gibb river road start to finish
Learn how your comment data is processed. The Gibb River Road is a road in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Preparation is key when driving a route like this, so you need to think carefully about what you pack. The road is often closed due to flooding during the wet season, which is typically November through March, although delayed openings have been known to happen, frustrating the tourism industry[3] as well as locals who rely on the road. while you’re driving. The Gibb River Road is a 660km dusty old cattle route that’s now one of Australia’s most iconic 4wd adventure trails with gorges, waterfalls, sprawling savannahs and clear starry nights. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s a walk in the park and you do still need to make sure that you are prepared. There is limited drinking water and fuel available along the way, and almost no cell signal (but there is some expensive wifi). January and February are the cyclone months, and there is a significant risk of floods, so avoid those months at all costs. This was the original Gibb River Road, so named as it was constructed from Gibb River Station to Derby. Day 1 Derby to Windjana Gorge Starting at Derby, drive 145 km to Windjana Gorge. Light mesh. Explore pristine waterholes and stunning gorges, see freshwater crocodiles and take a scenic flight over cascading waterfalls on this epic 12-day road … Derby - Gibb River Road turnoff 6km/5mins Gibb River Road turnoff – Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek turnoff 118km/1hr 30mins Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek turnoff - Mt Hart Station turnoff 65km/1hr Mt Hart Station turnoff - Mt If you are going in the dry season between May and October, it will be hot, so pack plenty of light clothes to help you keep cool, with a few warm items for the evening. The road is a former cattle route that stretches in an east-west direction almost 660 kilometres (410 mi) through the Kimberley between the towns of Derby and the Kununurra and Wyndham junction of the Great Northern Highway. is a great option when travelling at this time of year. This blog often Endorses travel products, hotels, tours and other related travel gear through Amazon and other affiliate programs. The Kimberley experiences monsoonal rains (wet season) from December - March, which will often wash away tracks and bridges. most spectacular waterfalls, gorges and swimming holes. Road closures during the wet season are a part of life in the Kimberley. Gibb River Road is within the scope of WikiProject Australia, which aims to improve Wikipedia's coverage of Australia and Australia-related topics.If you would like to participate, visit the project page.The Wikimedia Australia chapter can be contacted via email to … This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Driving the Gibb River Road is a truly amazing experience, and it’s one of the best ways to see the Australian outback in all its glory. The Gibb River Road is an unsealed, rocky earth road of approximately 700kms in length. Gone are the simple bush camps and roadhouse accomodation as you enter the world of ‘Station Tourism’. If you go between November and April, when the wet season is in full force, some roads are dangerous to drive on and could be closed. To develop the beef industry further, a Commonwealth Government grant to build a road was given in 1949 and the following year construction of a road to Derby commenced, one of a number of roads built as part of the so-called "Beef Roads Scheme". While technically, Lake Argyle is past the eastern end of the Gibb River road, it is a perfect start or finish point of your Kimberley adventure. If your car isn’t in good shape when you set off on the Gibb River Road, you could find yourself in a challenging position. In the 1960s construction began on the southern section a road as a Beef Road to transport cattle to Derby. For most of the trip, you should find places along the way where you can buy food and water. Jan 31, 2021 | Western Australia | 0 comments. [Note 1] The Wilinggin portion of the claim, covering an area of more than 60,150 km2 (23,220 sq mi) along the Gibb River Road, was the first of the three to be determined for the Ngarinyin people, by litigation on 27 August 2004. If you drive the route between November and April in the wet season, the weather can be incredibly unpredictable, so you need to be prepared for everything. The Gibb River Road has a reputation as a challenging trail that is only for expert off-roaders. Gibb River Road, image by Sean Scott. THE GIBB RIVER ROAD PART 2Station Life. Pack some engine oil and brake fluid too, and put a few zip ties in as well. November is boiling hot but also very rainy, so it’s going to be humid. From 1948, an Air Beef Scheme operated between Glenroy Station and Wyndham. The Gibb River Road is one of the two major roads which dissect the Kimberley region—the other being the extreme northern section of Great Northern Highway which runs further to the south. [1] Like its namesake, which does not actually cross the road but runs nearby at .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}16°06.108′S 126°31.075′E / 16.101800°S 126.517917°E / -16.101800; 126.517917,[2] it is named after geologist and explorer Andrew Gibb Maitland. are still very sparsely populated and don’t have any shops. But out of all of the different routes available, the Gibb River Road is one of the most iconic. that will get you to the nearest mechanic. A lot of work has been carried ou… Accommodation is offered by several cattle stations in the area including Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge, Mount Barnett Station, Mount Elizabeth Station, Drysdale River Station, the El Questro Station, Ellenbrae and Charnley River Station. The Australian outback is filled with so many incredible off-road routes where you can get away from civilization and really reconnect with nature. Day 24 – We had a lazy start to the day today before heading off to Branko’s Lookout. The picturesque 660-kilometre route takes you through some of the most secluded parts of the northern region of Kimberly. In the dry it is 660km of corrugated hell for the ill-prepared. The Gibb River Road is a 660 km track right through the wild heart of the Kimberley and is one of the Kimberley's main attractions. This southern section, which is sometimes referred to as the Derby-Gibb River Road, was completed in 1956 at a cost of £713,677 and was used for trucking live cattle. Several tours touch on the Gibb River Road, but only two companies offer regular tours devoted specifically to the experience – APT and Outback Spirit Tours. The western half of the Gibb River Road is usually in excellent condition, big parts are already sealed. When you travel through these areas, make sure that you stock up on a few days worth of food and water. The roads are rough, and the risk of punctures is much higher than on normal roads. October and November are incredibly hot, and when you are stuck in the car for hours on end, it can be a bit much. Its 660 kilometre track traverses the wild Kimberley region of Western Australia, which is known as ‘ Australia’s last frontier ’, passing by some of Australia’s (and maybe the worlds’!) [6], A joint native title claim, known as the Dambimangari claim and covering a large area of the Kimberley, was lodged in 1998 by the Wanjina-Wunggurr (Native Title) Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC[7] on behalf of three peoples, the Worrorra of Dambimangari, the Wunambal Gaambera of Uunguu, and the Ngarinyin of Wilinggin. If you want a real adventure, here’s everything you need to know about driving the Gibb River Road. DAY 1 - Broome to Darwin tour Your Kimberley off-road tour will start when we pick you up from your accommodation at 6am and begin our journey by making our way to the Gibb River Road. [5], The northern section of the road was under the control of the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley until 1996 when Main Roads Western Australia took over control and upgraded the full length of the highway. This southern section, which is sometimes referred to as the Derby-Gibb River Road, was completed in 1956 at a cost of £713,677 and was used for trucking live cattle. The Gibb River Road is one of a kind. On the western side, OZJet [dead link] flies between Derby and Perth .On the eastern side, AirNorth links Kununurra (60 km from the eastern start point of the road… The Gibb river road is famous for its abundance of truly spectacular gorges that litter the Kimberley region. Klook.com(function(d, sc, u) { var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u; p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); })(document, 'script', '//cdn.klook.com/affiliate_web/s/dist/desktop/affiliate_base_v3.1.js'), Your email address will not be published. You’ll need a 4×4, and it’s a good idea to look at wheel and tyre packages so you can upgrade to something sturdier. Happy Travels. Both offer small-ish groups (20 people) in comfortable 4WD coaches and itineraries with all the highlights we’ve mentioned. It was here we also saw more Pack some engine oil and brake fluid too, and put a few zip ties in as well. By clicking on these links and purchasing a product, I may receive a little income, but don’t worry, it won’t come at further expense to you. Although it all depends on your own itinerary, most people plan an 8-day trip at least. There are bridges over some creeks, other creek crossings have been reinforced with concrete.All the sections where the road climbs over steep ranges are now sealed, so you don't get the bad wet season wash outs that you used to get in the past.Update: This is now also true for the eastern half! Light mesh clothing designed for safari is a great option when travelling at this time of year. When you plan the trip, it’s a good idea to map out where all of the supermarkets are so you can easily find supplies. The Gibb River Road becomes impassable at crossings such as the Barnett, Hann, Durack, Pentecost and King Rivers. Day 9 - Charnley River to Silent Grove. Always pack at least one spare tyre but, if possible, take two just in case. It’s best to buy more than you need, just in case anything goes wrong and you get stuck. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. so you can upgrade to something sturdier. Simply put, there is a very good reason the Gibb River Road enjoys its lofty position on most road-trip bucket lists: it’s freakin’ awesome. The legendary 660-kilometre (410-mile) Gibb River Road from Derby to Kununurra (or Wyndham) in Western Australia is one of Australia's most unique 4WD adventures. October and November are incredibly hot, and when you are stuck in the car for hours on end, it can be a bit much. Today say goodbye to Home Valley Station with a short drive along the Gibb River Road to El Questro. A Guide To Driving The Gibb River Road Pixabay CCO License. If you drive the route between November and April in the wet season, the weather can be incredibly unpredictable, so you need to be prepared for everything. Required fields are marked *. Gibb River Road Itinerary The following is a suggested itinerary, customise the itinerary to suit your preferences and travel time available. The best time of year to go depends on how well you can. Subscribe to Fair Dinkum Traveller to receive our free monthly newsletter and to be in the running for future giveaways. The road is graded at the start of the season, so a smoother ride is possible in the early part of the season. From start to finish along your journey, you’ll be treated with natural beauty, starting with the Windjana gorge not too far from Derby Before you go on your trip, make sure that you get your vehicle serviced and make any necessary repairs. COMFORTABLE CAMPING TOURS (12-16 DAYS) KIMBERLEY AND WA TOURS - SMALL GROUP 4WD SPECIALISTS Put on your hiking shoes, have your swimming gear handy and get ready for breathtaking Kimberley and WA scenery, endless gorges and Aboriginal culture as you tour with Kimberley Safari Tours - the specialists in the Kimberley and Gibb River Road Tours. The roads are rough, and the risk of punctures is much higher than on normal roads. Turning off the bitumen and going ‘over the range’ on the Gibb River Road is a truly unique Aussie outback adventure through the Kimberley’s vast untouched wilderness, ancient gorge country and epic cattle stations the size of small countries. Where: Both tours start in Broome and finish in Kununurra. An abattoir, freezing works, and airstrip were built on the station and the meat airfreighted twice a day to the coast before being shipped to the southern cities. If you wanted to drive the entire route from start to finish, you could do it in a day at a push. The first 70 kilometres of the Gibb is sealed, then it's 4WD all the way Full Gibb River Road & Purnululu Ningaloo & Karijini Lake Argyle Swim with Whale Sharks Comfortable Camps Small Groups, Max 20 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ on Trip Advisor $4540 22 Day Perth to Darwin Tour 22 Day Darwin to Perth Tour If you have time for a longer trip, it’s definitely worth it because you can relax a little and if you are really enjoying a certain place, you can stop for a bit longer. After making the 43km journey from Charnley River to the Gibb River Road, it’s only 37km to the right-hand turnoff towards Silent Grove. Although there are garages along the route where you can get your car fixed, you could break down in the middle of nowhere, and you’ll need to get the car back up and running again so you can make it to the nearest mechanic. However, some places like Windjana Gorge are still very sparsely populated and don’t have any shops. But even though it’s a lot more accessible than it used to be, it can still be dangerous, so make sure that you remember everything in this guide when planning your trip. The Gibb River Road has scenic views of geological formations and natural scenery, Aboriginal and pastoral history, as well as rare and unique fauna and flora. Make sure that you bring something to cover you up and give you some respite from the heat. Zip ties are great for quick, temporary repairs that will get you to the nearest mechanic. Rains can wash it out, the river crossings can be deep, the road may have just … If your car isn’t in good shape when you set off on the Gibb River Road, you could find yourself in a challenging position. The northern section of the road remained in the hands of the local authority of Wyndham- … On our Big Lap we initially spent 5 days at Lake Argyle Resort but we loved it so much that we came back a month later after exploring the Red Centre and spent another 6 weeks there. On the way, you’ll pass Imintji Store, which has some supplies and diesel fuel, as well as Bell Gorge Wilderness Lodge. Before you go, you need to know what you’re letting yourself in for. Your email address will not be published. Road conditions change in the Kimberley and especially on the Gibb River Road. The best time of year to go depends on how well you can handle the Australian summer while you’re driving. Many people describe it as the last Australian adventure, and if you want a true sense of the outback in its rawest form, this is the route for you. When you travel through these areas, make sure that you stock up on a few days worth of food and water. If you want to drive the full length of the route, you can start in Derby and then pass through Windjana Gorge, Mount Hart Homestead, El Questro Wilderness Park, finishing in Wyndham or Kununurra. Includes Hobwymoon Beach, McGowans sunset beach and mechanical issues! Since the mid-2000s, the road has been upgraded to a formed gravel two-lane road including a few short bitumenised sections, but 4WD vehicles are still recommended due to the water crossings and numerous heavily corrugated