7 DAY FULLY INCLUSIVE TOUR
24TH JULY TO 30TH JULY 2021
Kununurra is the gateway to the fabulous East Kimberley. It makes a wonderful base from which you can explore some of Western Australia’s most remarkable natural attractions. It is home to lakes, rivers, waterfalls and its famous Barramundi. Kununurra means “Big Water” in the local indigenous language. Come and see for yourself the stunning landscapes, remarkable waterways and lush farmland of this region, it is both surprising and awe inspiring.
24TH JULY TO 30TH JULY 2021
Kununurra is the gateway to the fabulous East Kimberley. It makes a wonderful base from which you can explore some of Western Australia’s most remarkable natural attractions. It is home to lakes, rivers, waterfalls and its famous Barramundi. Kununurra means “Big Water” in the local indigenous language. Come and see for yourself the stunning landscapes, remarkable waterways and lush farmland of this region, it is both surprising and awe inspiring.
TOUR MAP
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Hidden Valley, The Bungle Bungles, Argyle Homestead Museum, Lake Argyle, Ord River Scheme, Sandalwood Showroom, Ivanhoe Crossing, Kimberley Ornamental Stonecraft, Zebra Mine, Argyle Diamond Mine, 5 Rivers Lookout, Wyndham Museum, Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve and Telegraph Hill.
CRUISES
Lake Kununurra Cruise and Lake Argyle Wetlands Cruise
MULTIPLE NIGHT STAYS
6 nights in Kununurra
PRICE
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Twin Share Room First Tour: Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 2 - 10 Tours: Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 11 - 20 Tours: Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 21+ Tours: Single Room Supplement: Deposit: |
$TBA per person $TBA per person $TBA per person $TBA per person $TBA per person $200 per person upon booking |
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours will match single travellers who wish to twin share, with another single traveller of the same gender.
However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost).
However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost).
TOUR MAP
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ITINERARY
DAY 1: saturday 24th july, 2021
MELBOURNE TO KUNUNURRA
This morning our chauffeurs will be waiting to take us to Melbourne Airport to join our direct flight to Kununurra in the wilds of Western Australia! The town was established as the residential and administrative centre of the Ord River Scheme - a huge irrigation scheme that was developed in the 1970s. We’ll be hearing a lot about the Ord River Scheme and Lake Argyle in the next few days! On arrival our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew will be there to meet us. Our first visit on tour is to the Mirima National Park, also called Hidden Valley. The small park is just two kilometres out of town. The sandstone formations here resemble the domes of the famous Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park), which is why they are sometimes called Mini Bungle Bungles. Returning to town we’ll check in to our hotel, home for the next 6 nights.
Lunch at own arrangement and cost today.
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
This morning our chauffeurs will be waiting to take us to Melbourne Airport to join our direct flight to Kununurra in the wilds of Western Australia! The town was established as the residential and administrative centre of the Ord River Scheme - a huge irrigation scheme that was developed in the 1970s. We’ll be hearing a lot about the Ord River Scheme and Lake Argyle in the next few days! On arrival our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew will be there to meet us. Our first visit on tour is to the Mirima National Park, also called Hidden Valley. The small park is just two kilometres out of town. The sandstone formations here resemble the domes of the famous Bungle Bungles (Purnululu National Park), which is why they are sometimes called Mini Bungle Bungles. Returning to town we’ll check in to our hotel, home for the next 6 nights.
Lunch at own arrangement and cost today.
