Attempting the Gibb in early July

Hi Motherhen sorry asking same old questions .Would April be ok to get to Mitchell Falls I hate too many people bit shy.I used to work and live in a small tent with only 4 other blokes in many deserts.So got spoilt plus with ya work mates it was cruisy and dead quiet and peaceful.

Hi Stephen

That would depend on the season; the King Edward River level and if the road has been opened. Once they can cross the river, they need to repair any washouts on the road. The river crossing was quite deep in June for us. I don't know if it has ever been open as early as April. You would need to check with the Shire of East Kimberley (Wyndham) at the time.

Hi MH again. Rains have come good in Kimberley in March and even the entire wet -Oct 1st to today - April 2nd is average or above in most of it.... W

Thanks warrie
Our "pathy" now has all new shockers and a new transmission from a small hiccup post the tanami!! That was a bad year - haha!
Think we should be fine but I'm a worry wart - my husband isn't. He's a very patient driver.
Thanks for the tips.
Andoria

Starting problem fixed by Sparky for $88. It was a faulty fuel pump relay found in fuse box behind battery............ W

Leaving the decision until we got there and talked to others, we choose not to take our caravan all the way, but to leave it at the King Edward River campground which was lovely.

It seemed silly to take it all the way there and back, and the road was fairly corrugated. They no longer allow caravans to go on to Mitchell Falls campground.

In the four days we were at the KE River camp, the only people who took their camper trailers were a group of three who were going on to Port Warrender not to Mitchell Falls. Most did it as a day trip.

We took camping gear, but after walking to the falls, spending all day there and getting the last chopper back, we still had enough daylight to get back "home" to the King Edward River.

Hi Motherhen good to see you still clucking and contributing. So,caravans banned from Mitchell falls campground? What size etc? Looks like the reverse decision to what the Parks service did at the Bungles 'cos now they allow single axle campers from which we benefited in 2013. And as for rushing back to King Edward River at the end of the day for a swim. There's a swimming spot at Upper Mertens Falls just 5 mins walk from the Mitchell Falls campsite. Far less stressful than pounding those corrugations twice in the one day. Sounds like your other half had a very late beer o'clock.LOL ....W

Hi Warrie, still clucking and cackling.

It is about the road not the campground; I think a few too many 'incidents' and rescues.

"The park is accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles only. Caravans are not permitted due to road conditions, but off-road camper trailers are allowed. The track to the park is maintained on an irregular basis only and may have wash-outs and corrugations. Drive with extreme care." DPaW Mitchell River National Park

Our campground friends they we went up with on the same day left on the previous chopper to us, and another couple of campers had an 'at home' day so they were all ready and waiting for us when we got back. Easier to come back to our caravan, not for the swim, but for the home comforts. I swum anyway as I did every day in the lovely river pool.

When we went to Purnululu (2008) there were small caravans being turned back while bigger camper trailers were being allow in, and the division between what was caravan and what was camper trailer was speculative with "cross overs", pop tops and wind ups. They streamlined it so it is more equitable. On checking just now they have changed the wording again, removing all mention of caravans and camper trailers - just trailers which covers them all.

"The last 53 km into the park is via a rugged track that is accessible only to four-wheel-drive vehicles and single-axle off-road trailers."
DPaW Purnululu National Park