Kimberley & Kakadu

Hi Terry and Amanda

Last year we spent nine weeks in the Kimberley, but spent longer than planned in Kununurra. We were over three weeks going through the Gibb River Road, and we only went to the major tourism places - including Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu. My blogs tell of what we did and saw.

Kakadu will be included in this year's trip - time frame "as long as it takes".

Terry & Amanda
I spent six weeks there in 2006 and would have stayed longer if the upcoming monsoons were not playing on my mind.
Take a good Barra combo and you will spend many days enjoying the place as there is just so much to see there.
There are not a lot of places to shop for food so be prepared.

Stay away from the rivers at night, cause the crocks have some very bad habits and no table manners at all.

Mainey . . .

It obviously depends on what you want to see and do.If you are pushed for time I would say about 3 -4 weeks in the Kimberly and one wek in Kakadu. I would add that if you are doing Kakadu I would certainly allow an extra 2-3 days for Litchfield.All the better if you have more time but those are the minimum times I would suggest if you haven't been before.

You can spend the whole dry season in the Kimberley and not do it all. We spent five weeks on the GRR last year - magic
B-T

G'day dact,

We spent 3months doing the Kimberley, Kakadu and the Simpson. To support what others have said I think that there is never enough time to see all at a leisurely pace so maybe work out what you want to do - like for us it was boating, sightseeing and fishing. The kimberley was our destination and all else was regarded a secondary objective because it can be really easy to become unfocused.

The Kakadu part came about because one of our party wanted to catch up with a relly in Darwin and we had about 4 days to kill. I would go back there tomorrow as we had a great time putting around the lagoons and billabongs fishing and dodging crocs.

BTW didn't have enough time in the Kimberley.

Kind regards

Terry & Amanda,

We enjoyed Kununurra and spent a week there
: paddled in the Ord River from the c'van pk at sunset each evening and just sat in the canoe enjoying a glass of wine as we watched the Jesus birds amongst the lily pads;
: drove to Wyndham by the highway and returned by Parrys Lagoons;
: took a day flight to Kalumburu, Drysdale R. Station, over Admiralty Gulf and Mitchell Falls;
: walked Mirima NP (in town)
: became fascinated by zebra rock and Aboriginal art.

Purnululu NP without the ct for a couple of days (not long enough).

Gibb RR, Kalumburu Rd as far as King Ed Riv, stayed for a few days swimming, paddling and finding Aboriginal art incl Bradshaws and Wandjinas. Left the ct there and drove to Mitchell Falls for a couple of days and took the chopper back to camp from the falls (great views).

Manning River Gorge walk from Mt Barnett RH. (Take lots of water and don't get lost.)

Mornington Nature Conservancy incl. Sir John Gorge, Diamond Gorge and Cadjeput. Spectacular, peaceful at the gorges.

Bell Gorge staying in a camp along the river (not Silent Grove).

Windjana Gorge NP and Tunnel Creek NP.

Geikie Gorge NP on a full day trip with Darngku Heritage Cruises.

These were some of the highlights but we have to go back soon because there was so much more to see. It took about five weeks. Thanks for asking the question it helped me relive it the trip.

We are planning our trip to Kakadu, Litchfield and Darwin to be there during all of June. I'm hoping we can see what we want by staying in four different camps. But being flexible is the key to all travel.

Thanks for all the replies.
Still confused on what sights to give priority to, and how long to allow, so we have blocked out 1 wk in Kakadu, 7-10 days in Darwin and 4 weeks in Kimberley, working our way across to Broome.

Now, we have to figure out the west coast...LOL

Miss 9 asked me tonight, why it takes a year to plan a trip we are not taking til mid next year.

Cheers and thanks again for the replies
Terry & Amanda