Campervan Touring Information
The Kimberley in 6 days
Distance
Darwin to Broome: 1,870 km | 21 hrs
The stunning and surreal landscapes of the Kimberley region are like nowhere else on earth. Access to the Bungle Bungles and Purnululu National Park is by 4WD due to creek crossings. It's definitely not suited to campervans. But don't let this deter you. You could take a tour ($315 per person) or rent a 4WD from $70 per day out of Kununurra. Kununurra is 4 hr and 45 min from Purnululu, so this option will add a day to this Kimberley tour. All stops are mapped at the bottom of the article.
This is part of the Darwin to Perth Road Trip and you can find the Broome to Perth itinerary here.
Darwin to Broome Itinerary
We're adding in some optional days in the Northern Territory at the beginning in case you have not already experienced these places.
Optional Darwin to Katherine – 4 days
Day 1:DarwintoLitchfield National Park- 116 km | 1 hr 20 m
Day 2:Nitmiluk National Park - Edith Falls- 230 km | 2 hr 35 m
Day 3:Nitmiluk National Park - Katherine Gorge- 90 km | 1 hr 20 m
Day 4:Katherine and Cutta Cutta Caves- 28 km | 30 m
Katherine to Broome – 6 days (Itinerary below)
Day 1:Katherine to Kununurra and Lake Argyle – 515 km | 6 hr 45 m
Day 2: Wyndham and Parry's Lagoon – 112 km | 1 hr 45 min
Optional day: Purnululu and the Bungle Bungles (if hiring 4WD, add a day)
Day 3 & 4: Wyndham/Kununurra to Purnululu – 300 km | 4 hr 45 min
Day 5: Fitzroy Crossing –- 438 km | 6 hr
Day 6: Broome – 400 km | 4.5 hr
Broome to Darwin Itinerary
Katherine to Broome – 6 days (Itinerary below)
Day 1:Broome to Fitzroy Crossing – 400 km | 4.5 hr
Day 2: Purnululu –- 438 km | 6 hr
Day 3 & 4: Wyndham and Parry's Lagoon – 300 km | 4 hr 45 min
Day 5: Kununurra and Lake Argyle – 112 km | 1 hr 45 min
Optional 2 days:Purnululu National Park and the Bungle Bungles (if hiring 4WD, add a day)
Day 6: Kununurra to Katherine – 515 km | 6 hr 45 m
Optional Katherine to Darwin – 4 days
Day 7:Nitmiluk National Park - Katherine Gorge– 28 km | 30 m
Day 8:Nitmiluk National Park - Edith Falls– 90 km | 1 hr 20 m
Day 9:Litchfield National Park–250 km | 2 hr 45 m
DAY 10:Darwin– 140 km | 1 hr 40 m
Boab trees near Parry Lagoon. Photo:kimberleyspirittours via IG
Kununurra and Lake Argyle
Distances From Katherine – 515 km | 6 hr 45 m
From JudbarraGregory National Park – 285 km | 3 hr 45 m
From Wyndham – 100 km | 1 hr 15 m
From Purnululu – 290 km 4 hr 30 m
Kununurra is the first town you’ll cometo upon entering Western Australia from the Northern Territory. It is a green oasis on a river surrounded bythe red landscapes of the Kimberley.
Things to do in Kununurra
- Take an Ord River boat tour tosee the wildlife (from 11.30 am – 5.30 pm $180)
- Walk through Mirima NationalPark (formerly called Hidden Valley National Park) a mini bungle bungles rightin the town of Kununurra.
- Climb Kelly’s Knob for greatviews (take plenty of water and take your time).
- If you'd like to visit the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park, one option is to hire a 4WD from Kununurra, drive down in the morning, spend the afternoon and following morning exploring, then drive back in the afternoon. It's 300 km each way (4 hr 45 mins).
Lake Argyle lies an hour south of Kununurra.After somuch flat desert you’ll be pleased to know that man-made Lake Argyle has hills(The Carr Boyd Ranges), greenery, and water. Lots of water. Lake Argyle covers 1000km2, an area18 times the size of Sydney Harbour. Atfull flood level that area doubles!
Mirima National Park, Kununurra. Photo:alana.vic via IG
Mirima National park, Kununurra. Photo:irishozy via IG
Mirima National Park, Kununurra. Photo: linc_53 via IG
Mirima National Park, Kununurra. Photo:nicfrazee
Things to do in Lake Argyle
- Visit the museum and learn about the creation of the dam and lake
- Drive over the dam wall
- Visit Homestead Falls
- Take a sunset cruise
- Swim in the infinity pool ($10 if you are not a guest)
Lake Argyle Camping for Campervans
TheCaravan Park at Lake Argyle is also a resort and it has an infinity pool with amazingviews over Lake Argyle. There is also a restaurant, bar, shop, bait, tourbookings and fuel.
RATES:$17.50/adult (there are family discounts).$10/adultif you just want to use the infinity pool.
The Infinity Pool. Lake Argyle. Photo:thetravellingnomads via IG
Lake Argyle stormy sunset. Photo: nik taverner via IG
The Carr Boyd Ranges around Lake Argyle. Photo:danproud via IG
Parry Lagoon Nature Reserve
Distances
From Kununurra – 70km | 1 h 15 mins
From Purnululu – 280 km | 4.5 hr
Parry Lagoon is 30 minsnorth of the Victorian Highway along the Great Northern Highway on the way toWyndham. Look for a blue sign. Stop at the information bay on the way in to get your bearings.
Thiswetland area is best visited just after the wet season (The wet season is Dec – Mar)but there is water here all year on waterlily studded Marglu Billabong. You’llsee a lot of waterbirds such as jabirus, spoonbills, herons, magpie geese,waterfowl, pelicans, egrets, ibis, and more. There are bird hides so you canwatch them.
Checkout the surreal boab forest at Parry Creek Farm.
Do notswim here and keep away from the waters edge. There are crocodiles.
Parry Creek Farm field of Boabs
Finch at Parry's Lagoon. Photo:rvtrip via IG
Lily pond at Parry's Lagoon. Photo:petesflap via IG
The Grotto
Alittle further north, heading toward Wyndham, is the Grotto. It is 2WDaccessible but the water dries up in summer so it’s best to visit it just afterthe wet season, such as in April. It is croc-free and safe for swimming.
Thereare a lot of stairs. Maybe that’s what keeps the crocs away. There is a tarzanswing which is fun. Take care of submerged rocks before jumping in from aheight.
The Grotto: Photo:freshwatereastkimberleyapartments via IG
Wyndham
Wyndhamis in two parts; old Wyndham (or Wyndham Port) and Wyndham three Mile (orWyndham East). Wyndham is the northern most town in Western Australia and isabout as isolated as you can get, surrounded by desert and mudflats.
Thearrival of the Overland Telegraph Line in 1889 provided the local Aborigineswith an excellent source of spearheads because they climbed up the poles andhelped themselves to the ceramic insulators.
Populationis now 1200 and is partly sustained by tourism.
Thingsto do in Wyndham
- Five Rivers Lookout. It is signpostedfrom Wyndham Three Mile and you couldn’t get a better view unless you actuallyflew over the region. The five riversare the Durack, King, and Pentecost to the south, Forrest to the west and Ordto the north.
- The Big Crocodile at the entrance to Wyndham Three Mile. This 20 metrelong crocodile is hard to miss. It was designed and built by sculptor AndrewHickson and the students from the Halls Creek TAFE using steel rods, mesh andconcrete.
- Wyndham Port has a few old meatworks buildings and a small display ofthe trains and cranes which operated on the wharf. The Old Post Office (acrossthe road from the low security prison) is now the Tourist Information Centreand Post Office Museum.
- Wyndham Three Mile -At Wyndham Three Mile the local Aboriginal population have constructed enormousstatues depicting an Aboriginal family with a dingo and kangaroo (It is a blockeast of the main street). In the same street is a open air cinema withcomfortable deck chairs, a small screen and enclosed projector booth.
