6-Day West Kimberley Helicopter Safari Tour ex. Broome

The most striking thing about this six-day West Kimberley safari is how much ground you cover without spending your holiday on long road transfers. Helicopters, a seaplane, a private charter plane and a 4WD take you from Broome’s Cable Beach to Cygnet Bay, Horizontal Falls, Mount Hart and the gorges along the Gibb River Road.

I like the mix of big aerial views and close-up bush time, from Twin Flame Falls and Bell Gorge to a swim at Barker Pool. I also like the return to Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge each evening, where cocktails, a three-course dinner and a real bed balance the rougher side of outback travel.

The main caution is the price: $17,895.22 per person is a major commitment. The days are also long, the schedule depends on weather and aircraft availability, and you need a moderate level of fitness for walks, swimming and outdoor touring.

Key points to know before you book

• Four ways to see the Kimberley: Travel by helicopter, seaplane, fixed-wing aircraft and 4WD rather than relying on one form of transport.
• Cygnet Bay has two roles: You stay at the pearl farm and take part in a sea safari before continuing west.
• Horizontal Falls is a headline stop: The seaplane and boat outing gives you both an aerial view and time on the water.
• Mount Hart is your outback base: Stay among the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, with premium dining and guided outings nearby.
• The gorges come thick and fast: Isdell Gorge, Matthew Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge and Bell Gorge all feature across the middle and final days.
• Broome bookends the trip: Begin at Broome Airport, finish at Broome International Airport, and add a sunset camel ride on Cable Beach.

Why this safari works for a short, serious Kimberley trip

The West Kimberley is vast. On a standard road trip, reaching the gorges, pearl farms and coastal sites takes time, and some roads require careful planning. This tour uses aircraft for the long jumps, then switches to boats and 4WD vehicles when a closer look matters.

That saves you from turning the holiday into a series of exhausting road days. You still see the iconic Gibb River Road, but you are not asked to drive the entire route yourself. Instead, you can look down on the winding road from the air, then spend more time at the places that make the region special.

This is a private tour, so only your group takes part. A personal guide meets you in Broome and escorts you to your accommodation. The published start time is 1:00 pm at Broome Airport, with the tour ending back at Broome Airport on day six.

The format suits you if you want a polished trip with very little planning between stops. It is less suitable if you prefer slow travel, independent driving or a flexible daily schedule.

Day one: Cable Beach sets the tone

Your first afternoon begins in Broome, where you are met and taken to your accommodation with a welcome drink. The main outing is a sunset camel ride along Cable Beach, one of the simplest and most memorable ways to begin a Kimberley holiday.

Cable Beach is known for its wide sweep of sand and open western horizon. The timing matters. A camel ride at sunset gives you changing light, a cooler part of the day and a slow pace after your arrival by air.

You have only about six hours on the first day, so this is more of a gentle introduction than a full sightseeing program. That is sensible. After flights and transfers, you may appreciate an easy afternoon rather than another demanding excursion.

The tour summary allows some choice during the afternoon, though the exact alternatives are not specified. Ask your guide what is available when you arrive, especially if you want to keep the first day quiet.

Day two: Cygnet Bay and the Dampier Peninsula

After breakfast, you take a private charter flight over the Dampier Peninsula to Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. This is one of the tour’s more distinctive sections because the pearl farm is not simply a quick photo stop. You stay there and take part in a sea safari.

The flight itself is part of the sightseeing. From the air, you get a broad view of the peninsula without spending hours on the Broome to Cape Leveque Road. That is a practical advantage, particularly on a six-day schedule.

Cygnet Bay adds a coastal and cultural change of pace after Cable Beach. The award-winning pearl farm gives the day a clear sense of place, while the sea safari gets you out on the water rather than keeping you on shore.

The day is listed at about 15 hours, so this is one of the longest stretches of the tour. You should expect a full day with an early start, flights, time at the farm and marine activity. Pack lightly, protect yourself from the sun and keep anything you need during the day within easy reach.

Day three: Horizontal Falls from air and water

Start with breakfast on the terrace at Cygnet Bay, then head out for a seaplane and boat adventure to Horizontal Falls. This is the tour’s most famous natural attraction, and the two-part approach makes sense.

From the seaplane, you see the unusual tidal channels from above. On the boat, you get closer to the water and feel the scale of the channels in a more immediate way. The whole Horizontal Falls outing takes about three hours, so it is focused rather than an all-day cruise.

The attraction is shaped by powerful tidal movement through narrow gaps in the coastal rock. Conditions matter here. The timing and operation of the boat activity depend on the local tide and weather, so your exact sequence may change.

After the morning at Horizontal Falls, you leave the coast and fly toward Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge over the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, formerly called the King Leopold Ranges. This flight is not just a transfer. It gives you a first broad look at the inland ranges and the changing terrain of the West Kimberley.

You land at Mount Hart, described as an outback oasis, and settle into the main base for the next part of the trip. The day can run for about 12 hours, so expect a full travel day with a major change in scenery.

Mount Hart: comfort in a remote setting

Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge is the practical heart of the safari. You return here after several outings, so the accommodation matters more than it would on a one-night stop.

The appeal is the contrast. During the day, you are around gorges, rivers, waterfalls and rough bush tracks. Back at the lodge, you have cocktails at the bar and a premium three-course dinner at Pippa’s Corner.

That rhythm is one of the strongest features of the trip. You do not have to give up comfort to reach remote parts of the Kimberley. At the same time, this is still a wilderness lodge, not a city hotel. The remote setting is central to the appeal, and you should choose it for the bush atmosphere rather than for resort-style facilities.

The dining is a meaningful part of the value. A three-course Table d’Hôte meal gives the evening structure after a long day outside. If food and accommodation are important to you, Mount Hart helps justify some of the high cost. If you mainly want maximum time walking or swimming, the formal meals may feel less important.

