The Kimberley by camping bus
- Written by: The Times
Leave Broome in a small-group 4WD, walk into gorges by day and sleep under canvas at night. A camping tour is a way to see some of Australia’s most remote country with someone else at the wheel.
The first camp of a Kimberley trip can feel a long way from the Broome hotel you checked out of that morning. There’s red dust on your shoes, dinner is being prepared and someone is asking how early you have to get up. By the third night, you know where you left your head torch and which seat on the bus gives you the best view.
That’s part of the appeal of a Kimberley camping tour. You get the rhythm of an outback road trip without having to hire a four-wheel drive, plan fuel stops or make the call at a river crossing. The trade-off is a shared itinerary, some long driving days and a level of camping comfort that depends very much on the trip you book.
What a camping bus tour actually feels like
The bus is generally a high-clearance 4WD vehicle built for small groups. You’ll spend a fair amount of time aboard it. The Kimberley is vast, and some days involve hours on gravel to reach the gorge or campsite you came to see. Bring a book, keep your water bottle handy and give yourself a good look out the window. Cattle stations, boab trees and escarpments are part of the journey.
A good day might start with breakfast at camp and finish with a walk into a gorge where the rock still holds the afternoon heat. At El Questro, the trail into Emma Gorge takes you over stones and boulders to a high-walled pool. At Purnululu National Park, the striped Bungle Bungle domes are worth seeing from ground level, where the walking tracks take you between them. A longer circuit can give you both experiences in the same trip.
Evenings are simpler. There’s time to wash off the dust, eat with the group and see how many stars come out when the nearest town is a long way away. If you enjoy that part as much as the sightseeing, you’ve probably picked the right kind of tour.
Five days, twelve days or all the way to Darwin?
| Tour style | Who it suits | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Five-day Broome return | Travellers with a week to spare who have the Bungle Bungles high on their list | An introduction to the inland Kimberley with time at Purnululu. Kimberley Wild Expeditions lists two camping nights and two nights at its Bungle Bungle Safari Camp on its standard 2027 trip. |
| Twelve-day Kimberley loop | First-time visitors who want the Gibb River Road, El Questro and Purnululu on one trip | Adventure Wild’s Broome-to-Broome circuit follows the Gibb east to Kununurra and returns via the Bungle Bungles and Fitzroy Crossing. Listed 2027 departures were $6,000 per person when checked. |
| Ten-day Broome to Darwin safari | Travellers who want to continue across the Top End and are comfortable with basic camping | Kimberley Off Road Tours runs the route in both directions in purpose-built 4WD vehicles. Price your flights as a one-way journey and allow for accommodation before and after the tour. |
Read the camping details before you book
The word camping can cover a swag on the ground, a tent you pitch yourself or a pre-erected safari tent with a proper bed. Ask what you’ll sleep on each night, whether you need to bring a sleeping bag and how often there are showers. If you find it difficult to get up from ground level, confirm that a stretcher or raised bed is available for the whole trip.
Also ask what’s expected of guests. Helping with camp or meals can be part of the fun if that’s the trip you signed up for. If you’re travelling solo, check whether you’ll have your own tent and whether it costs extra. Adventure Wild, for example, says solo travellers get their own tent without a single supplement.
Look closely at the walks. In the Kimberley, a short distance can still involve loose rock, heat and a scramble over boulders. If you have a dodgy knee or simply prefer an easier pace, ask which walks you can skip and what you’d do while the group is out. Then check the full trip cost, including flights, meals outside the itinerary, pre- and post-tour nights and optional extras such as scenic flights.
When to go and what to pack
The dry season is the main touring window. An earlier departure may give you stronger waterfalls, though access can depend on how the wet season finishes. Later in the dry, some falls may have slowed and the weather can get hotter. Even on an organised tour, road conditions and park closures can change the itinerary.
Pack in a soft bag if the operator requires one. Bring sturdy walking shoes, a broad-brimmed hat, a head torch and a warm layer for early starts. Keep a small daypack handy for water, sunscreen and whatever you’ll want when the bus pulls up at a trailhead. Check the luggage limit before you leave home, especially if you’re adding beach or resort days to the trip.
If time allows, give yourself a night in Broome before departure. Watch the sun go down at Cable Beach, have dinner and get a good sleep. The next morning, someone else will be driving. Your job is to settle in and watch the country change.
