A visit to the North West is best accomplished by air. However, if you have more time there are numerous choices of transportation and tours departing from Perth.
From Carnarvon or Exmouth a detour inland to the Karijini National Park in the Pilbara, is well-worth the effort. Karijini is a spectacular two and a half billion year old region the size of Belgium, with chasms up to 100 metres deep which you can trek through. Most people are happy to just hold the handrail at Oxers Lookout, posing in their new Timberlands. But if you want some real adventure, follow the steep winding tracks into the gorges, freshwater pools and caverns and then clamber your way back up. Feels a bit like journey to the centre of the earth!
Back to the coastal highway near Onslow and another worthwhile stopover is to the Mackerel Islands, where like Robinson Crusoe, you can have an entire island to yourself (unlike Robinson Crusoe, there is small fee involved!).
Broome, with its world-famous Cable Beach, first made an appearance on British TV in 1997 along with supermodel Elle McPherson. Still looking pretty good today with over 22 kilometres of sparkling white sand plus the ubiquitous 'nuddy bit' up past the rocks, which is well-frequented by gorgeous northern European blondes!
Broome has a wide range of backpacker accommodation as well as the award-winning Kimberley Klub, plus great pubs and nightlife too. Broome is the gateway to the rugged Kimberley region, one of the world's last-frontiers. The rugged Kimberley coastline is the least explored in the world and there are literally a thousand deserted islands off the coast in the spectacular Buccaneer Archipelago.
From Broome, take a trip up to Cape Leveque and take at least seven to ten days to travel along the Gibb River Road, preferably by four wheel drive, stopping off to see some amazing gorge country such as Windjana Gorge and Geikie Gorge. Stand back in awe at the natural beauty of Bell Gorge and Manning Gorge. For more worldly-wise adventure travellers, take the Kalumburu Road and head for the Mitchell Plateau and the spectacular Mitchell Falls.
The last major stops prior to the Northern Territory are Kununurra or El Questro, which are ideal points for visiting the World Heritage listed Bungle Bungles - an ancient range of beehive-shaped domes resembling what the world was like 2.6 billion years ago.
For more information please visit Australia's North West.
Map of Australia's North West
