Did you know, it takes just over an hour to fly to our Top End WA neighbour, Kununurra?
It’s an easy way to spend the weekend in the Kimberley from Darwin – made even better with free NEXUS Airlines flights for a friend!!
KIMBERLEY WEEKEND MUST SEE
In Kununurra, be sure to take it all in from the top of Kelly’s Knob – a short (but steep in parts!) hike to the viewpoint over town. Check out the Aboriginal and local art galleries, and take a stroll nearby in the Mirima National Park – which people often claim is like a ‘mini Bungle Bungle’.
At Lake Argyle, get on a cruise across the largest man-made lake in the Southern Hemisphere. (It’s actually an inland sea!!) We learnt some fascinating information from the guide on this tour, but if you’d rather take it all in on your own time, hiring a BBQ boat or a paddle board is a great option.
If you’re basing yourself in Kununurra, the best way to appreciate the lake is to hop on a scenic flight on a float plane – check it out from above it AND on it!
At Purnululu National Park – There’s plenty of walks to marvel at the wonder of this fascinating geological landmark – The Bungle Bungle. Enjoy trails including Mini Palms, Echidna Chasm, Piccaninny Creek and Cathedral Gorge – varying from 2km to 4km in length, take in gorge walls up to 200 metres in height, spectacular prehistoric Livistona palms, and the iconic bee-hives.
EAT & DRINK
If you’re in Kununurra and it’s coffee you’re after, head down by the lagoon to the local favourite Spilled The Beans, or stop in for brunch in town after checking out the Kununurra Markets on a Saturday, at the Wild Mango Café.
It’s not a weekend in the Kimberley without a visit to The Hoochery to sample some award-winning rum – we’re told its actually WA’s oldest operating legal still! The Hoochery is equal parts fun and funky – and a great place to spend an afternoon on the lawns.
If you need somewhere to take in the sunset, you can’t go past the PumpHouse Restaurant right on the edge of Lake Kununurra. The resident croc agrees! It’s an assortment of locally grown produce and drinks with a view.
MUST SWIM
If you’re visiting the Kimberley for a weekend in the Dry Season, there’s a couple of easy drives from Kununurra that you can do in a hire car – like a dip in the quiet oasis of Molly Springs. It’s a small waterfall, but it’s also only a small walk in!
Or make the trek to Emma Gorge, one of the Kimberley’s most spectacular and accessible gorges in the heart of El Questro National Park, with it’s sheer 65-metre cliffs – and freezing water!
If you’re looking for something a little warmer, opt for a soothing soak at Zebedee Springs, also in EL Questro – and only a short walk through beautiful pandanus palms to a series of thermal pools!
To reach the springs and El Questro, you can drive the Highway / Gibb River Road from Kununurra, or if you’re without a vehicle – book a transfer to the park by road or air from Kununurra, or join a guided tour. Save these ones for the Dry Season to ensure access!
WHERE TO STAY ON A WEEKEND IN THE KIMBERLEY
In Kununurra, there’s a variety of caravan parks to choose from – or base yourself at the Discovery Park at Lake Argyle for a few nights to get access to THAT famous infinity pool!
When visiting El Q, you can go luxury at the Homestead, hire a tented cabin at Emma Gorge, or camp at the campsite – and in Purnlulu, the Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge is a perfect (and luxe) base to enjoy the National Park.
GET THERE
Fly a friend for free and save 50% off flights for two or more people into Kununurra from Darwin. Book here!