Day four: waterfalls, swimming holes and Matthew Gorge

Day four begins with a helicopter flight toward Isdell Gorge. The early timing is useful for two reasons: cooler conditions and softer morning light. You stop near hidden waterfalls for a picnic breakfast, giving you a more personal start than a dining room meal.

The Isdell Gorge outing is short at about 40 minutes, but the helicopter access is the point. Remote waterfalls and gorges that would take much longer to reach by road become part of a single morning.

Back at Mount Hart, you have time to rest before a land safari to the Barker River and Barker Pool. A swim is included, so bring suitable clothing and a towel if one is not supplied. Swimming conditions can vary, and you should follow the guide’s advice before entering the water.

After lunch, another land safari takes you to Matthew Gorge in the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges. The stop includes a glass of sparkling wine while you take in the view of the rock pool. It is a small detail, but it shows how the trip mixes rugged outings with polished touches.

The schedule gives you several types of scenery in one day: waterfalls by helicopter, a river swimming hole, a gorge by 4WD and a relaxed drink before dinner. The drawback is pace. You may feel that each stop deserves more time, especially if you enjoy photography or quiet walks.

The day finishes with cocktails and another premium meal at Mount Hart. After so many changes of vehicle and setting, that familiar return is welcome.

Day five: Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge

Day five combines a helicopter flight, a guided land safari and two major Kimberley sites. You fly over the Gibb River Road toward Windjana Gorge, then continue to Tunnel Creek National Park.

Tunnel Creek is known for its passage through the range, and the outing is listed at about two hours. The provided details do not specify every walking condition, so ask your guide about footwear, water and the day’s route before setting out.

The program then returns to Windjana Gorge in the early afternoon. Here, you explore the towering ranges and riverbed, with the chance to see the freshwater crocodiles that gather in the area.

This is one of the best days for seeing how geology and wildlife work together. The gorge is not just a scenic stop. The riverbed and water create habitat, and the crocodiles give the visit a strong sense of the living Kimberley.

The timing also matters. Morning and afternoon light can change the look of the gorge, while the heat may affect how long you want to walk. Wear practical shoes and bring sun protection. A moderate fitness level is required across the tour, and this day includes outdoor exploration rather than simply viewing the scenery from an aircraft.

You return to Mount Hart along the Gibb River Road, seeing more of the route that links the inland stations and gorges. The evening ends with a premium three-course dinner, a fitting final night at the lodge.

Day six: Bell Gorge and the flight back to Broome

Your last morning begins with breakfast at Mount Hart, followed by a final helicopter flight over the lodge and toward Bell Gorge. Bell is one of the best-known gorge areas in the West Kimberley, with waterfalls and rock pools shaping the view.

The Bell Gorge section lasts about three hours. That gives you time for a proper final outing, though the exact amount of walking or swimming depends on the day’s conditions and the guide’s plan.

Afterward, you return to the airstrip for a private charter plane to Broome. The fixed-wing flight passes over the Gibb River Road and Derby before landing at Broome Airport. From the air, the return journey becomes one last sightseeing flight rather than a forgotten transfer.

The trip finishes where it began, at Broome Airport. That makes planning easier if you are adding this safari to a Broome stay, but allow extra time if you have a same-day onward flight.

Is $17,895.22 per person good value?

This is expensive even by luxury Australian touring standards. You are paying for private touring, several aircraft movements, a seaplane and boat outing, accommodation, guided land excursions, premium dining and the ability to cover remote parts of the Kimberley in six days.

The value is strongest if your time is limited and you want access to places that would be hard to connect independently. The flights cut out long transfers, while the private format gives your group more control than a large scheduled tour.

The price is harder to justify if you are comfortable driving the Gibb River Road, camping or arranging separate day tours. A self-drive trip will cost much less, though it will also require more time, planning and tolerance for rough roads and changing conditions.

Before booking, confirm exactly which meals, drinks, accommodation nights and transfers are included. The program clearly includes breakfast, a picnic breakfast, premium dinners and several named activities, but the supplied details do not spell out every cost outside those inclusions.

Who should book this West Kimberley safari?

I would recommend it to you if you want the Kimberley’s major sights but do not want to spend a week or more driving between them. It also suits couples, families with suitable fitness levels, and small private groups who value comfort and a carefully arranged schedule.

It is especially strong for people who enjoy variety. In six days, you ride a camel, visit a pearl farm, fly over tidal channels, take a boat, swim in a river pool, walk near gorges and return to refined meals.

Think twice if you dislike aircraft, long days or fixed schedules. Weather can affect the operation, and the tour requires moderate physical fitness. The non-refundable booking terms also make travel insurance and careful date selection sensible. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of required participants is not reached.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Broome Airport in Western Australia at 1:00 pm.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour ends at Broome International Airport on Macpherson Street, Broome.

How long does the safari last?

The experience lasts approximately six days.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in this private tour or activity.

What level of fitness is required?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. The program includes outdoor touring, gorge visits, land safaris and an optional swimming opportunity at Barker Pool.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered, though the listed meeting point is Broome Airport. Confirm the pickup details when your booking is confirmed.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. Good weather is required. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a concentrated, high-comfort introduction to the West Kimberley and are willing to pay for aircraft access, private touring and polished accommodation. The strongest parts are the variety of transport, the time at Cygnet Bay, the Horizontal Falls outing and the repeated return to Mount Hart.

I would not choose it for a casual budget holiday or a slow road trip. At $17,895.22 per person, it needs to be a deliberate splurge. For the right person, though, it offers a rare combination: the Kimberley’s remote gorges and rivers, seen from the air and reached without giving up comfort at day’s end.