Gibb River Road

The Gibb River Road is found in the Kimberley Region in the north west of Western Australia, one of Australia’s last wilderness frontiers. Originally built as a stock route to move cattle from the stations to the ports, the road stretches for 660 kilometres, starting from Derby and heading east to the Kununurra / Wyndham junction. Typically the Gibb River Road is flooded during the monsoon season from November through to March, and is generally not driveable during this period with the rivers flooding and the creeks overflowing. It is best to drive the Gibb River Road in a 4WD vehicle as the roads a rough and corrugated and there are plenty of river and creek crossings, on saying this though, some people do attempt the trip in a 2WD.

Driving through the Gibb River Road is an amazing experience, you will come across spectacular ranges, stunning gorges with inviting waterholes to refresh you from the drive, intriguing boab trees and beautiful waterfalls. The river crossings are exciting and by the time you have finished you will be an old hac at getting through them. You will be amazed at the sheer size of the cattle stations as you drive the road, passing a boundary fence and driving for hours before you get to the other side, with many stations covering one million acres or more. When the sun sets the Kimberley Region becomes pitch black, but if you look up into the sky it comes alive with billions of stars overhead.

To tackle the Gibb River Road you do not require 4WD experience, don’t forget your sense of adventure though. Don’t travel the road ill-prepared as it is a remote area of Australia, always ensure your vehicle is in good working order, the spare tyre is in good condition and you have plenty of food, water and of course fuel. There are roadhouses and stations along the way where you can re-supply, with some offering repairs also. Always remember though you are travelling through the Outback of Australia where the roads are rough, the flies are plentiful and the dust is endless, with luxuries few and far between.

If you are not planning on being self reliant along the Gibb River Road then plan ahead as there are limited accommodation options. Some of the stations that welcome tourists do have motel style accommodation for hire, do book ahead though to ensure they have a room for you when you arrive. If you are after luxury style accommodation then on the eastern side of the Gibb River Road, not too far from Kununurra are El Questro and Home Valley Stations. They are both working cattle stations, offering a range of accommodation options from camping up to luxury rooms, and both have a good offering of tours to see the stunning countryside on their properties.

If you are after a true Australian Outback experience and don’t have the time to drive through the middle of Australia, then the Gibb River Road is the perfect option. Relax and unwind in Broome for a day or two before driving the Gibb River Road. Give yourself a few days to drive the road to really experience a truly breathtaking part of the world, then head back to Broome on the sealed bitumen Great Northern Highway. Of course if you do not wish to drive yourself, lookout for the many specialised tours that will do the driving for you, giving you more time to stare out the window at this spectacular place. So you aren’t disappointed, book early as the tours are very popular in the dry season.

If you would like to read additional info on the Gibb River Road, please follow this link: Gibb River Road

Some other useful links are:
Gibb River Road Photos
Broome
Mitchell Falls
Bungle Bungles
Lake Argyle
Derby
Kununurra