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
day 2: sunday 25th july, 2021
THE ORD RIVER SCHEME
We can’t actually visit the Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles) properly on a day tour from Kununurra but we can take a scenic flight over it! Early morning today is the time to do it – this is an optional flight. For those of us who choose not to fly this is the perfect opportunity for a sleep-in! Mid morning, when the flyers return, we drive towards Lake Argyle, stopping enroute to visit the Argyle Homestead Museum. The homestead was originally built in 1895 by the Durack family on Argyle Downs Station (now mostly submerged by the lake). The famous pioneering Durack family home became known far and wide as one of the social gathering places of the East Kimberley. Constructed of handcrafted limestone blocks with crushed termites mounds used as mortar, it was a magnificent building for its time. During the early 1970’s a decision was made to remove the homestead before Lake Argyle began to fill in order to preserve this magnificent building for all time. The homestead was dismantled stone by stone with every stone coded in such a way so as to be able to be rebuilt with every stone back in its original position. The homestead now lives on as a museum dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the Durack Family. We travel on to Lake Argyle where we enjoy a fish ‘n chip lunch at the Tourist Village. One of the many highlights of our tour to the East Kimberley will be our cruise this afternoon from below the massive wall of Lake Argyle into Lake Kununurra, 55 kilometres downstream. The Ord River Scheme was a progressive and far sighted move to develop the tropical north of Western Australia. During “the wet” the rivers of the East Kimberley become raging torrents. At times the Ord River can empty 50 million litres a second into the Cambridge Gulf!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
We can’t actually visit the Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles) properly on a day tour from Kununurra but we can take a scenic flight over it! Early morning today is the time to do it – this is an optional flight. For those of us who choose not to fly this is the perfect opportunity for a sleep-in! Mid morning, when the flyers return, we drive towards Lake Argyle, stopping enroute to visit the Argyle Homestead Museum. The homestead was originally built in 1895 by the Durack family on Argyle Downs Station (now mostly submerged by the lake). The famous pioneering Durack family home became known far and wide as one of the social gathering places of the East Kimberley. Constructed of handcrafted limestone blocks with crushed termites mounds used as mortar, it was a magnificent building for its time. During the early 1970’s a decision was made to remove the homestead before Lake Argyle began to fill in order to preserve this magnificent building for all time. The homestead was dismantled stone by stone with every stone coded in such a way so as to be able to be rebuilt with every stone back in its original position. The homestead now lives on as a museum dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the Durack Family. We travel on to Lake Argyle where we enjoy a fish ‘n chip lunch at the Tourist Village. One of the many highlights of our tour to the East Kimberley will be our cruise this afternoon from below the massive wall of Lake Argyle into Lake Kununurra, 55 kilometres downstream. The Ord River Scheme was a progressive and far sighted move to develop the tropical north of Western Australia. During “the wet” the rivers of the East Kimberley become raging torrents. At times the Ord River can empty 50 million litres a second into the Cambridge Gulf!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
DAY 3: monday 26th july, 2021
KUNUNURRA
First stop is the Sandalwood Showroom where we’ll learn about the soil-to oil process in one of the world’s most prized fragrant timbers. We can view a video, then move to the showroom to feel samples of the wood in its various stages – from log to wood powder – and smell the sandalwood oil that has been an important ingredient in perfumery since Egyptian times. After lunch, we now head out to Ivanhoe Crossing which is the place where Ivanhoe Road crosses the Ord River. This used to be the main and only road to Wyndham in the old days... We continue our sightseeing, passing by mango orchards, citrus, melons and sandalwood plantations. Next stop is Kimberley Ornamental Stonecraft which shows stone art and jewellery skillfully handcrafted from gemstones and unique Kimberley rock including the fine banded Zebra stone. We’ll have plenty of time to look through the gallery.
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
First stop is the Sandalwood Showroom where we’ll learn about the soil-to oil process in one of the world’s most prized fragrant timbers. We can view a video, then move to the showroom to feel samples of the wood in its various stages – from log to wood powder – and smell the sandalwood oil that has been an important ingredient in perfumery since Egyptian times. After lunch, we now head out to Ivanhoe Crossing which is the place where Ivanhoe Road crosses the Ord River. This used to be the main and only road to Wyndham in the old days... We continue our sightseeing, passing by mango orchards, citrus, melons and sandalwood plantations. Next stop is Kimberley Ornamental Stonecraft which shows stone art and jewellery skillfully handcrafted from gemstones and unique Kimberley rock including the fine banded Zebra stone. We’ll have plenty of time to look through the gallery.
