Darwin to Perth Overland

Trip Code: PKOPC

Why we love it

Explore Lake Argyle and take an optional cruise on the still waters, looking out for crocodiles, wallabies and rare birds against the mountain island backdrop. , Spend nights camping in the Australian Outback under a star-studded Milky Way sky. There is little, if any, reception out here, so it’s the perfect chance to disconnect, recharge and get back to basics in the heart of nature. , Swim in rock pools, waterfalls and watering holes, travel along the Gibb River Road in a 4WD and hike through rivers past towering red cliffs, rocks and spires.  , Explore the World Heritage area of Shark Bay, home to the oldest living organisms in the world – stromatolites.  , Spend two nights and three days in the red-hued Pilbara, away from any light pollution, in Karijini National Park and spend your days exploring ancient gorges and refreshing swimming holes and waterfalls. 

Is this trip right for me?

On some days of this trip, you'll spend many hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you'd miss in any other form of travel. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The drive days can be long, but it's as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie!

Accommodation on this trip involves camping out in nature or staying in backpacker-style dormitory accommodation, including bunk beds, so the facilities are very basic. It is a trip for either younger, fit travellers or the young at heart and fit in body! A lack of emphasis on creature comforts makes this an authentic experience of the Australian outback. Some locations will have little to no Internet connection or phone service. 

This trip involves activities like hiking on uneven terrain and clambering over boulders. It is best suited to travellers with good mobility and fitness. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.

This trip includes four days in Broome, where you’ll be unaccompanied by a trip leader. As this is a combination trip, your group members will also likely change before and after your time in Broome.

If you are looking for this itinerary in the reverse direction, from Perth to Darwin, see trip code PKODC on our website. The sections between Perth, Broome and Darwin are also sold as individual tours.

Important information

START & END TIMES
Your trip commences in Perth on Day 1 at 7 am and finishes in Darwin on the last day at approximately 6 pm. We recommend you arrive a day early and onward travel should be booked for the following day. No accommodation is included on Day 24

LUGGAGE
A strict luggage limit of 15 kg applies. Please bring a soft-sided bag only.

ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation on this trip is Basix-style mixed gender multi-share dormitories or twin-share camping in dome tents with swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Some on site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets however on some nights the ablution facilities can be very basic.

SLEEPING BAG
This trip requires a sleeping bag. You can bring your own or can purchase one. Please let your booking agent know ahead of time if you would like to add this to your booking

WHALE SHARKS
Swimming with whale sharks is not included on this trip and is an optional activity that you need to book online yourself. It is very important that you pre book any whale shark experiences, as this can sell out far in advance. Please also note that whale sharks visit the region between mid-March and mid-September only, so please make sure you schedule your trip accordingly if you would like to include this experience in your trip.

What to bring/pack

It is recommended that you bring a head torch, broad-brimmed hat with sun visor for all round sun protection, sunscreen, swimming costume and towel, good walking/trekking shoes, insect repellent, a personal water bottle, warm clothes for the evening (particularly if travelling in Winter), personal toiletries and first aid, with any personal medication required.

You will also need to bring a sleeping bag. Alternatively you can purchase one from us. This needs to be requested with our office prior to travel and can be kept following your trip or donated to local indigenous communities.

What to Bring Checklist:
- A pair of shoes/sandals that you don’t mind getting wet - and we mean
fully immersed in water. Ideally, wet shoes or sandals.
- A torch (ideally a head torch)
- A broad-brimmed hat with a sun visor for all-round protection
- Swimming costume and towel
- Bath towel
- Walking/trekking shoes
- Personal water bottle (ideally 1.5L capacity)
- Small day pack
- Personal toiletries
- Insect repellent & sunscreen
- Long-sleeved cotton shirt (sun protection) and loose-fitting pants
(warmth and insect protection for evenings)
- Warm jumper (particularly in May-Aug)
- Sleeping Bag (if you don't have your own you can purchase one from us. This must be requested prior to travel and can be kept following your trip or donated to indigenous communities.

Note: Maximum bag weight limit is 15kg - no suitcases

Physical rating

4

Joining your group

MOM Darwin YHA, departing 7:00am, 52 Mitchell St, Darwin, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

The pick up location for this trip is at 7am in front of the MOM Darwin YHA. This is where we will meet you for your trip. We do not take responsibility for missed tours if you are not at the pick up location on time.

Finishing your trip

Perth, , Perth, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 22

Lunches included: 20

Dinners included: 17

On most days, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included. Your leader will prepare most of the meals whilst on tour. Please read the daily itinerary to find out what is included. Due to the often remote nature of our trips, food is basic but plentiful and delicious.

PARTICIPATORY CAMPING
Our tours are activity and participation based. During your travels with us you will have the opportunity to assist with daily activities such as setting up camp, helping prepare meals and clearing dishes. None of this is difficult however many hands make light work and any assistance provided to crew is always much appreciated. Most people agree that this type of activity helps you feel like less of a tourist and more of an explorer.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
All food for this trip is purchased and packed prior to your group leaving on day one. After we’ve left town it can be very difficult to source special dietary requests. Travellers with special dietary requirements or food allergies are required to advise us at the time of booking. You may be asked to pay for any additional food if you have not advised us of any special dietary requirements. Please don’t hesitate to contact u if you have any specific dietary concerns.

Climate & seasonal information

While much of Australia experiences a traditional four season year, Australia’s north, including the Kimberley, has a tropical climate with a Wet Season (November to March/April) and a Dry Season (April/May to October). All of our tours in the north operate during ‘the Dry’, when it can get surprisingly cold overnight, depending on where you are — in Broome it can get down to 12ºC, while in the Bungle Bungles, it can fall as low as 5ºC! During the day, we usually enjoy a lovely 28 to 30ºC.

Note however that during September and October, as the Wet Season approaches, the temperatures increase accordingly and from this time, and throughout the Wet Season, it can be very hot during the day. If you plan to travel at this time, it is essential that you are prepared for the tropical weather — feel free to ask our office for advice prior to booking.

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

ALL general enquiry must be directed to our reservations team. In case of a GENUINE EMERGENCY, or concerns about a missed pick-up on the day of departure ONLY, please contact our local Operations Team on the number listed below:

GENUINE EMERGENCIES ONLY: 1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164

08 9193 7778

Accommodations

Nights 1 to 9 & 15 to 19: Camping in National Parks, Caravan Parks or on Cattle Stations involves dome tents (twin-share), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. Some on site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets however on some nights the ablution facilities can be very basic. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Nights 10 to 14 & 20 to 23: Enjoy the fun and community of staying in carefully-chosen local backpacker hostels. Bedding is dormshare style, can occasionally be mixed gender and is likely to involve bunk beds.

Transportation

4WD tours are operated in custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage. These comfortable, strong remote area vehicles allow our small groups extra space (including standing room), are fully air-conditioned and fitted with adjustable air-vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand that the roads we travel on can be heavily corrugated, which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed.