# Kimberley Road Trip Itinerary | Broome to Kununurra 10–14 Day Guide
Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/wa/north-west/the-kimberley/road-trip-itinerary/
Type: ActivityGuide
Location: The Kimberley, Australia's North West, Western Australia
Last updated: 2026-06-01

> A detailed 10–14 day Kimberley road trip itinerary — Broome to Derby, the Gibb River Road, El Questro, Kununurra, Lake Argyle, and Purnululu. Day-by-day planning with variations for self-drive 4WD, guided tour and fly-in highlights.

## Quick Answer
- Best for: Self-drive 4WD couples, families with older children, adventure travellers
- Price range: $3,000–$8,000+ total for a 14-day trip (vehicle costs, fuel, accommodation, activities)
- Vibe: Expedition road trip through ancient wilderness
- Distance: Broome to Kununurra ~1,400km; Gibb River Road section ~660km unsealed

## 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: How long does the Kimberley road trip take?
A: The Broome to Kununurra traverse via the Gibb River Road takes a minimum of 10 days to do properly, including 2 days in Broome, 4–5 days on the Gibb, 2 days in Kununurra and Lake Argyle, and 2 days at Purnululu. Fourteen days is the comfortable version that allows lingering at the best gorges and a buffer day for vehicle issues. Rushing it to 7–8 days is technically possible but misses the experience that makes the trip worth doing.

Q: Do I need two spare tyres for the Gibb River Road?
A: Yes — two full-size spare tyres (matching the vehicle, properly inflated) are strongly recommended and some hire companies mandate them. The Gibb River Road's rocky and corrugated sections cause tyre damage at a meaningful rate even in a well-prepared vehicle; arriving at a campground with two flats and only one spare turns a manageable situation into a rescue. Carry a 12V compressor and a tyre repair kit as well.

Q: Should I drive Broome to Kununurra or Kununurra to Broome?
A: Both directions work well, and the choice is usually driven by flight logistics. The west-to-east direction (Broome→Kununurra) means the Gibb's corrugations are an orientation into the road rather than away from it, and the Purnululu extension is a natural finale before the Kununurra flight home. One practical consideration: one-way vehicle hire is available Broome–Kununurra and is often the most cost-effective approach rather than a return loop.

Q: Is the Kimberley road trip suitable for families?
A: For families with children aged 10 and above who are comfortable in outdoor settings, yes — it is one of the great Australian family adventure trips. For families with young children (under 8), the combination of long drives on corrugated roads, extreme heat management, remote location and physical gorge access is genuinely difficult. The family guide page covers the family-specific version of the eastern Kimberley in more detail.

Q: Can I drive the Gibb River Road in a campervan?
A: A 4WD-capable, high-clearance campervan can manage the Gibb River Road, and many visitors do it in a 4WD pop-top camper. A standard 2WD campervan cannot — the road requires low-range gearing and clearance. Campervans take the corrugations harder than a rigid 4WD and have higher centres of gravity on the river crossings. Check with the hire company about specific vehicle suitability for the Gibb before booking.

Q: What is the most important thing to book in advance for the Kimberley road trip?
A: In priority order: accommodation on the Gibb River Road in July–August (particularly El Questro station and Silent Grove campground for Bell Gorge), the Lake Argyle sunset cruise, the Purnululu campsite (limited sites per night), and your flights in and out. All of these can be impossible to access on arrival in peak season without prior booking. For July–August travel, start booking 3–6 months in advance.

## At a Glance
- Total distance: ~1,400km Broome to Kununurra via the Gibb; ~1,100km direct via Great Northern Hwy
- Gibb River Road: 660km unsealed corrugated road — 4WD with two spare tyres and recovery gear
- Purnululu extension: +2 nights from Kununurra — 3hr drive + 53km unsealed access track
- Ideal length: 10 days minimum; 14 days to do it well with time to linger
- Direction: Broome→Derby→Gibb→Kununurra OR reverse — both work equally well
- Entry points: Fly into Broome, drive east; fly home from Kununurra (or Broome on a loop)
- Booking priority: Accommodation along the Gibb, Purnululu campsite, Lake Argyle sunset cruise, El Questro station
- Season: May–October only; road opens progressively from late April

## What travellers say
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## Itinerary
### Days 1–2: Broome — Arrival, Cable Beach and the Broome orientation
- Day 1 arrival: Fly into Broome and collect the vehicle (Broome has a well-serviced airport with regular flights from Perth and direct routes from several eastern cities in peak season. Collect your hire vehicle, confirm your recovery kit and spare tyres are present, and spend the afternoon settling in. Stock the vehicle at one of the Broome supermarkets — Kununurra is the next reliable full supermarket stop.)
- Day 1 afternoon: Cable Beach sunset (Cable Beach is 22km of tidal white sand west of town. The sunset view from the beach or the adjacent beach bar is the standard Broome arrival experience, and it's entirely free. The famous camel rides operate along the beach at sunset — book ahead if this is on the list.)
- Day 2 morning: Gantheaume Point and the town precinct (Gantheaume Point at low tide exposes dinosaur tracks in the red sandstone platform — one of the more unusual free geological experiences in the north. Combine with a walk along the heritage streets of Broome town centre and a visit to Willie Creek Pearl Farm (book ahead, tours available) if pearling culture is an interest.)
- Day 2 afternoon: Prepare for departure (Top up fuel (fill the tank and the jerry cans — diesel is significantly cheaper in Broome than on the Gibb). Check that the satellite communicator is charged and registered. Review road status on MRWA and DBCA for the Gibb River Road and any specific closures. Charge all devices.)
### Days 3–4: Derby and the Devonian Reef — Derby, Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek
- Day 3: Broome to Derby (~220km sealed) (Derby is the Gibb River Road's western gateway and a good base for the Devonian Reef day trips. The town has fuel, a supermarket top-up opportunity, and a hospital — last reliable services before Kununurra. Stop at the Prison Boab Tree on the edge of town (free, short walk) and the Derby Wharf for the extraordinary tidal range of King Sound (up to 11.8m — among the largest tides in the world).)
- Day 4 morning: Tunnel Creek (Start at Tunnel Creek before 8am. The 750-metre cave walk and wade takes 1.5 hours; bring head torches and wade shoes, and read the croc-risk information at the entrance. Allow time to sit in the sunlit collapse chamber before the return.)
- Day 4 afternoon: Windjana Gorge (Windjana Gorge (1hr from Tunnel Creek) is a broad, flat-floored gorge through ancient reef limestone — the Lennard River runs through it in the Dry Season and freshwater crocodiles are common along the banks. The 3.5km return walk to the gorge end is easy and suitable for older children. Camp at Windjana, or return to Derby for the night.)
### Days 5–7: The Gibb River Road — western and central section — Bell Gorge, Manning Gorge and the Barnett River
- Day 5 morning: Enter the Gibb River Road (Turn east from Derby onto the Gibb River Road. The first major stop is Bell Gorge via Silent Grove Campground (~270km from Derby, mostly unsealed). Camp at Silent Grove for two nights to allow Bell Gorge a morning walk with full time at the plunge pool, plus a shorter afternoon outing to a nearby gorge or a rest day. The corrugations on the first section of the Gibb from Derby can be significant — slow down, check tyre pressures and set the pace for the road ahead.)
- Day 5 afternoon/evening: Silent Grove Campground (Settle into camp early, do a short afternoon gorge exploration if energy allows, and manage the campfire while there's still daylight. The star visibility from Silent Grove after dark is extraordinary — sit outside for the sky once the camp is settled.)
- Day 6 morning: Bell Gorge (Start the Bell Gorge walk before 7am — the 8km return is the best morning on the Gibb for most travellers. Confirm croc safety with the camp ranger. Carry three litres per person minimum. The swim at the plunge pool base of the waterfall is the day's highlight; allow 4 hours total. Return to camp before midday for rest.)
- Day 7: Drive east: Barnett River and Manning Gorge (Continue east on the Gibb to Mount Barnett Roadhouse (~120km). Fill fuel here. Camp at the Mount Barnett station for two nights and do Manning Gorge the following morning — the 2km return walk with the river canoe crossing is the most adventurous easy gorge walk on the Gibb. The station camp has excellent facilities by Gibb standards.)
### Days 8–9: El Questro Wilderness Park — Emma Gorge, Zebedee Springs and the station
- Day 8: Drive east to El Questro (~240km from Barnett River) (Continue along the Gibb to the El Questro turn-off, approximately 35km from the Kununurra highway. El Questro is a large private station with a range of accommodation — from camping to the luxury homestead — and manages access to several of the eastern Gibb's best gorges. Purchase the station pass on arrival. The Pentecost River crossing is approximately 60km from the Gibb's start — photograph it from the eastern bank in the afternoon light.)
- Day 9 morning: Zebedee Springs at opening (Zebedee Springs opens typically at 7am and closes at midday — arrive at opening for the quietest experience. The 500m walk in reaches the warm thermal pools in the palms; allow 1.5–2 hours. Directly afterwards: Emma Gorge walk and swim (2km return with creek crossings), best done immediately after Zebedee while the morning is still cool enough to enjoy the walk.)
- Day 9 afternoon: Drive to Kununurra or final night at El Questro (El Questro to Kununurra is ~100km on the sealed highway from the park entrance. Either complete the drive in the afternoon, or spend a third night at El Questro for additional gorge time and the Cockburn Range sunset.)
### Days 10–11: Kununurra and Lake Argyle — The Ord River, the lake, and the eastern Kimberley base
- Day 10: Arrive Kununurra — restock, rest, logistics (Kununurra has the infrastructure the Gibb does not: a full supermarket, a hospital, petrol at normal prices, laundry facilities, and a wide range of accommodation. Use Day 10 to restock, do laundry, transfer from camp to a motel or caravan park if desired, and book the Lake Argyle sunset cruise and Ord River activities if not already confirmed.)
- Day 11 morning: Ord River cruise (Book a morning Ord River cruise from Kununurra for the best wildlife activity — freshwater crocodiles, sea eagles, jabiru and kingfisher are reliably present. Multiple operators depart from town; the standard cruise is 2–3 hours.)
- Day 11 afternoon: Lake Argyle sunset cruise (Drive to Lake Argyle (72km sealed, 1 hour) for the sunset cruise on the reservoir. The cruise returns after dark; time your arrival at the resort to use the infinity pool before the cruise if day-visitor access allows. Book both well ahead in peak season.)
### Days 12–14: Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) — optional extension — Cathedral Gorge, Echidna Chasm and the southern park circuit
- Day 12: Drive to Purnululu (~200km from Kununurra, including 53km unsealed) (The Purnululu access road branches south from the Great Northern Highway approximately 110km south of Kununurra. The 53km unsealed track into the park takes approximately 1.5–2 hours in a high-clearance 4WD — it is rocky and slow. Arrive at the Walardi campground (southern circuit) by 2pm to set up in daylight. Self-registration and park entry fees apply.)
- Day 13 morning: Cathedral Gorge and the Domes Walk (Start Cathedral Gorge at first light — the 3km return walk opens into the amphitheatre as the walls catch the first sun. Follow with the Domes Walk from the same car park. Both walks done by 10am; rest through midday.)
- Day 13 afternoon: Drive to Kurrajong campground (northern circuit) (Move camp from the south to the north circuit to position for Echidna Chasm the following morning. The drive between campgrounds is on the park's internal track.)
- Day 14 morning: Echidna Chasm, then depart for Kununurra (Echidna Chasm before 9am for the midday light alignment. Depart Purnululu by late morning — the 2-hour park exit drive and 110km to the highway puts you back in Kununurra by early afternoon for a flight or overnight before the return journey.)