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
DAY 4: tuesday 27th july, 2021
ZEBRA MINE TOUR
This tour is one highlight after another – but today will be one to remember! Mid-morning, we make our way to the actual Zebra Mine where we spend the rest of the day. Lunch will be freshly caught Silver Cobbler and they say the lunch hits a 10 on the “fish ‘n chip-odometer”!! We’ll take a tour of the mine then enjoy our afternoon tea. It’s now time to board our Wetlands Cruise; the wetlands are situated on the eastern side of Lake Argyle where the many creeks feed into the dam. We’re sure to see a huge variety of birds, in particular, Mr and Mrs Osprey and nest, Brolgas, Cormorants, Ibis, Egrets, Darters, Corellas, Herons, Whistling Ducks, Magpie Geese, Sea Eagles – just to name a few! We might see a few Johnston Freshwater Crocodiles too. How does some sparkling wine and nibbles sound as we watch the sun set over Lake Argyle (the only place this can be experienced!). Following dinner, we return to Kununurra – quite late but what a fantastic day!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
This tour is one highlight after another – but today will be one to remember! Mid-morning, we make our way to the actual Zebra Mine where we spend the rest of the day. Lunch will be freshly caught Silver Cobbler and they say the lunch hits a 10 on the “fish ‘n chip-odometer”!! We’ll take a tour of the mine then enjoy our afternoon tea. It’s now time to board our Wetlands Cruise; the wetlands are situated on the eastern side of Lake Argyle where the many creeks feed into the dam. We’re sure to see a huge variety of birds, in particular, Mr and Mrs Osprey and nest, Brolgas, Cormorants, Ibis, Egrets, Darters, Corellas, Herons, Whistling Ducks, Magpie Geese, Sea Eagles – just to name a few! We might see a few Johnston Freshwater Crocodiles too. How does some sparkling wine and nibbles sound as we watch the sun set over Lake Argyle (the only place this can be experienced!). Following dinner, we return to Kununurra – quite late but what a fantastic day!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
DAY 5:wednesday 28th july, 2021
THE ARGYLE DIAMOND MINE
This morning we travel to the Argyle Diamond Mine where we meet a guide for a tour of the mine. The Argyle Diamond has put Australia on top as the world's biggest diamond producer. It is Australia's only major diamond producer, producing the extremely rare and valuable pink diamonds, as well as fine whites and intriguing champagne and cognac diamonds. This diamond mine is one of the most technologically advanced mines in the world. After the mine tour and lunch, we meander back to Kununurra with time for a dip in the pool!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
This morning we travel to the Argyle Diamond Mine where we meet a guide for a tour of the mine. The Argyle Diamond has put Australia on top as the world's biggest diamond producer. It is Australia's only major diamond producer, producing the extremely rare and valuable pink diamonds, as well as fine whites and intriguing champagne and cognac diamonds. This diamond mine is one of the most technologically advanced mines in the world. After the mine tour and lunch, we meander back to Kununurra with time for a dip in the pool!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
DAY 6: thursday 29th july, 2021
WYNDHAM & PARRY’S LAGOON
Today we head up the Great Northern Highway to Wyndham. One hundred kilometres north of Kununurra, Wyndham is a small frontier town that typifies the character of the Kimberley. Established near the tidal waters of the Cambridge Gulf, the port town is guarded by the thrusting summit of the Bastion Range, towering 1,100 feet above sea level at its highest point. Many people say the “5 Rivers Lookout” from the top of the Bastion is one of the finest in Australia! It’s here we stop for our morning break. In the township of Wyndham, we’ll take in the sights including the giant concrete crocodile and the Port area - the Kimberley’s oldest town has had a turbulent history of boom and bust that, along with the striking surrounding landscape, has shaped it into a destination more interesting than many may think! We learn about the history of the area when we visit Wyndham Museum. Located in the old Court House, the museum provides an insight into the aviation, shipping, pastoral and meat processing industries of past pioneers. Journal records, photographic displays of times gone by and unique memorabilia amalgamate to form a truly fascinating experience. Make sure you have your camera ready as we now drive to our lunch venue. The birdlife will take your breath away as we enjoy lunch at Parry Creek Farm. The farm is located at the Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, an important waterbird feeding and breeding area. It is also a stopover point for more migratory waders, some of which travel from as far afield as Siberia. As the wet subsides and the billabongs and lagoons shrink to their semi-permanent and permanent dry season courses, the barramundi, mullet and tarpon left in the pools provide a year-round food supply for fish eating birds of prey, pelicans and jabirus and the occasional crocodile. Both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles inhabit Parry Lagoons, so stay well back from the water’s edge! After our visit, we see a great 360 degree view from the lookout at Telegraph Hill and be amazed at the number of boab trees on our way in and out from the highway. Returning to Kununurra we’ll have some more relaxation time!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
