Oceanic Northern Treasures

Arrive in Perth, where Western Australia’s easy-going capital provides a relaxed introduction to the journey ahead. Settle into COMO The Treasury, an elegant heritage hotel within the historic State Buildings, and spend the remainder of the day discovering the city at your own pace. Riverside scenery, leafy parks and a thriving dining scene offer a gentle beginning before the adventure moves into some of Australia’s most remote landscapes.

Escape across the water to Rottnest Island for a full day amid pristine beaches and brilliant turquoise bays. With cars largely absent from the island, cycling offers a wonderful way to explore its coastline, pausing to swim in secluded coves, snorkel over colourful reefs and take in sweeping ocean views. Along the way, keep watch for Rottnest’s famously photogenic quokkas before returning to Perth after an idyllic day beside the Indian Ocean.

Leave Perth behind and journey north to Ningaloo Reef, where the ochre landscapes of Western Australia meet an extraordinary marine wilderness. Settle into Sal Salis, an intimate eco-camp tucked among the dunes beside the reef. With untouched coastline stretching beyond the camp, the afternoon is yours to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy the remarkable contrast between desert, coral reef and open ocean.

Set out onto the waters of Ningaloo Reef for one of Western Australia’s defining wildlife encounters: the opportunity to swim alongside whale sharks. Expert spotters help locate these gentle giants before you enter the water for an unforgettable encounter in their natural environment. Between sightings, snorkel among vibrant coral gardens and enjoy a gourmet lunch aboard before returning to Sal Salis for sundowners overlooking the dunes.

Enjoy another day immersed in Ningaloo’s remarkable meeting of land and sea. Spend time snorkelling directly from the coast, exploring coral gardens and observing the reef’s abundant marine life, or simply embrace the tranquillity of your remote surroundings. As daylight fades, return to camp for drinks over the dunes before an evening beneath the immense Western Australian sky, where the absence of city lights makes the stars an experience in themselves.

Travel onwards to Broome, where the landscapes begin to reveal the distinctive colours of the Kimberley. The town’s pearling heritage, red earth and Indian Ocean setting create a fascinating gateway to Australia’s northwest. Settle in and enjoy time to experience Broome’s laid-back character, perhaps ending the day on Cable Beach as the setting sun transforms the coastline into a sweep of gold, orange and deep red.

Take to the skies on a low-level scenic flight towards Horizontal Falls, soaring above the extraordinary islands and waterways of the Buccaneer Archipelago. On arrival, swap aircraft for a fast boat and experience the immense tidal forces that create this unusual natural phenomenon, as seawater surges between narrow gaps in towering rock formations. The combination of aerial perspectives and an exhilarating journey on the water showcases the Kimberley at its most dramatic.

Continue into the vast wilderness of El Questro, where immense red escarpments, dramatic gorges and remote waterways define one of Australia’s great outback landscapes. Settle into El Questro Homestead, an exclusive retreat surrounded by more than 700,000 acres of Kimberley wilderness. Spend your first afternoon absorbing the scale and solitude of this extraordinary setting before the following days reveal its gorges, springs and ancient geology in greater depth.

Venture deeper into El Questro’s rugged interior, where towering cliffs conceal freshwater swimming holes and naturally heated springs. The day can be shaped around the wilderness, combining walks through dramatic gorges with opportunities to unwind in thermal waters surrounded by palms and ancient rock formations. With each excursion, the immense scale and isolation of the Kimberley become increasingly apparent, offering a striking contrast to the marine landscapes experienced earlier in the journey.

Discover one of the Kimberley’s most remarkable geological landscapes with an excursion to Purnululu National Park. Here, the Bungle Bungle Range rises dramatically from the surrounding wilderness, its distinctive orange-and-black striped sandstone domes resembling enormous beehives. Experience the extraordinary formations and the sheer remoteness of this World Heritage-listed landscape before returning to the comfort of El Questro.

Journey even further from the conventional travel trail as you make your way to Kimberley Coastal Camp. Accessible only by air or sea, this intimate hideaway occupies an exceptionally remote stretch of coastline around the Mitchell Plateau region. Settle into the rhythms of barefoot luxury, surrounded by sandstone islands, pristine waters and ancient landscapes. With almost no signs of modern life nearby, this is an opportunity to experience the Kimberley in its most secluded form.

Explore the rugged country surrounding Kimberley Coastal Camp, venturing among sandstone formations and remote islands to encounter ancient rock art. Guided excursions reveal Wandjina and Bradshaw traditions preserved across this extraordinary landscape, offering a window into the deep cultural history of the Kimberley. Between sites, absorb the isolation of a coastline where human presence feels minimal and the connection between culture, geology and wilderness remains exceptionally powerful.

Spend another day exploring the waters and islands surrounding camp. Join a guided fishing adventure, cruise through secluded waterways or watch for the remarkable wildlife inhabiting this remote coastline. Sea turtles move through crystalline shallows, abundant birdlife fills the skies and colourful marine ecosystems thrive beneath the surface. Back at camp, settle into the unhurried atmosphere for one final evening amid one of Australia’s least accessible coastal wildernesses.

Cross into the Northern Territory and arrive at Bamurru Plains, a safari-style wilderness lodge overlooking the vast floodplains on the edge of Kakadu. Settle into your private tented accommodation and begin absorbing an entirely different Australian ecosystem. Wallabies move through the grasslands, enormous flocks of birds sweep overhead and crocodiles inhabit the surrounding waterways, bringing the wildlife of the Top End remarkably close to camp.

Wake to the sounds of the floodplains and venture into the wetlands with expert guides. The Mary River region supports an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, with opportunities to encounter wallabies, prolific birdlife and saltwater crocodiles within a vast landscape of grasslands and waterways. The safari-style experience provides an intimate perspective on the Top End, where excursions are shaped by the seasons and the constantly changing rhythms of the wetlands.

Explore Kakadu National Park, where immense wetlands, escarpments and waterways are intertwined with one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures. Discover ancient Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr, cruise wildlife-rich rivers and learn from expert guides about the traditions and stories connected to this World Heritage-listed landscape. Waterfalls, stone escarpments and sweeping floodplains provide a spectacular natural backdrop to a day centred equally on culture and wilderness.

Bid farewell to the floodplains and continue to Darwin, the tropical capital of the Northern Territory. Settle into Adina Darwin Waterfront, positioned close to the city’s harbourside attractions and dining. After days spent deep in Australia’s wilderness, Darwin offers a change of pace, with a lively waterfront, tropical atmosphere and multicultural character. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure and watch the evening light settle across the harbour.

Spend the day exploring Darwin and its distinctive tropical character. Wander along the waterfront, discover its markets and experience a city shaped by Indigenous culture, Asian influences and its position at Australia’s northern edge. With the most demanding wilderness adventures now behind you, the day offers time to explore at a relaxed pace, enjoy harbourside dining and experience one of Darwin’s famously vivid tropical sunsets.

Venture beyond Darwin for a final immersion in the landscapes of the Northern Territory at Litchfield National Park. Discover towering termite mounds, monsoon forest and spectacular waterfalls cascading into clear natural plunge pools. Walk through tropical wilderness and cool off beneath the falls as you explore another distinctive Top End environment, bringing together the wildlife, geology and vast landscapes that have defined the northern stages of your journey.

Enjoy a final morning in tropical Darwin before your onward journey. Your adventure concludes after traversing an extraordinary sweep of northern Australia — from Perth and the marine wilderness of Ningaloo Reef to Broome, the gorges and ancient landscapes of the Kimberley, the wildlife-rich floodplains of the Northern Territory and the tropical surroundings of Darwin. It is a journey defined by contrast, connecting some of Australia’s most remote landscapes with exceptional wildlife, culture and wilderness experiences.