- The Prison Tree is on the King Riverroad. It is a hollowed out old baobab tree which was used as a temporary lockupby the local police,
Parry Lagoon Campervan Camping
Thereis camping at Parry Creek Farm. To get to the campsite, keep driving past theinformation bay on Parry Creek Road.Facilities include a pool. BBQs, camp kitchen and nature walks.
RATES:Unpowered sites are $15 for up to 8 people.
Prison Tree, Wyndham. Photo:ruivencampers via IG
Bungle Bungles, Purnululu
Distances
Parry Lagoon – 270 km | 4.5 hr
Kununurra – 290 km | 4.5 hr
Fitzroy Crossing – 440 km | 6 hr
The Purnululu National Park and the Bungle Bungles within the park are accessible only by 4WD due to creek crossings. You have two options:
- You can take a full daytour from the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park for $315 per person.
- Or you can hire a4WD vehicle from Kununurra for around $70 per day. Due to the distance from Kununurra,you’ll need the car for at least 2 days and will have to overnight in a tent.
After turning off thehighway to Purnululu National Park, stop at the information bay to get yourbearings. Further along, the Purnululu Visitor Center (Ranger Station) has maps to thewalks and nearest lookouts.
Camping near Purnululu
- Free Camping -BetweenKununurra and Fitzroy Crossing (650 km) there are 5 rest areas where you cancamp overnight for free. Just look for the “24hr” blue sign.
- Budget Camping -LarrawaBush Camp isn’t free but it has more facilities including hot showers, flushingtoilets, internet, BBQs and campfires.
RATES:$10 per person
The Bungle Bungles. Photo:seanscottphotography via IG
Walking among the Bungle Bungles. Photo:wonderlust.perth via IG
Purnululu National Park. Photo:stonycreekcampers
Fitzroy Crossing
Distances
From PurnululuNational Park - 400 km | 4 hr 10 m
From Kununurra - 650 km | 6 h 45 m
From ParryCreek Farm – 650 km | 6 hr 45 m
From Broome –400 km | 4.5 hr
Mimbi Caves
96 km before you reach Fitzroy Crossing (and 55km after Larrawa Bush Camp) you will see asign to Mimbi Caves, a series of cave networkscarved through the 400 million year old Devonian reef system which includesactive growing limestone formations such as shawls and flowstones, some withsparkling crystals.
Book a3 hour walking tour with Girloorloo Tours a 100% indigenously owned and operatedtour company.
RATES: adults$80, kids $40
Mimbi Caves Campervan Camping
There is a campsite at the caves, if you feel like resting up, withswimming holes that are safe for swimming. Facilities include a camp kitchen, toilets, shower and BBQs.
RATES: $14 per person.
Fitzroy Crossing
Fitzroyis a small town with a 24 hr fuel station, shops, a visitor centre and a placeto camp in your campervan The main attraction here is Geikie Gorge National Park – a river carved through weatheredsandstone cliffs - which lies 20 km north of town on a sealed road.1 hrboat tours run from May – October.
Fitzroy Campervan Camping
FitzroyRiver Lodge has a swimming pool, showers, laundry, tennis, bar and pub food. Ithas grassy sites under shady trees and friendly staff. The amenities are okay.
RATES:$38 for two people.
Geikie Gorge, Fitzroy Crossing. Photo:estiezz via IG
Geikie Gorge at Fitzroy Crossing WA. Photo:louisedavey via IG
Crocodile and tortoise, Geikie Gorge. Photo:studyabroad biodiversity
Broome
FromFitzroy Crossing it is a 4 and a half hour drive to Broome.
Map of the Kimberley Tour
Add on Road Trips
- The Kimberley in 6 days
- Broome to Perth in 19 days
- Perth to Adelaide in 16 days
- 3 days in Perth
- Cairns to Darwin in 2 weeks
- Darwin to Adelaide road trip in 2 weeks
