Member - John replied:

Bundy, unless you have a reason to go, ie, Fishing, personally I don't think it is worth the extra miles. Been there, done that. We found it to be a very hard trip and didn't enjoy it when we got there. I would spend more time on other parts of the Kimberley, Old Mornington Station, Mt Elizabeth Homestead etc etc. Even Mitchell falls is very unspectactualr with out water going over it. If possible, North of Broome, Middle Lagoon is well recomended. When we went, there was no alcohol restrictions, July 2003. Hope this helps. Have a great time exploring the Kimberley

PS, have posted in the open forum as I hope others will do, we all should be able to read what others think!, Just my two cents worth.

Member - Andrew(WA) replied:

Bradley

They have just opened the 1st cop shop in Kalumburu recently. You could email the local copper and get all the answers you need. MAYBE!

Don't know what he's or she is like but I would guess the email address is something like
kalumburupolicestation@police.wa.gov.au

If no luck there, you can definately get the answers from the Kunnunurra coppers. They use to fly in and out of the joint as required.

The little bit I know of the place is only what others have told me.

Let us know how you go.

The Rambler replied:

Having been there I fully agree with John as your time would be better of spent seeing other places,but like us all we like to say we have been there.If you go to Mitchell Falls try to get there in early June when there is still water flowing and like John said Old Mornington(Diamond Gorge) and Middle Lagoon are definately worth a visit as well as the obvious Bell Gorge ,Broome etc.

Willem replied:

Kalumburu is just like an other outback aboriginal community. If you need to go north beyond the community in the Kimberley you will have to pass through there.

No one else can ever give you the right advice on whether it is worthwhile going to or through such places. You cannot make an informed decision on someone elses experiences. They might have a totally different perception of the place with their own thoughts be they positives, negatives or hang-ups. You have to go there to experience the place for yourself and form your own thoughts on it. How many people would have asked how cold or how difficult it is to climb Mt Everest. The answer would be that all of the above was extreme. It was up to you whether or not you felt like going there

These days the traffic to the north is heavy but when we visited Kalumburu and beyond in the mid '80's, we were the only visitors there. The community extended a warm welcome to us and we had an enjoyable stay in the area.

My advice as to alcohol restrictions are that it is best not to take booze with you for the time that you are in communities where there are restrictions.

Peter Guy replied:

We loved our time in Kalumburu camping on one of the beaches.(McGowans Island) Had the best fishing trip ever there. The oysters fresh straight off the rocks at low tide were pretty darn good too!That was 10 years ago, so maybe it has changed. We enjoyed the drive up there too. Rough yes, but slow and steady is the way to go.You just have to decide if you want to experience that part of the Kimberly and if so, you take it warts and all!!

Happy GU Owner replied:

Bradley,

We loved our time at Kalumburu, camped north of Kalumburu, right on the beach, had an old aboriginal fella for company most nights with his tales and yarns. I shouldn't tell you this with young kids, but had a salty croc come right up on the beach, and right through were our tent was placed for three nights, and would have ended up in our tent if we hadn't packed up that morning ( according to the other campers nearby ). Watched hermit crabs at night for hours around our campfire and tent, caught the largest oysters ever seen by humans, watched locals swimming in the ocean, putting boats in and out with no fear ( I only went in to my knees and briefly ). Went as far north as possible finding U.S. Army 44 Gallon Drums and wreckage, etc,etc,etc.

Now, is it worth it, well things have changed in the last eight years, and aparently, from second hand information received, the lovely bakery and mission has closed ( which was worth a look ), the roads in are horrendous, but can change with a current round of grading.

It is the company and the people that you meet, as well as the place, that either make it worthwhile or not. We had a great time but others haven't. If you are pushed for time, I say don't bother as there are so many wonderful places in the Kimberley to explore, and you could spend weeks just seeing and exploring the most common spots, but if you are like many others who fell that they need to explore far and wide, get as far as you can go, then just do it. I don't think that you would regret it.

When we did it, it was like Kulumburu to Mitchell Falls turnoff - phew, this seems like forever, I can't believe we are out of there, only two more sections to go. Mitchell Falls turnoff to Gibb River Road turnoff - phew, I can't believe we are out of there, only one section to go. Gibb River road to bitchumen at end, phew, I can't believe we are out of there. Bitchumen at last !!!! It really seemed like an everlasting challenge, and it was fantastic just to complete it.

Mic

Wayne (NSW) replied:

Bradley,
Have a look at post 20650, there is a lot of info about Kalumburu there.

Wayne