Broome to Broome Kimberley Overland

Cable Beach @Lets Escape Together

Arrive at Crikey Camper Hire and get a thorough run-through of the 4WD and camper trailers you’ve booked with us. Make sure you speak your mind and don’t be afraid to ask the team if you have any questions!

There’s a lot to see around Broome, so make sure you allow some time to check out these spots at the beginning or end of your trip:

• Go for a camel ride at Cable Beach. Afterwards, enjoy a meal or cocktail watching the sun go down at Zanders at Cable Beach or Sunset Bar and Grill.
• See 125-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point.
• During a full moon, attend the Moon Market to see the “Staircase to the Moon” climbing up the ocean.
• Visit Sun Pictures, the world’s oldest outdoor cinema.
• Visit the Broome Courthouse Markets on weekends.
• Grab a mango beer at Matso’s Broome Brewery.
• Soak in the beautiful natural colours of Roebuck Bay.

Campsites for your Off-Road Safari Camper around Broome:

• RAC Cable Beach Holiday
• Discovery Parks Broome
• Broome Vacation Village
• Broome Caravan Park
• Cable Beach Caravan Park

James Price Point @Dyaln Bergamaschi

When you’re ready to leave town, set out on the newly sealed Broome-Cape Leveque Road up the Dampier Peninsula. The main road may be sealed, but turns-offs to destinations aren’t, so a 4WD is essential!

Along the way, don’t miss the chance to stop by Willie Creek Pearl Farm. This picturesque farm has won many Australian Tourism Awards, and for good reason! Here, you can learn all about the fascinating process of pearl farming and witness firsthand the meticulous care that goes into every pearl. Take a guided tour of the facilities, try your hand at pearl grading, or even take a scenic seaplane flight over the stunning coastline. Whether you’re a lover of pearls or just looking for a unique and informative experience, Willie Creek Pearl Farm is definitely worth a visit.

If you’re looking for a refreshing swim, Quandong Beach is a beautiful spot with clear blue waters and pristine sand. However, it’s important to stay cautious and aware of the potential presence of crocodiles in the area. Keep an eye out for warning signs and avoid swimming in murky or deep waters. If you’re considering an overnight stay, James Price Point offers a great free campsite amidst stunning red cliffs. Just be prepared for a bumpy 32km drive and make sure to let your tyres down!

Pender Bay @Dyaln Bergamaschi

The next recommended stop is Beagle Bay, home to the Nyul Nyul people. See the beautiful church built entirely by hand by local Aboriginal people and Catholic missionaries in the late 1800s.

Please respect the land, culture, and privacy of all Aboriginal Communities as you travel through them. All communities and outstations are on private leases, so you must call ahead or have a booking before visiting.

Some lovely beaches and campsites to check out nearby are Middle Lagoon, with views over two bays, Mercedes Cove, for sunsets over ancient Chimney rocks, Pender Bay, a secluded enclave perfect for wildlife watching, and Kooljaman, situated at the picturesque Cape Leveque.

If you’re drive a bit further and turn onto One Arm Point Road, make sure to take the time to visit Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. This gem of a destination offers visitors the chance to explore some of the most beautiful and rare pearls in the world. To truly experience the culture of the area and learn about the history of the pearl industry, we highly recommend taking a tour with Terry Hunter from Borrgoron Cultural Tours.

At Ardyaloon, otherwise known as One Arm Point, take a tour with a local guide of the trochus hatchery and aquaculture centre to learn more about the unique fish and coral species of the area.

While you are in the area, don’t forget to stop by some of the local, family-run businesses and soak up the rich culture of the Bardi community, such as the Djarindjin roadhouse and Lombadina with its stunning views of Thomas Bay. There’s truly something for everyone along this unique stretch of land.

Derby @Melina Keil

Head back south along Broome-Cape Leveque Road, then turn east along the Great Northern Highway towards Derby.