sections. Join our mailing list to receive the latest travel gossip from the team at Fair Dinkum Traveller. The Gibb River Road is a short-cut that connects the remote Kimberley towns of Derby and Kununurra. The Gibb River Road crosses remote areas, and is itself not very easy to access. Along the way you will cross the mighty Pentecost river (be careful) before arriving into El Questro the world famous 1 million Always pack at least one spare tyre but, if possible, take two just in case. You’ll need a 4×4, and it’s a good idea to look at. If you think that there is something wrong with your car, get it looked at and don’t take any chances. Bringing spares and equipment to repair your car is vital. April and May are the transitional periods between the wet and dry season, and the weather is far more moderate in these months, so this is always a good time to go. Your Gibb River Road adventure begins in Derby - be sure to stock up on fuel, food and water supplies before leaving Derby as towns get sparser from here on in. In the wet season, December to March, it is impassable. November is boiling hot but also very rainy, so it’s going to be humid. I spent about 5 days traveling the Gibb River Road from start to finish. In the past, that used to be the case, but these days, it’s a lot more accessible. [5] The northern section of the road was under the control of the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley until 1996 when Main Roads Western Australia took over control and upgraded the full length of the highway. But if you rush through it, you won’t get to see any of the incredible sights along the way. The picturesque 660-kilometre route takes you through some of the most secluded parts of the northern region of Kimberly. [8][9][10], "Road opening delay frustrates locals - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)", "Stock route cuts a picturesque trail : thewest.com.au", "History of Western Australia's Highways And Main Roads WA - the organisation that built them", "Wanjina-Wunggurr (Native Title) Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC", "WCD2004/001 - Wanjina - Wunggurr Wilinggin Native Title Determination No 1", "Wanjina/Wunggurr-Wilinggin (WC1999/011)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gibb_River_Road&oldid=1003104221, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 January 2021, at 12:32. Check things like fluids and tyre pressures before setting off and periodically throughout the trip. Zip ties are great for. Getting close to the road is however feasible. The sealed road continues for another 10km to the El Questro Village turn-off with a 17km gravel road. The famous Pentecost River crossing on the Gibb River Road. The Gibb River Road has changed a lot in recent years, and as it has become more popular, more amenities have opened up along the way. [4] Attractions along the road include Windjana Gorge National Park, Tunnel Creek National Park, Adcock Gorge, Manning Gorge, Galvans Gorge, Lennard Gorge, Bell Gorge, and Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges. If you want to drive the full length of the route, you can start in Derby and then pass through Windjana Gorge, Mount Hart Homestead, El Questro Wilderness Park, finishing in Wyndham or Kununurra. Some road areas are heavily corrugated, so your vehicle must be prepared for a rough ride. If you are only reading about the Gibb, you can at least visit Emma Gorge because the road is sealed to the resort turn-off (24km with a 2km gravel road to the resort). On our way, we passed the Durack Tree, a large boab blazed with the pioneer family’s name from the 1800’s. It’s a very desirable option if your rig isn’t up to what’s next! Book your tickets online for Gibb River Road, Kimberley Region: See 128 reviews, articles, and 182 photos of Gibb River Road, ranked No.25 on Tripadvisor among 119 attractions in Kimberley Region. 12 day Broome to Broome on the Gibb River road Great camping trip with Gools & Thommo and a bus load of people we didn’t know to start with. Kimberley Gibb River Road Tours 2021 Broome to Broome or Darwin are still available but dates are filling fast. As we headed further across the Gibb not only does the landscape continue to change but so does the style of accomodation we encountered. The start of The Gibb River Road Crossing the Pentecost River with the Cockburn Ranges in the background – The Kimberley’s WA We spent the first night at Home Valley Station where we met up with our beautiful friends ‘The Morgan’s’ again – we found them relaxing by the pool, so we decided to join them there, before taking the 5 minute drive down to the river to set up camp. Some road areas are heavily corrugated, so your vehicle must be prepared for a rough ride. It begins east of Derby through to 60kms west of Kununurra. Even for the well equipped, and as … * The road surface changes from Ellenbrae through to ELQ from a red dirt to grey sharp shaley rock * Check your tyre pressures half way, ours had gone up 8 psi * In reality, the road is about 75% corrugations and 25% smooth The gorges, swimming, scenic vistas were superb but made really memorable by the knowledge and organisational ability of our guides; Gools’s catering, Thommo loading and unloading of our gear and their ability to answer any question we asked.