GIBB RIVER ROAD - our queries

[NewMax]

Hi  We have a stock standard 4wd 2007 Toyota Hilux Diesel Ute. All we have done is purchased a second spare and added a nudge bar. Towing a 2011 JAYCO Flamingo camper.  Have been on the road much of the time over the last 10 months in Eastern States

We are off up the middle and down the West Coast for four months from May.

A few questions around our trip along the GRR where we will be in mid June this year. We have opted not to take the camper along the GRR. We know others have towed their Jayco's through but as we are in our camper full time at present we would rather not bash it around too much so will leave it and camp along GRR. We are fine tenting short term. While without the camper we will also drive in and tent at the Bungle Bungles.

Given we will have to drive back on the seal to pick up the camper it does not matter which way we travel the GRR.  Any real reason to go West to East or the reverse?  Which way are most people going? is it easier to go same way as most or opposite way to most?

We are looking at booking in for a night or maybe two in station accommodation as a break from tenting.  Looked at few options Mt Elizabeth, Drysdale etc. Probably not El Questro as prefer closer to mid point.  Any ideas re accommodation?  Aware is pretty expensive.

We will probably have 7-8 nights along GRR road. Obviously more would be better but is 7-8 days doable?

Not sure if want to add the extra 500km to Mitchell Falls. Interested in how others have found this road in June - at its best and worst.

Any links to good blogs or www pages?  Have found www.gibbriverroad.net  a useful site.

Thanks. NewMax

Us

[Benny78]

Hi mate,
We did the GRR last year around the same time and HIGHLY recommend Mitchell Plateau even though the road is absolutely terrible.

Cheers 

[cetacean]

Agree that the Mitchell Falls and Plateau are a highlight. Old Mornington Station and Sanctuary is a great place to stay,even though it's a few k's off the GRR.
Don't think it matters which way you travel,it's a big wide road with plenty of room,although I do think the East Kimberley is more spectacular

Darryl

[krisandkev]

We did the Gibb last year also and had researched which way is best to travel and all I found out was, it does not matter, unless you are waiting for a particular road to open because of the wet.  That is what swayed us. The roads to Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell Falls and Kulumburu were closed because of the late wet season, so we went from Kununurra to Broome via the highway and back via the Gibb.  The road opened about the 20 June from memory.
Mind you we had 9 weeks to do the trip and needed every bit of that time. The Gibb itself was a very good condition until the El Questro turn off as lots of traffic only go that far from Kununurra and lots of caravans going very slow, and not allowing anyone to pass! 
Mitchell Falls is a must as already said, and it would be a shame to miss it. You can take a flight from Drysdale Homestead, but the road to the Mitchell Plateau, although extremely rough, has a lot to see on the way (including an aboriginal burial cave) and camping at the Mitchell Falls campsite is very good. You then can either do the walk to the falls and back again, or catch a helicopter ride either there and back, or just the one way.  We took the flight there and walked back. Absolute brilliant.
Mornington Wilderness Reserve was a fantastic spot.
Bells gorge a must.
Loved the Bungle Bungles and Wolf Creek Crater.
Have to walk through Tunnel Creek.
And another absolute must do, the Buccaneer Archipelago/Horizontal Falls trip!
There is so much and hard to say which are the best. Loved them all. 
Kevin

[NewMax]

Thanks for replies.

Interested in how many days most spent on GRR. Had thought about 8 days but some flexibility.

 Also interested in how long the trip up to Mitchell Falls from Drysdale River Station has taken others in June when road ok and less than ok

[Tjupurula]

We did the Gibb last year also and had researched which way is best to travel and all I found out was, it does not matter, unless you are waiting for a particular road to open because of the wet.  That is what swayed us. The roads to Mitchell Plateau, Mitchell Falls and Kulumburu were closed because of the late wet season, so we went from Kununurra to Broome via the highway and back via the Gibb.  The road opened about the 20 June from memory.
Mind you we had 9 weeks to do the trip and needed every bit of that time. The Gibb itself was a very good condition until the El Questro turn off as lots of traffic only go that far from Kununurra and lots of caravans going very slow, and not allowing anyone to pass! 
Mitchell Falls is a must as already said, and it would be a shame to miss it. You can take a flight from Drysdale Homestead, but the road to the Mitchell Plateau, although extremely rough, has a lot to see on the way (including an aboriginal burial cave) and camping at the Mitchell Falls campsite is very good. You then can either do the walk to the falls and back again, or catch a helicopter ride either there and back, or just the one way.  We took the flight there and walked back. Absolute brilliant.
Mornington Wilderness Reserve was a fantastic spot.
Bells gorge a must.
Loved the Bungle Bungles and Wolf Creek Crater.
Have to walk through Tunnel Creek.
And another absolute must do, the Buccaneer Archipelago/Horizontal Falls trip!
There is so much and hard to say which are the best. Loved them all. 
Kevin