Enjoy a snack and a rest at Willare Bridge Roadhouse along the way. Be sure to take some photos of the Boab Prison Tree on the way into Derby; it’s a remarkable, culturally significant landmark thought to be around 1,500 years old!

The Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Cultural Centre is a great stop to admire and purchase art from local tribes, as well as learn more about the history and culture of Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Wunambal peoples.

If you stay an extra night in Derby, you could hop on a scenic half-day flight to see the Horizontal Falls, which David Attenborough described as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.” From the air, you can also see the thousands of islands and islets of the Buccaneer Archipelago.

Windjana Gorge @Dylan Bergamaschi

Be sure to stock up on fuel, food and water supplies before leaving Derby: it’s time to head inland on the Gibb River Road. This iconic 4WD adventure trail is a 660km long dusty old cattle route, filled with gorges, waterfalls, sprawling savannahs and clear starry nights along the way. The first 70km is sealed, and then it’s 4WDing almost all the way. While there are proposals to seal more sections of the road to provide safe overtaking opportunities and minimise damage from flooding during the wet season, the starting dates have yet to be confirmed.

Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) National Park is situated on what used to be an ancient coral reef, believe it or not! The Lennard River carved the 3.5km long gorge with 300m-high walls a very long time ago, forming pools that are now home to freshwater crocodiles and native fig trees dotted with fruit bats. You can pay the park fees online at the DBCA Parks and Wildlife Service website or when you arrive at the park’s entrance.

The gorge is of great cultural importance to the local Bununba people. They believe the Wandjina creation spirits live there, and it was the base of Jandamurra, a legendary Bununba man who rebelled against European settlers in the 1890s.

Enjoy the area by following these walking trails:

• Savannah Walk is a 1.4km loop starting and ending at the campground. Interpretive signs along the way describe the local plants and animals.
• Time Walk takes you past fossilised marine life in the limestone walls of the gorge. The 2km out-and-back trail is easy and spectacular.
• Gorge Walk winds through the gorge for 3.5km each way and is one of the best spots to see lazy freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves on the riverbed. Allow up to 3 hours to return.

36km southeast of Windjana Gorge is Tunnel Creek (Dimalurru), an amazing cathedral-like cavern with stalactites hanging from the walls. You can walk through the 750m tunnel – make sure you bring a torch and be prepared to get wet!

Bell Gorge @Lets Escape Toghther

An hour and a half further up the Gibb is Dalmanyi Bell Gorge. Here you can find a 100-metre-tall waterfall that cascades over sandstone rocks into a beautiful natural swimming pool.

There are a couple of campgrounds near here to choose from:

• Imintji: Run by the Ngarinyin people, it has a community store, art centre and fuel station (diesel only).
• Silent Grove (Dulundi): A standard national park campground with all the usual facilities (showers, toilets, and drinking water).
• Mount Hart Homestead: A little further away, but a good base for exploring the bushwalking and canoeing trails of Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges Conservation Park.

Galvans Gorge @Melina Keil

The next stop is Galvans Gorge, one of the most accessible gorges along the Gibb, being just one kilometre off the main road. A lovely little horseshoe-shaped pool is a great place for a swim beneath the cute seasonal waterfall.

Check in at Mount Barnett Roadhouse ten minutes up the road to pay your park entry, camping fees and to fill up on fuel if needed. You can get diesel and petrol here, as well as some grocery items.

Then it’s only 15 more minutes to Manning Gorge. This is often considered one of the best swimming spots in the Kimberley, with water remaining in several of its pools along the creek all year around. Layered red rock provides perfect launching pads for shallow diving into the peaceful waters. A 3km walking trail from the campground gets you there, including a fun 100-metre-wide creek crossing – you can swim or use the floating rope guide to ferry your things across.

Mitchell Falls @HeliSpirit

About 59km after turning off Gibb River Road onto Kalumburu Road is Drysdale River Station.

Here you can find:

• A beer garden offering burgers and snacks for lunch, and a dining room serving. breakfast and dinner. Be sure to book ahead for dinner to avoid disappointment.
• A small general store.
• Diesel and unleaded fuels.

