Welcome to Kapalga Travel

Are you looking for that authentic Aussie-outback experience with a small group?

We are proud to provide unparalleled, participation-based outback tours that immerse adventurers in the culture, wilderness, and camaraderie of the Australian outback.

We aim to connect people with the environment, Indigenous traditions, and fellow travellers, fostering a sense of wonder and a lasting connection to the outback’s majesty.

Our dedication to safety, sustainability, and exceptional customer service underpins every aspect of our operations. We invite you to rediscover the simplicity of life and explore the vast wonders of the outback with us. 

Adam & Lucy

Participation based

Small group

Exclusive locations

Family owned

Adam Bowen

  • Adam is a bundle of energy and is always ready for an adventure! He's been exploring the Kimberley for many years and is a highly skilled guide who can travel safely in remote areas. He has a wealth of knowledge to share about the land and its culture, plus his instinct to explore can lead him to beautiful undiscovered natural treasures. His skills derive from a childhood spent outside navigating bush land, learning about plants and discovering wildlife.

    Adam began learning about birds from an early age; he grew up spending his free-time with his father who was a keen bird watcher (twitcher). His Dad’s father was a ranger in NSW and his mother’s father is an ex-prawn trawler, a champion spear-fisher and an avid plant collector. It was only natural that Adam would grow up to love the outdoors. As a kid he was always on an adventure, if he wasn’t spear-fishing he was exploring the bush and spotting rare orchids and wildlife with his father and grandfather.

    Adam first drove the Kimberley’s Gibb River Road in his late teens and was blown away by the rugged landscape, untouched watering holes and detailed rock art paintings. After working as a deckie and a pearl diver off the Kimberley coast for a couple of years, Adam decided tour guiding would be his ideal job and a great opportunity to explore the phenomenal Kimberley that he adored. With Adam’s knowledge and experience in the Australian outback he landed his first guiding job instantly, and headed off on an adventure with a truck full of passengers!

    Adam has now been travelling the Top End region for 11 years and has been a guide in the region for 10 years, and throughout this time his passion for the land has only grown stronger. He has an unbelievable eye for spotting animals; if it’s there, he’ll see it! He also has a keen interest in rock art, particularly Bradshaw rock art, one of the oldest types found in the Kimberley. Adam’s understanding of the region’s history, his respect for the land and his horticultural knowledge is second to none.

    Adam is approachable; he has a gentle nature and he is a friend to all his passengers. He’s an Australian bushman driven by his love for the Australian outback and his genuine passion to discover and explore.

Lucy Periton

  • Lucy’s journey to the Top End of Australia and co-owner of Kapalga Travel, began in England, where she studied journalism at university before building a career in television and radio in both the UK and Australia.

    In 2011, Lucy left England for Sydney, keen for a new adventure and the chance to experience life on the other side of the world. Two years later, she headed north to Darwin, a move influenced in part by having met Adam (Kapalga Travel Director) in Broome the year before. It didn’t take long for Darwin to feel like home, with its friendly locals, relaxed lifestyle and endless opportunities for adventure right on the doorstep.

    Lucy brings a strong background in media, communications and storytelling to Kapalga Travel. Her career in television and radio has given her an eye for a good story, a love of creativity and an appreciation for clear communication. She enjoys writing, developing ideas and finding interesting ways to share the places and experiences that make Australian travel so special.

    In 2016, Lucy combined her media experience with her love of travel and adventure to help establish Kapalga Travel. She is involved in the creative and organisational side of the business, from writing and developing online content to planning, communications and making sure the finer details are taken care of.

    Lucy is a self-confessed lover of lists and thrives on being organised. She has a particular eye for detail and enjoys bringing together all the moving parts behind the scenes.

    Away from Kapalga, life is busy with multiple children under ten. Lucy loves spending time with her family – at home and on the road, exercising, catching up with friends and enjoying good food. She also appreciates any opportunity to get outdoors and make the most of the lifestyle that first brought her to Darwin.

Martin Burns

  • We are thrilled to have Martin work for us at Kapalga Travel; he comes with a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for the great outdoors. After traveling the world and taking tours for almost 30 years, he is enjoying bringing his knowledge and guiding expertise to Australia’s final frontier, the Kimberley region. Martin returns to Kapalga Travel in 2024 for his third year with the company.

    Martin’s spontaneity at the ripe old age of twenty-one led him to take a punt and leave his job as a lady’s shoe salesman to take his first guiding adventure running Whitsundays sailing trips. He later booked himself an around-the-world ticket and went exploring overseas before returning to Australia and eventually deciding on a trip from Adelaide to Sydney. It was on this adventure the guide running the tour spotted Martin’s potential and offered him a job! Martin hasn’t looked back since.

    Martin is a great fit for Kapalga Travel as he adores the Australian outback. Ever since he took his first land-based job through the desert to Alice Springs, he has developed a keen interest in Australia’s unique regional landscape. Martin’s passion lies in natural history and evolution such as the break-up of Gondwana and Pangaea, and the impact this had on the Australian landscape and its native flora and fauna.

    Martin loves that guiding allows him to see the world. He’s able to fulfill his passion for adventure and take like-minded people on their holidays.