# Hidden Gems of The Kimberley WA | The Quieter Side of the Region Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/wa/north-west/the-kimberley/hidden-gems/ Type: ThemeGuide Location: The Kimberley, Australia's North West, Western Australia Last updated: 2026-06-01 > Beyond the Bungle Bungles and the Gibb River Road, the Kimberley hides quieter places — Mornington Wilderness Camp, the remote Mitchell Plateau, the lesser-known Gibb gorges like Adcock and Galvans, Dampier Peninsula community stays, ancient rock art, the Wyndham Five Rivers Lookout and the Parry Lagoons wetlands. How to find them, and how to visit respectfully. ## Quick Answer - Best for: Return visitors & well-prepared explorers - Price range: Most are free; remote camps premium - Vibe: Remote, quiet, off the main circuit - Distance: Further off the highway than the icons ## 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 lesser-known places to visit in the Kimberley? A: Beyond the headline icons, the quieter standouts include Mornington Wilderness Camp (run by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, with canoeing at Dimond Gorge), the remote Mitchell Plateau, the smaller Gibb River Road gorges like Galvans and Adcock, community stays on the Dampier Peninsula, Traditional Owner-led rock-art tours, the Five Rivers Lookout above Wyndham, and the Parry Lagoons wetlands at Marlgu Billabong. Most require more driving, planning and self-sufficiency than the icons, which is exactly why they stay quiet. Q: Are the Kimberley’s hidden gems hard to reach? A: Most are — that’s why they stay quiet. Mornington is 90 kilometres of no-through 4WD road off the Gibb, the Mitchell Plateau is among the most remote driving in the region, and several need a capable high-clearance vehicle and serious self-sufficiency. A few are genuinely accessible: the Five Rivers Lookout above Wyndham is reached on a sealed (if steep) road, and Parry Lagoons is an easy detour with a boardwalk and bird hide. Always carry extra fuel, water, two spares, recovery gear and satellite comms for the remote ones. Q: How do I visit Kimberley rock art respectfully? A: Visit only on tours led by Traditional Owners or licensed cultural operators who hold the permissions, never touch the art, never enter restricted sites without permission, and follow every instruction about access and photography. The Kimberley’s Gwion Gwion and Wandjina art is living, sacred culture on Country, much of it on restricted land — going with the right guide both protects the sites and transforms the experience, turning figures on a rock into a story tens of thousands of years deep. Q: Can you stay with Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley? A: Yes — the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome has several Bardi Jawi community-run camps and stays that welcome visitors, offering cultural experiences like mud-crabbing, fishing and bush-tucker tours led by Traditional Owners. These run on the community’s terms: some need permits or advance booking, and access can change with the season and circumstances, so book ahead, check current access before you drive up the Cape Leveque Road, and travel as a respectful guest. It’s among the most meaningful experiences the region offers. Q: Are the quieter Kimberley spots good for families? A: Some are well suited; others are not. The Five Rivers Lookout at Wyndham (sealed-road access) and the Parry Lagoons bird hide are easy, low-effort stops that work well for families, and a Dampier Peninsula community stay can be a wonderful family experience. The remote ones — Mornington and especially the Mitchell Plateau — involve long, rough drives, deep remoteness and constant water-safety vigilance, so they suit older children and well-prepared families far more than little ones. Match the spot to your group and your vehicle, and always supervise children around water. Q: When is the best time to visit the quieter Kimberley? A: The Dry season (roughly May to October), like the rest of the region — the remote tracks are impassable in the Wet. The shoulders of the Dry are quietest: early (May–June) the falls are fullest and the crowds haven’t arrived, though some tracks may still be opening after the Wet; late (September–October) the quiet spots are emptiest of all, but the heat builds and water fades. For the Parry Lagoons birdlife specifically, the mid-to-late Dry is best, as the wetlands shrink and concentrate the birds. ## At a Glance - Who this is for: Return visitors and well-prepared travellers ready to go further - What makes a gem here: Quieter, more remote, often culturally significant — beyond the main circuit - Best season: The Dry (May–Oct); shoulders of the season are quietest of all - Access: Most need a capable 4WD and serious self-sufficiency; some need permits - Golden rule: Respect Country — permits, closures, no touching rock art, leave no trace - What to bring: Extra fuel and water, two spares, recovery gear, satellite comms, a flexible plan ## What travellers say - [positive] Go further, find solitude: The recurring tip is that solitude in the Kimberley is a function of effort — the travellers who drove the extra hours to Mornington, the Mitchell Plateau or the quiet gorges had whole landscapes to themselves. - [positive] Do the culture properly: Visitors consistently rate the Traditional Owner-led experiences — Dampier Peninsula stays, guided rock art — as the most meaningful part of their trip, and urge others to book them rather than chasing sites unguided. - [mixed] Respect is non-negotiable: Experienced travellers stress that much of the quieter Kimberley is on restricted or culturally significant Country — permits, closures and leave-no-trace aren’t optional, and the places stay special only because visitors honour them. - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: