# Ultimate Guide to The Kimberley WA | Travel Guide, Gibb River Road & Things to Do Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/wa/north-west/the-kimberley/ Type: DestinationGuide Location: The Kimberley, Australia's North West, Western Australia Last updated: 2026-06-01 > A complete travel guide to The Kimberley in Western Australia — the Gibb River Road, the Bungle Bungles at Purnululu, the gorges and waterfalls, Lake Argyle, El Questro and Horizontal Falls. When to go, how to get around, 4WD and crocodile safety, and how to plan a remote trip properly. ## Quick Answer - Best for: Adventurous 4WD travellers & wilderness seekers - Price range: $180–$450/night (towns); remote camps higher - Vibe: Vast, remote, road-trip wilderness - Distance: Broome ~2,200km / Perth; fly in ## 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: When is the best time to visit the Kimberley? A: The Dry season — roughly May to October — is the only practical time to travel the Kimberley overland. The roads are open, the days are warm and clear and the nights are cool. The early-to-mid Dry (May to August) has the fullest waterfalls and the most comfortable temperatures; September and October stay open but get hot and the falls fade. The Wet season (November to April) brings monsoon rains that flood the rivers, close the Gibb River Road and the Purnululu access, and make much of the interior unreachable, though scenic flights still run. Q: Do I need a 4WD to visit the Kimberley? A: For the interior, yes. The sealed Great Northern Highway loops the region and you can reach the main towns (Broome, Derby, Kununurra) in a 2WD, but almost every signature attraction sits off the highway on gravel and dirt that requires a high-clearance four-wheel drive. The Gibb River Road, the Spring Creek Track into Purnululu, the Mitchell Plateau and most gorge access roads are 4WD-only. If you don’t have a suitable vehicle, you can still see the highlights via guided 4WD tours and scenic flights from the towns. Q: Are there crocodiles in the Kimberley, and is it safe to swim? A: Yes — saltwater crocodiles inhabit most Kimberley rivers, estuaries and the coast, and they are dangerous. Many inland gorge waterholes are also home to freshwater crocodiles, which are generally timid and left undisturbed. The rule is simple and non-negotiable: only swim where local signage and current advice say it is safe, never assume a waterhole is croc-free, never swim at dusk or dawn near tidal water, and follow Be Crocwise guidance. Popular swimming gorges like Bell and Manning are managed as freshwater swims, but conditions change — always check on the ground first. Q: How do I actually get to the Kimberley? A: Most visitors fly into Broome (in the west) or Kununurra (in the east), both of which have airports with connections to Perth and other capitals, and hire a vehicle or join a tour from there. Driving in is a serious undertaking — Broome is roughly 2,200 kilometres north of Perth on the sealed highway. Many travellers fly to one end, hire a 4WD or join a tour, and travel across the region between Broome and Kununurra over one to three weeks. Q: Is the Kimberley suitable for families with children? A: It can be, with the right planning and realistic expectations. Scenic flights over the Bungle Bungles, a Lake Argyle cruise, the easier gorge walks and the cultural experiences on the Dampier Peninsula all suit families. The challenges are the long drives, the remoteness, the heat and the constant water-safety vigilance around crocodiles. Many families do the highlights by scenic flight and short walks rather than the full Gibb River Road. Check distances, walk difficulty and any minimum ages on tours before you commit, and build in rest days. Q: Whose Country is the Kimberley, and what should I know culturally? A: The Kimberley is Aboriginal country, home to many groups including the Bardi Jawi, Bunuba, Wunambal Gaambera and others, with a continuous culture going back tens of thousands of years and some of the oldest rock art on Earth (Gwion and Wandjina). Travel respectfully: some sites and roads require permits or are closed at certain times, rock art should never be touched, and the best way to understand it is on a tour led by Traditional Owners. Note that the boat tours through Horizontal Falls are being phased out at the request of the Traditional Owners — most operators by the end of 2026 — so check current arrangements before booking. ## At a Glance - Location: Far north-west Western Australia — Australia's North West region - Size: About 420,000 km² — larger than many countries, very sparsely populated - Main towns: Broome and Derby (west), Kununurra and Wyndham (east), Halls Creek (south) - Travel season: The Dry (roughly May–October). The Wet (Nov–Apr) floods roads and closes attractions - Getting there: Fly to Broome or Kununurra; or the long sealed-highway drive. A 4WD is essential for the interior - The Gibb River Road: ~660km of gravel between Derby and the Kununurra/Wyndham junction — 4WD only - Signature sights: Bungle Bungles (Purnululu), the gorges, Mitchell & King George Falls, Horizontal Falls, Lake Argyle - Crocodiles: Saltwater crocodiles inhabit most waterways and coast — only swim where signed safe - 4WD & fuel: High-clearance 4WD, spare tyres, recovery gear, extra fuel and water all essential off the highway - Country: Aboriginal country (Bardi Jawi, Bunuba, Wunambal Gaambera and others) — respect permits and closures - Communications: Mobile coverage only in/near towns — carry a satellite phone or EPIRB for the remote routes ## What travellers say - [positive] The scale is the experience: The single most common reaction is to the sheer size and emptiness — travellers describe days of red ranges and almost no one else, and rate it the most genuinely remote trip they have done in Australia. - [mixed] Respect the planning and the 4WD: Visitors who came prepared — right vehicle, spare tyres, fuel, water, a flexible plan — loved it; those who underestimated the roads or the distances had flats, delays or had to turn back. - [positive] It is living Aboriginal country: Travellers repeatedly single out the rock art, the cultural tours on the Dampier Peninsula and the sense of being on Country as the part that stayed with them — and value the operators who tell those stories properly. - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: