# Free Things to Do in the Kimberley WA | Gorges, Lookouts & Swimming Holes Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/wa/north-west/the-kimberley/free-things-to-do/ Type: ActivityGuide Location: The Kimberley, Australia's North West, Western Australia Last updated: 2026-06-01 > The best free things to do in the Kimberley WA — gorge swimming holes, the Wyndham Five Rivers Lookout, Pentecost River crossing, rock art sites, sunsets, the Lake Argyle lookout, and Tunnel Creek. With honest notes on park fees and 4WD access. ## Quick Answer - Best for: Budget-conscious travellers, self-drive 4WD trips - Price range: Free (some require park entry fees or 4WD access) - Vibe: Remote, ancient, staggeringly beautiful - Distance: Spread across the Kimberley — base in Kununurra or Broome ## Featured Properties - The Kimberley Grande Resort: 4/5 (399 reviews) Book direct: https://kimberleygrande.com.au/ The Kimberley Grande Resort — The Kimberley - Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra: 4.4/5 (40 reviews) Book direct: https://www.bestwesternkununurra.com.au/ Best Western Cambridge Hotel Kununurra — The Kimberley - Hotel Kununurra: 3.9/5 (561 reviews) Book direct: http://www.hotelkununurra.com.au/ Hotel Kununurra — The Kimberley ## FAQ Q: What are the best free things to do in the Kimberley? A: The Five Rivers Lookout at Wyndham (one of the great free panoramas in Australia), the Pentecost River crossing on the Gibb River Road at sunrise, gorge swimming holes on station access roads, signed rock art sites, the Lake Argyle public lookout at sunset, and the extraordinary night sky from any remote campground. Tunnel Creek is close to free (modest Devonian Reef park pass applies). Q: Do most Kimberley attractions charge entry fees? A: The major national parks have entry fees — Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) charges approximately $17 per person per night, and the Devonian Reef parks (Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge) are covered by a combined day pass. Gibb River Road stations typically charge a small vehicle access or camping fee ($15–25). Many of the best experiences — lookouts, river crossings, campground star-gazing, roadside geological stops — are entirely free. Q: Can I do free gorge swims in the Kimberley? A: Yes — many Gibb River Road gorge swimming holes are accessible via station access fees (typically $15–25 per vehicle per day) rather than national park entry, which makes them relatively low-cost rather than strictly free. Manning Gorge, Barnett River Gorge and Adcock Gorge are among the best. Confirm croc safety with station staff before every swim — this is non-negotiable regardless of cost. Q: Is the Kimberley worth visiting without doing paid tours? A: Yes, substantially so — particularly for self-drive 4WD travellers on the Gibb River Road. The free and low-cost experiences (gorge swims, lookouts, rock crossings, campground stargazing, driving the Gibb itself) make up the core experience for many visitors. Guided tours add cultural depth and access to areas inaccessible independently; scenic flights add the aerial perspective. Neither is required for a memorable trip. Q: Are there free experiences in the Kimberley suitable for families? A: Several of the best are family-appropriate: the Five Rivers Lookout at Wyndham (accessible to any vehicle, walkable for all ages), the Lake Argyle public lookout (sealed road, short stop), campground stargazing, and station gorge swimming holes (with croc-safety confirmation and close supervision). Tunnel Creek suits older children at a minimal cost. The Pentecost River crossing is family-friendly from the bank, though the water itself should not be entered. Q: Do free Kimberley experiences still require a 4WD? A: Most do. The Gibb River Road experiences — the Pentecost crossing, most gorge swimming holes, station camps — require a high-clearance 4WD. The exceptions are Wyndham (sealed road, standard vehicle), the Lake Argyle lookout (sealed road), and Tunnel Creek (sealed access road). If you are visiting the Kimberley without 4WD access, your free experiences are more limited but still include Wyndham, the Lake Argyle lookout and Tunnel Creek. ## At a Glance - Best free lookout: Five Rivers Lookout, Wyndham — one of the great panoramas in Australia - Free iconic stop: Pentecost River crossing on the Gibb River Road - Free at night: Star-gazing from any Kimberley campground — extraordinary - Note on park fees: Many gorge swims require national park entry (~$17/person for Purnululu) - Note on access: Most free experiences require a 4WD to reach — factor in hire/running costs - Croc rule: Never swim without current croc-safety sign at the exact location ## Featured - 1. Five Rivers Lookout, Wyndham — One of the great panoramas in Australia — entirely free - Why people love it: Five rivers, a gulf, and a vast red-rock plain spread 300 metres below in silence — the panorama that most visitors describe as the moment they understood how large the Kimberley actually is. - Don't miss: The five river systems converging across the coastal plain at golden hour, with the Cambridge Gulf behind them. - Good to know: The sealed road means it's accessible to most vehicles, but arrive early or in the late afternoon — extreme heat from mid-morning, particularly in September–October. - 2. Pentecost River crossing, Gibb River Road — The iconic photo stop that defines the Gibb - Why people love it: The Cockburn Range reflected in the shallow river ford at sunrise is the Gibb River Road image — the moment that confirms you're actually doing this trip. - Don't miss: The Cockburn Range lit from the side in morning light, reflected in the shallow ford crossing. - Good to know: Do not enter the water at this crossing — saltwater crocs have been sighted in the Pentecost River. Check river depth before crossing if water levels are higher than expected in early May. - 3. Gorge swimming holes — Bell Gorge, Manning Gorge, Barnett River Gorge — The free swims that define the Gibb River Road - Why people love it: Cold, clear water in a red sandstone gorge after four hours of corrugated red dirt driving — the contrast is one of the best physical sensations available in Australian travel. - Don't miss: The cold plunge pool at the base of Manning Gorge after the 2km walk — the swim that defines the Gibb River Road experience for most visitors. - Good to know: Confirm croc safety with station staff before every swim — every time, every location. Station access fees apply (typically $15–25 per vehicle); these are not national park charges but are required. Some gorge tracks close temporarily — check with the station on arrival. - 4. Signed rock art sites — Ancient Gwion and Wandjina art in open-access shelters - Why people love it: Standing in front of a Wandjina figure painted 15,000 years ago in a sheltered rock overhang — the depth of time it represents is unlike any museum display. - Don't miss: A guided rock art tour that puts the sites in cultural context — the experience is transformed when you understand what you're looking at. - Good to know: Never touch rock art. Many of the most significant sites require guided Traditional Owner access — do not attempt to find them independently. Photography may not be permitted at specific sites; check signage before photographing. - 5. Lake Argyle public lookout — The reservoir at sunset — free, no cruise required - Why people love it: The same ancient reservoir and the same red ranges, viewed from a public lookout at no cost — the scale of Lake Argyle is evident from here even without the paid experiences around it. - Don't miss: The last 20 minutes of golden hour from the public lookout — the ranges going orange behind a reservoir the size of a small sea. - Good to know: Not the same as the resort infinity pool or the cruise — this is a roadside lookout, not a facilities experience. Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset for the best of the light. - 6. Tunnel Creek walk-and-wade — Walk through a 750-metre underground river — modest entry or free from the outside - Why people love it: Wading through cold dark water by torchlight and emerging into a sunlit cave chamber is completely unlike anything else in the Kimberley — and it is among the more affordable experiences in the region. - Don't miss: The sunlit collapse chamber in the middle of the tunnel after the dark wading section — the contrast of dark and light is one of the most dramatic natural reveals in the region. - Good to know: Devonian Reef National Parks day pass required; freshwater crocs are present — read ranger information before entering. Bring a head torch and a spare. Not suitable for those with a strong fear of the dark or deep aversion to cold water. - 7. Kimberley star-gazing from any campground — The darkest skies most Australians have ever seen - Why people love it: The Milky Way arm-to-arm from horizon to horizon over a silent gorge country campground — free, extraordinary, and impossible to replicate at home. - Don't miss: A clear moonless night with the Milky Way core directly overhead and the Southern Cross on the horizon — twenty minutes outside any Gibb River Road campground. - Good to know: Requires a clear, moonless night — check the lunar calendar before planning around it. Moon phases vary; the best viewing is around new moon periods. In May–June there can be haze from distant fire smoke. ## What travellers say - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: