Kimberley Options?

Hi Chris,

We are doing a similar trip starting in Derby, leave van , GRR with slide on camper, and back to Derby via the bitumen, then back to Kununurra, Wyndham.

About 4 weeks to travel the GRR and be back in Derby.

Cheers
Pop

Planning a 7 week trip, Melb to Melb for next year. Giving us 5 weeks in the Kimberley

Hi Chris,
I would allow 5 weeks to do the loop. That will give you enough time to rest up now and again at a place you like.
Did it 2 years ago and took 6 weeks and was not rushed. Walked all the gorges and went to all the stations along the way.
Cheers Andy

Hi Chris,

I have planned a Kimberley Trip for May/June.
Total length of trip Adelaide to Adelaide return is 38 days.

For the Kimberley itself, we are travelling from Kununurra, via the GRR to Cape Leveque (North of Broome), then back via the bitumen to Kununurra with a planned timeframe for this loop of 20 days.
This allows 2 nights at El Questro, 3 nights at Drysdale River Station, Bell Gorge, 2 nights at Windjana Gorge, 2 nights at Derby, Broome, 4 nights Middle Lagoon, Broome, Fitzroy Crossing, 3 nights at Purnalulu NP, then back to Kununurra.

Would have liked longer of course but we have to be back in Adelaide for the imminent arrival of our first Grandchild and herself absolutely, must, needs, demands, to be back in time for the birth. (Our Son and DIL)
Me, well I will see the little tacker as soon as I can but my timeframe is a little bit more flexible and relaxed. (Dare I say it but all babies are ugly at birth. shhhh!)
Might have to shove the old girl in the plane along the way somewhere, if nature expedites matters more quickly:-)

We did the loop in 2011. Left Kununurra and did the black top to Broome and returned via the Gibb. Left Kununurra on the 16 June and returned on the 12 August. So almost 8 weeks. We did all of the tracks off the Gibb, including Kalumburu. Plus 7 days up the Dampier Peninsular and the overnight Horizontal Water Falls trip from Derby. Even allowing 8 weeks we felt we were still a bit rushed! But we did do a lot. That is just our experience. Brilliant place up there. Kevin

Hi All

Many thanks for all the replies...I think now is a good time to go - particularly as our kids (in their 20's) are still children free, and even the grandparents are still healthy ! If we have to come home for a birth it will be a surprise to a lot of people :)

We may have to extend our time a little....

Safe travels all!

Chris

We did the same loop last year in the other direction.Lake Argyle 3 days -Kununurra 2 days - Purnululu 4 days - Fitzroy Crossing 2 days- Windjana Gorge/Tunnel Creek 4 days + relaxing - Derby/Horizontal Falls trip 2 days - Broome 3 days - Dampier Peninsula 8 days - Broome 2 days - Derby 2 days. Then we travelled back towards Kununurra along the GRR,which took a month. We spent almost a week at Mornington Wilderness Camp which was a highlight. 3 months from Melbourne start to finish would have been fine - we chose to travel back via Queensland which took an extra couple of weeks. You don't mention whether you plan to visit the Dampier Peninsula but if so I would recommend to allow 2 to 3 months for the entire trip and you will have plenty of flexibility. There are many places to see off the GRR and our philosophy is that you never know if you come that way again!
Cheers
L&M

Hi All,

I'm also planning a GRR trip year.

Does anyone have any ideas about whether it is best to travel east to west (ie Kununurra to Derby) or the reverse direction (west to east)

Does it make any difference and why?

regards,
Ken

Hi Chris
Did the Kimberly last year from Townsville with the Quantum in tow, took 5 weeks but no where near enough .
We did all the gorges plus up to Mitchell Falls and Kalumbru as well as Ellendale station and 5 weeks was just enough to get a taste of what was on offer.
Knowing what I know now I would have given El Questro and Home Valley a miss, nice to say youve been there but expensive but I would rather spend that time at some of the other attractions the area has to offer.
5 weeks was good for a overview but we will go back and spend longer through that area
as there is just so much to see.
Regards Jim

Doing the Kimberley in 2015 (going elsewhere with the van in 2014)....planning on taking the Van to Fitzroy Crossing and leaving it there and camping to do the Gorges etc....pretty sure the van I have would handle the GRR but the bride is a bit worried about dust etc so this is another way of doing it.

Just in the planning stages now, and as I am retired time isn't a great issue so I'd say spend as much as you can afford up there because by golly there seems to be a lot to do / see.

We just touched on the region last year after doing a Canning Stock Route trek from south to north. just made me want to see MUCH more