10 Day Photographic Tour
Tour Details
- About this tour
- Your Guides
- When does the tour take place?
- What is the tour itinerary?
- How much does it cost?
- How do I book?
- Download a brochure.
1. About this tour
10 Days of The Best of the Gibb River Road, Gorges, Home Valley & El Questro has to offer
- MAXIMUM 10 PASSENGERS - MINIMUM 8 PASSENGERS TO DEPART
- All inclusive:
- Welcome Pack
- Sleeping Bags (to keep)
- All activities
- All meals ( breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and/or afternoon tea)
- Camping and National Park fees
- Use of all Camping Equipment
- Scenic Helicopter Flight
This tour has been specifically planned and scheduled, as early in the Dry season as possible so you will have the best opportunity to see this outback country in its true colours. See the waterfalls in all their glory and the country at its best colours.
This tour has also been designed to give our guests the best Outback experience by combing a special purpose photographic tour with a real outback adventure with camping under the Kimberley million stars Hotel!
An adventure into the heart of the Kimberley, this tour travels from Broome to Kununurra via the Gibb River road visiting Windjana Gorge, Lennard Gorge, Bells Gorge, Galvans and Manning Gorge with time to swim in waterfalls. Working cattle stations (Drysdale’s & Home Valley), experience a mini cattle muster, Home Valley, and El Questro.
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4. Your Guides
- NIGEL GAUNT
www.reddirtphoto.com.au
- This award winning photographer has been conducting photographic tours in the
Kimberley for the past four years with over thirty years experience as a photographer.
Nigel specialises in helping to explore the rugged Kimberley landscape photographically and capture the wild light that the area is famous for. You will learn professional camera techniques and image composition.
“When we photograph a landscape, we want to capture not only the detail of the scene, but more intimately, its mood and soul”.
You will see the world through new eyes!
- PETA NORTH
www.ephoto.net.au
- Peta has been in the photo industry for around thirty years. She started off as a wedding photographer and progressed into corporate and finally to her passion, wildlife photography. Peta's other passion is filming, especially documentaries on wildlife and places that are extremely hard to get to. Aerial photography is also and area which is both fascinating and thrilling to her. Her latest venture was publishing a book for Parks Australia titled “Pulu Keeling National Park” and has opened Photo Art Gallery in Perth.
“It will be a very hands on tour with helpful advice for the amateur to the professional photographer. Landscape, wildlife and shooting in the harsh Australian outback can be difficult and frustrating, so with our help and tuition we aim to make this a fantastic and memorable trip that you will want to come back for more and take home some of the most amazing photos of this wonderful country”
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3. Tour dates
Departs: Thursday 29th April 2009 and Thursday 13th May 2010
4. Tour itinerary
- DAY 1 BROOME – FITZROY CROSSING – 1 Night
- An early morning pick up from your Broome accommodation. Nigel and Peta will be in the first vehicle, a six wheeler stretched Toyota Troopy with comfy forward facing seats. We have a maximum of 7 guests. There is also a second Troopy towing a trailer that will carry our cook and assistant plus all our camping gear, food and supplies. The idea is that you take photos and learn, we will do everything else! After every one is on board we head along the Great Northern Highway and stop at Willare Roadhouse, famous for its home-style sausage rolls. After morning tea we’re off to our first overnight stop at Fitzroy Crossing Lodge arriving mid afternoon. There you can take a leisurely cruise down Geikie Gorge or go for an hour and half reef walk before we have our first sunset photo shoot. We will be starting the photo tuition as soon as we are on the road!
LATE AFTERNOON BOAT RIDE ON THE FITZROY OR FOR THE MORE ADVENTUREOUS OR A ONE AND HALF HOUR REEF WALK.
- DAY 2 FITZROY CROSSING TO TURNOFF – EL QESTRO - 2 nights
- An early morning start for another trip along the Great Northern Highway, this will be the last day traveling on the highway because this afternoon we get to the start of the Gibb River Road where we will be stopping for two nights at El Questro Wilderness Park.
HELICOPTER FLIGHT
We arrive in the afternoon and after a welcome drink and briefing in the art of aerial photography we will be up in the air for a helicopter ride over the gorges to get the late afternoon light for some spectacular photos.
After dinner, take a stroll to the Swinging Arm Bar, it's a great place to relax and swap tales with fellow adventurers. You can also enjoy campfire entertainment most nights.
