The Kimberley — northwestern corner. Three times the size of England, ~40,000 people. Ancient red sandstone gorges, extreme tides, saltwater crocodiles, and some of the oldest rock art on earth (Gwion Gwion figures ≥17,500 yrs).
The single most remarkable region in Australia. If your friend likes driving and remote landscapes, this is the highlight.
Don’t miss: scenic flight over Purnululu / Bungle Bungles (the domes only make sense from the air), Bell Gorge swim, camels on Cable Beach at sunset, Tunnel Creek wade-through, the Pentecost River crossing, 17,500-year-old Gwion Gwion rock art.
When
- Dry: May–Oct. Roads open, waterholes still full. Go now
- Wet: Nov–Apr. Most unsealed roads closed including the entire Gibb. Don’t
- Sweet spot: June–August
How
- Gibb River Road — the famous outback drive (see below)
- Sealed highway — Broome → Derby → Halls Creek → Kununurra via the Great Northern Highway. 2WD doable; misses most gorges
- Fly + tour — small-plane flights, expedition cruise of the Kimberley coast
Broome
Broome — old pearling town, gateway, multicultural history.
- Cable Beach — 22 km of white sand. Camels at sunset
- Gantheaume Point — 130-million-yr dinosaur footprints at low tide
- Staircase to the Moon — full moon over Roebuck Bay mudflats (Mar–Oct, specific dates)
- Sun Pictures — oldest operating outdoor cinema in the world (1916)
- Matso’s Brewery — ginger beer, mango beer
- Wed & Sat Courthouse Markets
The Gibb
Gibb River Road — 660 km mostly unsealed, Derby to Kununurra. 7–14 days.
You need a high-clearance 4WD with two spare tyres. Standard rentals not allowed. Get a 4WD camper rental from Britz, Apollo, or specialists in Broome/Kununurra.
Highlights west → east:
- Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek — wade a 750m tunnel with torch, freshie crocs. Story of Jandamarra
- Bell Gorge — iconic two-tier waterfall + pool
- Galvans Gorge — small, easy, rock art
- Manning Gorge — wade across to start the walk
- Mitchell Falls — four-tier waterfall on Mitchell Plateau. Long detour up Kalumburu Road or take a helicopter
- El Questro — million-acre former station. Zebedee Springs, Emma Gorge. Camping to high-end El Questro Homestead
- Pentecost River crossing — iconic muddy 4WD photo. Real crocs; do not get out
Kununurra (East Kimberley)
- Lake Argyle — largest man-made lake mainland Aus. Sunset cruise, swim with non-aggressive freshies
- Ord River — boat tours
Purnululu (Bungle Bungles)
Purnululu NP (UNESCO) — the Bungle Bungle Range, striped sandstone beehive domes. Known to local people for tens of thousands of years; “discovered” by white Australia in 1983.
- 4WD only access, ~3hr S of Kununurra. Or — scenic flight from Kununurra or Halls Creek (one of the great flights in the world; the domes really only make sense from the air)
- Cathedral Gorge inside the park — natural amphitheatre
Rock art
- Wandjina — white spirit figures with halos
- Gwion Gwion / Bradshaw — elegant figures ≥17,500 yrs, possibly 50,000+
Most sites are on Indigenous-managed land requiring permits or guided access.
Essentials
- 4WD with two spares, recovery gear, 10L+ water/person/day, satellite communicator
- Fuel: roadhouses every 200–300 km; they will gouge you. Top up always
- Permits: Kalumburu and other Indigenous lands — get from the relevant land council
- Crocs: in tidal rivers, gorges, billabongs. Never swim anywhere not certified safe
- Telstra only, towns only. Carry a PLB
- The Kimberley is not cheap. Budget generously
- Tag-along tours are common if 4WD anxiety is real
Stay
Cable Beach Club (Broome) · El Questro Homestead (Gibb) · Bullo River Station (NT side) · gorge campsites