Tips for Gibb River Rd

G'day Boobook2, enjoy your trip I'll try and answer as per your list.
1. Water is available at most of the recognised camp areas, boil if in doubt. At the Mitchell Plateau most people were getting buckets of water from the creek for cooking and washing.
2. Diesel in all of the spots. Use this site for current fuel costs. (Your Hema map has fuel sales listed)
3. The corrugations will determine your speed, I never went above 80 and was down to crawling in places.
4. Foods a personal thing, but use vacuum packed meats, and stock up on non perishables. You can get food at either end of the road obviously but there are limited food supplies at Mt Barnett, Drysdale, El Q, Imintji.
5. Fire wood can be collected along the way. Going into the Mitchell there is/was a firewood collection area about 5k for the camping area. It is sign posted. Look for fire wood well before you camp as in most recognised camping areas firewood has well and truly been stripped out of them. Some of the larger areas may supply wood at the fire rings.
6. Yes (but look for tracks etc and try and camp in open areas).
7. Not sure but I think you can? I've only ever flown in and that was supposed to be on business for the day. Road was a tad rough when we were up there last year so only went as far as the Plateau. Use the Permit info button at the top of the page.
8. Heard the fishing can be good. Somebody else will know that one.
9. Yes lots to do in Kununurra. Big yes from me to do the Bungles. (Should of added Punullulu to one of my top 5 places in Oz thread).
10. Listen to the ABC when you reach the Kimberley, they do regular (on the hour from memory), river and road condition reports.

One thing that most people neglect to mention about the road/track into the Mitchell Plateau is that you need to drive through 2 swamps that aren't shown on most maps. You here people talk about the King Edward Rv but nothing about the 2 swamps. Last year in June the track into the swamps were muddy in and out and had us worried but fortunately we were following another vehicle that we had met up with and they led. The track condition at these points was very deceptive as it looked scary but in fact the water levels were only about 400-500mm deep and the bottoms were very firm. The mud was caused by the vehicles coming and going. I think if we had been by ourselves at this point we may of turned around (the wife can be very persuasive at times).

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

i have a mate travelling the places you mentioned at the moment,
he should be back at work soon so i will get the low down on whats the go. cheers

1) If you always have 40-50L of 'safety' water at hand, and don't stray from main tourist tracks, what you do with the rest is optional in my view.
2) Diesel usually available in most tourist stops - you can check them direct - contact details on their websites.
3) Correct, in my view :-o)
4) In my experience, veg supplies are rare - a limited range of meat will be frozen.
5) Yes but not near recognised camp grounds usually - do it well before you get there.
6) The locals say yes - might be true.
7) Check with them, or maybe Anne at Drysdale Station.
8) Pass
9) We enjoyed Kununurra for a couple of days - out to the Ord dam and other local attractions. Wyndham has a magnificent 5 Rivers regional lookout on top of a high hill - worth going there for just that. Expect nothing else in my view :-o).... stock up really well in Kununurra !! The Bungles are fabulous.
10) Anne at Drysdale Station has the good oil, if she is free.

The biggest thing is drive to your vehicles and your own capabilities. If you are not sure ask or dont do.

We did the Gibb last July

I'd agree with the above. Your speed really depends on the road condition(obviously) but at times we had no probs doing 100 - 110 in many places.

Up toward the Mitchell Falls it was a different story...quite slow in most spots, and we were towing a camper. The road from Drysdale Stn North was most well graded at the time until near the top end. No idea what they're like this year though. The muddy swamp crossovers on the road to Mitchell Falls were fun and no probs.

The biggest thing I'd mention is to watch the depth of your water crossings. We came across two people who had put their fan blades though the radiators. Take the necessary precautions. I believe there have been a few 100 series cruisers come to grief.

It's an expensive fix to have to charter a heliworks chopper from Mitchell falls to Kununurra to get new parts.!!! Although the view would be great!

All in all I found the whole trip a lot easier than expected, in fact the only issues are negotiating those water crossings. Other than than, just good fun if you're prepared properly.

All the best

9) As a side point we were there in early August and found that diesel at the Mobil in Wyndham was 10 cents cheaper than at Kunnunurra. From the locals they said it can sometimes be up to 14cents cheaper. Can make a big difference if filling up before GRR.
My kids loved the crocodile farm at Wyndham which was very basic but houses some massive crocs.
Definatley do the Bungle Bungles. Road going in was pretty slow but well worth the trip.

Have a good trip....keep the speed and tyre pressures down & you souldn't have a problem.

Most of your points have been covered, but I was talking to someone who has just been to Kalumburu and Honeymoon was deserted and looked a bit run down and neglected, may be great to have it for yourself, but you may not have anything left when you get back from a fishing trip (if you have a boat).

Mcgowans on the other hand had a lot of people and has been tidied up a lot, so it may be the go.

If you get a chance, do a museam tour with Father Anskar, very worth while.

Cheers Andrew

Last June diesel was 30c L cheaper at El Questro than at Drysdale River

If you are doing the Mitchell, take a spare set of shockies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

D

Thanks everyone, keep the info coming. I feel much better informed about what to expect.

Boobook

Gday Boobook. We did the GRR in May/June and had a bloody good time doing it. We found that as long as you have some 'safety' water for emergencies and some for personal consumption, you should be able to reduce your weight by refilling along the way.Make sure you have an extra spare tyre as it can be pretty taxing but should you drive sensibly and keep your tyre pressures down you will hopefully be alright.
Buy your fruit and veg in Kununurra as it is limited on the road but be aware that depending on which way you do the Bungles, that there is a quarintine requirement bin at Warmun if you are heading back into Kununurra. Cryovac meat from the butcher in Kununurra is a good option as well..
Fuel however was cheaper at Wyndham and it does pay to carry some extra fuel
El Questro station is well worth visiting and I'm told that Homehill is not bad either. Drysdale station is a good stop for the Mitchell Plateau section. Manning Falls are great however some of the 'customer service' we experienced at Mt Barnett Station could probably improve (verified by a few other travellers as well).
Bells Gorge is lovely and certainly Windjana Gorge is worth a visit including Tunnell Ck.
Whilst not the GRR, if you get the chance, a visit to Cape Leveque will be very rewarding but make sure that you book ahead as it space can be quite limited.
Other than that, have a great time and enjoy the experience that the Kimberley will give you.
Cheers

Best advice i can giv is dont do it
- well not straight from Derby anyway
Tke the GNH to Fitzroy corssinf
- chck out Geike gorge
- Back track about 50k and then take the Leopold downs road Nth to the GRR
- this takes in Tunnel creek ( my highlight)
as well as windjana gorge before starting the GRR - dont even cnsider missing these spts

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I am wondering if anyone has been there recently and knows if there has been any rain lately.

thanks