We don’t recommend driving to Mitchell Falls due to extreme, unpredictable, non-gazetted road conditions. If you don’t want to miss out on the experience, we suggest booking a full-day scenic flight from Kununurra to Mitchell Falls, which flies over the remote Kimberley coastline including Berkeley River Gorge, King George Falls, and Kalumburu. This value-packed tour with Aviair and HeliSpirit covers an area the size of central Europe and includes return scenic flights, exciting helicopter flights, an optional guided hike, and meals.

Dusty Bar & Grill, Home Valley @Tourism WA

Two hours back along the Gibb is Ellenbrae Station. You can stop at this homestead if you’d prefer a shorter drive or carry on after some tea and scones on the lawn.

You’ll probably need to drive through variable depths of water along this stretch of road, such as the Durack River Crossing and Pentecost River Crossing, depending on how much rainfall there’s been. We recommend you research and familiarise yourself with the skills and precautions that need to be observed for safe water crossings.

Stop at the Cockburn Ranges Lookout to get a beautiful view of the mountain shaped like a huge, round fortress, rising more than 600m above the plains. For a closer look at this region, you can take bushwalking trips to the range from El Questro Wilderness Park.

Home Valley Station is right beside the iconic Pentecost River. Here, you can experience genuine outback hospitality, as well as a range of activities, from horse riding and cattle mustering to guided bush walks and stargazing. Don’t forget to indulge yourself in the station’s Dusty’s Bar and Grill or relax and take a refreshing dip in the large swimming pool.

Emma Gorge El Questro @Dylan Bergamaschi

El Questro Wilderness Park and Station is a vast, popular area set on one million acres. There are so many beautiful things to see here that many visitors say it’s their favourite stop along the Gibb River Road.

Some of the best things to do are:

• Take a sunset cruise to Chamberlain Gorge. This 3km fresh waterhole is only accessible by boat, upon which you can enjoy sparkling wine and a fruit platter while watching spitting archerfish and barramundi swimming around.
• Soak in the soothing thermal Zebedde Springs, surrounded by prehistoric palm trees. Open from 7am until noon for general visitors, it’s a 1.5km return walk from the car park.
• Swim at the base of the 65m droplet waterfall at gorgeous Emma Gorge. A little thermal spring trickles here among the rocks, warming the surrounding water. Allow around three hours for the return walk and a swim.

El Questro Station has a variety of accommodation options, as well as diesel and unleaded fuel. The Cantina is a comfortable socialising hub with a large outdoor eating area covered by shade sails and water misters, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The popular Steakhouse Restaurant offers an a la carte menu. Opening hours and availability vary depending on the season.

Kununura @Melina Keil

The final stretch of the Gibb River Road brings you to the east Kimberley hub of Kununurra.

You could choose to take a detour to Wyndham, WA’s most northerly town, to see the muddy meeting of five rivers at the edge of the Kimberley (the Durack, King, Pentecost, Forrest and Ord rivers).

Nearby is Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, which is a rich hive for flocking birds and skulking crocodiles.

Just north of Kununurra is Ivanhoe Crossing, a concrete causeway that’s a great spot for fishing. It can be driven over when the current’s not too strong, looping around Ngamoowalem Conservation Park and Parry Lagoons.

South of Kununurra is Lake Argyle, a scenic inland sea dotted with more than 70 islands. It was created by the Ord River Dam, which has a picnic area at its base with views of the Hydro Electric power station. There are plenty of bushwalking and mountain bike trails around the lake, as well as opportunities for fishing and water skiing.

Scenic flights can be taken from Kununurra with Aviair for breathtaking aerial views of Mitchell Falls, Bungle Bungle (amazing orange and black sandstone domes) or Cockburn Range.

Purnululu National Park @Melina Keil

On the way down to Purnululu following the Great Northern Highway, you can stop in at Doon Doon Roadhouse for a quick bite and refuel if needed.

