide. Learn about native plants, Dreamtime stories and the way Country was shaped. You'll get hands-on with tools, hear the didgeridoo and enjoy cultural insights that bring the landscape to life.

This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a final dinner together in Perth. (B/D) Stay: Crowne Plaza Perth

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye in Perth to your Travel Director and your travel mates, with three weeks of West Coast memories in your back pocket. Safe travels home and happy sorting of that camera roll. (B)