Today we head up the Great Northern Highway to Wyndham. One hundred kilometres north of Kununurra, Wyndham is a small frontier town that typifies the character of the Kimberley. Established near the tidal waters of the Cambridge Gulf, the port town is guarded by the thrusting summit of the Bastion Range, towering 1,100 feet above sea level at its highest point. Many people say the “5 Rivers Lookout” from the top of the Bastion is one of the finest in Australia! It’s here we stop for our morning break. In the township of Wyndham, we’ll take in the sights including the giant concrete crocodile and the Port area - the Kimberley’s oldest town has had a turbulent history of boom and bust that, along with the striking surrounding landscape, has shaped it into a destination more interesting than many may think! We learn about the history of the area when we visit Wyndham Museum. Located in the old Court House, the museum provides an insight into the aviation, shipping, pastoral and meat processing industries of past pioneers. Journal records, photographic displays of times gone by and unique memorabilia amalgamate to form a truly fascinating experience. Make sure you have your camera ready as we now drive to our lunch venue. The birdlife will take your breath away as we enjoy lunch at Parry Creek Farm. The farm is located at the Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, an important waterbird feeding and breeding area. It is also a stopover point for more migratory waders, some of which travel from as far afield as Siberia. As the wet subsides and the billabongs and lagoons shrink to their semi-permanent and permanent dry season courses, the barramundi, mullet and tarpon left in the pools provide a year-round food supply for fish eating birds of prey, pelicans and jabirus and the occasional crocodile. Both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles inhabit Parry Lagoons, so stay well back from the water’s edge! After our visit, we see a great 360 degree view from the lookout at Telegraph Hill and be amazed at the number of boab trees on our way in and out from the highway. Returning to Kununurra we’ll have some more relaxation time!
OVERNIGHT: The Kimberley Grande, KUNUNURRA
DAY 7: friday 30th july, 2021
KUNUNURRA - HOME
What an exciting trip it’s been! We’ll be transferred this morning to Kunnunurra Airport where we join our direct flight back to Melbourne. On arrival as always, our chauffeurs will be waiting to transfer us back to our very door!
Lunch at own arrangement and cost today.
What an exciting trip it’s been! We’ll be transferred this morning to Kunnunurra Airport where we join our direct flight back to Melbourne. On arrival as always, our chauffeurs will be waiting to transfer us back to our very door!
Lunch at own arrangement and cost today.
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Complimentary chauffeur driven transfers
Victorian passengers from Greater Melbourne, Bendigo, Torquay, Ballarat, Geelong, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, Phillip Island and selected areas of Gippsland will be picked up from home in a private chauffeured vehicle by one of our professional drivers.
For Victorian passengers not within this pick up zone, or our interstate passengers a quote can be provided for home pickup in extended areas. At the end of your tour, you will be safely returned home with memories of a sensational tour.
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours Touring Coach
Features include comfy reclining seats for a maximum of 36 passengers with plenty of leg room to stretch out.
Arm and foot rests, seat belts, panoramic windows with blinds, refrigerator for passenger use, Road Cam screens which display the road ahead in real time and an onboard rest room. A second door for easier entry and exit,
a hands-free hand sanitizer dispenser onboard and full air suspension for a smooth, quiet ride.
Tour Director
Dedicated O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach crew (tour directors) on board to ensure
your travel experience is memorable.
Best Available Quality Accommodation
Ensuite motel accommodation each night.
Attractions
All tours and interest venues as per itinerary.
Meals
Full cooked breakfasts, morning tea, most lunches and two course restaurant dinners daily.
No Hidden Extras
O'Shannessy's Quality Tours are fully inclusive.
“... Kununurra is the gateway town to the East Kimberley, and a great base if you’d like to explore some of Western Australia’s most remarkable natural attractions...”
australia.com
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY
Balance due on invoice approximately 45 days prior to departure.
Deposit is fully refundable until 46 days prior to departure date.
Prices include GST and all taxes.
Cancellation 45 to 8 days before tour departure date, 20% Refund of Tour Cost
Cancellation within 7 days of tour departure date, No Refund
On or after tour date departure, No Refund
Travel Insurance is not compulsory, however we highly recommended you take out comprehensive travel insurance with a reputable insurer at the time you pay for your tour.