- DAY 3 EL QUESTRO GORGE WALKS
- Early morning start for sunrise photos at Branco’s Lookout, traveling on a very rough 4X4 track! This is an adventure in itself with a large creek crossing and a very steep climb to the top. We spread out along the cliffs and watch as the sun lights up the cliffs and the surrounding vegetation. We go back along the same track but this time in daylight and you will see what we went over in the dark and we’re back in time for a hearty breakfast.
PENTECOST RIVER CROSSING FOR SUNSET – WEATHER PERMITTING
EL QUESTRO GORGE –WALK
After breakfast we will head out for the day. You will take your morning tea and lunch with you, as well as enough water for the day. Bathers and a dry bag is a must as we may be able to cross the swimming hole and continue to the end of the gorge. Those who find the trek difficult can spend the rest of the afternoon around the water hole with either Peta or Nigel. If the track is open, it is well worth the effort to get to the end.
El Questro Gorge features crystal clear pools and lush tropical vegetation. The trail passes along a deep narrow gorge flanked by sheer cliffs. Depending on time (if we go to the end of the gorge) the sunset will light up the ranges and we should be able to get some spectacular photos reflected in the Pentecost River.
Back to camp for a late dinner and a choice of an early night or head to the bar for a nightcap.
- DAY 4
- After an early breakfast we will drive out to Emma Gorge for another day in the wilderness park. You will take morning tea and lunch with you as well as enough water for the return journey.
There are plenty of spots to rest and watch out for the shy rock wallabies that live in the area. Once you get to the end of the track you will be greeted by a beautiful waterfall and icy plunge pool. A great spot to cool off before taking photos of the falls and surrounding area, a tripod is a must for this location.
After the Gorge we head back out onto the Gibb River Road and off to our next location.
MT BARNETT – 2 NIGHTS
Here you can have a leisurely afternoon and a swim for those who are nursing sore muscles.
After dinner it is time for our slide show and discussion on the types of photos that we have been taking and a chance to sit, relax and watch the stars appear.
- DAY 5
- After breakfast we will again pack up the morning tea, lunch, water and dry bags. You will need your bathers on for the early morning swim across the lower Manning River before heading on a 2 km walk to the upper Manning Falls and Gorge. A cool water hole is your reward at the end of the track. Lovely colours are reflected in the crystal pools and with many great photo opportunities.
This evening is another chance to relax and maybe do some “light” painting photography.
- DAY 6 SILENT GROVE 2 - NIGHTS
- After breakfast we’re off to explore and photograph the many Gorges in the area, before heading to our next campsite. We arrive at Silent Grove and drive to the Gorge for sunset. It’s wonderful to sit and watch the amazing colours reflect in the still pools. If you want to just watch where the light is and enjoy the ambience, you can, because we will be back here for sunset again tomorrow.
- DAY 7
- After breakfast we will again pack you up with your morning tea and lunch and then we’re off to Bells Gorge for the day. Here you will have a chance to explore and photograph the different levels of the waterfalls. We will have a Sundowner and capture the last light before heading back to camp for dinner.
Sit back and relax... More slide shows!
- DAY 8 SILENT GROVE – WINDJANA GORGE - 2 NIGHTS
- We travel the last of the Gibb River Road and will pass Queen Victoria’s Head, where we will stop and photograph this amazing rock (watch out for traffic).
We will arrive at Windjana Gorge where we will be able to explore the Gorge and watch the crocodiles laze on the sand banks...if you see a log in the Gorge its probably a Freshwater Croc. Not the best place for a swim but within the Gorge it’s very cool and lovely to sit and reflect on the last week.
Tonight we will photograph the sunset reflected in the red cliffs of Windjana.
- DAY 9
- We travel to Tunnel Creek for a little adventure through the limestone caves. Water should be high so bathers and dry bags a must. You will also need a torch as this cave is not lit and is in complete darkness for most of its length! The cave is huge inside, and is very easily walked.
Then back to the cool of Windjana Gorge and here we will spend our last night together before we head back to Broome. A farewell dinner awaits and then if you are still keen another sunset photo shoot.
- DAY 10 (Camping Park, full facilities)
- Pack up time for all and we head back on the main Highway to Derby; no more Red Dirt! We will visit the longest cattle water trough in the world and the prison Boab tree for those last few photos.
We all say goodbye as we drop you back to your accommodation in the late afternoon.
Note; All care is taken to ensure that we stick to the itinerary as much as possible. Sometimes outside factors such as the weather, road closures, fires and cultural events can change all the best laid plans!
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5. How much does it cost?
$5,500
6. How to book
Call Nigel on (0418) 917078 or use our contact form.
7. Download the brochure
(Size 4.5mb)
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