One of the great Australian travelling adventures is a self drive tour of the Kimberley region. Best for 4WD touring, with a camper trailer, this trip is one which requires much planning and research before embarking on your odyssey.
The Kimberley is one of nine Western Australian regions, and is located in the far north of the state. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean, the Timor Sea, the Northern territory, and both the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts. One of the earliest areas ever settled in this nation by humans, much of it remains under Aboriginal ownership. Twice the size of Victoria, and three times the size of England, it is a region with a tropical monsoon climate.
Ancient limestone and sandstone gorges to the north; dry tropical grasslands in the south, with open savannah woodlands, and mangroves – this is one of Australia's most diverse regions for flora. It is also home to many varieties of birdlife, as well as saltwater crocodiles, other reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as bilbies, quolls, and bandicoots.
Travel in the Kimberley can be rugged and exhilarating – but requires planning and know how. Unexpected weather changes can make a short trip into a difficult trek.
A Kimberley self drive trip can be as short as a few days or as long as a few weeks. Some itinerary ideas include:
Dry season is the time to embark on a 4WD trip through the Kimberley. Do your research, have a plan, and be well prepared – then enjoy the magic of this ancient region.
The Kimberley is one of nine Western Australian regions, and is located in the far north of the state. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean, the Timor Sea, the Northern territory, and both the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts. One of the earliest areas ever settled in this nation by humans, much of it remains under Aboriginal ownership. Twice the size of Victoria, and three times the size of England, it is a region with a tropical monsoon climate.
Ancient limestone and sandstone gorges to the north; dry tropical grasslands in the south, with open savannah woodlands, and mangroves – this is one of Australia's most diverse regions for flora. It is also home to many varieties of birdlife, as well as saltwater crocodiles, other reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as bilbies, quolls, and bandicoots.
Travel in the Kimberley can be rugged and exhilarating – but requires planning and know how. Unexpected weather changes can make a short trip into a difficult trek.
A Kimberley self drive trip can be as short as a few days or as long as a few weeks. Some itinerary ideas include:
- Broome and the West Kimberley: set out from your base in Broome, and enjoy Dampier Creek and the Malcolm Douglas Wilderness Wildlife Park. Kayak at Cable Beach, and see a movie at Sun Pictures, the world's oldest operating outdoor cinema. Take a flight over the Buccaneer Archipelago and four wheel drive to Windjana Gorge.
- From the east, Kununurra is the gateway to the Kimberley. Embark on a cruise on Lake Kununurra, before taking a day cruise trip up the Ord River to Lake Argyle, a huge inland sea. Explore the Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles) with a local guide, including a scenic flight. El Questro Wilderness Park is great for a four wheel drive adventure, hiking through gorges and swimming in pristine waterholes. Stay in your camper trailer overnight.
- For truly intrepid 4WD adventurers, the Savannah Way is a must. Linking Broome in WA with Cairns in Queensland, it crosses the Northern Territory and traverses through five UNESCO World Heritage areas. Leaving from Cairns, expect to be on the road for three weeks. Travel through tropical north Queensland to Hell's Gate and cross the NT border. Go fishing at Borroloola, then onto Lorella Springs and stay at a cattle station. From Lorella Springs' chasms, escarpments, and gorges, pass through Roper Bar, Mataranka, Daly Waters and Limestone. From here the trip takes the tourist via Bullo River to Kununurra and onto Broome through some of WA's most spectacular scenery.
Dry season is the time to embark on a 4WD trip through the Kimberley. Do your research, have a plan, and be well prepared – then enjoy the magic of this ancient region.