The Kimberley

Thanks Sand Man wow lucky I went there in 97 we just camped anywhere and PR was a dribble ..Sounds busy now I remember owner at Jacks Waterhole told us that the big oil companies wanted to build Roadhouse on GRR and also bitumise it , so at least that not happened but Jacks is closed now I heard that was beautiful place , what happened to it ?? Whats the camping like now at Mitchell Falls cheers ...p.s I once owned a Sandman now I am feeling old ha ha ha

Excepting a major flood event down the Pentecost, the crossing on the GRR is tidal. If water too high wait till the tide runs out.

Alan

Hi thanks Wendy is HV the homestead where you could get the only fuel and the store only open couple hrs a day.What about camping at Mitchell Falls ,we just free camped back in 97 cheers

HV used to be a private family place - I think it may have offered morning teas etc. Not sure about fuel or a store there in the past. Think it was Sinnamon family??? We camped at Jacks Waterhole in 2000 and I think the property had gone to indigenous ownership by then. One flood too many and it was not re-opened. I had not visited Home Valley before 2007.
Fuel - Mt Barnett, and I think Home Valley and El Questro on the Gibb. Drysdale River and Kalumburu andsometimes at McGowans - cheaper than Kalumburu. Was Imintji Store at the western end of Gibb but it closed last year. Don't know about this year.
About March, contact Derby or Kununurra Info Centre - they put out a useful brochure on the Gibb etc - updated each year, which is necessary: fuel, camping, gas, stores etc.
Mitchell Falls is Nat Park campground - small fee. Toilets. Water from specified area of creek.
If you want some worthwhile but not as well known places to camp and explore, I recommend Mornington and Charnley River. A friend who travels with us went to Mt Hart last year and said it was worth the trip in.
Be warned - the days of free camping on the Gibb are long gone. Just about every possible spot has No Camping signs. The land is either pastoral property or Nat Park or indigenous lands - not open to all comers. Too many campers in the past did the wrong things and stuffed it for later comers. This means that a trip through those parts is not cheap.

Thanks for great info , much appreciated .Bit sad can not stop and camp at ones leisure.We used to explore areas and if getting near dark just pull up set up camp in nice spot ..I thought oneday be N.P. as when I was up there it was sort of free from any .Was all going to be mined for Bauxite but logistics stopped it going ahead , thank god ..do they still have Helicopter flights .In all honesty I really despised them when I was there.Over Bungle Bungles I would say ok as large area and would not be so annoying if you hiking there ..cheers

As Wendy says, Jack's Waterhole was closed after flood damage. Also about the No Camping. Because of past misdeeds, there is now no camping allowed at locations without a toilet.

Stephen, the distances are not great. There would be no real need to just pull over because it had been a long drive.

Home Valley Station do not sell fuel now. I can provide a list and the distances of all the current fuel outlets privately if requested.

Thanks MATG yes I did some good exploring on foot in the Kimberleys.Tried climbing the ridge near Pentacost River the one in every ones photos, climbed over several gorges near El Questro my brother thought I died and most spectacular was the guy that ran the dodgy camp ground on coast at Kalumburu took us on a boat ride up King Edward River, Is that place still going on the coast there and why Jacks W.H . closed down ..?

Wow, the climb to the ridge would have been awesome...but a long way down! Magic views from the top I suspect. I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to at Kalumburu - there's 2 campgrounds that used to be run by John (passed away now) at McGowans Island and Les from Honeymoon Bay (he's still there). I can't say I've done a run up the King Edward via a tour as we've normally travelled with our own boat. Jack's Waterhole is located on Durack Station which now forms part of Home Valley Station (which wouldn't have been opened when you went through). Home Valley now comprises 3 stations - Bindoola, Durack and Karunjie Stations, and would be the largest in the Kimberley (or close to) - it's a station run by the Indigenous Land Corporation and is a training ground for stockmen and those wanting to get into hospitality. Definitely worth the effort to stop for a night or two here. I agree with you that years ago you would camp anywhere by Mitchell Falls - not these days. Unless you plan on doing multiple works at Mitchell, you might consider camping at King Edward River (on Mitchell Falls track) and doing a day trip to Mitchell Falls. It's less crowded and a beaut campground. At either place, you'll need to pay a fee for. Linda.