Hi Kevin
I know I am stating the obvious here, but Wolfe Creek Crater is a few km's off the Tanami Track, nowhere near the Gibb River Road.  I say that also because with the amount of water damage already oin the WA side of the Tanami Track, I would strongly suggest that Noone even consider taking any kind of caravan through the Tanami.
The men from Billiluna used to grade the track out to Wolfe Creek, but it is now part of the Ruby Plains Cattle Station (on lease), and I would not think they will bother about grading through there.
Regards
Tjupurula

[Kit_e_kat9]

We did the GRR when we lived in Darwin.  We took just under 2 weeks (Darwin --> Darwin) and also took in Wolf Creek Crater (awesome).  We didn't go to Mitchell Falls (road closed) or Derby instead heading back on the black top.  We did try to get to Purnululu, but couldn't make it in.

I recommend talking to a local before you go ... http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/ ... things are always updated month by month to the conditions and availability of accomodation etc.

We went East to West to leave the boring bits till last (the black top) and other things we'd already seen.  I didn't see any difference in doing it one way or the other personally.  Guess it depends on where you wish to end up.

Kit_e

[Desert lover]

We did the Gibb in late April 2010, Road was in great condition then as much of it had only just been graded and we met the Graders in a couple of places. Had to pick our way through a few rocky parts as the shale (?) was mighty sharp.  We went from East to West and stayed a few nights at Ellenbrae, Mt Barnett (great waterhole for swimming), Winjana Gorge. Couldn't get up to a few places as the roads were still closed.  After we had been to Broome and Cape Leveque came back and into Purnalulu then via the Tanami back to Alice.   Tanami was attrocious .....crawling speed in places.   
 

[krisandkev]

Tjupurula, yea I know about the distance to Wolf Creek Crater, but I was just talking.  We did the whole Kimberley, not just the Gibb River Road.  NewMax was talking about leaving the van at places and driving and using a tent.  We went to the crater last year in June and took our camper and thought the place was brilliant. The free camp was also great.
Re the time taken to drive from Drysdale to Mitchell.  Last year I think the road opened about the 20th June.  We went there at the end of July. It took us about 3 hours, but we stopped at King Edward River for a cupper, then at the aboriginal painting and burial site and then further along for lunch. So we took our time.
Kevin

One of the river crossings on the road to Mitchell Plateau


King Edward River


Mitchell Falls

[fuji]

Hi
We did the GRR last year and loved it. Not enought time, arounf 10 days I think. Stay anywhere because they are all great. Didn't do ElQuestro as it is overrated. We went from Broome to Mitchels Falls and the road was a nightmare although they were grading it at the time. I think there are alot of idiots who speed along these roads and stuff it up for everyone else. All the stations were comfortable. Elizabeth, Home Valley, Tunnel Crek and the list goes on. We have a 02 Prado with a 2 inch lift and AT tyres and had no issues. Just make sure your mechanic 4wd does a full service and tightens everything. You cant miss Cape Leveque. That was the best place. Lower your tyre pressure and you shouldn't have a problem. We did not have any punctures etc. Doing it again one day. But first The Cape and CSR. Enjoy,
Donuts

[krisandkev]

Re El Questro.
A lot of people were telling us not to bother going there, too dear etc.  But a lot said they loved it.  So we went and ended up staying 4 nights and loved the place. Great drives, great walks and fantastic private camping spot beside the Pentecost River.  We even did a helicopter flight there and saw what an unique property it is.
Each to their own.
Kevin

[cetacean]

I agree with Kev, El Questro is one of the best places I've been,full stop. We too camped beside the Pentecost River in our our own campsite, and the river just happened to be full of cherabin at the time.
El Quesro Gorge was a highlight for us

Darryl

[fuji]

and quite expensive.
Donuts

[pattyann]

