Caravanning through the Kimberley

Poppa Ross

We stayed in free camps in a few locations. One was opposite the entry in to the Bungle Bungle which is near a bridge.
The other one was the closer one to Fitzroy Crossing and was near some cliffs. They are both in Camps 4. We had no problems at all.
When you pull up for the day ensure your entry door cannot be blocked by another car. Pull up along side a rail or similar and that way you can always get out of the van.
Enjoy your trip as it is so beautiful over there.
DW

Never had a problem; never heard of a problem. We do try and avoid towns and highways though. The more remote you go, the genuine and helpful the people are. If you have two or three weeks to spare, leave the caravan at Kununurra and go through the Gibb River Road and up to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu. Don't miss Purnululu - two or three days needed.

Motherhen

Poppa Ross
"We have read some comments about the need to be extremely careful about certain areas in far north West Australia."
Perhaps you might enlighten us to the perils we face and where we will face them. We are heading that way this year.

teege

YES, Poppa Ross, you have to be EXTREMELY careful, otherwise you will have so much fun you might never want to go home.
The Kimberley is the most extrordinary part of this country. No where else is anything like it. It is also the hardest part of Oz to see, but all the effort will be rewarded.

Cheers,
Peter

Hi Ross,

If you are using Camps 4/5 most of the places you choose to stop will most likely have others stopped there as well - people just like you! We have never had any problems free/bush camping, and especially not in the Kimberly. As others have said, plan to spend plenty of time there and do the Gibb and Bungles. It is a magnificent place.

Also if you are doing the full length of the GGR, don't forget to head into Mornington Wilderness, not free camping but both the Dimond & Sir John Gorges are a must see.
There are quite a few places where you can get off road on the GRR & bush camp other than the ones listed in Free Camps 4/5. Just make sure you start looking mid arvo for possible good camps as it gets dark early and quite quickly in the Kimberley in winter.
Have a great trip.

Due to past irresponsible behaviour by campers, it will be very hard to find a spot you can free bush camp, along the GRR. All the once good spots now have No Camping signs. You will probably just have to accept going to the approved camping places, and paying the fees involved - but some of these are quite pleasant.
I recommend Old Mornington, Home Valley, the King Edward River at junction of Kalumburu and Mitchell Plateau tracks, McGowans (north of Kalumburu). It is worth putting up with the dust and crowds at Mt Barnett, to access the Manning Falls walk. We still like the bush camp sites on ELQ, too.
On our most recent trip to those parts, left van stored at Kununurra because we could not take it into the Bungles - these are not to be missed and you really do need a few days in there. Since we had the tent stuff all loaded up, did a circuit - Fitzroy Crossing, Windjana Gorge, GRR, Mitchell Plateau, McGowans, and so back to Kununurra for the van. That is a good way to access the best parts of the remote Kimberley, without being limited by van worries.