Route 03 · The Kimberley crossing
Gibb River Road
660 kilometres of red dirt, boab country and gorge after gorge after gorge. The big one — corrugations, creek crossings and the best swimming holes in the country.
WA
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The itinerary
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Day 1:Onto the dirt
Derby Windjana Gorge 145 km
Last fuel-price shock at Derby, then the bitumen ends. Freshwater crocs line the Windjana sandbars by late afternoon.
Derby jettyWindjana Gorge walk -
Day 2:Tunnel Creek and on
Windjana Gorge Bell Gorge 174 km
Walk through Tunnel Creek with a torch and wet boots, then push on to Bell — the Kimberley’s poster gorge.
Tunnel CreekLennard River lookoutBell Gorge -
Day 3:Gorge-hopping
Bell Gorge Mount Barnett (Manning Gorge) 107 km
Galvans and Adcock if the tracks are open. Manning Gorge campground swim — pull the dinghy rope across the river to start the walk.
Adcock GorgeGalvans GorgeManning Gorge -
Day 4:Rest day at Manning
Mount Barnett · out and back no-move day
The full Manning Gorge walk and waterfall. Barramundi water below the falls.
Manning Falls -
Day 5:The long middle
Mount Barnett Ellenbrae 140 km
The roughest stretch — corrugations that find every loose bolt. Scones at Ellenbrae station are not a myth.
Ellenbrae Station scones -
Day 6:Pentecost crossing
Ellenbrae El Questro 109 km
The Pentecost River crossing with the Cockburn Range behind — the photo you came for. Check the depth, commit, don’t stop.
Home Valley lookoutPentecost River crossing -
Day 7:Emma Gorge finale
El Questro Kununurra 110 km
Zebedee Springs early (it shuts at noon), Emma Gorge swim, then bitumen — strange under the tyres after a week — into Kununurra.
Zebedee SpringsEmma GorgeIvanhoe Crossing
Plan it right
Good to know
The line is a straight join between waypoints, not the driving track. Navigate with official maps and road signs on the ground.
- 1 Derby
- 2 Windjana Gorge
- 3 Mount Barnett
- 4 El Questro
- 5 Kununurra
WA
May–Sep (dry season only)
4WD essential. Remote-area travel: recovery gear, long-range fuel and water, and someone who knows your plan.
Leave no trace: pack it in, pack it out, fill your holes. And tell someone your plan before you lose bars.
Before you go
Safety & preparation
This route is editorial guidance, not a substitute for current, official information. Conditions in the outback change fast. Always check the official sources below before you travel, and be ready to change or abandon the plan if the weather, roads or your gear turn against you.
Review date not recorded Treat these notes as indicative and verify everything against official sources.
Official sources to check
- Main Roads WA travel map: road conditions & closures
- Explore Parks WA alerts: park alerts & closures
- Bureau of Meteorology warnings: weather, flood & fire
- AMSA beacon registration: register a PLB/EPIRB before remote travel
These point at government landing pages and can move. Confirm you're on the current official site before you rely on any of them.
Plan & pack for it
- Permits & access. Some sections cross Aboriginal land, pastoral stations or parks that need a permit or pass. Check requirements and carry them.
- Seasonal closures. May–Sep (dry season only) is the usual window; roads, gorges and campgrounds close outside it and after rain. Never drive past a road-closed sign.
- Water, fuel & food. Carry more than you think you need and plan every fuel stop. Remote services are far apart and can be shut without notice.
- Comms. Mobile coverage is patchy to none out here. Carry a satellite messenger, sat phone or registered PLB, and leave your route and return time with someone reliable.
- Vehicle & recovery. Serious remote grade. 4WD essential. Remote-area travel: recovery gear, long-range fuel and water, and someone who knows your plan. Carry recovery gear and know how to use it.
- Water crossings. Assess depth and flow on foot only where it's safe to, watch another vehicle cross first, and turn back if you're unsure. Northern waterways can hold crocodiles. Stay well clear of the water's edge.
- Emergency. Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency; where there's no signal, try 112 from a mobile or activate your PLB / satellite messenger.
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