Northern Exposure

Talk to any keen road tripper about their bucket list of Aussie journeys and “doing the Gibb” will invariably come up. That’s the Gibb River Road, which transects the wild and remote Kimberley region of north-west Western Australia.

- Justin Walker

The reality is far different. These days, a fair chunk of the route is sealed and, if you time it right (i.e. after the graders have been through at the start of touring season, from May to September), the unsealed sections are no more rugged than most gravel country roads. You don’t need extra skills to drive this route.

All you do need is a well-prepared four-wheel-drive vehicle (if not your own, you can hire one easily for this journey), good planning (see ‘Touring essentials’, on the next page) and an adventurous attitude.

The rewards that come from the occasional bump and crunch of potholes and gravel are many and include the chance to explore some of Australia’s most spectacular tropical landscapes.

The GRR will take you past innumerable stunning gorges, waterfalls and waterholes (some of which you can swim in; however, be mindful of all crocodile warnings and when in doubt stay out of the water), as well as brilliant Aboriginal art sites and a plethora of immense cattle stations that offer accommodation that ranges from basic campsites through to uber-luxury digs. Simply put, there are very good reasons the Gibb enjoys its lofty position on most road-trip bucket lists: it’s absolutely awesome.

Gorge on beauty

You can drive the GRR in a few days, but this would be a disservice to your experience. We recommend seven days minimum. And that’s without the northern side-trip to Kalumburu and/or Mitchell Falls on the northern Kimberley Coast (see page 109).

We suggest beginning at Kununurra. This regional centre allows you to stock up on supplies before heading west and it also means you’ll have the sun behind and beside you for the majority of each day’s drive.