Leaving van behind to travel the Gibb River Road

Leave your van in Derby, on power at the park.

Go up the GRR and veer right to Winjana Gorge for your 1st night, stay there for 2 - 3 nights and you can explore Tunnel creek from there as well without breaking camp.

After your're happy you've seen all that, travel out onto the black top and take the bitumen all the way to Kununurra, overnight at Fitzroy lodge for something a bit fancy. (you pass the bungles doing this so if you want to see them as well, go in because a caravan is no good to you on that road!!)

After you reach Kununurra, look around re-stock whatever, take the GRR from that end and head back toward Derby doing the greater GRR.

Make sure you allow plenty of time aound Elquestro Station. (At least 4 days, more if you can) there is plenty to do and see.

If you have no time schedule to stick to, great. But if you need to know any time lines, I'd suggest at least 3 weeks to see the best bits without rushing it. Don't forget Mitchell Falls and Kalumbaroo.

Stop talking..I want to go again now!!!!!

We did the Gibb in 08 came across from QLD left our van at Kununurra cost $6 a day to store our van, didn't have to worry about power had solar enough to run the fridge while we were away. Headed along the Gibb took in all the sights over 10 days up to Michell Falls then down to Fitzroy Crossing back to Kununurra picked up the van then headed to Derby for a few days did Horizontal Falls day trip but wished we had done the overnighter then headed down to Broome.

Choco,
What type of van are you dragging around by what type of tug?

Hi Chocoholic

A wise move not to risk you van. You never know what condition the road will be in from week to week (parts of it if not all). However if when you get to Derby everyone coming off the road says it is all smooth, you could re-assess your plans then. You could then leave the van at Drysdale River Station to go on to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu.

I agree Derby is an ideal place to leave the van to do the loop, but question the need to keep the fridge running. It would probably be cheaper and safer to leave it stored without power. I'm sure you could arrange your supplies to shut the fridge down and re-purchase.

Alternatively you could do the loop from and leave the van at Kununurra where the shopping is good and fresh produce reasonably priced to re-stock.

When do you plan this trip? Your comment "as i have heaps of meat in the freezer" seems current, but the roads are closed now.

A full loop, and as said take in Purnululu as well as Geikie Gorge on the highway leg, would be far better than going in and out from both ends of the GRR, although on the eastern side you could go in only as far as El Questro. I still think it better (and quicker) to do the double up on the highway than on the GRR.

As you talk about doing the highway section twice, i take it you are travelling on into the NT?

Another alternative for the Cape Levique trip is to take a guided tour for a couple of days and save your vehicle.

Motherhen