July 24, 2014
4 mins Read
Pick up your 4WD (broomebroome.com.au) or campervan (apollocamper.com) in Broome and stock up on food, water and alcohol. Head to Matso’s Brewery for dinner (a Broome must-do), then stay at The Mantra Frangipani – it’s great, and at a great price.
Stop at the Derby Prison Boab Tree (signposted), which tells the sad history of local indigenous people. If you don’t own a compressor, let down your tyres here (around 5psi should be enough, but check at the service station). Then double back to the Gibb River Road turnoff (5km down the road) and head to stunning Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek (1.5 hours). Camp at Windjana Gorge or head on to Mount Hart Homestead (2 hours).
Boab territory: Gibb River Road, The Kimberley.
Optional: stop off at Lennard River Gorge on the way (1.5 hours from Windjana, 1 hour from Mount Hart) for the 30-minute walk to the gorge lookout. (We don’t advise you attempt to climb down and swim here, as some say you can.) Once at Bell Gorge, take the 45-minute walk to the waterhole. Spend the day here; stay at nearby Silent Grove Campsite (10 minutes) or Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge (50 minutes).
Refuel at Imintji Roadhouse (45 minutes from Silent Grove; 5 minutes from Bell Gorge Lodge). Head to Mornington Sanctuary (20 minutes past Imintji to the turnoff; 2 hours from there). Camp or stay in a safari tent and enjoy a decadent, gourmet dinner in the open-air restaurant.
Spend the day enjoying Mornington, capping it off with a sunset at stunning Sir John Gorge (pictured).
Plan your fuel stops: Gibb River Road, The Kimberley.
Leave Mornington for Manning River (4 hours), stopping for swims at easily accessible Adcock Gorge (2 hours back to Gibb River Road, 20 minutes from there) and equally accessible Galvans Gorge and its rope swing (another 30 minutes past that). Refuel at Mt Barnett Roadhouse (another 30 minutes again), then spend the afternoon swimming in Manning River (35 minutes). Stay at Manning River Campsite or Mt Barnett Roadhouse.
Get up early to take the one-hour walk to Manning Gorge; spend the day here. Stay at the same place.
Another early morning for the one-hour walk to nearby Barnett River Gorge for a swim (45 minutes from Mt Barnett Roadhouse), then move on to Ellenbrae for their famous scones (1 hour, 15 minutes). Stay or camp at Ellenbrae, or drive on to Home Valley Station (1.5 hours). Optional: Turn off at Kalumburu Road to spend a few days exploring the northern part of the Kimberley near Mitchell Falls (experienced 4WDers only).
Explore Ellenbrae or Home Valley Station, then head on to El Questro Wilderness Park (2 hours from Ellenbrae, 30 minutes from Home Valley), stopping to snap the truly stunning Cockburn Ranges. Camp at one of El Questro’s private riverfront sites, stay at Emma Gorge Resort, or splurge on a room at the El Questro Homestead.
Distance Australian style: Gibb River Road, The Kimberley.
Must-sees include Emma Gorge and the thermal waters of Zebedee Springs. Spend another night here.
Refuel at Kununurra, then begin the stunning drive back to Broome via the Great Northern Highway (13 hours in total), stopping for a night at Fitzroy Crossing along the way.
*Note – all timings approximate, as road conditions can (and do) vary.
MORE
The seven wonder of the Gibb River Road
Journey to the ultra-remote north-eastern edge of the vast and striking Kimberley and you’ll discover a one-of-a-kind luxe oasis at Berkeley River...
There are many, many wondrous things to see along The Gibb River Road in WA's Kimberley but, no matter which way you do it, there are some experiences...
For the 
best travel inspiration delivered straight to your door.
thanks