How can you say El Questro is over rated if you didn't go there??  It's great - beautiful like everywhere up there - heaps to see and do especially if you like hiking the gorges - my avatar pic is of me and my son hiking El Questro Gorge - I'm lucky enough to get up to Kununurra a couple of times a year as my son and his family live there

[fuji]

I only say overated because every where you go it is shoved down your throat. There are a lot of beautifull places on the GRR and El Questro is not the only place to visit. Their rates are expensive as opposed to other places. I would dearly love to go there if they let me in for a nominal fee? A friend went there and stayed at the campground and it was so overcrowded they couldnt use the toilets as there was a que a mile long. Who needs that on a relaxing holiday. One day I will be able to win tatts and stay at the resort lol.
Wayne

[gclan]

Highlights for us were:
Cape Leveque(don't miss the Beagle Bay church and the trochus hatchery at One Arm Point), Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge, the whole Mitchell Plateau, jumping off the waterfall at Manning Gorge, all of El Questro, Bell Gorge, and the Bungle Bungle.

I have to agree too on El Questro. Magnificent gorges, certainly worth a visit. El Questro and Emma Gorges were magic, and Zebedee Springs were heavenly. Once you pay for the pass, which isn't expensive really, you can drive to so many lookouts and amazing places as often as you like. We found it a lot cheaper and more authentic than Home Valley. HV8 was like a big fancy caravan park in the middle of the outback, and soooo commercial. If they packed them in anywhere, it was here, and they knew how to charge for everything.

We arrived at Kununurra mid June last year, but had to change our itinerary around because a few roads were still closed. The road to Mitchell Falls didn't officially open up until the beginning of July(according to council), though we were told it opened two weeks earlier for tour groups only. We went early July and the road was pretty good. Four days later when we headed back down to Drysdale Station, the road had deteriorated quite a bit, but it was definitely worth it. The whole Mitchell Plateau was an absolute highlight of our trip. The King Edward River camp was also one of the best in the Kimberley. It's right next to great swimming spots, both above and below the waterfall. There are great examples of both Wandjina and Bradshaw rock art nearby, and the Mitchell Falls themselves are breathtaking, not to mention walking behind Little Merten Falls to see the rock art and cool off. If you go and can afford it, the helicopter flight back is really worth it. We allowed a day from Manning Gorge up to King Edward River, then had three nights there, allowing us a full day for the walk to the Falls, and a day to explore the rock art, swim and relax, then another day to get to Home Valley.

Just a tip. Fill up whenever you get the chance. Drysdale Station was rationing fuel on our way back from the Plateau as the fuel tanker had broken down on the Gibb. We used everything in our jerry cans and limped in to Home Valley on fumes.

As for having a break from camping, APT run several wilderness lodges where their tour groups stay. They also allow independent travellers to stay there too, so you could try them. They are pretty expensive, around $250/person I think, but they do seem luxurious compared to a standard tent. They have them near Bell Gorge, The Bungle Bungles, on the Mitchell Plateau, and they now run Mt Hart and Drysdale Stations. http://www.kimberleywilderness.com.au/content.asp?Document_ID=94557

It doesn't really matter which way you drive it. Do you prefer the sun in your eyes in the morning or the evening?
Good luck with the planning, that's half the fun, and have a great trip!

Cheers
Karen

I found this website helpful http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/
Plus Ron and Viv Moon's book 'The Kimberley: and adventurer's guide'

[pattyann]

Totally agree with your comments Karen having stayed at HV8 too

[NewMax]

Thanks for replies. MYSWAG is just great. We enjoy our travels and the planning involved. Don't generally book accommodation but find doing a bit of research gives more options. Swapped a few things around so should have just under two weeks on GRR.

[SteveandViv]

i wil addmy 2cents worth when i get home today from kun to broome there are lots of good comments on here and i reckon it depends  on what every ones idea of camping is to where you stop to hard to type on the galaxy tab

[Tjupurula]

i wil addmy 2cents worth when i get home today from kun to broome there are lots of good comments on here and i reckon it depends  on what every ones idea of camping is to where you stop to hard to type on the galaxy tab

Hi Steve or Viv
If you guys drove to Kununurra and back, could you let me know what the Bow River is like (the other side of Turkey Creek), as I intednd to drive there next week, and my wife sometimes camps at Bow River for a days fishing whilst I go to Kununurra and back.
Regards
Tjupurula