The West and the Kimberleys
September 1st to October 6th, 2025
Experience the adventure of a lifetime on a unique 36-day photo tour from Perth to Darwin!
This journey takes you through some of Western Australia’s most impressive national parks and offers thrilling adventures on the legendary Gibb River Road. Enjoy camping in 4×4 vehicles with rooftop tents and immerse yourself in the untouched nature as you photograph breathtaking landscapes and wildlife.
This trip is aimed at photographers and nature enthusiasts who want to discover the fascinating outback and the raw beauty of this region.
For us photography enthusiasts, Western Australia truly offers a vast range of subjects. Dreamy white sand beaches, moon-like desert landscapes, rock pools with crystal-clear water, waterfalls, giant termite mounds, eucalyptus trees with bright white trunks, gorges, rock formations, and much more await us.
Western Australia is also a paradise for wildlife photographers. The region offers an amazing variety of habitats and therefore a large number of animal species that live in these impressive landscapes. Crocodiles, lizards, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and echidnas are not the complete list. The bird Down Under is also unique.
In addition to photography, we also want to take some time to relax on our journey, enjoying a cold beer and pleasant conversations under the fantastic starry sky.
Sounds good? Then check out the Highlights to see what else awaits you on this journey!
Thanks to Roger Anderes for a large portion of the photos.
Trip Details
Dates
01.09.-06.10.2025 (whole tour 36 days)
01.09.-18.09.2025 (Perth – Broome 18 days)
19.09.-06.10.2025 (Broome – Darwin 18 days)
Destination
Western Australia, Kimberleys (Perth to Darwin)
Number of Participants
3 – 4 cars with roof tents
Cost
Whole trip Perth – Darwin
CHF 11,300 per person (in a double room/double roof tent)
Part 1 Perth – Broome
CHF 7,500 per person (in a double room/double roof tent)
Part 2 Broome – Darwin
CHF 7,500 per person (in a double room/double roof tent)
Price ground tent on request
Wanted
Participant is looking for a travel partner (half or full trip)
Questions
WhatsApp +41 79 772 49 93
4×4-Camper Tour
A tour with 4×4 off-road vehicles from Perth through Western Australia and the Kimberleys to Darwin. On our 36-day journey, we mainly follow our itinerary. Some highlights are planned in advance, and we aim to visit and photograph these places under the best conditions. At the same time, we want to remain open to spontaneous activities and occasionally take a break if we particularly enjoy a place.
I will send the registered participants a rough travel itinerary. This will serve as a discussion basis and can be adjusted before the trip.
Highlights
Nambung National park:
The moon-like desert landscape of the Pinnacles is one of Australia’s most extraordinary and fascinating natural landscapes. Near the coastal town of Cervantes, about 200 kilometers north of Perth, thousands of bizarre limestone pillars rise up to four meters high from the yellow desert sands of the Pinnacles Desert.
Kalbarri National park:
Outback adventure, dramatic gorges, and shimmering wildflowers make Kalbarri National Park one of Western Australia’s most popular places. Major highlights include the famous Nature’s Window, The Loop, Hawks Head, Ross Graham, Red Bluff, and Pot Alley.
Francois Peron National park:
Bright red desert sand meets snow-white beaches and turquoise sparkling waters. With these stark contrasts, Mother Nature offers visitors unique photographic opportunities. Located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Shark Bay, Francois Peron National Park is where the desert meets the ocean.
Cape Range National Park:
The beautiful Cape Range National Park is located along Ningaloo Reef. At its coast, turquoise waters meet snow-white dream beaches. Inland, a limestone mountain range stretches through the landscape, with stunning gorges such as Yardie Creek.
Karijini National park:
This national park is one of the most beautiful in all of Australia. Massive gorges, rock pools with crystal-clear water, waterfalls, giant termite mounds, and eucalyptus trees with bright white trunks define the park’s roughly two-billion-year-old landscape.
Broome and Surroundings:
The pearl town of Broome is known for its beautiful beaches and the unique landscapes of the Kimberley region. The most famous beach is Cable Beach, renowned for its white sand and breathtaking sunsets.
Lonely white sand beaches and red rocks also attract visitors at Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome.
Kimberleys:
The 1,200-kilometer-long adventure through the red outback of the Kimberleys begins in Broome. The largest part of it is the unpaved Gibb River Road from Derby to Kununurra. Breathtaking gorges await to be photographed. Some of the most famous include Windjana Gorge, Bell Gorge, Manning Gorge, and Emma Gorge. If there is enough time, a detour to the spectacular Mitchell Falls is recommended. Here, we’ll experience the real outback, and with our well-equipped vehicles, the drive is a lot of fun. We will reach the end of the Gibb River Road in Kununurra. A further highlight near the town is Lake Argyle, Australia’s largest freshwater reservoir, which looks spectacular from the air.
Purnululu National park:
The Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park in the Kimberley region is one of the most extraordinary landscapes on Earth. The “Bungle Bungles,” which were accidentally discovered by a film crew from the air less than 40 years ago and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007, are a paradise for photographers.
Some of the most beautiful spots in the park include Echidna Chasm, Mini Palm Gorge, and Cathedral Gorge.
Darwin and Surroundings:
Darwin, the endpoint of our journey, is the capital of the Northern Territory. With around 120,000 inhabitants, it is the northernmost major city in Australia.
Litchfield National Park:
Spanning 1,500 km², the park offers a variety of landscapes, such as sandstone cliffs, rainforests, waterfalls, and more. Gorgeous waterfalls tumble from the plateau into oasis-like pools and invite swimming all year round. Other attractions include towering termite mounds aligned in a north-south direction like magnetic needles.
Kakadu National Park:
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Kakadu National Park is considered one of Australia’s most beautiful due to its unique wildlife and plant life. It is located in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory. The park covers around 20,000 square kilometers and stretches nearly 200 kilometers from north to south and over 100 kilometers from east to west.
Three hours by car from Darwin, the National park is a perfect spot for all our favorite activities: hiking, bird watching, boat trips, swimming under waterfalls, off-roading, camping, and, of course, viewing ancient rock art.
Total Lunar Eclipse:
As a bonus, there will be a total lunar eclipse on the night of September 7/8.
Looking forward to an incredible journey!
Tour Leader
- Rolf Gemperle / Nataliia Sandulenko (cook)
Included
- Transport in a 4×4 off-road vehicle (Toyota Hilux) with a roof tent
- Entrance fees to all parks/campings
- Overnight stay in a two-person roof tent
- 5 hotel nights: in Perth 1x, Broome 2x, Darwin 2x in a double room
- Full board with breakfast, lunch (depending on the situation) and dinner prepared by our own cook
- Photographic support, especially in the area of drone flights
- Online preparation meeting to discuss the travel itinerary
Not Included
- Flights to Perth and return journey from Darwin
We can help you book your flight. Let us know your plans regarding arrival or possible extensions. - Cancellation insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Single room / single roof tent additional charge CHF 3,200.- (entire trip)
- Single room / single roof tent additional charge CHF 1,800.- (part 1 or 2)
- Snacks and alcoholic drinks
Is this the tour for you?
- Passion for nature and photography are essential
- On this tour we will go on various hikes to explore nature. An average level of fitness is sufficient.
- The temperatures and humidity are quite high, especially in the second part from Broome.
- The distances between sights are often very large, which inevitably leads to longer journeys.
- Willingness to function as a team and a certain adventure spirit are required!
- On my trips, guests with all camera brands are welcome (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji, Panasonic, Olympus, …)
- Photography beginners and professionals are equally welcome. In addition, non-photographing partners can also take part in this trip.
Terms and Conditions
The range of photographic opportunities in Australia is incredibly diverse, from landscape photography to wildlife photography. We will encounter all kinds of subjects throughout the journey.
I can recommend the following equipment:
1. For wildlife at greater distances
Zoom lenses Nikon Z 180-600mm, Canon RF 100-500, Sony FE 200-600mm, etc.
These lenses offer great value for money and cover a wide range of focal lengths. The main downside could be the relatively lower aperture compared to prime lenses.
2. For landscape photography A 14-24mm and a 24-70mm/24-120mm and/or a 70-200mm or similar focal lengths are recommended.
3. For capturing the spectacular southern hemisphere starry skies and the clear nights. A lens with a minimum aperture of at least f/2.8 is ideal. Examples include the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 or the 20mm f/1.8.
Polarizing filters (Polfilter) and ND filters are especially valuable for water scenes and long exposure shots.
A sturdy tripod with a reliable head is also essential for this journey.
To store the data, I recommend a laptop with an external SSD hard drive or a data tank (e.g. ClouZen Tainer). However, simply having enough memory cards can also suffice for storage.
Western Australia’s vibrant colors are perfect for drone photography. A drone is an excellent addition to the photography equipment.
