Kimberley Adventure Tours (KAT)

The alarm went off at 5am to begin my trip to the Kimberley and across the western part of Australia.  Simon, driver/guide, from Kimberley Adventure Tours promptly picked me up at 6am, where I first met Silvan from Switzerland, and then proceeded to pick up other travelers - Abbi (England), Natalie (Belgium), and Pipo (Italy).  Maybe because we’re all “westerners”, we quickly bonded and became friends.  Off we go!

We traveled south down the Stuart Highway to visit Edith Falls for a late morning swim.  Edith Falls was the perfect spot to start our adventure, with amazing series of waterfalls and a picturesque pool at the base of the falls.

Edith Falls

Pristine gorge @ Edith Falls

Then onto Katherine to pick up supplies (aka, booze) before traveling west towards The Kimberley and Western Australia to set up our first bush camp along the Victoria River.

First Sunset along the Victoria River

The Kimberley region is located on the northern-most part of Western Australia and covering some 421,451 square kilometres (approximately 261,000 miles), an area three times the size of England and three fifths the size of Texas, the Kimberley is home to only 40,000 people meaning that there are fewer people per kilometre than almost any other place on the planet.

Tonight is the first night where I get to sleep in a “swag” - essentially it’s a heavy canvas bedroll.  They were originally carried by “swagmen”, who were migrant farm works or sheep shearers, that walked from job to job in Australia’s outback during the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.  So in keeping with the authentic outback experience, we all get to sleep under the stars in swags.  This is possibly best way to see millions (or billions?) of stars on a crystal clear night, especially when I get to sleep by a campfire.  Let's hope the alligators stay on their side of the river!

First campfire in The Kimberley

Thankfully we didn't see of these critters during the night!