Some of the best sights to see in Purnululu National Park include:

• Echidna Chasm: A short 2km return walk through steep-sided gorge walls that are barely a metre wide in some places. The walls have some extraordinary colours and reach up to 200m tall.
• Osmand Lookout: From the same car park as Echidna Chasm, a short walk up a moderate rise will reward you with panoramic views of the wild, rugged Osmand Range.
• Bungle Bungle Range: These are considered the most outstanding examples of sandstone cone karst in the world, covering an area of 450km².
• Cathedral Gorge: An amazing natural amphitheatre with beehive-like striped formations on red rock. The walk is 2km return.
• Picaninny Creek: In the dry season, you can walk along the dry creek bed in the largest gorge of Purnululu National Park. In the wet season, water flows between the domes. A 1.5hr return hike will take you to the lookout for beautiful views along the creek.

There are several campgrounds to choose from both inside and outside of the park. If you’d like to get a top-notch view of the iconic orange and black banded domes of the Bungle Bungle range from above, consider a helicopter trip with HeliSpirit. You can jump on one of these at one of four departure points: Bellburn Airstrip, Bungle Bungle Caravan Park, Kununurra or Lake Argyle Resort.

China Wall Halls Creek The Kimberley @yaruman5

Jump back on the highway south towards Halls Creek. This town in the “heart of the Kimberley” sits on the northern edge of the Great Sandy Desert. Right near the town is the white quartz China Wall, named because it looks like a natural “mini Great Wall of China.”

A full-day detour to Wolfe Creek Crater will reward you with the second-largest meteorite crater in the world, which formed here after a meteorite struck Earth around 300,000 years ago. Measuring 880m across, it was only discovered by Europeans in 1947, but Aboriginal people have woven it into their creation stories for generations. You can climb the 400m rocky outer edge to the rim for a better view.

Mimbi Caves Campground with Girloorloo Tours, Fitzroy Crossing @Tourism WA

Two hours away from Halls Creek is Mimbi Caves, which are definitely worth pre-booking a tour for. A Gooniyandi guide will show you around this geological wonder. It’s significant both in a spiritual sense and because it’s one of the most important Devonian fossil sites in the world.

Be sure to stop by the Fitzroy Crossing Visitor Centre to learn about the local culture and history, and pick up some souvenirs.

Less than 20 minutes on from Fitzroy Crossing is Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park, a very popular site for photographers. The continuous rise and fall of flood waters over the gorge walls leave the bottom half bleached white, giving it a unique “top deck” kind of look. One-hour boat tours are available between May and October, and there are several walking trails here to enjoy.

Pender Bay Sunset @Dylan Bergamaschi

From Fitzroy Crossing, it’s only a four-hour drive back to Broome along the Great Northern Highway. If there are any sights or activities near Broome you didn’t get around to doing at the beginning of your trip, now’s your time to tick them all off!

We hope you had a nice trip exploring all the spectacular attractions through the Kimberley Overland. Feel free to use this itinerary as inspiration if you wish to travel in reverse. If you are interested in exploring more of what Western Australia has to offer, have a look at our other itineraries at: www.crikeycamperhire.com.au/itineraries

If you share any of photos of this trip on social media, make sure to use our hashtag: #mycrikeyholiday

Did you know that the Kimberley region in Australia is three times the size of England, or about the same size as California in the USA? This vast and beautiful area is definitely worth exploring, but it’s important to give yourself plenty of time to truly enjoy it without any rush.

We just wanted to remind you that the road conditions in the Kimberley can change rapidly, and they vary throughout the year. The famous Gibb River Road, in particular, is affected by weather, traffic, and grading schedules. So, before you embark on your adventure, be sure to visit Main Roads WA for the latest updates on the road conditions.

If you’re planning to camp or visit any of the incredible attractions in the Kimberley region, it’s worth checking the seasonality and opening hours beforehand. The WA Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and Explore Parks WA websites have all the information you need to plan your trip accordingly.

Happy travels!