Trip advice - 3 wks, Perth-Karijini-GibbRiverRd-Perth

Mark

I have done the Kimberley and Karijini and believe you are not allocating enough time.
You could do the trip sitting in a vehicle in the time you have allocated.
To really see places you need to get out of the driving seat and walk. There are a lot of fantastic walks in Karijini.
You have left out the Mitchell Plateau - a must do.
Sometimes time is a factor. My suggestion would be to either do the Kimberley or Karijini in the time you have allocated - not both.


Tjilpi

Wow! you certainly have some very long distances in there. I trust you realize you will not be able to average more than about 80-90 km/hr on the sealed roads so for instance your 947km leg will take close to 12 hrs, plus the set up and pack up time. You must really like looking at the white line.
Why the restricted time? I think your plan is over optimistic,

Thanks for replying and I agree it is somewhat rushed.

We were planning on doing the plane flight from Drysdale station up around Mitchell Falls.

Do you think the falls would still be spectacular in Late June ?

Mark,
It is good that you have done your research and arrived at an itinerary which in theory looks achievable. I have done the GRR a few times from east to west but only one as a return trip. I was there in 2000 when the road was barely passable as the rivers were up to a metre deep still. In 2005 in contrast a bandicoot would have had to pack a picnic lunch to cross a paddock it was so dry. The GRR is very unpredictable. In some places you can be restricted to less than 40kph for hours at a time with a trailer. At other times you can comfortably find 80kph and sit above the corrugations. It is notorious for tyre damage - the trailer is often the victim - and fading /boiling shock absorbers. Hiring a trailer restricts your ability to influence the quality of the tyres on it. Although some will disagree, tyre pressures and speed on the GRR are as important as brakes and engine oil. If you contact Drysdale shortly before you go you will get a good understanding of conditions and you can book your flight - it can be pretty busy at that time. As others have said you really are attempting more than you might appreciate in the timeframe but good luck anyway.
Ken

A lot of driving for the 3 weeks Mark....have you already been to any of the attractive places in between Perth and Pt Hedland ? I had a shorter, possibly 'better trip quality' itinerary suggestion, but you may have already been out there ?

We underestimated the time we needed on the GRR and Kimberley 2 years ago and we had 4 weeks leave and we are in Darwin where Kununurra is only 8 hours drive . Maybe prioritise what the main things/regions you'd like to see, then go from there ie do the Pilbara on the way there, or on the way back if you have time.
For my 2 cents; El Questro was good for a few days, and the Western end near Windjana, Manning, bell Gorges were great and had a few nights there. Not a lot in between unless you go up to Mitchell Plateau/ Kalumburu then add another four or five days.

I love driving all day, but the missus and kid got jack of it quickly.

Hi
Unfortunately we don't all have unlimited leave to do these trips but that said I have always travelled further than most would think sensible in my 4 or 5 weeks annual leave... & I wouldn't have it any other way.
We travelled to the Kimberley from Melb in 2004 & spent two & a half good weeks in the area. We had already seen most of the places on the way there & back on previous trips so we travelled though these places quickly & over long days of driving to get to the Kimberley region.
It's still one of the best trips we have done in this fantastic country. & I have travelled all over it in the past 30 odd years.
I say drive carefully & do what you can in the limited time. Maybe leave Karjini for another trip & concentrate on the Kimberley.
Go for it, there will be plenty of time to do it again & slower when you retire.
At least in the mean time you still get to experience some of what is out there.
Cheers, PMK

My suggestion is to take a high speed video camera.That way you can have a look when you get home. It is one thing to drive somewhere, but another to a "see" a place. Had you thought of flying to Broome or Kununurra and hiring from there. That was my options in my working life, although I did accumulate enough frequent flyer points tp take wife twice a year.

Neil

Hi Mark
It's great to see consistency in advice. To do both Karijini and GRR in 3 weeks would be a big push.
Certainly 3 weeks just doing the GRR would be the way to go.
There are some truely magnificent sights and most require a good walk and then some time to absorb the scenery and to take a swim.
You would have 7 days on the bitumen, 3 days getting from Perth to the start of the GRR and 4 days coming back from the eastern end (Kununurra).
I would consider approaching the Gibb River Road by first travelling out towards Fitzroy Crossing and then take what is called the Leopoldo Downs Road into Tunnel Creek , then onto Windjana Gorge and then onto the GRR. This is a beautiful drive and a good gravel track, much more scenic than the drive from Derby out to Windjana.
Regards Craig

Hi Mark
4th night at Fitzroy.
The Fitzroy Resort and caravan park just on the east side of town is nice .
Otherwise fill up at Fitzroy and about 10 km along the Leopoldo Downs Road on the east side at the old Oscar Range Mine site is plenty of bush camping sites and a nice pool.
Then Winjana, Silent Grove (bells) , Manning and Mornington as you have planned.
Then I would add in 2 nights at Mitchell Falls, the road was fine when we did it and the river crossing easy (Jully 2014) but if you are worried you can stay at Drysdale River caravan park and charter a flight over them.
I would then add a night at Home Valley at their riverside caravan park to watch a sun set on the Pentecast escarpment, it's pretty good and maybe see a few crocks.
Then 3 nights at Elquestro ( 2 full days, you will need it).
If you enjoy a good long walk away from the crowds the Champaign Gorge trek is nice. The track can be hard to follow over rocky areas so be careful to mark your track.
Don't forget to visit Emma Gorge on the north side of GRR also.

This is still rushing the GRR , you could easily spend an extra night at some of the places. Remember if you rock up late to a site then 2 nights realy only gives you one day.

Below I have also added in Kununarra and Purnululu ( The Bungles) both a must if you are up in this part of the world.

Then 2 nights at Kununarra, either in Town or preferably at the Lake Argyle Dam and if possible include a sun set dam boat tour.
And
A min of 2 nights preferably 3 at Purnululu ( the Bungles)

Then 4 nights getting back home

Night 1 north of Meekatharra
N 2 around Ausky Road House
N 3 south of Broome
N 4 Fitzroy
N5 Windjana
N 6 Silent Grove(Bells)
N 7,8 Manning Gorge
N 9,10 Mitchell Falls
N11Home Valley
N12, 13, 14 at Elquestro
N 15,16 Kununurra
N17,18, 19, Purnululu (you could do in 2 night but would not do it justice)
Plus 3 nights to get back home

Regards Craig

Hi Mark

We spend over three weeks on the Gibb River Road with side trip to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu; see My Blogs for 2008 outline what we saw, which was only the basics. I always wanted to go, but had to leave my job the achieve it. It was the best of all our trips. One some of the roads 100 kilometres a day took several hours and was enough for the driver. The biggest hazard on the Kimberley roads is those that drive to fast because they haven't allowed enough time.